Discover The Jewish Heritage And Local Gastronomical Experience Of These Undiscovered Regions
KOSHER
PREMIUM KOSHER TOUR OF MALTA & SICILY
15 days: May 15th - May 29th, 2022
DAY 1
SUNDAY, MAY 15TH
MALTA – VALLETTA, HAGAR QIM, MARSAXLOKK & MDINA
Overnight: 5 ★Malta
We will start our tour as soon as we clear our airport check out. Our tour will start in the UNESCO Hagar Qim temples & visitor’s centre. Next we will tour Rabat: St Paul’s Catacombs and St Paul’s Grotto. Walk along Rabat’s quaint main street to arrive at the public garden outside Mdina, where we will have our picnic lunch. After lunch we will continue to our Mdina Medieval City walking tour. At 17:00 we will check-in to our Hotel to freshen up before dinner at a Kosher Restaurant in Malta
DAY 2
MONDAY, MAY 16TH- MALTA
Overnight: 4 ★ Pozzallo. Sicily
Our day will start with a Harbour Cruise; a great way of seeing Grand Harbour and the different creeks. We will continue to Birgu, the Maritime City, which includes the Jewish quarter / Jewish Street, walk through Colacchio, past Inquisitor’s Palace, Main Square and the elegant Birgu Waterfront. Lunch break will be spend in the Upper Barrakka gardens Valletta. Once we are done we will embark on our Valletta walking tour from the Upper Barrakka gardens, past St John’s co-Cathedral, Grandmaster’s Palace (ext viewing) and down to Jews Sally Port. The Tour ends at 1700hrs at Virtu Terminal, where we will take our ferry to Pozzallo.
DAY 3
TUESDAY, MAY 17TH
MODICA, RAGUSA AND NOTO – UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES
Overnight: 5 ★ Taormina, Sicily
Our day will start by exploring the South-eastern part of the Island starting with a walking tour of the town of Modica. Here, we will enjoy a tasting and explanation session of the famous chocolates of the area.
We will then visit Ragusa a hilltop city in the Southeast of Sicily. It is built on a wide limestone hill between two valleys; Cava San Leonardo and Cava Santa Domenica.
The last town of the day will be the beautiful Baroque town of Noto, before continuing to Taormina where we will check-in into our Hotel.
DAY 4
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18TH
TAORMINA AND BOAT RIDE TO ISOLA BELLA
Overnight: 5 ★ Taormina Sicily
Our day will start by a tour of what remains of Taormina’s Golden Age, including the Greek theatre, Roman ‘Naumachia’, 10th century Palazzo, 13th century Cathedral and its ancient ruins.
We will then walk through the life of Taormina’s Jewish quarter and enjoy shopping in its boutique shops before enjoying a fabulous two-hour private boat ride along the bay of Taormina and Isola Bella. This will include a visit to the breathtaking, astonishing and famous ‘Blue Caves’.
DAY 5
THURSDAY, MAY 19TH
MOUNT ETNA AND CATANIA
Overnight: 5 ★ Taormina Sicily
The day will start in the stunning Mount Etna; a famous volcano in the midst of a series of eruptions that began in 2001.
This will follow with a tour around the area of Piano Provenzano, located 2000 meters up Mount Etna, where we will enjoy a panoramic drive with photo stops and admiring the lava flows from an eruption in 2002.
Next we will discover the city of Catania with its rich Jewish history. Catania has risen from the ashes and rebuilt itself from the lava rock that once destroyed it. Enjoy a guided tour of the famous Duomo and Ursino Castle, where two “Menorahs” have been inserted into the castle’s tower. Next we will enjoy some free time to sit in a coffee shop, enjoy some free time shopping or visit one of the beautiful museums in the city.
DAY 6
FRIDAY, MAY 20TH
SIRACUSA
Overnight: 5 ★ Taormina Sicily
Our tour will embark in Siracusa; where a third of the population used to be Jewish before their expulsion in 1492, before touring the Island of Ortigia, which joins the mainland of Siracusa, via three bridges.
We will walk through the narrow streets of Ortigia’s Jewish Quarter, which includes the sites of the Synagogue and the Mikveh that dates back to the 7th Century. We will finish the tour with a visit to the Catacombs of San Giovanni as well as the crypt of San Marciano, where a number of Jewish Catacombs were explored before going back to the Hotel for Shabbat preparations.
Kabbalat Shabbat.
DAY 7
SATURDAY, MAY 21ST
DAY OF RELAXATION
Overnight: 5 ★ Taormina Sicily
Enjoy the Sicilian Shabbat vibes in our fabueles hotel.
DAY 8
SUNDAY, MAY 22ND
VILLA ROMANA AND CHEFALU
Overnight: 4 ★ Palermo
Explore the Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; with the monument of great historical and artistic value of the late Roman Empire and home to magnificent Roman mosaics. Next we will drive to Chefalu – the fishing town, where we will visit and explore the small town and its little allies. Next we will depart to our Hotel in Palermo.
DAY 9
MONDAY, MAY 23RD
PALERMO
Overnight: 5 ★ Mazara del Vallo
We will explore Sicily’s largest city; the famous Palermo, a spectacular repository of medieval culture. Our guide will shepherd us through the city’s centre, combining a series of visits to historic landmarks with others to exclusively Jewish sites such as the synagogue, known as “Masquita” and the Jewish Quarter. We will see the grand 12th century Zias Castle, built in Norman Arab style, that still preserves Hebrew inscriptions on its walls. The tour will finish with a visit the Jewish quarter of Palermo where we will start appreciating the Jewish influence on this area.
Drive to our next hotel where we will stay for 6 nights!
DAY 10
TUESDAY, MAY 24TH
AGRIGENTO AND THE VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES
Overnight: 5 ★ Mazara del Vallo
We will start our day by exploring Agrigento; home of Sicily’s most fascinating archaeological sites where we will discover a selection of Greek ruins in the Valley of the Temples.
Next we will embark on a stroll through the archaeological complex and take in the overwhelming views as well as the impressive Doric temples.
DAY 11
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25TH
ERICE AND MAZARA
Overnight: 5 ★ Mazara del Vallo
Our Tour will start in Erice; a small mountain-top village containing medieval architecture and overlooking the Tyrrhenian coast. This will include a walk in the city’s Jewish quarter and exploration of the Jewish tomb that the city still conserves. We will then taste the Almond biscuits that Erice is known for.
Next we will enjoy a visit to the beautiful and historical city of Mazara – right next to our hotel.
We will make a stop in the Museum of the Dancing Satyr, the Duomo and the Kasbah area, before going back to our Hotel.
DAY 12
THURSDAY, MAY 26TH
ISLAND OF MOZIA AND MARSALA
Overnight: 5 ★ Mazara del Vallo
Our day will start in the Phoenician Island of Mozia;which was an important colony of Carthage, the Phoenician-founded city in north Africa. The Carthaginians were crucial in the ancient history of Sicily, building, conquering and losing settlements, generally fighting (though sometimes allied) with the various Greek cities in Sicily.
Drive through the Marsala salt way and visit the Salt Museum, which the owners go back to three generations. Here, we will be explained how they used to mine salt.
Continue to the city of Marsala for a short visit and exploration of the medieval Tapestries museum where the Jewish wars are represented.
Enjoy some free time to explore the city.
DAY 13
FRIDAY, MAY 27TH
DELLO ZINGARO NATURE PARK
Overnight: 5 ★ Mazara del Vallo
We will then embark on a hike in the Dello Zingaro where sea and wild nature meets and one of the most admirable natural gems in Sicily and enjoy a boat ride and view the wild natured mountains from a different perspective. In the afternoon we will have a cooking show by our Chef Emmanuela, who will teach us how to cook some Sicilian delicacies.
DAY 14
SHABBAT, MAY 28TH
RELAX AND ENJOY
Overnight: 5 ★ Mazara del Vallo
Relax and enjoy the Surroundings. Evening activities around the hotel.
DAY 15
SUNDAY, MAY 29TH
DEPARTURE AND TRANSFER TO PALERMO AIRPORT
After breakfast, we will provide transfers to the airport according to the time of departure.
RECOMMENDED FLIGHT
TBC
PRICE: $6750
per person based on a couple sharing a room.
Single Supplement $2000
Room upgrade is optional.
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
- All accommodation costs 5* Luxury hotels
- Glatt Chalak Beit Yosef Meats, with a SHOMER on board
- Breakfasts, light lunches and full evening dinners with wines
- Land transport costs
- Entrance fee to the monuments specified in the itinerary and all activities
- Ferry between Malta and Sicily
- Local English-speaking guides
- Group and airport Transfers
COSTS NOT INCLUDED:
- International Flights
- Travel & Health Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips for local service providers. $180 will be collected at the beginning of the trip
- Shows and evening entertainment
All clients should be aware that while all efforts are made to avoid any problems before, during or after your trip, Yaya Food and Travel carries no insurance for your health or luggage. While using the services only of registered suppliers, we recommend that you purchase fully comprehensive travel insurance, to include cancellation, as Yaya Food and Travel cannot be held liable for any mishaps during your stay.