Honeymoons Sicily

Arrive to Catania airport and your own private driver guide will be waiting for you in the arrivals lounge and you will head south by comfortable chauffeured Mercedes. You will first go to Syracuse (Siracusa), an easy one-hour drive.

Depending on your arrival time, take some free time to get settled in and relax. Your 19th century delightful hotel faces the Ortigia Sea and the historic “Mastra Rua” where the aristocrats of the area have traditionally lived. Look forward to great views and very charming period style rooms with four-poster beds. Ortigia island (connected to Syracuse) is a fascinating and beautiful place. The Greeks, Romans, Spanish, Normans, French and Arabs have all left their mark here, as have a vibrant Jewish population and the gastronomic and architectural mix is wonderful.

In the afternoon your own private art guide will take you on a walking tour of Ortigia. Your welcome dinner tonight is at a legendary gourmet haunt that has attracted celebrities from Francis Ford Coppola to Gerard Depardieu. Benvenuto!

Overnight:

4* Boutique hotel, Ortigia

Meals Included in Price:

Welcome dinner with paired wines, welcome gourmet gift

Transfers:

Catania airport to Ortigia (Syracuse) hotel, walking tour

This morning you will take in a private guided walking tour of the Siracusa archeological park. While the surrounding modern area is rather drab, once you enter the park you will be transported to Ancient Greece! You´ll see the Greek theatre and the famous caves, along with the excellent archeological museum depending on your level of interest. Late morning your driver will take you on to Marzamemi, a darling village immortalized in film in Gabriele Salvatores´”Sud” (South). Lunch is a major treat today! Taste authentic homemade dishes prepared by Lina, the daughter of the local "Raìs" (Raìs is an Arabic term that refers to the head fisherman of the mattanza, the style of tuna fishing in Sicily.) The restaurant is named after the folkloric anthem that tuna-fishermen traditionally sing when hauling in the nets.

In the afternoon, you will stop at the Feudo Maccari wine estate, about a half hour drive from lunch. Enjoy the atmospheric location and lush vineyards and take a photo with the winery’s very own donkey! After some wine tasting carry on to Baroque Noto for some free time and in the evening arrive to your romantic and luxurious hotel for the next few nights. Settle in and relax. Free evening to dine at the excellent onsite restaurant.

Overnight:

5* Luxurious historic hotel near Ragusa

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Lunch with wine pairings

Transfers:

Ortigia- Marzamemi- Noto- Ragusa countryside

This morning you will visit the Baroque Unesco heritage village of Scicli, about a half hour drive from the hotel. Once an Arabic city and later a royal Normal town, Scicli is known by architectural lovers for the Palazzo Beneventano, Chiesa di San Bartolomeo and dramatic main church Santa Maria la Nova. Enjoy a stroll through the town before heading on to Modica, a few minutes drive through the panoramic San Bartolomeo valley. Bella Modica is home to some fabulous chocolates, decorative Baroque palaces and the excellent La Gazza Ladra restaurant, all of which you will experience.

Begin with a chocolate tasting in the Bonajuto chocolate headquarters with specialties like their Arabian orange “Torrone” and chocolate liquors. Learn all about the amazing history of this chocolate shop and about their social awareness about modern chocolate making. Wonderful. Next up a gourmet tasting lunch paired with sensational Sicilian wines, each paired to the dishes. In the late afternoon after a leisurely lunch and non-rushed visit to Modica, you can visit the impressive Donnafugata castle or if in a warm month, hit the Sampieri beach. Evening arrival to your hotel and dinner on your own.

Overnight:

5* Luxurious historic hotel near Ragusa

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Lunch with wine pairings

Transfers:

Ragusa countryside- Scicli- Modica- sightseeing- hotel

Today you have a wine tour in store for you, in the Cerasuolo di Vittoria appellation. Taking its name from the bold, deep red color of its wines, the wineries in this area make spicy and juicy wines indeed. Begin with a first visit to a tiny, biodynamic estate - Arianna Occhipinti. Taste her excellent wines in the charming tasting room, and learn all about biodynamic and organic viticulture. Carry on to Cos, the leading producer in the appellation and veritable wine pioneers. Giusto Occhipinti in fact is Arianna´s uncle and was certainly an inspiration. Cos have a beautiful property and also use the organic and biodynamic techniques in their viticulture. The wine range is ample and varied and you´ll taste the best ones. Visit the little cellar where Cos do further ageing of their wines in amphora, very interesting.

Enjoy a light lunch of regional cheeses, salami and pasta at the winery and head back to the hotel for late afternoon to get some rest before your special evening. Tonight before sunset you will visit Ragusa and enjoy various photo ops with your driver, taking you to the best viewpoints to admire this beautiful town (divided in two sections). You have the “new” section of Ragusa, which houses many of the Baroque architectural gems; and Ibla”, a quieter and older section of town which houses the magnificent Duomo. The two parts of Ragusa are connected by a pretty rocky crest. Enjoy free time for a look around, with the assistance of your driver guide. Finally, conclude your day with an exceptional tasting menu dinner at the Michelin starred Ristorante Duomo in Ragusa Ibla. This will be molto romantico! After dinner, your driver will take you back to the hotel for your last evening there.

Overnight:

5* Luxurious historic hotel near Ragusa

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Lunch with wine pairings

Transfers:

Ragusa countryside- Wine touring- Hotel- Ragusa- Hotel

Today you will fly to the islands on board a private helicopter. Fly north to the beautiful Aeolian Islands, and arrive to Salina to your romantic wine resort. The rest of the day is yours at leisure to enjoy free time on the island, rent a Vespa, chill out, enjoy an enchanting romantic seafood lunch, etc. The hotel sits amid vineyards (this resort is owned by the revered Tasca d´Almerita winery). This island is where the romantic Il Postino was filmed.

Salina is the greenest of the islands and attracts style lovers and jetsetters looking for a hidden get away. Perfect for your honeymoon! Your hotel is the hottest hotel on the island and you can look forward to casual chic rooms with contemporary decoration, a pretty lighthouse on the grounds, and views from your ultra cool pool deck of the islands of Panarea and Stromboli. Very chic. On site you can enjoy a very good restaurant, a tennis court, and various trails that take you to the sea or into the hills.

Overnight:

Wine resort, Salina Island

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast

Transfers:

Helicopter transfer from Ragusa to Salina

Today you will have a fantastic full day and evening tour of the Aeolian Islands by private boat. First you will visit Lipari, the largest island, and enjoy some free time there to see the Norman cathedral and archaeological museum if you like and enjoy the views. You´ll have a late morning food and wine tasting of local specialties and Aeolian wines at an Enoteca.

Next up is a visit to gorgeous Panarea, another spot on the jetsetters list, known for its design Hotel Raya, where you can have an aperitif on your own and take in the stunning views. You´ll have a few free hours to relax on your own in Panarea. In the evening you will next head to Stromboli (about a half hour sail). Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman filmed “Stromboli” and enjoyed their mythical love affair here. This island is extremely atmospheric, and all views are dominated by the impressive volcano. Dinner will be waiting for you at our favorite intimate trattoria, Barbalu- cozy and informal with terrific cuisine. You´ll be on Stromboli to witness the spectacular "sciara del fuoco", lava display shooting out of the volcano. After dinner, you´ll sail back to Salina, about one hour

Overnight:

Wine resort, Salina Island

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Light lunch with wine tasting, Full dinner with wines

Transfers:

Full day and evening Boat Tour of Lipari, Panarea, Stromboli and back to Salina

The morning is yours to sleep in and relax. Around noon you will head to your first winery of the day such as the highly esteemed Hauner estate. Enjoy a short tour of the property followed by a tasting of the full range of wines. Local white grapes cultivated on the island include the flagship Malvasia as well as Grecanico, Insolia, Cataratto and Grillo. Native Sicilian red grapes used here include the Nero D’Avola, Corinto Nero and Nerello Mascalese. Without a doubt, the wines that have put the Aeolian islands on the map for worldwide critics are the Passito wines (made with Malvasia), and Hauner makes a superb version you will taste.

Lunch will be a simple seafood affair (perhaps some grilled calamari, tuna in a sauce with local capers, scorfano-scorpion fish- or swordfish) served with a light pasta dish like spaghetti drizzled with olive oil, tiny roast tomatoes and chili peppers. Dishes will be paired with delicate local white wines made for example with the Malvasia grape. After lunch, hit a second winery such as the historic Colosi estate, where you´ll taste a range of wines after enjoying a digestive walk in the vines.

The evening is free tonight.

Overnight:

Wine resort, Salina Island

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Seafood lunch with wines

Transfers:

Hotel to wineries and back

This morning you head back to the main island and you´ll have a private boat transfer from Salina to Milazzo where your private chauffeur will be waiting for you. You are going to beautiful Taormina today, about a one-hour drive. Located under the shadow of snow-capped Mount Etna and overlooking the sea, Taormina is simply one of the most captivating places in Sicily.

Lunch will be elegant and gourmet today, at the Michelin starred Principe Cerami at San Domenico Palace, your handsome, historic hotel in Taormina. A tasting menu with special chef’s welcome will be arranged for you, and you can expect a wonderful, refined atmosphere and exquisite food and wine. After lunch, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore the lush gardens overlooking the sea at your hotel and the delightful town. At sunset, you absolutely must visit the Greek Theatre, as the setting has to be one of the most magical in the world.

Free evening to dine at one of Taormina´s friendly restaurants, many good ones clustered around the Duomo.

Overnight:

5* Historic hotel, Taormina

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Michelin starred lunch with wine pairings

Transfers:

Private boat to Milazzo- Mercedes to Taormina

Today is your last wine tasting excursion on this honeymoon and you will discover the fabulous wines of Etna. Your first visit will be to the one-and-only Biondi estate. What an outstanding vineyard! And great host! This winery has no actual cellar, and the unique experience is the landrover tour of the vineyards right on the volcano. On a charming and simple patio with gazebo you will taste the exclusive wines that have made Biondi a household name to fine wine lovers. Follow with a private barbecue for lunch. You´ll have plenty to chat about as the owner is such a character (apart from the wine business, he is an architect) and his winemaker is Salvo Foti, THE Sicilian winemaker du jour (Il Cantante, Benanti, etc).

After an exciting morning of vineyard stomping and wine tasting, you´ll head back to Taormina to enjoy your luxurious hotel and quaint Taormina. The rest of day is on your own with our many suggestions, which you will find in your bound keepsake itinerary upon arrival to Italy in your welcome pack. You can take a stroll in the giardini di villa comunale (gardens), have a Campari at the legendary Caffè Wunderbar (haunt of Greta Garbo and Tennessee Williams) or hike down to the pristine Isola Bella marine sanctuary and go for a swim.

Overnight:

5* Historic hotel, Taormina

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Barbecue lunch with wine tasting

Transfers:

Taormina- Etna wine country- Taormina

This is your last day in Sicily on this tour and you will sleep in Catania tonight. From Taormina, head south past Acireale and Aci Trezza to the bustling city of Catania. While not as picture perfect or wealthy as Taormina, Catania is a very interesting and historic town with elegant palaces and has a collection of beautiful architectural jewels. Arrive to your conveniently located and comfortable hotel and check in, freshen up. We suggest you visit Catania´s open-air market in the Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto and marvel at all manner of fish and seafood on offer.

Lunch will be on your own with our suggestions. In the afternoon, You will explore Catania with your own private art guide on a three hour walking tour. Highlights include the Baroque Piazza del Duomo with the curious elephant fountain that is the symbol of Catania. Called the “Liotru”, which is local dialect for “Elio Doro” (the name of an 8th century magician who legend says rode an elephant after bringing it to life), the statue was inspired by the Fontana della Minerva in Rome. Explore other sites like the ornate 17th century Palazzo Biscari and the famed Baroque street of Via Crociferi, lined with gracious churches and fine buildings. After the tour, head back to the hotel for some free time before dinner. Tonight you will conclude your honeymoon with a farewell dinner at the superb Tre Bicchieri restaurant. Expect creative cuisine with an elegant presentation and great service.

Overnight:

4* Comfortable hotel, Catania

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Gourmet Farewell dinner with wines

Transfers:

Taormina- Catania- walking tour

Your private chauffeur will take you to Catania airport to catch your outbound flight.

This concludes your memorable honeymoon in Eastern Sicily. We look forward to organizing your 10-year anniversary tour!

Meals Included in Price:

Full breakfast, Lunch with wine pairings

Transfers:

Catania hotel- airport

What's Included:

What's Not Included:

Prices:

This is a SAMPLE TOUR ITINERARY. Please note that our chauffeured luxury tours have the following starting prices:

• Final price depends on chosen style of accommodation and dining. Please contact us with your group size (minimum 2 guests, no maximum group size), travel dates and preferences and we will send you custom pricing.
• Discounts available for larger groups
• Please note that our tours are available upon demand for PRIVATE GROUPS and are not scheduled tours for mixed groups.

More Information on Luxury Honeymoons Sicily:

If you are interested in this package, contact us today for more information. This tour can also be adapted for bigger groups with a substantial discount. All of our tours are available year round upon request for your private group of minimum 2 people. If you would like us to customize a luxury gourmet tour for you, contact us with your requirements, and we can send you a free itinerary and quote with no obligations. We organize cooking packages and wine tours from 1 day, to weekends to longer food and wine discoveries throughout Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

Email us at: info@cellartours.com