Sicilian Experiences
Agrigento
The Valley of the Temples, located south of the Sicilian city of Agrigento, is one of the most fascinating and visited places on the island, as it offers, in a marvellous landscape, one of the most important testimonies to the presence of ancient Greeks in southern Italy. The main temples to visit are: the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of the Dioscuri.
Our selection of private travel experiences include :
Valley of the Temples and Picnic at Kolymbetra Gardens guided by a professional archaeologist with the possibility of private transfer with a multilingual driver.
Discover the Valley of the Temples in a modern, fast and fun way, with an electric scooter making it completely eco-friendly. The tour offers an relaxing, ecological way to visit the entire Archaeological Area with an easy to drive scooter. The tour goes through the Valley of the Temples, following the sacred way, crossing the bridge to visit the Zeus temple. Also, there will be a chance to visit the countryside surrounded by almond and olive trees.
Riding a horse on a private tour, accompanied by rider guides, is an adventurous way to explore The Valley of the Temples. The path goes through an amazing bucolic landscape characterized by green olive and almond trees. You will be able to admire, among other wonders, the Kolymbetra Garden: a beautiful green piece of land full of seasonal fruits including citrus, carobs, pistachio nuts, mulberries, walnuts, pomegranates and bananas. Along the river and at the foot of some limestone cliffs, there are almond trees, olive trees, traditional vegetable gardens and Mediterranean scrub with myrtles and laurels. The journey will continue along the Temple of Hephaestus (Vulcan), the Temple of Heracles until you reach the Temple of Concordia, which is one of the best-preserved ancient temples. Your final destination will be the Temple of Juno, which is located on the top of the hill. You can also chose to have an optional picnic lunch at the Kolymbetra Garden.
Archeological Park for the Kids
Valley of the Temples – Greek myths and architecture . This family tour of the archaeological park with an activity book and activity bag allows the kids to admire the Greek architecture, to understand how the buildings where built and their original aspect. During the visit the kids will also discover the Greek myths related to that place (Hera and Zeus, Hercules, Zeus and the Giants, Demeter and Persefone…) and how the sanctuaries were used in the past. A fascinating journey through time.
One day with the archaeologist. Your family will spend half day with an archaeologist walking inside the archaeological area. Explaining to you the secrets of her job, showing the tools, the methods and the fields of an archaeologists job. Using a map and a compass you will discover the ancient city of Akragas and learn about the life in the 6th and 5th century B.C. The objects examined will help to understand the history. As a detective you get to search for the clues of the past, understanding the life of the ancient city of Akragas.
Archaeological Museum – Safari at the Museum. Visiting the archaeological museum can be an exciting safari. Looking carefully at pottery, clay figurines, coins and mosaics you can see real and fantastic animals, wild and domestic ones. Ancient Fashion. The focus of this family tour will be the ancient fashion. The attic pottery, the clay figurines and the status offer up a lot of images of ancient hairstyle and fashion. Observing them you get to understand a lot of things about the Greek time and at the end of the tour you can wear a Greek dress for a family photo!
An “arkeo kit ” for each child is provided including : activity book, map of the valley, crayons, rubber, pencil ,scissors, string, plastic folder.
Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges
Wander through subtropical gardens, leafy lawns and lodges around this spectacular boutique resort with the ever present Mount Etna offering a spectacular backdrop.
From the resort at Donna Carmela you can choose to hike, sail, quad bike or take Sicilian cookery classes locally and a visit to the nearby winery of Pietradolce on the northern slopes of Etna. In the summer you can enjoy the Radicepura Garden Festival.
Chef Piergiorgio brings the resorts garden produce direct to the table at La Cucina di Donna Carmela, where the menu pays homage to the Mediterranean sights and citrus scents. The wine cellar celebrates the finest locally produced wines from the region.
Donna Carmela has been nurtured for over half a century by the Faro family and today is run by independently minded and eco-conscious Mario Faro who says ” in every corner guests can see little details of Sicilian culture, from the plants to the interior design. Our focus is on the guests’ wellness.”
Donna Carmela Resort & Lodges is part of Small Luxury Hotels and guests booking through Halsall Travel receive complimentary breakfast and a $50 resort credit and upgrade subject to availability. Little perks to make you feel that little bit special.
Family Friendly – Fine Dining – Country House Hotel – Wine Experiences
Hotel Villa Carlotta
A member of Small Luxury Hotels, this boutique hotel in Taormina has breath-taking views over the Ionian Sea.
Verdura, a Rocco Forte Hotel.
Verdura Resort faces the crystal azure Mediterranean Sea on the south coast of Sicily. Set in 230 hectares of stunning landscape, with over a mile of private coastline, the 203 rooms and suites give a true sense of both space and privacy.
Villa Igiea, Palermo a Rocco Forte Hotel
Villa Igiea is the latest addition to the Rocco Forte Hotels collection. This iconic palazzo occupies a peerless position at the foot of Mount Pellegrino, overlooking the azure waters of the Gulf of Palermo, just half an hour’s drive from Palermo Airport.
Four Seasons Taormina, San Domenico Palace
Framed by the dramatic landscapes of Sicily’s east coast, San Domenico Palace offers a magnificent setting overlooking Mount Etna, the Ionian Sea and the Greek theatre.
Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo
Don Francesco La Floresta’s decision to convert his house into a hotel in 1873 made perfect sense. Ever since a Prussian artist returned to the mainland with watercolors depicting views from his guesthouse, he had received visitor after visitor.
Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea
It is fitting that Villa Sant’Andrea, A Belmond Hotel, Taormina Mare began life in the 1920s as a hidden hideaway. Perched on an idyllic stretch of coast in Sicily, this former villa oozes glamour and old-world charm.