GOLDEN WEEK IN SICILY
For Women Only
September 2027
Stay Tuned!
100placesinitaly@gmail.com
led by Author Susan Van Allen
Susan Van Allen infuses her tours with enthusiasm, engagement and enchantment!…
–Christina, Massachusetts
Attention All You Wonderful Women!
It’s Time to Treat Yourselves To The Pleasures of Sicily
Delicious Tastes of Sicily / Dazzling Monreale / Splendors of Seaside Cefalu
Valley of the Temples at Sunset / Mount Etna Wine Tasting /
Villa Romana del Calsale’s Amazing Mosaics / Bella Taormina/ Awesome Siracusa
5 Star Hotels
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Depart USA to Palermo, Italy
Day 2: Welcome to Palermo, with Cocktails and Dinner
Day 3: Fun Cooking Class in Palermo
Day 4: Splendid Monreale / Welcome to Agrigento
Day 5: Discover the Scala dei Turchi and Historic Agrigento /
Sunset in the Valley of the Temples
Day 6: Caltagirone, City of Ceramics / Bella Taormina
Day 7: Delights of a Mount Etna Winery
Day 8: Discover Siracusa
Day 9: La Dolce Vita / Farewell Dinner in Taormina
Day 10: Transfer to Catania, Flight Home
For more info, Contact Susan at
100placesinitaly@gmail.com
Small Group Tour – 14 max
Full Itinerary
Golden Day 1: Buon Viaggio!
Today you will transfer on your own to the airport, to catch the overnight flight to Palermo, full of joyful anticipation…
Golden Day 2: Welcome to Your Golden Week
Benvenuta! You’ll be met by our driver at the Palermo airport or train station, then transported to your city center 5-star hotel, where you’ll be immersed in Old World elegance. You’ll have time to relax and unpack, and perhaps take a walk to explore the wonders of the nearby historic center.
In the evening, we’ll gather for an aperitivo to toast the week ahead. Susan will give you tips about keeping a travel journal, so you can create a treasured souvenir of your week through journaling. We’ll dine nearby in a cozy trattoria, enjoying Sicilian specialties, the first of many memorable meals.
Meals Included: D
Golden Day 3: Taste Sicily
Buongiorno! After enjoying the hotel’s abundant breakfast buffet, we’ll set off to immerse ourselves in the beauty and deliciousness of Palermo. We’ll begin our cooking lesson with a chef guiding us through the bustling Capo market to choose the best seasonal ingredients to make our lunch.
Class will take place in our teacher’s 18th century palazzo, where we’ll roll up our sleeves for making traditional Sicilian dishes, including pasta.
Lunch, enjoying the fruits of our labors, will follow
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy this fascinating city, with Susan’s guidance for the best sightseeing, shopping, and restaurants for dinner on your own. And perhaps cocktails at sunset on a rooftop…
Meals Included: B, L
Golden Day 4: Splendid Monreale / Welcome to Agrigento
We’ll depart Palermo this morning for a short ride to a medieval treasure: the Cathedral of Monreale. We’ll be guided through its interior, a massive splendor of dazzling mosaics and an enchanting cloister that symbolizes Paradise on Earth. We’ll have free time to enjoy the hilltop village and have lunch on our own.
Next, we’ll ride through the countryside to arrive in Agrigento’s stunning Valley of the Temples, built by the Greeks in the sixth century BC. We’ll have time to settle into our boutique hotel, with views of the temples and the sea, relax amidst the lovely landscaped gardens and perhaps take a dip in the pool. At dinner we’ll savor southern Sicilian flavors and a most inspiring sight: the Temple of Juno under the starry night sky.
Meals Included: B, D
Golden Day 5: – Discover Agrigento Seaside, Scala dei Turchi, & Historic Center / Sunset Walk through Valley of the Temples
After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll set out to the Agrigento seaside to enjoy a view of a natural masterpiece: the Scala dei Turchi, or Turkish Steps. These white cliffs, created by waves and wind, were named by the Sicilians during the times of Turkish (actually Saracen) invaders, who took shelter here.
From there, we’ll have time to discover the historic center of Agrigento, a colorful pedestrian only stretch of shops, caffes, and restaurants–and enjoy lunch on our own.
Back at the hotel, after a little rest and perhaps a swim, we’ll take a guided sunset walk through the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The experience, in the glowing light, is one for the memory books. For dinner we’ll enjoy deliciousness at one of Agrigento’s most beloved-by-locals restaurants.
Meals Included: B, L, D
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Golden Day 6: – Enjoy the City of Ceramics / Welcome to Bella Taormina
After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll depart Agrigento and set out to discover the hilltop village of Caltagirone, that for centuries has been famous for its tradition of ceramics. The centerpiece of this enchanting spot is a stairway of 124 steps, each decorated with vibrantly painted tiles. There will be time to meet artisans in their shops and enjoy lunch on our own.
From Caltagirone, we’ll travel to Sicily’s east coast and land in the island’s jewel: Bella Taormina. Perched on a cliff overlooking the sparkling Ionian sea, it’s been a haven for pleasure seekers since the days of the Roman Empire.
After settling into our luxurious hotel, which we’ll enjoy for the next 4 nights, dinner will be on your own, with my recommendations of choices that range from folksy pizzerias to chic upscale restaurants.
Meals Included: B
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Golden Day 7: Delights of a Mount Etna Winery / Teatro Greco in Taormina
Today we’ll experience the joyful side of Mount Etna, Sicily’s most dramatic spot. Vineyards thrive on the volcano’s fertile slopes.
We’ll visit a winery that is dedicated to tradition, and innovative, as it’s also dedicated to hiring women.
We’ll have a walk through the winery, be guided through the cellar, and finish with a tasting and lunch of local specialties in this idyllic setting.
We’ll return to Taormina in the afternoon, and then enjoy an early evening walk through town with a local guide, including a stop at the Teatro Greco, originally created by the Greeks and rebuilt by the Romans in the third century.
Afterwards will be twilight strolling, shopping, and dinner on our own.
Meals Included: B, L
Golden Day 8: – Discover Siracusa
We’ll travel back in time with a day in marvelous Siracusa, where Greeks first settled Sicily and built a city that flourished and rivaled Athens. We’ll be guided through the evocative remains of ancient times, including a Greek theater, Roman amphitheater, and the Ear of Dionysus, a cave that’s inspired fascinating legends.
Moving on to the island of Ortigia, the city’s historic center, we’ll be amazed to be surrounded by remains of ancient civilizations beautifully blended with Baroque architecture and pastry shops selling Sicily’s finest sweets. We’ll visit the Duomo, built over a temple that honored the Goddess Athena, with a chapel dedicated to Ortigia’s beloved Santa Lucia. There will be free time for strolling and shopping, we’ll have lunch together at an excellent restaurant in the piazza, and end our visit with a leisurely boat ride, discovering sea caves and toasting the superb experience with local wine.
We’ll return to Taormina by evening, to enjoy dinner on our own.
Meals Included: B, L
Golden Day 9: – La Dolce Vita Day / Farewell Dinner
Today is your day to enjoy Taormina according to your desires, with Susan’s recommendations.
You may choose to enjoy the hotel’s pool, head to the nearby beach, wander and shop Taormina’s charming alleyways, or take a “Godfather Tour” to see villages nearby where the movie was filmed.
In the evening we’ll gather for a Farewell Dinner at one of Taormina’s most beloved restaurants, to celebrate our Golden Week, refreshed and inspired.
Meals Included: B, D
Golden Day 10: Arrivederci…
You’ll depart by private transfer to the Catania airport or train station, with Golden Memories of our week together.
Meals Included: B
Itinerary subject to change. If changes must be made because of weather or unforeseen circumstances, replacement events will be equally as awesome as above.
Activity Level: Bring comfortable walking shoes! The historic centers of the towns and villages we visit and stay in are pedestrian only, and our time there will include some walking together to discover their treasures and time for you to go at your own pace–which may range from settling into a caffe to people watch or exploring further on foot if you wish. You should also be prepared for rocky paths at the ancient sites we visit in Agrigento and Siracusa, which are basically flat, but require attention when walking. Also be mindful that some days will include 2 to 3 hours of private bus rides, so, if necessary, precautions should be taken for motion sickness.
What’s Included
- Entertaining hosting by author Susan Van Allen, focusing on Italy’s celebration of all things female
- 2-night hotel accommodation at a 5* hotel in Palermo (Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes)
- 2-night hotel accommodation at a 5* hotel in Agrigento (Doric Boutique Hotel)
- 4-night hotel accommodation at 4* hotel in Taormina (Villa Taormina)
- Transportation by private minibus, including roundtrip transfers from Palermo airport and to Catania airport
- Daily buffet breakfast at the hotels
- 4 multi-course dinners, with wine
- 1 cooking class followed by lunch
- 1 lunch at a winery
1 lunch in Ortigia - Guided tours of Monreale, Valley of Temples, Taormina and Siracusa
- Private boat excursion around Ortigia island
- Entrance fees to Monreale’s Cathedral, Valley of Temples, Archeological park in Siracusa, Duomo in Ortigia
- Option to take a “Godfather Tour” to see where scenes of the movie were filmed
- Travel Journal
- Gratuities for all group activities
- Charitable donation of $25 to UNICEF
What’s Not Included
- Airfare
- Meals not specified in itinerary
- Gratuities for private transfer drivers and hotel staff
- Optional travel insurance
- Everything not mentioned under “the itinerary includes”
The week is expertly designed and hosted by Susan Van Allen, with a balance of planned group and free-time independent experiences.
[testimonial_pro id=”13098″]
In Partnership with PERILLO TOURS, America’s Leading Tour Operator to Italy for 80 years.
Contact Info
TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE FOR GOLDEN WEEKS, or for more information, contact me at 100placesinitaly@gmail.com
Would you like me to book a Golden Week in Italy for you and your family or friends?
You can gather a group of 10, and we’ll do it!
OR I can custom-design an itinerary for your group—Let’s Talk!
Would you like to arrive early or extend your Golden Week, in Palermo or Taomina? Discounted hotel rates and packages can happily be arranged. Just ask!
