The Sicily Blog

Jul 01, 2008 (Tue): Arblaster and Clarke have chartered the fabulous super-yacht 'Ponant' for a wine cruise from Nice to Venice. We sail right round Italy, calling in on Corsica, Sicily, the Croatian islands and Istria. This wonderful voyage of discovery will take in dramatic sites; out of the way places for impromptu swim stops and great food and wine. Wine tastings will include the famous wines of Tuscany, the rising stars of Sicily and Puglia, to the relatively unknown wines of Croatia. Le Ponant is a 260 feet luxury, 3 masted sailing-cruiser with 32 good-sized outside cabins (from 116 - 150 sq ft) with marble shower rooms. Being French owned there is a French chef and pastry chef preparing gourmet meals. Breakfasts and lunches are buffets and dinner is seated. There is a spacious sun deck, an open air restaurant, an interior restaurant, and a spacious salon with bar. You can plunge directly into the Med from the swimming platform, and there are snorkels, a wind surfer and canoe available. This tour includes scheduled flights, all taxes, transfers to and from the ship, breakfasts, buffet lunches with wnes from the ship's cellars, afternoon tea and pastries, gourmet dinner with wines and additional tastings. The maximum party size is 48, to a crew of 30. One of our knowledgeable and experienced team will be happy to answer any questions regarding this tour, so please don't hesitate to call or e-mail us for further information.

Apr 01, 2008 (Tue): Sicily Walking with Wine tour: 26 april - 3 may 2008 Get to know the island of Sicily and enjoy her remarkable cuisine, countryside and culture. Our fully guided walking and wine tasting holidays to Sicily combine many of the varied strands which go to make up the traditional way of life on this beautiful island, nestling at ItalyÂ’s foot. You will see much of the islandÂ’s Greco/Roman past, visit some of its leading wineries and walk the beautiful coastline. All in all you will have a chance to enjoy the remarkable cuisine, countryside and culture. Our bases for exploring Sicily are two family run hotels, one in Piazza Armerina in the centre of the island and Ulisse Camere in the hill top town of Erice. The holiday price includes 7 nights accommodation, transport during the trip, transfers to and from the airport, 3 evening meals, 2 packed lunches, activities and entrances as described in the itinerary, and the services of a local, bi-lingual tour leader. Programme: Saturday: Arrival Palermo airport. Transfer to Hotel Gangi in Piazza Armerina. Sunday: Visit the mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale near Piazza Armerina. In the afternoon a guided walking tour around Piazza Armerina followed by an introductory wine tasting. Monday: Explore the slopes and craters of Mount Etna. Take the cable car close to the summit for stunning views (extra charge applies). Enjoy a winery visit on the fertile slopes of Etna that produces Etna Rosso and Bianco. Tuesday: Visit a wine estate near Butera which combines local and international grape varieties followed by a tasting. Wednesday: Free day (visit Catania or Caltagirone, famous for ceramics). Thursday: Leave Piazza Armerina and visit the impressive Valley of the Temples at Agrigento on the way to Marsala. Visit a winery that produces the famous Marsala wine. Drive to hotel in Erice, a superb hilltop town. Friday: Coastal walk in the Zingaro national park. Time to explore the stone streets of Erice, and enjoy panoramic views over Marsala and the coast. Saturday: Transfer to Palermo airport. Departure.

May 21, 2007 (Mon): Over the millennia, Sicily has attracted Phoenician seafarers, Carthaginian settlers, Roman troops, Arab and Norman conquerors, Spanish conquistadors, and British merchants of marsala -- and most recently, wine lovers. Come see why this ancient land is now Italy's hottest new wine zone. Also visit Greek temples and Byzantine cathedrals, lunch at an olive oil producer, see sea salt's creation, and feast on Sicily's multicultural cuisine. Highlights: • Wine estates: Planeta, Donnafugata, Ceuso, de Bartoli, Cusumano & more • Greek temple at Segesta • Sea-salt in the making • Meals at an olive oil farm & 4 wineries • Byzantine mosaics in Palermo & Monreale See dolcetours.com for full day-by-day itinerary