2011 Ashdod Trip with Mayor Bob Buckhorn

• 10.00 am. After breakfast, departure from Sciacca towards Agrigento. During the journey we will stop at the famous Scala dei Turchi (Turkish Steps) with a breathtaking view of the famous rock formation
• 12.00 pm. Visit to a family-owned winery 740-acre the over 740-acre land has been cultivated for generations in the production of superior wines
• Lunch Inside the Estate with tasting of typical products
• 4.00 pm. Visit to Agrigento TownHhall
• 5.30 pm. Excursion to the Valley of the Temples (Agrigento) with a guided tour of the Temple of Concordia
• 8.00 pm. Dinner at Akropolis restaurant
• 10.30 pm. Return to the hotel in Sciacca

• 9:00 am. After breakfast, departure for Bivona and visit to the town hall
• 11.00 am. Cooking demonstration by teacher chef Salvatore Argento at the Pirandello Institute in Bivona
• 12.00 pm. Lunch buffet of typical appetizers and Sicilian street food
• 4:00 pm. Return to Sciacca and tour of the city
• 8:00 pm. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay

• 9:00 am. After breakfast, departure from Sciacca
• 10.00 am.  Visit to the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Rocca
• 12.00 pm. Visit of and typical lunch at Baronia della Pietra winery, continuously operating since 1860
• 4.00 pm. Visit to an oregano and saffron farm, boasting very ancient traditions in the production of the “red gold” 
• 6.00 pm. Return to the hotel in Sciacca, after stopping in Alessandria della Rocca for a tasting of 'ncannellate, a simple but delicious almond dessert, typical of the town
• 8:30 pm. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay

• 9.00 am. After breakfast, departure for S. Stefano Quisquina to visit the suggestive Andromeda Theater, a work of the shepherd-sculptor Lorenzo Reina
• 12.30 pm. Transfer to a dairy farm with its own production of cheese varieties. Light lunch with tasting of typical handmade dairy products  
• 4.30 pm. Visit to the hermitage cave of Santa Rosalia alla Quisquina
• 5.30 pm. Transfer to Cianciana to visit an olive oil mill
• 8.00 pm. Dinner at La Torretta restaurant with chef Salvatore Argento
• 10.00 pm. Return to the hotel and overnight stay

• 8.30 am. Departure from the hotel for Marsala where we will visit the Stagnone Nature Preserve with a guided walk among the salt pans (saline) A route made even more suggestive by the changing colors of the pans. Inside the historical windmills, a short
• documentary will explain the complex life cycle and management of a salina, and rhythms of salt harvesting
• 12.30 pm. Visit to the city of Erice, a village nestled on top of Mount San Giuliano with breathtaking views of land, islands, and sea. Free time to grab a light lunch and roam the streets paved in polished stone and geometric patterns, built by ancient peoples who sailed from distant shores of the Mediterranean Sea to settle here
• 5.30 pm. Departure for Palermo, dinner and check-in at the Grand Hotel Wagner
• Free evening

• 9.00 am. After breakfast, guided tour of the Monumental Complex of the Royal Palace and the Palatine Chapel, consecrated in 1140. It is the oldest Royal residence in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oldest section dates back to the Arab domination in the 9th century. The Normans later transformed it into the nerve center of their monarchy
• Visit to the nearby Cathedral, one of the most characteristic monuments of the city. It is a majestic building with a harmonious fusion of different architectural styles. The splendor of its richly adorned façade and its long and complex history will awe you. 
• We will also visit Ballarò, the oldest and largest historic market of Palermo
• Free afternoon
• 8.30 pm. Dinner at Osteria Ballarò, located inside the former stables of Palazzo Cattolica. Here, every product is rigorously produced in Sicily. 
• Return to the hotel and overnight stay

• 9.00 am. After breakfast, departure and visit to the city of Cefalù, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Suspended between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the nearby Madonìe mountains, the city is one of the most evocative and mysterious corners of Sicily, with its medieval streets and the imposing Rocca. 
• Rocca. Lunch at Al Porticciolo restaurant on a large terrace nestled between the suggestive cliff and the perimeter of the Norman town
• 7:00 pm. Transfer to Mondello for check-in at the splendid Hotel La Torre
• Free evening to explore the suggestive coastal neighborhood and the long, sandy shoreline. This lively area includes an Art Nouveau pavilion located at the end of a pier. Seasonal food kiosks and gourmet restaurants line the beach and the streets of this former fishing village

• 9:00 am. After breakfast, departure for Monreale for a visit to the famous 12th century Cathedral. Built by William II of Altavilla, the last Norman king of Sicily, it is famous for its rich Byzantine mosaics
• 11:30 am. Visit to the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia on Mount Pellegrino
• 1:30-6:30pm. Free time in Palermo
• 7:00 pm. Return to Mondello for dinner at the typical trattoria “Da Calogero” or similar coastal restaurant
• 11:00 pm. Return to the hotel and overnight stay

After breakfast, check-out and transfer to the airport