Lexi's Wine List · Curated Travel
Specially curated for The Wapentakers
Sicily
Getaway
A week of ancient ruins, volcanic wine & Sicilian sea
Wednesday, June 17
Arrival in Siracusa
Catania Airport → Siracusa · B&B Approdo delle Sirene
Transfer
Catania Airport → Siracusa
Land at Catania and meet your driver waiting at arrivals. Transfer to Siracusa takes approximately 2 hours.
Walking Tour
Ortigia with Guide Elfie
Meet Elfie in the hotel lobby for a 2-hour walking tour of Ortigia's historic center. Wear comfortable shoes — the center is flat but on uneven surfaces as is typical in Italy. Bring a hat and sunscreen.
Dinner
Retroscena Restaurant
Your first Sicilian dinner awaits.
Lost Luggage? Use this address
B&B Approdo delle SireneVia Riva Giuseppe Garibaldi, 15
96100 Siracusa (SR)
Thursday, June 18
Ruins & Afternoon at Leisure
Siracusa Archaeological Area · Ortigia Beach
Guided Tour
Siracusa Archaeological Area
Meet Elfie and your driver in the hotel lobby for a morning tour of the ancient ruins.
Lunch
Fratelli Burgio
Gourmet panino lunch — a beloved local spot.
At Leisure
Free Time in Ortigia
Explore at your own pace.
Dinner
To Be Confirmed
Details coming soon — check back or contact Irene.
🏖 Beach Suggestions
Both Cala Rossa and Forte Vigliena are within a 15-minute walk from the hotel. These are free beaches with no changing areas — we recommend wearing your swimsuit under your clothes.
Friday, June 19
Winery Day in Pachino
Pachino · Wine Country · Siracusa
Transfer
Drive to Pachino
Your driver picks you up for the 1-hour drive south to wine country.
Wine Experience
Winery Visits & Tastings with Helen
Local wine expert Helen leads you through the region's wineries, with tastings and lunch included. The perfect deep dive into Nero d'Avola country.
Return
Back to Ortigia · At Leisure
Return to your hotel for a relaxed afternoon.
Dinner
To Be Confirmed
Details coming soon — check back or contact Irene.
Saturday, June 20
Move to Taormina
Siracusa → Taormina · Greek Theatre · Hotel Pensione Svizzera
Check-Out & Transfer
B&B Approdo delle Sirene → Taormina
Check out and board the driver for the 2-hour transfer north to Taormina.
Guided Tour
Taormina Walking Tour & Greek Theatre
Meet Elfie for a walking tour of Taormina followed by a visit to the ancient Greek Theatre with its legendary views of Mount Etna and the sea.
Lunch
To Be Confirmed
Details coming soon.
At Leisure
Explore Taormina
Free afternoon to explore at your own pace.
Dinner with Wine Pairing
Siculishh Bistro
A special dinner with curated Sicilian wine pairings.
🚡 Beach Tip: Isola Bella
Take the cableway down to Isola Bella — a panoramic ride that costs €10 return. It's a free beach, so wear your swimsuit under your clothes as there are no changing areas. Taxis are also available through the hotel or at the main walking street.
Sunday, June 21
Boat Tour & Giardini Naxos
Giardini Naxos · Isola Bella · Taormina
Transfer
Drive to Giardini Naxos
Meet your driver at the hotel for the short drive down to the bay.
Boat Tour
Morning on the Water
A 2-hour boat tour along the stunning Sicilian coastline.
Lunch
Giardini Naxos · To Be Confirmed
Lunch in Giardini Naxos after the boat tour. Details coming soon.
At Leisure
Your Choice
Spend the afternoon at Giardini Naxos, Isola Bella, or return to Taormina — entirely up to you.
Dinner
Pizzeria Villa Zuccaro
An evening of proper Sicilian pizza.
Monday, June 22
Etna Volcano Adventure
Taormina → Linguaglossa → Etna · Casa Arrigo Agriturismo
Check-Out & Transfer
Hotel Pensione Svizzera → Linguaglossa
Check out and transfer to Linguaglossa (45 minutes) at the foot of Etna.
Jeep Adventure
Etna Volcano Off-Road with Paolo
Arrive at Casa Arrigo and board 4x4 jeeps with guide Paolo for a 3-hour off-road adventure on the volcano, with optional trekking on volcanic terrain.
Transfer
Jeeps to Lunch
Board the jeeps for the short transfer to lunch.
Lunch & Wine Tasting
Generazione Alessandro with Helen
Wine expert Helen joins again for lunch and an Etna wine tasting at this acclaimed estate.
⚠️ Prepare for the Jeep Adventure
You'll be in the vehicle for up to 2 hours on a windy, bumpy road. If you suffer from motion sickness, take medication beforehand or use wrist bands. Wear comfortable trekking shoes, bring a jumper and a wind jacket — temperatures change quickly on the volcano.
Tuesday, June 23
Agriturismo Day
Casa Arrigo · Linguaglossa
At Leisure
Slow Morning
A rare morning with nothing on the agenda. Rest, wander the property, take in the views of Etna.
Lunch
Light Lunch at the Agriturismo
A casual midday meal on the property.
Tasting & Dinner
Wine & Olive Oil Tasting → Dinner
The perfect send-off: a tasting of the agriturismo's own wine and olive oil, followed by dinner on the property as the sun sets over Etna.
Wednesday, June 24
Farewell & Departure
Casa Arrigo → Airport
Departure
Transfer to the Airport
Your driver will take you to the airport. Exact time to be confirmed based on your flight.
Before You Go
Travel Checklist
Money
- Notify your bank you're leaving the country
- Arrange access to cash — bring euros, dollars to exchange, or a no-fee withdrawal card
- Italians don't use Venmo — cash is king for small transactions
- Know your credit card's PIN number for ATM withdrawals
- Check which Italian banks will charge you the least for withdrawals
- Confirm your phone plan includes international data
- Download and activate WhatsApp before departure
Documentation
- Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your return date
- Carry a printed photocopy of your passport separately from the original, plus a photo copy on your phone — ideally emailed to yourself
- Print your travel insurance and pack it
- Leave a copy of your travel insurance with someone at home
- Send us an emergency contact number, passport copy, and all flight details
- Have a printout of all accommodation addresses ready for arrival — you'll need it if your luggage is lost
Packing
- Check that electronics work on 240V AC (European standard)
- Bring at least one power bank for your phone
- Apple AirTag or suitcase tracker
- Swimsuit
- Hiking / trekking shoes (essential for Etna)
- Collapsible extra duffel bag for purchases and wine
- Light, quick-dry clothing
- Waterproof layer / wind jacket
- Sun hat
- Reusable water canteen
- Fanny pack for day excursions
- Sunscreen — bring your favorite, you may not find it here
- Electrolytes
The Flight
Make your flight as comfortable as possible and try to sleep — the less time you spend recovering, the more time you have in Sicily.
- Neck pillow
- Melatonin — timed well, it can help minimize jet lag
- Nausea relief wrist bands — also very useful once you're in Italy for winding roads
Lexi's Wine List
Until Next
Time
We hope Sicily has left you with memories that linger long after the wine is gone.
@lexiswinelist
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