This walking holidays Sicily offers light walking and takes you to the beautiful part of Sicily that is the backdrop for the Inspector Montalbano programmes on television. You will need to hire a car in order to travel from place to place and to do the circular walks.
This light walking and touring holiday takes you to the beautiful part of Sicily that is the backdrop for the Inspector Montalbano programmes on television. You will need to hire a car in order to travel from place to place and to do the circular walks. As well as including many of the locations familiar to avid viewers of the TV series, the itinerary features the beautiful Baroque city of Ragusa; one of Sicily’s deepest canyons; the old Greek city of Syracuse; and opportunities for swimming in the Ionian Sea.
Highlights :
Price:
Included:
Not Included:
Departure Dates:
Any day, all year
1: Arrival
Arrival in Catania. Pick up rental car and drive to Ragusa. Check into hotel close to Ragusa Ibla where the series of Montalbano was filmed.
Overnight and Dinner included
2: Ragusa and Cava Misericordia hike ( 10 km ; 4h +/- 485m)
In the morning nice walk through the Cava della Misericordia on the north of Ragusa. Following a small stream, you will explore the Ragusa countryside and the beautiful canyon crossed by the creek Ciaramito. In the afternoon, you have time to spend in the city of Ragusa with its baroque gems and the Church of Vigata(Cathedral of San Giorgio) and other locations featured in “The shape of the water”, “The voice of the violin” “The snack thief”.
Overnight stay in Ragusa with dinner included
3: Castello di Donnafugata and Punta secca
In the morning drive to Donnafugata and its beautiful castle. Set in rolling countryside among rocks and giant carob trees, the castle dates back to the mid-17th century.
There is time to visit the house and the lush garden. In the afternoon, stop in Punta Secca where you can see the “house”of Montalbano and take a nice walk along the seaside. Back to Ragusa.
Overnight stay in Ragusa with dinner included.
4: Scicli and Vendicari Natural Reserve (3 h walk / +/- 0 m)
In the morning you leave Ragusa and go to Scicli, a small town where the city hall was used as “commissariato” di Montalbano in the first episodes of the TV show. After Scicli, drive to the Vendicari Natural Reserve. The area is on the shore of the Ionian Sea. The lakes inside the reservation welcomes migrating birds during spring and autumn. After a nice walk (and swim), you drive to Noto where you will stay in an Agriturismo close to the city. Overnight stay in the Noto area with dinner included.
5: Cavagrande Canyon and Noto (3 h walk / + 300 m – 300 m)
In the morning, you will go and explore one of the deepest canyons of Sicily. At the bottom of the gorge, a small stream flow down towards the sea. On its way, it has
dug small “swimming pools” where you can take a fresh bathe before the steep uphill walk. In the afternoon, you go to Noto to vist the “garden of stones” as the city is called. It is a gem of Baroque architecture. You then go back to your
accommodation in the Noto area. Overnight stay in the Noto area with dinner included.
6: Rocky Necropolis of Pantalica (4 h walk ; + 200 m – 200 m) and Syracuse
In the morning, you drive to Pantalica Reserve. The area is one of the largest necropolis in Europe with about 4000 tombs excavated in the high cliffs on the shore of the Anapo and Calcinara river. It is set on a magnificent high plateau with plunging gorges. After the visit, you go to Syracuse and check into your hotel.
Free time to visit the historical city centre, the island of Ortigia.
Overnight stay in Syracuse B+B.
7: Syracuse
An entire day dedicated to the visit of the city that was the capital of the Sicilian Greek empire and home of Archimedes. Do not miss the incredible Duomo and the Aretusa Fountain. A visit to the Archeological area will allow you to explore the Roman Amphitheatre and the Greek Theatre.
Overnight stay in Syracuse B+B.
8: Departure
You drive to Catania airport where you drop off your rental car.
