Join us, along with Kalin and Matt Sheick of Sweetwater Floral for a relaxing week indulging in Sicily's phenomenal flavors, breath-taking panoramas, and abundant terroir.
Ricotta, pistachio, almond; Phoenician, Greek, Roman; Byzantine, Baroque, Norman: Sicily's food, wine and architecture is as varied as it is abundant, as rich as its history, as seductive and romantic as its myths.
We'll stay in a stunning 17th century 'masseria' set among lush, flower-filled formal gardens on a huge, 200+ acre country estate situated between Mount Etna and the shimmering Mediterranean Sea. With splendid views of both volcano and sea, the villa, with its palm-shaded courtyard and white-stucco, ivy-draped walls, has twelve plush bedrooms, comfortably accommodating twenty-four people.
The villa, fully staffed, has incredible, sprawling grounds with several lounge areas.
The property boasts a large pool, a sauna, Turkish bath as well as an outdoor kitchen and barbecue area. The grounds even has its own chapel and Byzantine ruins!
Each tastefully decorated room faces the internal courtyard and has its own ensuite bathroom. Rooms can be both shared or single with either one or two beds.
With the villa just thirty minutes south of Catania, it's the perfect base from which to explore the surrounding area -- Taormina, Catania, Syracuse and Ortigia.
This gem of a town is perched on a hill overlooking the shimmering Mediterranean waters, not far from Mt. Etna. Its location offers sweeping three-hundred and sixty degree views of volcano, sky and sea... and the greco-roman theatre for which Taormina is best known is not to miss. After a guided tour, we'll have time for lunch at your leisure and a wander around the boutiques and shops.
Characterized by its gorgeous, Baroque architecture, eighteen of Ragusa's 'palazzi' are protected by the UNESCO heritage patronage. Modica, Ragusa's equally fascinating neighbor and rival, rises majestically from the gorge its built in and has a long-standing tradition of chocolate-making. (Yes, ladies, there will be a tasting paired with vino!)
We'll have a cooking class at the villa one afternoon, a great excuse to make use of the villa's gorgeous kitchen. We'll also get the chance to go on a group guided hike tour through the glorious countryside. At the end we'll stop, hydrate and lunch on some of the region's sumptuous delicacies and wines.
We're Kalin and Matt and we are the proud owners of Sweetwater Floral, a flower company specializing in floral design, weddings, workshops and wreaths.
As a couple, we navigate family, business, marriage, parenthood, and everything in between. We spin thousands of plates and have gazillions irons in the fire, every. single. day. Our lives are just too busy to plan a robust itinerary that meets our wants and needs. Which is exactly why we are also doing this retreat to Sicily....
We're excited to have ample amount of time away to really and truly be able to relax because the season we're in of having little kids at home, building careers and businesses is stressful. Sure, there's that little bit of maintenance that is date night but this trip? It's The Grand Prize.
Celebratory and wonderful.
What we want you to know is that trip is whatever you want it to be. You have a full itinerary planned, right down to every last meal. You can feel free to do any and all of it. Or none of it. Read by the pool all day if you want. It's entirely up to you.
This isn't the kind of retreat where there will be relationship-building exercises and comparing communication styles but there will be plenty of laughing. Wheezing laughing. Wine, amazing meals, down time, day trips and more laughing. We hope you join us.
Prices are per person and start at £4900 based in a double-occupancy room
Roundtrip group transfer to and from Catania
Five nights' accommodation in your choice of room at fully staffed private villa
All meals except for lunch on Day 1 & 2 (wine with dinner)
Cooking Class by local chef
Day trips to Ragusa, Noto, Modica, Taormina, Syracuse & Ortigia
Wine tasting & lunch at winery / farm estate
Guided hike
Transportation to and from organized excursions