A great trip to Sicily is being planned for June 2026 by Tampa Sister Cities. The trip is offered by Tampa-Agrigento Sister Cities Committee through Piazze d'Italia and curated by the Tour Operator Exciting Horizon.
This Journey to the Roots trip is filling up quickly.
A Deposit of $1,500 due by December 10.
Cost $ 4,200 per person.
Deposit $ 1,500 to secure your place and balance to be paid by March 10 before departure. With double occupancy at the hotel,
including breakfast.
INCLUDED (see list included in the package):
- Transfers from hotel to Airport (not included
transfer from Palermo Airport to Cinisi Hotel) - Expert tour leader for all 10 days;
- Guides;
- Entrance fees to museums, parks, etc;
- Meals (lunches or dinners as indicated).
NOT INCLUDED:
- Air fare
- Medical insurance and travel insurance
(Exciting Horizon Tour can provide a quote) - Single room supplement, gratuities, lunches
and dinners not listed, porterage at the airport,
anything not specified under "included".
For additional information contact Mario by email at: mario@piazzeitalia.com or by phone at (813) 210-0251
Thank to all of you for participating to this great trip
GRAZIE!!! GRAZIE!!! GRAZIE!!!
Vince J Pardo, Chair
Agrigento Sister Cities Committee
- Arrival day for all participants at Palermo Airport.
- Transfer to the Magaggiari Hotel in Cinisi (included).
- Dinner at Andrea il Pirata restaurant (not included)
09:30
- After breakfast, a day dedicated to Palermo, first
honoring its patron saint and protector by visiting
Mote Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa
Rosalia. Next, we'll descend to Palermo and visit
the Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in
Italy and the third largest in Europe, an icon of
majestic architecture and excellent acoustics. - Lunch at the Casa del Brodo restaurant (included).
- We'll then move on to the nearby Cathedral, one
of the city's most distinctive monuments. In the a
ternoon, enjoy shopping in the historic center.
Afterwards, return to the hotel
09:30
- After breakfast, depart for Castellammare del
Golfo, a charming and characteristic town overlooking
a natural gulf dominated by its beautiful
Arab-Norman castle. - Then, depart for Sciacca for lunch at La Cambusa
restaurant (included) - Afterwards, we'll visit a famous fish canning
company renowned for the quality of its
products. We're talking about the Scalia
company, which, thanks to the generous fruits of
its city's sea, especially anchovies and sardines,
has brought the flavor of Sicily to the world. We'll
taste its products in its shop - Afterwards, we'll head to the Hotel Torre del
Barone in Sciacca for check-in.
10:00
- After breakfast, we'll depart from the hotel for a
visit to the Almond Factory of the Pendino
Cugini. This family, driven by a passion for agriculture
and a desire to export their produce, began
their own business after many years spent in the
countryside. - We'll meet them and taste their products.
- We'll move on to Santo Stefano Quisquina to visit
the evocative Andromeda Theater, a work by the
sculptor Lorenzo Reina. - Afterwards, we'll head to the Ferranti Dairy Farm,
where we'll enjoy a tasting of their products. - Return to the hotel in Sciacca.
10:00
- After breakfast, depart from the hotel for San
Biagio Platani & Sant'Angelo Muxaro. We'll meet
our guide, who will take us to visit the homes of
local residents and sample their traditional
dishes. - In the afternoon, we'll visit the Azienda Agricola
Baronia della Pietra winery, where they
continue, on the same soil, with love, devotion,
and gratitude, the work begun by their ancestors
in 1860, following nature in growing the fruits that
this land provides. - During the visit, we'll enjoy lunch with a tasting of
traditional dishes. - Afterwards, in Alessandria della Rocca, we'll visit
the town hall to greet the mayors of the towns in
the Sicani Mountains. - Return to the hotel in Sciacca.
11:00
- After breakfast, departure from the hotel to the
Piazza winery, which has also been in business
for four generations, and which values agriculture
both for the family and the region. - After a tour of the winery, lunch will be served on
the Agriturismo's terrace, featuring typical local
dishes.
- After breakfast, departure from Agrigento
towards Catania. Along the way, we'll see the
famous Scala dei Turchi. - Next, we'll head to the Valley of the Temples
(Agrigento). Here, accompanied by a certified
guide, we'll enter the archaeological park to visit
the Temple of Concordia. - We'll then move on to Enna and La Veranda
restaurant for lunch (included) - We'll then head to the Hotel in Catania/Siracusa
zone for check-in.
10:00
- After breakfast, we'll depart for Taormina to visit
the "Pearl of the Ionian Sea." Accompanied by a
guide, we'll visit the famous Greek theater and
then explore the narrow streets of the town, a
destination and inspiration for writers, painters,
and musicians. - Next, we'll head to the terrace of a famous restaurant
(included) where you can enjoy lunch while
enjoying a spectacular view of the gulf.
Free time in the city until 5:30 PM and return to
the hotel.
- After breakfast, we'll travel to the Noto Valley,
home to eight cities listed as UNESCO World
Heritage Sites for their late Sicilian Baroque style,
born from the reconstruction of this entire area
after the destructive earthquake of 1693. - The Noto Valley includes the cities of Noto,
Modica, Syracuse, and Catania (although it is
geographically outside the area). - Today, we'll visit Syracuse, a city founded in 734
BC by Greek colonists from Corinth and described
by Cicero as "the Greatest and most beautiful of
all the Greek cities." You'll be accompanied by a
certified guide to the Neapolis Archaeological
Park, which houses most of Syracuse's ancient
monuments that have survived to the present
day. The thrill of strolling through a theater where
Aeschylus performed his plays 2,500 years ago
will make you feel like a citizen of that era. - After visiting the park, we'll descend to the island
of Ortigia for lunch at a typical restaurant
(included) in the city market. Next, we'll visit the
old city of Syracuse, where we'll admire its
Baroque palaces and churches, and its spectacular
settings. Afterwards, we'll return to the hotel.
10:00
- We'll visit the center of Catania with its characteristic
fish market. Next, we'll explore the "determining
force" of this area: Mount Etna. - We'll observe the influence, strength, and vitality
of nature. You'll see lunar landscapes and landscapes
where you'll notice how life slowly and
forcefully reclaims its place. - Lunch will follow at a local restaurant (included)
5:00 PM Return to the hotel.
10:00
- After breakfast, we'll visit Modica.
Built on multiple levels, it dramatically unfolds
vertically, expressing a highly opulent Baroque
style. Modica is also the capital of cold-pressed
chocolate, an ancient Mexican recipe brought to
Sicily by the Spanish and which has preserved its
tradition in this city. We'll visit a prestigious chocolate
factory, entering their laboratory and discovering
the secrets of this recipe. - At the end of the visit, we'll move to the "Si Può
Fare" Onlus cooperative, located 3 kilometers
from the city. This high-quality and innovative
company supports and promotes social integration
and employment for disadvantaged
individuals through personal services and
activities related to a Social Agriculture program
that involves a strong partnership between
public/religious and social welfare institutions,
private entities, and third-sector organizations.
Here, one of the members will guide us through
their fresh produce production and the packaging
chain for their preserved foods. - We'll enjoy a FAREWELL LUNCH (included) in
their brand- new restaurant. Next, we'll visit the
city of Noto, the capital of this area, so named for
its extraordinary urban and architectural
reconstruction after the earthquake.
The city center is a true Baroque setting, wherearchitectural
detail is designed to create a unique
aesthetic experience. At the end of the day, we'll
return to the hotel.
The trip has come to an end.
After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for the end of services.
