- Duration
- From 1 Day to 6+ Days
- Location
- Sicily
- Private tour of Sicily completely customized to your interests and schedule
- Led by PhD and MA-level historian, ecologist, and other local experts
- Your choice of sites
Fill out our CUSTOM FORM or email us at custom@contexttravel.com to get started.
Itinerary Inspiration
- Taormina Boat Cruise - Sail along Taormina’s coastline, from Giardini Naxos, to admire some of Sicily’s most spectacular sights such as Isola Bella Island (which is known for its lush vegetation and the Grotta Azzurra) and along the rocky Cap of S.Andrea which closes the Bay of Mazzarò where the mesmerizing Villa S.Andrea is located. In the summer and autumn months, there is a chance to swim in Taormina’s beautiful waters. Depending on the time of the tour, an aperitif, a light lunch or dinner made with all fresh local products will be served.
- Street Food & Culture in Catania - Tasting Catania’s street food is the best way to understand the city and its inhabitants. On this walking tour, we will explore some of the center’s most characteristic alleys, making stops at some of the city’s iconic food landmarks and exploring the history of Catania. We will go further than just trying local cheeses, sundried tomatoes, and arancini (stuffed rice balls). We will navigate such specialties as cipolline (pastry filled with cheese, onions and sauce), cipollate (bacon rolled around a green onion), zuzzu (pork gelatin), granita, minni ri virgini (a ricotta cheese dessert shaped as breasts) and scricciu (a soft drink made from soda water and lemon, tangerine or grape-flavored syrup). We will visit some of its most beautiful monuments, including St. Agatha Cathedral, the Piazza del Duomo with its Liotru (lava elephant), and the 2nd-century Roman amphitheater. We will also take a delightful stroll along via Crociferi, the most scenic street of Catania, which is surrounded by superb baroque churches and convents.
- Savoca - The Godfather Saga Tour - This tour begins at the picturesque town of Savoca, which is of particular interest to Godfather aficionados. Here, we will begin to enjoy a half-day with our guide, strolling through the town, understanding its history and visiting some of the most iconic settings in the Godfather saga: the Church of Santa Lucia/San Nicolò. This was used as the setting for Michael and Apollonia's wedding, the famous bar Vitelli where Michael meets his future wife and asks for her hand. In Savoca, we will also stop at the Capuchin convent which crypt contains some 32 embalmed bodies from the 18th and 19th centuries. The bodies (mostly noblemen) are displayed in wooden coffins and niches. We then head to another lovely hilltop village named Forza d'Agro, where scenes from The Godfather II & III were shot, notably the scenes showing Vito being pursued by Don Ciccio's men.
- Etna Helicopter tour - Once at 3,500 mt (11,500 ft), we will be able to admire the unique lunar landscape that characterizes Mount Etna, and its smoking craters. This flight will give a unique vista on the life of this majestic volcano, with its long highways of black lava and jaw-dropping craters. It will also help us to better understand the ever-changing nature of the Etna and the impact it has had on the surrounding landscape, which can only truly be appreciated from the sky. The 20-minute flight is carried out with an Ecureil AS 350.
- Etna and the Aeolian Islands Helicopter Tour - An unforgettable flying experience which will take us first above Etna at 3.500 mt (11500ft.), and then through the “Channel of Messina” with its wonderful sights of the sanctuary of Tindari and its beautiful white beach. Once there, we can admire the Island of Vulcano with his “Gran Cratere," the Faraglioni of Lipari and Panarea. The Stromboli (one of the most active volcanoes of the world) will astonish you with its natural fireworks. This tour includes a 2 hour stop in the beautiful island of Panarea before heading back to Taormina.
- How many hours would you like the tour to last?
- What are your main goals for the tour?
- Which sites, venues, or topics would you like to prioritize?
- Do you have any mobility concerns?
- Describe your group’s interests and personality.
FAQ
- How many days would you like the tour to be?
- Do you have specific goals for your trip?
- Which sites and venues would you like to prioritize? Do you want to just pass by or explore inside as well?
- Do you have any mobility concerns?
- Who are you traveling with? What are their ages and interests?
Trude holds a PhD in Early Modern History from the University of Catania. Her doctorate thesis focuses on the history of Palermo. Trude also studied in Palermo and Berlin, and worked on a variety of projects in Madrid and London. She has been a lecturer in History at the University of Palermo for more than ten years. Trude is fluent in English and German, and published several essays about Sicily. Her passion for history and culture extends beyond her intimate knowledge of the island, and this is one of the reasons why she makes a great tour leader, allowing her to contextualize the information she shares with our guests. She loves any opportunity to share her knowledge and passion with others.
Cetty holds a degree in architecture from the University of Palermo. After her graduation, she moved to the United States where she attended a course in interior design at the New York School of Visual Arts. After many years in Boston and New York, where she worked for several architectural firms, Cetty has returned to Sicily, her native land, and now leads cultural tours in Palermo and beyond. Her walks are infused with her interests in architecture and the history of arts.
Anna holds a Master's degree in art history from the University of Florence, where she specialized in modern art. She then worked at the Sorbonne University in Paris, where she took great interest in Renaissance and Baroque art. She moved on to the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and worked with the section heritage and collections, doing research on 17th century French sketches and engravings. Upon her return to Ragusa, her native town in Sicily, she enrolled in a Master’s program at the University of Catania. There, her research concentrated on the 18th century baroque art and architecture in south-east Sicily.
