CHEERS TO SICILY

Perched atop a hill on the southern slopes of the Hyblaean Mountains, Ragusa is known to have been inhabited since the Neolithic age. Although the city’s history stretches back over thousands of years, little remains of its riveting past prior to the fateful year of 1693 when a devastating earthquake that struck southern Sicily razed Ragusa to the ground. Indeed the jewel you see today dates almost entirely from the 18th century and is the result of a painstaking reconstruction in ornate Baroque style that has earned the city its rightful World Heritage status. Public opinion regarding the most appropriate location for rebuilding the town was deeply divided and eventually led the Ragusans to compromise by creating two different settlements. The ordinary working people chose to erect a new town on a different site, now called Upper Ragusa, while the aristocrats, reluctant to leave their prestigious palazzi, decided to rebuild the old town of Ragusa Ibla on its original spot, on a ridge at the foot of a gorge. While the upper town boasts its fair share of attractions, it is the smaller Ragusa Ibla that lures visitors with its charming architecture. A meticulously assembled collage of narrow alleyways, steep steps, honey-hued houses, fancy church facades, all pasted onto a background of deep green hills together form the splendid urban landscape you are about to explore.

You begin your day with a leisurely stroll through the Hyblaean Gardens, the pride of the town. Standing at the edge of a ridge, this lush oasis of palm trees and hedges affords sweeping views of the Irminio Valley below. Your guide will certainly point out the nearby Gothic Portal of St. George, the symbol of Ragusa Ibla and one of the few artefacts to have been spared after the collapse of the original 15th century cathedral. Not to be missed are also two of Baroque architect Rosario Gagliardi’s major triumphs, the Church of St. Joseph and the Cathedral of St. George, as well as the elaborately sculpted corbels of Palazzo La Rocca and Palazzo Cosentini, featuring grotesque faces and monstrous creatures.

After lunch a 40-minute drive will bring you to a renowned wine estate, set among the gentle hills of the Dirillo Valley. This family-owned cantina, now on the sixth generation of winemakers, was established in the late 19th century and has since played a prime role in the production and promotion of fine Sicilian wines. The current owner’s earnest dedication to organic and sustainable farming together with her commitment to creating quality wine and protecting this unique terroir have earned the winery many an accolade. The estate specialises in the cultivation of the most prized native grape varieties which are expertly turned into exquisite wines, including Nero d’Avola, Frappato, Grillo and the crown jewel of Sicilian winemaking, Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG.

Here, on a tour of the vineyards and old palmento, guests will hear about wine growing and production methods, discover how the estate’s diverse range of soils affect their seven different wines and get to know about the long-standing tradition of winemaking in Sicily. A tasting of four wines will follow, accompanied with delicious bites of arancini rice balls, dried tomatoes and cheese.

After the experience your private chauffeur will drive you back to Ragusa.