PRE/POST-CHAPITRE PROGRAM

PRE/POST-CHAPITRE PROGRAM

PRE-CHAPITRE PROGRAM : FROM SUNDAY OCTOBER 11, 2015 TO THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2015 POST-CHAPITRE PROGRAM : FROM SUNDAY OCTOBER 18, 2015 TO THURSDAY OCTOBER 22, 2015 RATE = €.1'850,00 PER PERSON.

THE PROGRAM PRICE INCLUDES:

 Hotel accommodation: 5 nights(2 nights in GRAND HOTEL VILLA IGIEA**** in Palermo + 3 nights in GRAND HOTEL EXCELSIOR**** in Catania), inclusive of buffet breakfast. Rate based on a classic room with double occupancy;

 Transportations by comfortable GT buses from your arrival in Grand Hotel Villa Igiea to the end of the tour in Palermo (Grand Hotel Villa Igiea);

 Full board treatment in the restaurants proposed, with set menus including mineral water and wine, except for Thursday October, 15 (PRE-CHAPITRE) and Thursday October, 22 (POST CHAPITRE) when dinner is not included;

 English Speaking Assistance: throughout the tour, guests will be accompanied by an English Speaking Tour Leader always at their disposal.

 English Speaking Guides;

 Entrance fees.

THE ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE TRANSFERS FROM/TO AIRPORT ARE NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE, ADD YOUR REQUEST WITH THE FLIGHT DETAILS IN THE CHAPITRE REGISTRATION FORM.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS = 20 PEOPLE

In case the minimum number of participants (20 guests) will NOT be reached the agency could cancel the tour and reimburse the guests already booked or propose alternative programs.

DEADLINE = May 22, 2015 CANCELLATION POLICY

There will be a penalty of 50% for any cancellation reported from May 22 to July 09, 2015 There will be a penalty of 80% for any cancellation reported from July 10 to September 09, 2015 There will be a penalty of 100% for any cancellation reported from September 10, 2015.

Restaurants proposed could be changed depending on the number of participants and restaurants capacity.

The tour will be in English.

SICILY TOUR “from the sea to the top of Mt. Etna”

Check-in in Grand Hotel Villa Igiea*****

H.07:30 PM - DEPARTURE BY BUS FROM GRAND HOTEL VILLA IGIEA.

H. 08:00 PM - DINNER AT BYE BYE BLUES RESTAURANT - Chef: Patrizia Di Benedetto (1 MICHELIN STAR) - Via del Garofalo, 23 - Mondello (PA)

The history of the restaurant Bye Bye Blues begins in 1991, when Patrizia Di Benedetto, a great lover of the kitchen, and Antonio Barraco, expert sommeliers and bartenders, decided to take over an unnamed pub with kitchen in Mondello. Patrizia, who was born in a family where women were great connoisseurs of traditional Sicilian cuisine, decided to deepen her knowledges by attending various courses, both in Italy and abroad.

The Bye Bye Blues brings in Palermo a line of fresh and innovative cuisine. The cuisine of Bye Bye Blues is distinctly Mediterranean. Its dishes are prepared with local ingredients: vegetables are purchased from small producers of the surrounding area, ensuring the customer taste, freshness and seasonality of the products used, and even the fish comes from local fishermen or that otherwise operate in the Mediterranean. Its activity has received several prestigious awards from the most famous food guides and a large number of positive reviews from the press. In 1997 the restaurant received a prestigious award from L'Espresso guide

as bestpastryrestaurantin Italy and, in 2010, comes the much coveted Michelin star.

H.10:30 PM – DEPARTURE BY BUS AND TRANSFER BACK TO GRAND HOTEL VILLA IGIEA. ACCOMMODATION IN GRAND HOTEL VILLA IGIEA*****

Monday, October 12, 2015 (PRE-CHAPITRE) OR Monday, October 19, 2015 (POST-CHAPITRE) H. 08:00 AM - DEPARTURE BY PRIVATE BUS FROM GRAND HOTEL VILLA IGIEA – PALERMO. GUIDED TOUR AT THE AGRIGENTO VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES

The archaeological area of Agrigento was enlisted by UNESCO in the World Heritage in November, 1997. Agrigento (Akragas) was one of the most thriving centres of Greek civilization in the 5th century, B.C. A few miles away from the modern town, on a southern lower ridge, are still sited the great temples of the ancient city, surrounded by almond groves and ancient olive trees.

The tour of the archaeological park starts with the Temple of Hera (Juno) built at the very top of the hill. Magnificent views of the landscape, coastline and the Mediterranean Sea. Then walk for about one mile downhill and stop along the main path to admire the city fortifications and Byzantine arcosolia, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Herakles, the Temple of Zeus and the Sanctuary of Chtonian Deities (Temple of Castor and Pollux). You'll discover the secrets behind their construction, gain insight into the civilization that produced them and get to know the personages that made ancient Akragas "the most beautiful of mortal cities"

LUNCH AT “AKROPOLIS” RESTAURANT

The Akropolis restaurant is immersed in the archaeological park of the Valley of the Temples. From its large windows you can see, a picturesque landscape whose only protagonists are the Temple of Concordia and Juno to the east and the Temple of Hercules in the opposite side. Here you can enjoy the flavors of an ancient

GUIDED TOUR AT KOLYMBETHRA GARDEN

Giardino della Kolymbethra is an extraordinary place for the magical blend of nature and the wealth of archaeological finds which are still being discovered today. It occupies an area of approximately five hectares inside the Valley of the Temples, within tuff walls making up its natural perimeter, standing between Tempio di Castore e Polluce and Tempio di Vulcano. Many unique plant species grow here, some of which are no longer cultivated today, outside the property.

The origins of the Garden date back to the period when the Greeks colonised Sicily (500 B.C.) and its history is linked to the development of the ancient city of Akragas .

Diodoro Siculo wrote that the tyrant Terone engaged architect Feace to design a system to supply the city with water. Thanks to this new system of channels, the Greeks of Akragas were able to transform the arid Sicilian earth into a flourishing garden rich with Mediterranean plants. In the last decades of the 1900s, due to the old farmers’ inactivity, Kolymbethra fell into a state of abandon until FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano (The National Trust for Italy) intervened.

TRANSFER TO CATANIA - Check-in in Hotel.

ACCOMMODATION IN GRAN HOTEL EXCELSIOR CATANIA****

The Grand Hotel Excelsior Catania is a prestigious four-star hotel located in the center of Catania, the second largest city in Sicily.

The rooms and suites are decorated in Mediterranean colors to recreate a classic and refined.All the rooms have the necessary comforts and technological plus as PC socket. Individual safes with personal combination locks are provided in every room. The third floor has been reserved for non-smokers.

Available also DELUXE rooms with a supplement.

L’incontro bar is an open space done in the warm tones of the earth and sun. The richly decorated bar area, with luxury woodwork and elegant furnishings, give it an atmosphere of great refinement.

A pleasant spot for some after-dinner relaxation to the notes of a grand piano. A highly regarded venue for locals as well.

h.08:00 PM - DINNER AT ‘I CROCIFERI’ RESTAURANT, Piazza S. Francesco 14 Catania AFFILIATED TO CHAÎNE DES RÔTISSEURS

"I crociferi" restaurant is a true example of style and elegance, which combines, in a refined setting, the joy and the pleasure of being at the table.

The kitchen is strictly Mediterranean with quality products. Vito Fusari, chef and owner of the restaurant since 1974 cares the choice of ingredients with extreme scrupulousness; undisputed star of the menu is fresh fish.

Tuesday, October 12, 2015 (PRE-CHAPITRE) OR Tuesday October 20, 2015 (POST-CHAPITRE) h.09:00 TOUR AT THE ETNA VOLCANO

The pick-up will be in your hotel in Catania.

Please, wear sturdy confortable closed shoes or hiking boots, windproof jacket and cap.

Drive along the track of an old lava flow by 4x4 cars (each car, with max 6 pax each, will be connected by radio to the guide) to the crater Sartorius from which you will continue with a pleasant soft walk to the mouth of the crater, accompanied by an expert local guide.

h.12:45 WINE TOUR AT BARONE DI VILLAGRANDE CELLAR + LUNCH

Guided tour of the Company, producing DOC wines well known as an authentic expression of the territory and visit at the ancient cellar built in 1850.

Welcome in the terrace from where you could admire the splendid panorama of the Gulf of Catania and the company vineyards which are structured as an amphitheater. You will listen to the history of wine in the Etna territory, with a focus on its peculiarities.

Visit at the ancient cellar where you will be introduced to the company wines, the variety of grapes and finally you will explore the topic of aging wine in barrels.

At the end of the tour Sicilian lunch with wine tasting. H.03:30 PM - TRANSFER BACK TO CATANIA

FREE TIME

h.19:30 DINNER AT ‘DONNA CARMELA’ RESTAURANT, Contrada Grotte n. 5 - Carruba di Riposto (CT).

This elegant restaurant is located behind the summit of Etna, near the glimpse of the Ionian Sea.

The boutique hotel that houses the restaurant, a beautiful noble residence of the late nineteenth century, is in the midst of vineyards, palm trees, orange blossom, lemon, olive groves, numerous floral beauties of Mediterranean vegetation and subtropical plants.

At the stove we find Chef Giuseppe Puglisi with a kitchen characterized by a clear territorial identity.The focus of this restaurant is to make every dish a masterpiece of culinary art, so the choice of using fresh products from its own garden and the maniacal passion and care in preparation.

October 14, 2015 OR October 21, 2015 (POST-CHAPITRE) h.09:00 DEPARTURE BY BUS FROM YOUR HOTEL

HALF DAY TOUR OF TAORMINA

Guided walking tour of Taormina, passing the enchanting façade of the San Domenico Church and 10th-century Palazzo Corvaja, visiting the Greek-Roman Theatre, walking down elegant Corso Umberto to the baroque fountain on Piazza del Duomo.

H.01:00 PM - LUNCH AT ‘LA CAPINERA’ RESTAURANT (1 Michelin star),Via nazionale n.177 - Taormina mare, loc. Spisone (ME)

AFFILIATED TO CHAÎNE DES RÔTISSEURS

The restaurant, with its elegant and comfortable furniture and its beautiful terrace overhanging on the Ionian Sea, is located in Taormina mare. It is properly considered one of the best Italian restaurants. Michelin starred and consecrated by critics, it combines the creativity of its chef, Pietro D'Agostino, with the typical regional excellence, creating the best reinterpretation of the Sicilian culinary tradition. From fish to vegetables, the quality of raw materials is the other side of the success of The Capinera (along with the touch of the chef, of course).

IN THE AFTERNOON GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF CATANIA (DURATION APPROX. 2 HRS)

You will visit the historical centre stated Unesco World Heritage Site, with its original baroque style and its unique streets built with black lava stone. The city was the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily under the Aragonese dynasty and still preserves ruins of the Imperial Roman period despite having been rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693.

The walking tour will start across the “pescheria” (the ancient fish market) to reach the scenic Duomo square with its magnificent Cathedral and the famous “Liotru” statue, symbol of the city.

Not far from here you will reach the University Square and you will have a walk along the splendid baroque Via dei Crociferi, where you will admire the famous S. Benedict Monastery, Unesco World Heritage Site. On the way back to the hotel, you will stop in a typical pastry shop to taste typical sweets (“minnuzze” and “olivette” of Saint Agatha, almond biscuits etc.) or the famous granite.

h.20:00 DINNER AT ‘I CLERICI’ RESTAURANT - Via Cardinale Dusmet, 21/23 – Catania

The meeting between the classic style and the taste for modern forms and colors give birth to the restaurant "I Clerici", where ancient and modern come together in an impressive backdrop of indisputable elegance.

October 15, 2015 OR October 22, 2015 (POST-CHAPITRE) H.08:00 DEPARTURE FROM YOUR HOTEL BY BUS

GUIDED TOUR OF PIAZZA ARMERINA AND VILLA ROMANA DEL CASALE

Piazza Armerina is an area of great archaeological interest. One of the most important finds so far made is that of the famous mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale .

With an area of over 3500 square meters, the Villa was the hunting residence of Maximilian Herculean, a colleague of Diocletian in the management of the Roman Empire.

It is now an amazing testimony of life in Roman times due to its mosaic floors, famous throughout the world. The performance of these mosaics is now attributed to African teachers, as inventors of this art that spread in countries with which it came into contact. The importance of the villa to the global nature is due to the impeccable condition of the mosaics, also considered the largest and most beautiful ever built in Roman times. In these works you can see scenes from Homer's works, mythological scenes and images of everyday life, always carried out very vividly.

The Villa has four main clusters identified in: main entrance area and spa; peristyle with living quarters, private rooms, and basil, triclinium and elliptical courtyard. They are arranged in a terrace to adapt to the characteristics of the land on which to stand.

LUNCH AT “AL FOGHER”

At “Al fogher” you could taste a kitchen who plays with great flair islanders products with digressions on the continent in a romantic atmosphere.