Italy, Sicily - Heart of Sicily
A true immersion in the heart of Sicily, a melting pot of ancient civilisations. This is a fascinating journey on which you discover the true depth and richness of the island's history, culture and agricultural heartlands.
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Program
Preliminary day-by-day program
Day 1: Arrival
Transfer from Palermo airport and arrive at Casa "Il Bosco", a charming restored nineteenth century country house, immersed in the wild countryside of the Madonie Park, with breathtaking views of the island's north coast and the Aeolian Islands. You will enjoy a dinner prepared with local produce and spend the night here.
Day 2: Casa "Il Bosco" - Casalvecchio (hours of riding: 7.5)
After breakfast you will be assigned your horse for the trail and we will set off from Casa "Il Bosco" at about 8.30 in the morning. The day will begin with a beautiful climb up through wild Mediterranean vegetation and woods, with fantastic views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. We will pass close to the town of Castelbuono and stop for a picnic lunch by an old water mill, before riding up the valley of the River Pollina, one of the most fascinating, wild, panoramic and least known areas of Sicily, to reach Agriturismo Casalvecchio, on the boundary between the wild territory of the Madonie Park and the endless cultivated fields of Sicily's interior. Our guests will spend the night here and enjoy a delicious dinner prepared with produce straight from the farm.
Day 3: Casalvecchio - Baglio San Pietro (hours of riding: 6.5)
After breakfast, we will leave Casalvecchio at around 8.30 in the morning. We will ride through pastures and along old pathways with beautiful views towards the centre of Sicily, to reach the village of Sperlinga, a fascinating place characterised by troglodyte dwellings, some of which are still in use today, and its unique castle, which is carved into the rock. Here we will stop for a picnic lunch and visit the village and its castle, before a short ride to reach Baglio San Pietro, a restored farmstead dating from the seventeenth century and equipped with a swimming pool, where we will have dinner and spend the night. Our accommodation sits on the edge of the town of Nicosia, one of the most important towns in the province of Enna.
Day 4: Baglio San Pietro - Agira (hours of riding: 7)
After breakfast, we will set off at around 8.30 in the morning. We will begin the day by descending into the valley of the Salso Cimarosa River, which we will then follow, immersed in unspoilt nature and surrounded by the impressive peaks of the Erean Mountains. We will stop for a picnic lunch near the small town of Nissoria. In the afternoon we will ride through eucalyptus forests and rolling, open countryside to reach the territory of Agira, in the heart of Deep Sicily. We will leave the horses overnight and take a short transfer to the centre of the old town of Agira, perched on a mountain above the surrounding countryside. Dinner and overnight at the characteristic Case al Borgo, immersed in the cobbled streets of Agira.
Day 5: Agira - Agriturismo Bannata (hours of riding: 7.5)
We will set off from the territory of Agira at about 8.30 in the morning and cross rolling hills, riding through endless fields of grain and forage. After several hours, we will reach the breath-taking and little-known Castello di Pietratagliata, a castle perched precariously atop a jagged rock, first documented in the fourteenth century, whose origins are shrouded in mystery and legend. We will stop here for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we will ride on through agricultural land, climbing to take in beautiful views of the surrounding countryside and passing through the fascinating and mysterious site of Monte Rossomanno. We will then continue along sandy tracks through woods of eucalyptus and pine to reach Agriturismo Bannata, a charming rural hotel equipped with a swimming pool, where we will enjoy a delicious dinner and spend the night.
Day 6: Agriturismo Bannata - Agriturismo Il Mandorleto (hours of riding: 7)
We will leave the hotel around 8.30 in the morning and ride through eucalyptus forests and along forgotten valleys to reach the little-known, fascinating archaeological site of Montagna di Marzo. We will briefly visit the site (on horseback) and stop for a picnic lunch nearby. In the afternoon, we will continue to ride through open countryside to reach Agriturismo Il Mandorleto, based in an old agricultural hamlet and famous for its production of almonds, one of the most important ingredients in Sicily's culinary tradition. Delicious dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Agriturismo Il Mandorleto - Torre di Renda (hours of riding: 6)
After breakfast, we will leave the hotel at around 8.30 in the morning and ride through rolling fields of wheat and hay and peaceful eucalyptus forests to reach the Lake of the Olivo Dam, before stopping for a picnic lunch in the woods. In the afternoon we will descend a scenic valley to arrive after about one hour at the Villa Romana del Casale, one of the most important historical sites in Sicily and boasting around 3500m² of spectacular mosaics dating from the fourth century. After visiting the Villa Romana, we will ride on to Torre di Renda, a charming hotel which was formerly the local bishop’s residence, in the territory of the famous medieval town of Piazza Armerina, equipped with a swimming pool. Dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast we will transfer you to the airport in Catania.
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