Discover Sicily: history, culture, food and wine on the island of sun.

is pleased to present a new way to enjoy your life experience in Italy:
course + trip
(you can also just attend the course, or a few classes, or you can just enjoy the trip)
Discover Sicily: history, culture, food and wine on the island of sun.
The course: In our Bethesda location, you will enjoy a taste of Sicily’s history, archaeology, art, literature, theater,
movies, food and traditions inherited from the civilizations who have lived on the island for the last four thousand
years: Sicani, Siculi, Elymians, Ausoni, Phoenicians- Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Ostrogoths,
Byzantines, Aghlabid, Fatimids, Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, Spanish, Piedmontese, Austrians,
Bourbons and Italians. Each civilization left on the island its own culture, and modern Sicily reflects the incredible
result of the mixture of these cultures.
Each class will introduce you to a typical dish (or a wine) and you will taste and discover with it the history and the
civilization that brought that dish to the island. The course will be in Italian and in English. The material will be both
in Italian and in English. No grammar will be covered.
The Instructors: Riccardo Cannavò, ICS Board Member is Sicilian. He is a Jurist Doctor with a Minor in history and
a MA in Political Science. In his free time, he is a passionate historian, archaeologist and writer. He currently teaches
Italian Language and Culture at the Foreign Service Institute, US Department of State (Arlington VA). Sabrina
Munaò, Sicilian, has a MA in Political Science, and a Ph.D. in Statistics. Currently, she teaches Italian at Kensington
Parkwood Elementary School (Kensington, MD) and at the ICS.
When: 10 Saturdays: March 15, 22, 29; April 5, 12; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 at 2:00pm – 4:30 pm
Cost: $400 for the 25 hour course. Drop-in $50. Material provided by the Instructor.
***
The trip: Once on the island, you will visit the sites covered in class and will learn how to make delicious Sicilian
dishes. The cooking classes will take place at Feudo Rosso di Cerami, a countryside estate property, built by Prince
Giulio Grimaldi of St. Catherine, in the XVI century, and owned by his descendants, the barons Pirrera Rosso of
Cerami (http://www.feudorossodicerami.com). From Enna, in the heart of Sicily, you will be driven to all the most
interesting sites of the island.
In Sicily, your maestro and guide will be Dr. Davide Pirrera Rosso di Cerami, BA in Tourism, MA in Archaeology,
MS in Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage. He is a professional historian, archaeologist, writer, tour guide,
and professional chef.
Cost: $ 2,400 everything included (except tips and the flight).
When: 12 days in Sicily. Dates: June 2th - 13th; September 1st - 12th. Other dates are easily possible: just contact us,
and we will help you to personalize your vacation, according to your needs and preferences. You will be warmly
welcomed and driven around the more interesting sites of the region.
Discover Sicily: history, culture, food and wine on the island of sun.
Lesson Plan
First lesson:
(ICS, Bethesda)
In Sicily:
Food and wine:
General course introduction. Geography and history of Sicily. Sicily and Italy.
Modern Sicily and the life on the island. The Sicilian language and its heritage.
Sicilian food and its heritage. The first civilizations of Sicily: Sicani, Siculi,
Elymians and other ancient civilizations.
Segesta Archeological Park (located in Calatafimi-Segesta, Trapani).
The Caciocavallo Ragusano DOP, one of the oldest cheeses of the island (XIV
century) to taste with its paired wine.
Second lesson (ICS): The Sicily of the Phoenicians.
In Sicily:
Island of Mozia (UNESCO World Heritage Candidate Site); Town of Marsala;
Baglio Anselmi museum, Cantine Florio in Marsala, Trapani.
Food and wine:
The Sicilian panelle. The Marsala wine.
Third lesson (ICS): The Sicily of the Greeks, the Greek-Punic wars and the struggle for Sicily.
Archimedes of Syracuse.
In Sicily:
Syracuse Archeological Park, Town of Syracuse (UNESCO World Heritage Sites);
Paolo Orsi museum, Archimedes museum (Syracuse)
Food and wine:
Sicilian salumi (cold cuts). Red wines: Nero d'Avola, Syrah and Cerasuolo di
Vittoria. The Etna volcano wine: The Nerello Mascalese.
Fourth lesson (ICS): The Sicily of the Romans and the Punic wars.
In Sicily:
Villa Romana del Casale Archeological Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site),
Town of Piazza Armerina, town of Enna.
Food and wine:
The Piacentino Ennese DOP, one of the Sicilian traditional cheeses and its matching
wine.
Fifth lesson (ICS):
In Sicily:
Food and wine:
Sixth lesson (ICS):
In Sicily:
Food and wine:
The Sicily of the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Byzantines. The Sicilian Puppets Theatre
(UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.)
Valle dei Templi Archeological Park, (UNESCO World Heritage Site), in Agrigento.
The Sicilian Puppet Theatre show.
Sicilian white wines: Grillo, Catarratto and Inzolia. And sweet wines: Moscato,
Passito and Malvasia.
The Sicily of the Arabs (Aghlabid and Fatimids).
Town of Palermo (UNESCO World Heritage Candidate Site.)
The Sicilian eggplant parmigiana. The Sicilian couscous and the arancini.
Seventh lesson (ICS): The Sicily of the Normans and Swabians.
In Sicily:
Towns of Cefalù and Monreale (UNESCO World Heritage Candidate Sites.)
Food and wine:
The Sicilian cassata, the cannoli di ricotta and the Sicilian preserves and honey.
Eight lesson (ICS):
In Sicily:
Food and wine:
The Sicily of the Angevins and Catalans. The Inspector Montalbano tv series.
Towns of Noto, Modica and Ragusa (UNESCO World Heritage Sites.)
The Sicilian caponata. The Sicilian chocolate and the paste di mandorla.
Ninth lesson (ICS): The Sicily of the Spanish, Piedmontese and Austrians.
In Sicily:
Towns of Messina and Taormina.
Food and wine:
Braciole di pesce spada alla messinese. Focaccia tradizionale messinese. Pitoni
fritti and pignolata messinese. The Sicilian granita.
Tenth lesson (ICS): Modern Sicily. The history of the island as part of the Italian Kingdom (since 1861)
and the Italian Republic (since 1946). The Etna volcano.
In Sicily:
Town of Catania. The museum of the Allied invasion of Sicily. The Etna volcano
(UNESCO World Heritage Sites.)
Food and wine:
Pasta alla Norma, risotto ai frutti di mare, risotto ai funghi porcini dell'Etna. The
Sicilian limoncello, the amari (Amaro Averna, Amaro Florio, Amaro dell’Etna and
more). The Sicilian blood orange.
Discover Sicily: history, culture, food and wine on the island of sun
The trip in Sicily (by Davide Pirrera)
11 nights with breakfast, at the Grand Hotel Sicilia, in the Enna historical downtown
(http://www.hotelsiciliaenna.it). Rooms: Option of single, double, for 3 or 4 people.
Cooking school: Feudo Rosso di Cerami (http://www.feudorossodicerami.com/it/home.html).
First Day
Arrival at Aeroporto Catania Fontanarossa.
Transfer Aeroporto – Enna Hotel.
Lunch at the Hotel’s restaurant.
Enna Hotel – Feudo Rosso di Cerami 5:30 pm.
Welcome tour with bocconcini di ricotta e liquore al caffè offered by the Landlord – Davide Pirrera Rosso
dei baroni di Cerami. Tour of the property. Free time.
Feudo Rosso di Cerami – Enna Hotel, 7:30 pm.
Dinner at the ristorante/pizzeria: “Al Castello”.
Second Day
Departure time: 6:00 am.
Enna Hotel – Segesta (2 hours and 30 minutes.) Break at Autogrill Termini Imerese nord.
Visit of Segesta archeological site.
Segesta – Marsala (1 hour.)
Visit of Cantine Florio.
Visit of Marsala historic downtown.
Lunch: 2 options: Trattoria tipica “Garibaldi” in downtown Marsala, or packet lunch.
Museo “Baglio Anselmi” – nave punica (Punic vessel.)
Marsala – Mozia (15 minutes by boat).
Boarding at the “Laguna dello Stagnone”. Strada delle saline (street of the salt pits.)
Mozia: visit of the island and museo Withaker. On the way back to Marsala: panoramic stop at the saline,
during the sunset.
Marsala – Termini Imerese (2 hours.)
Stop for a typical dinner at Trattoria “Pane, Panelle e Poesia”.
Termini Imerese – Enna Hotel (1 hour and 15 minutes.)
Third Day
Departure time: 6:30 am.
Enna Hotel – Siracusa (1 hour and 40 minutes.)
Visit to Apollo’s temple in Ortigia.
Fish market (heaven of the swordfish, tuna, shrimp, live octopus. Characteristic local atmosphere).
Ceramics and characteristic stores in the Greek and Baroque streets in downtown Siracusa.
Lunch- 2 options: Trattoria “La Tavernetta” in downtown or packet lunch.
Visit of the archeological site of the Neapolis.
Piazza Duomo (sites of the Tornatore movie “Malena”.)
Museo “Arckimedeion” and fontana di Artemide.
Siracusa – Lungomare di Ognina (CT) (40 minutes.)
Relaxing walk with the view of the volcanic coast.
Dinner at the ristorante “Me Gusta”.
Ognina – Enna Hotel
Fourth Day
Departure time: 8:30 am.
Enna Hotel – Morgantina (30 minutes.)
Visit of the archeological site.
Museo di Aidone – Dea (Goddess) di Morgantina. Break at the characteristic bar close to the museum.
Aidone – Piazza Armerina (15 minutes.)
Villa Romana del Casale.
Lunch in Piazza Armerina “Caffè des Amis” (charming atmosphere; specialty: arancini, schiacciate, paste
di mandorla and cannoli artigianali.)
Piazza Armerina – Enna Hotel (30 minutes.)
Enna Hotel – Feudo Rosso di Cerami, 6:00 pm – cooking class.
Degustazione salumi siciliani from azienda “Mulinello” (Tasting of Sicilian cold cuts.)
Degustazione Piacentino Ennese.
Cooking class: Parmigiana di melanzane and Paste di mandorla.
Degustazione Amaro Averna and/or Limoncello (providing the recipe)
Feudo Rosso di Cerami – Enna Hotel.
Fifth Day
Departure time: 8:00am.
Enna Hotel – Agrigento (1 hour and 40 minutes.)
Visit at the Valle dei Templi and antiquarium bizantino, Casa Pace.
Lunch - 2 options: Trattoria “Mare Nostrum” by the sea (vino bianco, tagliatelle ai frutti di mare, pepata
di cozze) or packet lunch in the San Leone area.
Enjoy the best ice cream at Gelateria “Le Cuspidi” – San Leone (specialties: ricci, croccantini, gelato
pecorino, crema al pistacchio di mandorle.)
Agrigento – Enna Hotel (1 hour and 40 minutes)
Enna Hotel – Feudo Rosso di Cerami 6:30/7:00 pm – Cooking class: tasting and preparation of:
 Arancini all’ennese (with vino rosso della casa annata 2013)
 Sfogliatine di mandorla con Rosolio alla mandorla
 Macedonia
Feudo Rosso di Cerami – Enna Hotel.
Sixth Day
Departure time: 7:00 am.
Enna Hotel – Palermo (1 hour and 45 minutes.)
Cattedrale (cathedral), Palazzo dei Normanni (Normans palace), Cappella Palatina (dome.)
Lunch at bar/pasticceria “Santoro”, close to the Palazzo dei Normanni.
Chiesa della Martorana (Martorana church). Visit of the historic district “La Kalsa”.
Taste of the “cibo da strada” (street food) in the typical restaurant “Nnì Francu u Vastiddaru” (late
afternoon.)
Palermo – Enna Hotel (1 hour and 45 minutes).
Seventh Day
Departure time: 8.30 am.
Enna Hotel – Cefalù (1 hour and 15 minutes.)
Tour of the downtown, the Duomo Normanno and the piazza.
Lunch - 3 options: Trattoria “La Marina Vecchia” or “Il Gabbiano” or packet lunch.
Cefalù – Monreale (1 hour.)
Visit of the Duomo, quarter “Giambra”, Villa Comunale e Belvedere.
Monreale – Enna Hotel (1 hour and 40 minutes.)
Enna Hotel – Feudo Rosso di Cerami, 6:00/7:00 pm - Cooking class: tasting and preparation of:
 Couscous di pesce
 Crostata alla marmellata
With tasting of delicious local fruit of the season, wine and Amaro Averna.
Feudo Rosso di Cerami – Enna Hotel
Eighth Day
Departure time: 7:30 am.
Enna Hotel – Noto (1 hour and 50 minutes)
Visit of Noto historic downtown, Chiesa di Santa Chiara with terrace, and Palazzo Nicolaci.
Lunch - 2 options: Trattoria “Ducezio” (specialty: pesce spada con agrumi e pistacchio, caponata) or
packet lunch.
Noto – Modica (45 minutes.)
Tour of historical downtown.
Break at the historical pasticceria (pastry shop) “Rosy bar” (specialty: granite e gelato al pistacchio.)
Visit of the chocolate factory “Antica Dolceria Bonajuto”.
Modica – Ragusa Ibla (30 minutes.)
Visit of the historical downtown.
Dinner in Ragusa Ibla, at Ristorante “Il Barocco” (pizza siciliana or typical dishes).
Ragusa Ibla – Enna Hotel (1 hour and 50 minutes.)
Ninth Day
Departure time: 7:30 am.
Enna Hotel – Catania (1 hour and 15 minutes.)
Arrival at Villa Bellini.
Catania – Etna (Half day tour with Sicilian snack), from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm:
Geo-Etna Explorer: hiking to the top of the volcano, to the inactive craters, lava stone caves, lava
“PAHOEHOE” and “AA”, Valle del Bove, panoramas.
Etna – Catania (around 3:00 pm.)
Visit of downtown Catania: Villa Bellini, Via Etnea, Piazza Università, cathedral and Obelisco elefante
“Liotru”.
Catania – Enna Hotel (1 hour and 15 minutes.)
Dinner at the typical ristorante “La Veranda”.
Tenth Day
Departure time: 7:30.
Enna Hotel – Taormina (1 hour and 40 minutes.)
Visit of the downtown, cathedral and the Greek-Roman theater. Enjoy the beautiful panorama.
Taormina – Giardini Naxos (20 minutes.)
Lunch - 2 options: Trattoria tipica “La Spelonca” or Gastronomia e tavola calda “Al Vicolo dei Capricci”.
Giardini Naxos – Messina (40 minutes.)
Orologio astronomico (Bell tower) and Duomo (dome), Fontana di Orione, Chiesa dei Catalani, Chiesa di
Montalto and panorama of the Stretto di Messina.
Messina – Enna Hotel (2 hours)
Dinner in hotel.
Eleventh Day
Enna Hotel – Enna historic downtown.
Free morning. Walk to the Enna Castle and “Rocca di Cerere”.
Lunch at trattoria “Al Castello”.
Enna – Feudo Rosso di Cerami, 6:00pm
Degustazione: caciocavallo ragusano (also grilled) and wine, frittatine di verdure selvatiche, pignolata
messinese (with recepe), limoncello, rosolio, nocino, liquore al caffè.
Pictures and farewell.
Twelfth Day
Enna Hotel – Aeroporto Catania Fontanarossa.
The cost of $2,400 includes this entire experience in Sicily, as described. Only tips are excluded. The
flight to and from Sicily is also not included; travelers have to take care of their own flight purchase.
Please, see The Liability Disclaimer form that follows.
Liability Disclaimer
The Italian Cultural Society of Washington DC Inc. (ICS) does not provide liability insurance for the
protection of individuals who may participate in the Discover Sicily: history, culture, food and wine on the
island of sun course, in US and abroad.
In consideration for your participation in said course, the individual does hereby release and forever
discharge the ICS, and its officers, board, and employees, jointly and severally from any and all actions,
causes of actions, claims and demands for, upon or by reason of any damage, loss or injury, which
hereafter may be sustained by participating in the course, in the US and abroad.
This release extends and applies to, and also covers and includes, all unknown, unforeseen, unanticipated
and unsuspected injuries, damages, loss and liability and the consequences thereof, as well as those now
disclosed and known to exist.
I hereby agree to indemnify ICS and its officers, board and employees, joint and severally from any and all
actions, causes of actions, claims and demands for, upon or by reason of any damage, loss or injury, which
hereafter may be sustained by participating in the course, in the US and abroad.
It is further understood and agreed that said participation in the Discover Sicily: history, culture, food and
wine on the island of sun course is not to be construed as an admission of any liability and acceptance of
assumption of responsibility by the Italian Cultural Society of Washington DC (ICS), its officers, board,
and employees, jointly and severally, for all damages and expenses for which the individual, become liable
as a result of any alleged act in US and abroad.
Name of Organization: The Italian Cultural Society of Washington DC, Inc.
Address:
4827 Rugby Ave., Suite 301 - Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
Name of individual:
___________________________________
Address and phone:
___________________________________
Email address:
___________________________________
Signature:
___________________________________
Date:
___________________________________
All participants must complete this Liability Disclaimer to be eligible to participate in the course.
Travelling abroad.
All individuals are responsible for travelling to and from Sicily. The Italian Cultural Society does not
provide tickets and all individuals are responsible for buying their own air tickets. Davide Pirrera will meet
and greet all participants at the Catania Fontanarossa International Airport.
All individuals are responsible for the documents required to enter EU and Italy. US citizens require only a
valid US Passport, no visa is required. If you are not an US citizen, please check with the Italian Embassy,
Consular Office if you require a visa to enter the EU and Italy. The Italian Cultural Society does not
provide passport or visa assistance; each individual is responsible for providing his/her own documents at
the EU port of entry.
Health insurance/Health emergency.
The Italian Cultural Society strongly recommends that travelers buy health insurance before leaving the
US. In case of health emergency, assistance in Sicily will be provided care of Davide Pirrera and his staff.
I read and understood the paragraphs above: Travelling abroad and Health insurance/Health emergency.
Name of individual:
___________________________________
Signature:
___________________________________
Date:
___________________________________

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