Group Tour in Sicily: The Florio Family’s Places
Inspired by the bestseller ‘The Lions of Sicily.’

Group tour departure dates:

– December 27, 2023
– March 30, 2024
– June 01, 2024
– September 06, 2024

An unparalleled experience awaits you in Sicily! Discover the historical and enchanting places linked to the Florio family with our group tour. Travel with us, guided by Alessandro and Giulia, for an unforgettable discovery. Perfect for solo travelers, couples, and families. If you are retired, this is the perfect journey for you.

Book now to immerse yourself in the history and heritage of the Florio family in one of the ‘most charming places in Italy’.

 Program

Day 1: Palermo. Independent arrival at Palermo airport, transfer, and accommodation at the designated hotel in the historic center of Palermo.

Day 2: Palermo. Breakfast at the hotel and departure to explore the Florio legacy. We begin by retracing the initial steps where the Florio family rose to power, starting from the first spice shop (grocery store), the neighborhoods where the Florios settled upon their arrival in the city, until we reach the first Casa Florio and the Florio Villa – one of the most emblematic works of Palermo’s Liberty architecture. We’ll also visit Joseph Whitaker’s Villa, a historic friend of the Florios, the architectures of the belle époque, the grand gallery featuring exceptional artistic personalities, among the most important of Sicilian nineteenth-century, and the powerful collection narrating the travels of the noble Whitaker Ingham family. Enjoy lunch on your own during the excursion with Palermo’s street-food gastronomy. Dinner and overnight stay in Palermo..

Day 3: Palermo and the Targa Florio. Breakfast at the hotel and departure to explore the locations of the Targa Florio, the world’s oldest endurance car race. We will immerse ourselves in the story of the Targa Florio racing team, narrated by a passionate enthusiast and competitor. Dinner and overnight stay in Palermo.

Day 4: Palermo – Alcamo. Breakfast at the hotel and departure to continue the guided tour of Palermo, concluding at Vincenzo Florio’s final resting place, reconfigured as an ancient tuna fishery and residence. Inside the building, you can admire the first photographic exhibition entirely dedicated to the female figures of the Florio family, titled ‘Le donne di Casa Florio: volti di una Sicilia divina’ (The Women of Casa Florio: Faces of a Divine Sicily). Lunch during the excursion after exploring other places and stories of the Florio family. In the afternoon, depart for Alcamo. Visit and accommodation in a place where the grandeur of the Florios is still palpable. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Marsala. Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Marsala. A unique and immersive experience, lived as the protagonist, a journey full of charm in a place that Vincenzo Florio fell in love with. We will explore the historic Florio Cellars to discover a sophisticated and unexpected world. After admiring a magical sunset, accommodation at a hotel in Marsala. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: Mozia and the Stagnone Lagoon. Breakfast and departure to explore, among many things, the secret history of the Whitakers and Florios. Departure towards the Salt Pans of Marsala and the beautiful island of Mozia, where G. Whitaker chose to build a building as a country residence. Mozia is an ancient Phoenician colony, now belonging to the Whitaker Foundation. We will continue with a boat tour of the Stagnone Lagoon and its islands. Return to Marsala, free time for the independent exploration of the city of Marsala. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Favignana. Breakfast at the hotel, departure by hydrofoil to the island of Favignana, the vacation residence of the Florio family for many years. We will begin with a visit to Palazzo Florio, where Sicilian Liberty style stands out. Built by Ignazio Florio and designed by the Palermo architect Almeyda, the palace became the social hub of Favignana, where Ignazio Florio Jr. and Donna Franca invited their friends to celebrate during the tuna-fishing season. It’s also where Donna Franca chose to stay after the sad events that we will tell you about during the guided tour. We will then visit the Tonnara, the ‘Ex Stabilimento Florio delle tonnare di Favignana e Formica,’ also built on the initiative of Ignazio Florio. Today, it represents a splendid example of industrial archaeology, with a space inside dedicated to a museum and multimedia rooms. Here, we will discover some anecdotes representative of the prominent figure featured in our tour. Lunch and free afternoon to explore the charming historic center at your leisure or choose to take a boat or train excursion. Return to the hotel.

Day 8: Palermo. Breakfast and, depending on the flight schedule, transfer to Palermo airport.

The provided rate appears to be the total cost for the entire package. To calculate the cost per person in a group, you would need to divide the total cost by the number of individuals. For example, if this rate is for one person:

€1,170.00 ÷ 1 person = €1,170.00 per person

If it’s for a group, divide the total cost by the number of participants in the group to determine the cost per person.

The fee includes:

– Deluxe Coach with regional guide, accompanied by Alessandro and Giulia, from the dinner on the day of arrival to the end of the excursion on the day of departure.
– Accommodation, breakfast, and all dinners with included beverages (quantities defined by the restaurant).
– Accommodation in a B&B or 3-star hotels or equivalent in Palermo, Alcamo, and Marsala.
– Welcome cocktail with Alessandro and Giulia.
– Tasting of typical sweets.
– Visit with tasting at a winery.
– Professional Tour Guide (multilingual upon request).
– Customer service throughout the tour. Alessandro and Giulia will accompany you throughout the journey. Local guides to help you discover and immerse yourself in the places and history representative of the Florio family. Evening outings after dinner, always accompanied by Alessandro and Giulia, with bus transfer if necessary.

The fee does not include:

– Start and end of Tour transfers. Bookable on request.
– Lunches and all dinners with included beverages (quantities defined by the restaurant).
– Entrance fees to monuments, museums, galleries, and archaeological sites. Personal expenses and tips.
– Any local taxes and tourist taxes.
– Cancellation insurance starting from €55 per person.
– Any paid parking for unscheduled stops.
– Anything not expressly indicated under ‘the fee includes’.

Supplements: Possibility of a single room with a supplement.

Important things to know:
– 30% deposit or full payment in case of reservations made less than 21 days before departure.
– The excursions planned may undergo changes or substitutions due to adverse weather conditions and organizational reasons.
– Immediately after booking, inform about any allergies and/or food intolerances.

Note: ‘Offer Price’ valid for confirmed bookings 45 days before the departure date.

Accommodation is planned in the following locations or nearby areas: Palermo and Marsala.”