The Wheat Route - from April to October
From the collaboration between Nicosia di Sicilia e Halaesa Nebrodi comes an eno-gastronomic and cultural event that starts from the heart of Sicily retracing the Ancient Via del Grano, a historical route that starts from the gentle ridges of the Erei Mountains, crosses the Nebrodi Mountains and ends up on the tyrrhenian coast overlooking the Aeolian islands.
A route that traces the paths left by ancient Rome along trade routes, which, starting from the inland of Sicily, distributed grain throughout the Empire through the port of the ancient Archonian Halaesa.
Wheat Route Program
DAY 1
ARRIVAL IN HALAESA-NEBRODI: NICOSIA
Once you arrive at Palermo or Catania airport you will be accompanied to Nicosia, a beautiful town rich in history and traditions located in the heart of Sicily, from which our beautiful journey will start. You will visit a charming farmhouse from the 1800s and there it will be possible to visit ancient millstones carved into the rock.
Dinner: will be offered based on typical local products at zero km and, in the company of an expert, you can taste fine wines from various Sicilian wine areas, overnight stay.
DAY 2
NICOSIA, THE AUTHENTIC SOUL OF SICILY
The second day you will experience in Nicosia will be in the company of the Massaro with whom we will prepare fresh pasta together followed by an appetizing lunch with local products. This will be followed by two very pleasant Masterclasses: the first on Sicilian oenography, with a guided tasting of 5 wines, the second on medicinal herbs of which our land is very rich.
We will close the evening in joy with a folkloristic dinner in the masseria, overnight stay.
DAY 3
NICOSIA AND SPERLINGA, IN THE HEART OF THE GALLO-ITALICO
Our journey in the Sicilian hinterland continues towards Sperlinga, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, a small jewel set in the rock where some cave houses still stand today. The town is dominated by the beautiful Medieval castle, built in the sandstone rock above ancient monolithic caves.
After lunch, we'll learn more about Nicosia and its historic center.
Dinner will be enriched by an experiential tasting of dairy products and local buffalo products paired with excellent Sicilian wines, overnight stay.
DAY 4
FROM NICOSIA TO MISTRETTA, WITH THE SEA ON THE HORIZON
During the morning we will arrive in Mistretta, an ancient city in the Nebrodi Mountains rich in a thousand-year history. We will visit the beautiful old town with its noble palaces and churches rich in art. Then we will visit the Cocchiara Ethno-Anthropological Museum, an extraordinary place that preserves the memory of the ancient crafts linked to the territory. Inside there is a valuable collection of glass paintings.
After lunch we will relax with a pleasant gastronomic workshop and bake homemade bread together.
Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 5
SANTO STEFANO DI CAMASTRA: THE CITY OF CERAMICS
This day is entirely dedicated to Santo Stefano di Camastra, a charming village overlooking the Aeolian Islands, whose delightful and colorful shops represent a true widespread museum of the island's ceramic art. During the morning you can visit the MUDIS Museum of Ceramics, rich in a valuable collection of works of art inside which there is also a section dedicated to the Archaeology of the Nebrodi. After lunch you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of ceramics by participating in one of our ceramic workshops in the company of master craftsmen, also tasting local products.
Dinner on your own and overnight stay.
DAY 6
CASTEL DI LUCIO, MOTTA D'AFFERMO AND FIUMARA D'ARTE
During the morning we will reach Castel di Lucio, a pretty medieval village crossed by the Via del grano. Here is located the Ariadne's Labyrinth, one of the most evocative works of the Fiumara d'arte circuit. A few meters away we will have a pleasant lunch followed by an experiential workshop with local flours.
At sunset we will move to the 38th parallel Pyramid, another work of Fiumara d'arte, to witness a suggestive sunset.
Dinner on your own and overnight stay.
DAY 7
TUSA AND HALAESA ARCONIDEA
The last day of the tour ends in Tusa which represents the last stop of our evocative journey linked to the Wheat Road. After visiting the historic center we will have lunch in a local trattoria and then move to the nearby excavations of Halaesa Arconidea, one of the most important Sicilian-Roman cities on the coast and the subject of recent, important archaeological excavations.
Thanks to the splendid view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, we will be able to reconstruct - ideally - the place where the river port of Halaesa arconidea stood at anchors were stationed the ships loaded with foodstuffs and grains from the Sicilian hinterland, ready to leave for ancient Rome.
Dinner on your own and overnight stay.
DAY 8
MORNING BRIEFING AND RETURN TO THE AIRPORT
Starting from Euro
Euro 2480 PER PERSON
min-max 4/ 8 pax
THE PRICE INCLUDES
* transfer to and from the airport
* 7 nights in a double room with private bathroom in the hotel
* treatment as per program
* companion of an expert in Sicilian grains and mills
* entrance to the Museum of Santo Stefano di Camastra
* Pottery Workshop
* Cooking Class
* tastings as per program
* urban trekking
* MBA insurance
THE FEE DOES NOT INCLUDE
* single suppl.to
* meals not mentioned
* anything not specified in the fee includes
NOTE: the itineraries may be modified, for logistical needs. All visits will still be respected, albeit with a different chronological order from what appears to be scheduled. On the occasion of special anniversaries, orAccording to the departure days, the order of visits and hotel services may be subject to some changes, however ensuring the complete execution of the program. Tour with the presence of an expert in Sicilian grains and mills, who will accompany the group through visits, workshops, and cooking classes, dedicated to everyone.
AURAMUNDI viaggi emozionali – ph +39 333 2585380 – info@auramundi.it
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