itinerary of Pachiono

1. Itinerary for a group of 16 people for 4 nights and 5 days. Visit
Pachino, Marzamemi and Portopalo. From 05/04/2017 to
08/05/2017. Overnight stay in hotel Cielo.

2. First day
04/05/17 08:00 Arrival in Catania and transfer from the airport to Marzamemi.
04/05/17 10:30 Arrival at the hotel and accommodation.
04/05/17 11:00 Visit of the trap of Mazamemi.(1)
04/05/17 12:30 Lunch at the restaurant. “Il Principino.”
04/05/17 14:00 Visit of Villadorata palace. (2)
04/05/17 15:30 Walk along the seaside village.
04/05/17 17:30 Boat tour by Sikelia sail-tour.
04/05/17 19:30 Back to the hotel and dinner.
04/05/17 21:00 Folk music evening at Caribbean theme.

3. Trap of Mazamemi
The Tonnara of Marzamemi, built in the sixteenth century, is one of the
oldest and most important tuna fisheries in eastern Sicily. The
environment that originally served as a shelter for the big boats of the
trap, so-called scieri, today become the loggia, one large room of about
750 sqm., Traversed by the ancient tuff arches and overlooking the sea
and the old fishing port.

4. Villadorata palace.
The Palace of Villadorata, built in 1752 by the will of his Prince and is located in the west
side of Regina Margherita square. All around the old fishermen's houses, built in
sandstone, the Villadorata house looks like a simple façade with a wooden entrance
door whose portal is represented by an arch, with the center, a key with the family arms
, dominated by ancient gutters stone depicting human faces. At the top of the building
we notice a small tower with loopholes, decorated with pinnacles and several bas-
reliefs depicting geometric motifs. This tower formerly used to ward off any attacks on
the town from pirate ships, later became the summer terrace of the family Villadorata.
Today the palace is used as a location for numerous events, such as shows and film sets,
like for example "South" by Gabriele Salvatores or the more recent "Caravaggio."

5. Second day
05/05/17 7:30 First breakfast
05/05/17 9:00 Moving to Portopalo and visit of the trap. (3)
05/05/17 11:00 Visit of Tafuri castle. (4)
05/05/17 12:30 Lunch at “Pensione scala” .
05/05/17 15:00 Guided tour of “Capo passero” island and hike on the island.
(5)
05/05/17 19:00 Rally in the square "Terrace of the two seas"
05/05/17 20:00 Dinner at the restaurant "The giara" and free evening.
05/05/17 00:00 Back to the hotel and overnight stay.

6. Trap of Portopalo
The trap of Portopalo, as well as that of Marzamemi, was a back trap.
Fishing straight from which originates the current trap dates back to
medieval times. In 1774 the property is passed to the Prince of
Villadorata Corradino Nicolaci that modernizes the system and invests
in new equipment both mobile and fixed. In 800 it was turned off for a
period and then be rearmed in 1895 by Don Pietro Bruno Belmonte. The
tuna was "dropped" on a yearly basis until 1969.

7. Tafuri castle.The history of the Tafuri castle began in 1933, when the Marquis of Bruno Belmonte,
fascinated by the scene of the territory was then under the province of Pachino,
wanted to build a majestic building, it was the height of the natural wonders of the
area. The work, designed by the Crotti of Florence, in complete style Liberty, was
built with the sole of the island quarry material of Currents and was completed in
1935. The castle, which is right next to the one that was the trap of Portopalo, was
never inhabited by the Belmonte family, because this house was designed as a summer
residence. In the 60's Bruno family of Belmonte have step the ownership of the castle
to Gaetano Tafuri from Pachino. It then became a place for dance evenings until the
mid-90s when it was transformed into a prestigious hotel by a contractor from
Siracusa. Now unfortunately the castle is abandoned and it is for sale.

8. “Capo passero” island
After the panoramic view of island “Capo Passero” you get into the hinterland:
you will find the warehouses of the old tuna, which houses the tools of
Portopalo. From here starts a narrow path clay, between the rich vegetation
of palmettos, which will take you to Forte di Capo Passero, a valuable work
of military architecture of the 600, which dominates the island . Built by
the will of the viceroy of Sicily Marcantonio Colonna in 1583, this fortress
was completed in 1652 under the reign of King Philip III of Spain.
Immediately next to the fort, you can admire the bronze statue of the
Blessed Virgin Mary Scala del Paradiso, created by Mario Ferretti and
inaugurated in 1959, dominating with her eyes the island, a look that
"protects" the sailors and Portopalo town. the island of Capo Passero until
the mid-eighteenth century was connected to the mainland by a narrow
sandy isthmus, on the west bank of Capo Passero, just across the center of
Portopalo, there are still the buildings of the old tuna, which are still present
scieri the vessels used for fishing of tuna) and large iron anchors. In the
central part of the island we find the Garrigue in Palma Nana typical of
rocky areas. Sand near the dunes, present in the south of Capo Passero there
is a halophyte vegetation, formed by Weeden of the beaches, sea lilies,
Salsola plantos, Euforbia plants and maritime European sea rockets.

9. Third day
06/05/17 7:30 First breakfast
06/05/17 8:30 Departure for “Vendicari oasis”. (6)
06/05/17 12:30 Packed lunch in the “Reserve of Vendicari”.
06/05/17 15:00 Guided tour of “Tellaro’s villa”.(7)
06/05/17 17:30 Food tasting fat "Campisi’s".
06/05/17 19:30 Back to the hotel and dinner.

10. Vendicari oasi
Also this year Vendicari and all the town of
Noto are among the locations, "rewarded"
with the four sail blue Legambiente. The
parameters considered for the award of the
sails are the quality and the cleanliness of
bathing water, effectiveness of separate
collection of waste, the sustainable
management of resources, the presence of
pedestrian areas, efficiency of services,
enhancement of the landscape and locals.
An important awards for the town of
Noto, for its commitment to continue to
preserve and consistently protect a
beautiful area, concerns the wildlife of
Vendicari oasis.

11. Tellaro’s villa
The Tellaro Roman Mosaics are a vivid reminder of Roman Sicily which
associate the experience of tasting dishes of ancient Rome with its
production of aromatic herbs and ancient grains. Marco Gavius Apicius
leads to the world of recipes related to the period in which fris located;
the villa and its mosaics, show how they seasoned the dishes. So , they
decided to grow them from them. He said:" The garden today is full of
different herbs, only closer it is surrounded by well-known perfumes and
others less. "Even for the wheat we started from scratch; at the beginning
we'd take him in a mill of Rosolini; Now, however, in addition to
cultivate the grind with us. That's why we propose the water ginger
wine with black pepper and honey, from barley meatballs patina or libum
Cato, from bruschetta epityrum that Moretum, ending the Cassata
Oplontis ".

12. Fourth day
07/05/17 7:30 First breakfast
07/05/17 9:30 Second breakfast
07/05/17 11:30 Departure for Noto.
07/05/17 12:15 Arrival in Noto and of cathedral St. Nicholas’s.(8)
0705/17 13:30 Lunch at “Trattoria Ducezio”.
07/05/17 15:30 Visit at Hall of Mirrors at Ducezio Palace .(9)
07/05/17
07/05/17
16:00
18:30
Around the baroque city. Back to the hotel.
07/05/17 20:00 Dinner at the hotel.

13. Cathedral St. Nicholas’s
St. Nichola’s Cathedral is the most important place of
Catholic worship in the city of Noto, as well as the
homonymous bishopric diocese of Sicily. It is located on
top of a large staircase on the north side of Piazza
Municipio and is dedicated to St. Nicholas, bishop of
Mira. The building of the temple began in 1694, and was
completed in 1703, when it was opened for worship with
a solemn blessing. Over the centuries, however, both the
facade and the interior have undergone many changes,
which have given it its present appearance only in the late
nineteenth century, with the erection of the new dome by
the Noto Cassone. Inside there are three naves, and it
houses numerous works of art, some of which coming from
Ancient Noto, including a silver urn containing the mortal
remains of St. Corrado Confalonieri. The hearthquake of
1996, however, caused the loss of the entire iconography;
the temple is one of the last large contemporary sacred art
sites.

14. Ducezio Palace
Palace Ducezio, the town hall, was built around 1760. The hall called the
Hall of Mirrors, oval-shaped, it was enriched with stucco and gold in
Louis XV style, and contains sumptuous mirrors of the late nineteenth
century. At the beginning of the thirties, on the occasion of the official
visit of Umberto and Maria Jose of Savoy, princes of piedmont, the
hall was restored by the painter Gregorietti. The furniture was made by
master Dugo. The central painting on the ceiling, attributed to
Antonimo Mazza, was built in 1826, and depicts an allegory of
Ducezio, King of the Sicilians. Site where in pre-Hellenic age, will be
rebuilt the fortified town of mucient Noto, to defend themselves from
attack by the Greeks. In the side panels there are inscriptions
concerning the glories of the city of Noto; and expressions drawn from
Diodorus, Littara and Randazzo. On the left side there is also a
telegram from Garibaldi to Noto Patriots 1860. The Hall of Mirrors is
the city hall representative, and today continues to host distinguished
delegations and prestigious events such as the signing of the Mou
among eight municipalities UNESCO for the creation of the cultural
district. The hall was used to receive many Heads of State.

15. Fifth day
08/05/17 07:30 First breakfast
08/05/17 09:30 Second breakfast
08/05/17 11:00 Visit of “inverdurata” setin Cavour steet, Pachino.(11)
08/05/17 13:00 Packet Lunch.
08/05/17 15:30 Departure for Catania and boarding.

16. Pachino’s “Inverdurata”
Pachino’s “Inverdurata” is a vegetable mosaic which is held on an annual basis. A mixture of
entertainment, culture, traditions and local production with the aim of becoming also a
cultural event for agribusiness and food and wine to enhance the Val di Noto. The
INVERDURATA, competition vegetable mosaics is promoted by APAC, Association
Pachinese Anticrimine in cooperation with the National Federation (FAI), it is held in
May. Pachino will host an exhibition in which art and food production combine to create a
mix that is tempting. You can admire the artistic mosaics, refined tastings of authentic
products of this land. The event that binds art and agriculture takes place in a three days
of great beauty in which participates Coldiretti of Syracuse. Tomatoes, zucchini, celery,
onions, a rich and colorful basket that will form the basis for the work of those who will
compete in one of the most beautiful events of Sicily.