GROUP ACTIVITIES
IL DOLCE FAR NIENTE..
As Friday July 5th is a day of leisure..
we invite you to spend the day as you wish in the beautiful area of Noto and beyond! We have provided local ideas that we love, fun & unique activities and suggestions which you can discover on your own or a special selected list of activities which you can sign up for (which includes a car pickup at your hotel/accommodation) via our local travel advisor, Essence of Sicily.
Simply fill out the online form of the activity you prefer & you will receive more information and a reply within 48 hours! All activities are also available on other days in case you want to try multiple!
BUONA FORTUNA!
Lena & Devon xx
Please note!
All activities are based on availability and on a first come first serve basis and can first be reconfirmed at the time of the request being received.
Due to high season and the dates being very busy, activities might get booked up before the deadline listed. We highly suggest booking activities by latest mid May.
.1.
THE ART OF SICILIAN CART PAINTING
One of Ragusa's hidden treasures... Venture out with your guide for a short walking tour of Ragusa (a Unesco World Heritage site & famous for its Baroque art treasures) to unearth the very Sicilian tradition of cart painting..where artists Biagio & Damiano honor the tradition of the "Carretto Siciliano" by painting them in the historically ornate & decorative manner, preserving a nearly forgotten artistic legacy taught by old master cart painters. The passion for art, craftsmanship and tradition come together in this laboratory where pigments are ground and traditional pictorial techniques are used. A truly special Sicilian tradition not to be missed combined with short sightseeing of Ragusa!
THE DETAILS
Start time: 9:00am | End time: 1:00pm | Duration: 4hr
Approximate distance from Noto: 1 hour driving
Cost per person: € 375
Minimum participants: 4
Deadline for signing up: June 20
Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Private transfer with English Speaking driver to Ragusa
English Speaking local guide in Ragusa
Walking tour of Ragusa Ibla
Sicilian Carts experience
.2.
MOUNT ETNA SUMMIT EXPERIENCE
Embark on one of Sicily's most thrilling adventures! Hop aboard a Jeep that will collect you from your hotel, accompanied by an expert nature guide ready to unveil Mount Etna, the highest active volcano on the Eurasian plate & a Unesco World Heritage Site, in all its untamed beauty for a truly thrilling journey!
Prepare for awe-inspiring scenery, picturesque vistas, a vibrant palette of colors & sounds - far from bustling crowds. With over 400 crater & trails resembling scenes from a fairy-tale,this adventure immerses you in a harmonious blend of mind & body, offering an intense experience in one of nature's most captivating environments!
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This incredible journey offers hiking enthusiasts the opportunity to reach an altitude of 2,900 meter (9,514 feet) - a must try experience capped off with a visit to one of the finest Etna DOC Wineries!
THE DETAILS
Start time: 8:30am End time: 5:00pm Duration: 8hr 30min
Approximate distance from Noto: 1hr 30m
Cost per person: € 575
Minimum participants: 4
Deadline for signing up: June 5th
Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Etna Jeep Tour experience: Etna 3000 and Craters of 2002
Natural Guide with Jeep
Etna DOC Winery experience: Wine tastings and Lunch
*Recommendation clothes: Comfortable shoes that allow for a light take-off run. Light windbreaker or jacket suitable for the season.
.3.
SICILIAN PICNIC
in the garden of the
VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES
Immerse yourself in one of Sicily's most exclusive and appreciated experiences—a journey like no other awaits you amidst the timeless grandeur of the Valley of the Temples: an Exclusive Picnic nestled within the Diodoros Garden.
Prepare for a sensory delight as you indulge in a feast featuring typical, zero-mile, organic cuisine crafted from cherished "grandmother's recipes."
This extraordinary locale, a citrus grove rooted in the pristine natural splendour of the Valley of the Temples, traces its origins back to 1740. Ancient maps reveal that the visionary Cistercian Monks carefully curated this space, adorning it with the most vibrant and fruitful trees on the island.
What sets this experience apart is its immediate embrace of peace and rural tranquility—a true breath of oxygen amid unadulterated authenticity and freshness!
Journey less than a mile from the Via Sacra of the Valley of the Temples to discover this exclusive haven. Here, within an environment of unparalleled exclusivity, revel in a couple of hours steeped in absolute serenity, partaking in the finest local fare and unparalleled service.
Embrace the essence of Sicily's timeless charm, surrendering to a sanctuary where history meets culinary bliss—an exclusive experience that lingers in memory long after!
THE DETAILS
times: 9.30am - 5.30pm (8 hrs total)
Approximate Driving distance from Noto: 2h 30m
Cost per person: 465
Minimum participants: 4
Deadline for signing up: June 20th
Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Transfer to Agrigento by minivan
local guide; entrance fees; private picnic lunch
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.4.
A SICILIAN SEA & COUNTRYSIDE BIKE TOUR
This protected oasis & reserve is a vibrant tapestry of unspoiled landscapes & a treasure trove for wildlife enthusiasts & birdwatching as it serves as a crucial stopover for migratory birds, offering a unique opportunity to observe a variety of species in their natural habitat. The air is alive with the symphony of birdsong, creating a serene and enchanting atmosphere in a natural paradise!
We start cycling from San Paolo near Noto through vineyards to the Nature Reserves. We leave the bikes at the guard & take a short walk through the Nature Reserves, beyond the beaches, we explore the lush green paths, dotted with the vibrant colors of wild flora. Each trail offers a new perspective of Sicily's natural beauty, a chance to witness the harmony of life in this protected ecosystem.
Continue cycling to the small fishing village of Marzamemi where you arrive for lunch time. From Marzamemi you return on secondary roads among vineyards to San Paolo.
Your experience allows you to delve into the wonders of nature, to explore the unspoiled wilderness, and to discover the intricate balance between history, culture, and the natural world in this spectacular corner of Sicily!
THE DETAILS
Start time: 9:00 am (start cycling at 10am)
Lunch in Marzamemi: 1:00pm
Continue cycling at 2/2:30pm
Return to hotel: 4:00 pm
Duration: 4 hours
Length: 19 miles
Approximate distance from Noto: 30 minutes
Cost per person: € 500
number of participants: 4 minimum - 8 maximum
Deadline for signing up: June 5th
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
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Includes
Private English-speaking driver
Noto Bike Tour experience
Helmet, water and snacks
.5.
MAKING SICILIAN ARANCINI IN ORTIGIA!
Forget about all the New York and elsewhere versions of arancini you have previously tried and learn to make them the right way by creating your own Sicilian arancini (arancini were born in Sicily and a staple of Sicilian cuisine!) - why not discover how to make them as they SHOULD be created!
Learn how to make them with our Arancini expert in our Chef's kitchen- includes learning the preparation of a variety of arancini and of course eating them for lunch afterwards with a good bottle of wine to take home!
THE DETAILS
times: 9am - 2pm (5hrs total)
Approximate distance from Noto: 30 minutes
Cost per person: € 505
Minimum participants: 4
Deadline for signing up: 20
Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Transfer with guide/tour leader
Arancini making experience with lunch
.6.
SICILIAN VINEYARD PRIVATE TOUR
& countryside lunch
A beautiful guided tour through the thriving vineyards of Planeta Buonivini, where Nero d'Avola & Moscato Bianco grapes flourish to create Santa Cecilia DOC Noto & Passito di Noto DOC wines at Cantina Invisibile.
This ecological estate, with it's picturesque hills & limestone soils, nurtures vines alongside a fairytale-like vision of almond, carob & olive trees, emblematic of the Mediterranean region.
After the tour, you will experience a curated tasting of exceptional wines & conclude with a countryside lunch, paired with more of Buonivini's exquisite wines - savoring the essence of the best of Sicilian wine culture.
THE DETAILS
times: 11:00am - 4:00pm (5 hrs total)
Approximate distance from Noto: 30 minutes
Cost per person: €425
number of participants: 4 minimum - 12 maximum
Deadline for signing up: May 5th
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Transfer with tour leader/guide
winery visit, wine tasting and lunch
.7.
SIRACUSA JETSKI & BAY YACHT TOUR
Set off on a wonderful yacht tour of the extraordinary Siracusa bay! We depart from Ponte Umbertino and sail to Ortigia, from where you will appreciate the historic landmarks of the city by sea.
We continue through more beautiful landscapes reaching the iconic "Lovers' Cave" with its incredible heart shape, where you can dive into the crystal clear water - an incredible experience! Here, there will also be the possibility to do a tour by Jet-ski.
A beautiful experience by sea in authentic Sicilian style.
THE DETAILS
times: 10 am - End time: 12 pm (2 hrs total)
Approximate distance from Noto: 30 minutes
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
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Private transfer with English-speaking driver
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Private Siracusa Bay Yacht Tour with Captain & crew.
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Jet Ski experience
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.8.
All you would want from a fun
TOUR OF NOTO!
Pickup at your hotel by driver and local guide that brings you to Noto town, where you will
then get on your own fun and very Sicilian style guided tour on the typical "Ape Calessino" - the very fun 3 wheeled vehicle (known from a lot of movies!) which enables you to tour the tiny, winding roads in Noto where cars aren't able to enter - giving you a fun and interesting tour of the town.
After the tour, we take a break at the famous "Caffe Sicilia" where a table of typical Sicilian pastries & granite will be served for a quick intermezzo (and a short introduction to the owner of the Caffe, Corrado Assenza considered something of a "rockstar" in Italy for his pastries-and also seen on Netflix's Chef's table) followed by a guided tour at one of the most beautiful and famous palazzi in Sicily, Palazzo di Lorenzo del Castelluccio.
THE DETAILS
Times: 10 am - 12 pm (2 hrs total)
*The Ape Calessino can only hold 2-4 guests.
Cost per person: € 125
number of participants: 4 minimum - 8 Maximum
Deadline for signing up: May 5th
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Private transfer with English-speaking driver
OR pickup at your hotel in Noto
Private English-speaking guide
Entrance fees
.9.
CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP
& blind chocolate challenge in Modica
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The beautiful town of Modica (located 40 minutes from Noto and famous for being a "chocolate" town) is one of the only places on earth where cold-worked chocolate is still produced using ancient Aztec techniques: hand ground cocoa beans and sugar. This cold-working preserves more nutrients and more flavor than modern chocolate-making methods.
Immerse yourself in a hands-on session, crafting your very own chocolate bar learning the techniques from real chocolate masters!
Once crafted, the chocolate bars will be carefully stored in the fridge for a two-hour period. During this time, participants can indulge in a blind tasting experience of chocolates, featuring various flavored chocolates, chocolate cookies and chocolate liquor.
This workshop is aimed to introduce travelers to this unique tradition, giving them the possibility to put their hands on and discover how homemade chocolate is still produced in the Baroque city of Modica.
In addition to the workshop, there will be delicious and varied tastings of Italy's most famous chocolates!
THE DETAILS
times: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm (3 hrs total)
Approximate distance from Noto: 40 minutes
Cost per person: € 350
number of participants: 4 minimum - 12 maximum
Deadline for signing up: May 5th
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Private transfer with English speaking driver
Private English speaking guide
Chocolate workshop and experience
.10.
Sicilian olive oil tasting & private tour of an
OLIVE OIL ESTATE
Enjoy a full visit of the famous Cavasecca Estate: A 50 hectare estate with an arboreal heritage of centuries-old olive trees of inestimable value fun by Antonio & Lucia Ficara & their children whose love for cultivation of the olive tree & the desire to produce the finest DOP oil from organic farming lead the family to integrate the pre-existing secular olive trees of the Siracusana, Nocellara, Biancolilla & Ogliarola quality.
You will not only have a private guided tour of the estate, but also enjoy a typical amazing homemade lunch and olive oil tasting on this beautiful property.
THE DETAILS
times: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (4 hrs total)
Approximate distance from Noto: 30 minutes
Cost per person: € 505
number of participants: 4 Minimum - 20 maximum
Deadline for signing up: April 5th
Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Private English-speaking driver
Cavasecca Estate experience: visit, tasting and lunch
.11.
VINTAGE FIAT TOUR
of legendary cinematic locations
Begin the trip with your Fiat 500 through the bended roads leading to Savoca, a picturesque gem hailed as one of the Taormina region's most enchanting towns. Immerse yourself in The Godfather's ambiance at Bar Vitelli, savoring a refreshing granita amidst a collection of iconic movie stills. Wander through the Chiesa Madre, adorned with exquisite 16th-century artistry and the heraldic symbols of Savoca, echoing the town's name derived from the elderberry branch.
Continuing your cinematic voyage, Forza d’Agrò awaits—a medieval treasure trove perched on a hilltop. Traverse its cobblestone lanes, admiring the quaint architecture and immersing yourself in the ambiance that once hosted Al Pacino and Sofia Coppola in the Godfather's evocative scenes.
A wonderful Fiat 500 adventure through Sicily's cinematic landscapes and the iconic "Godfather Countries" of Sicily promises an unforgettable journey steeped in cinematic history including lunch in a local restaurant.
THE DETAILS
times: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (30mins total)
Approximate distance from Noto: 1h30 mins to Giardini Naxos, then 30/40 mins drive by Fiat 500 to the first village.
Cost per person: € 710
number of participants: Minimum 4 - Maximum 24
Deadline for signing up: April 5th
Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Private transfer with english-speaking driver to Giardini Naxos
Private English-speaking guide
Fiat 500 experience from Giardini Naxos to Savoca and Forza d'Agrò
Granita tasting
Lunch in a local restaurant
.12.
CHEESE MAKING WITH A SHEPHERD
on a Sicilian dairy farm
The job of the Sicilian shepherd in Sicanian land is still lived with unchanging times and trends. We will spend the day with some of the young shepherds who have given up everything to carry on the family trade of four generations.
You will have the chance to witness all the processes with a visit to a small dairy farm where a family dedicate everyday to the production of among other things ricotta and other cheeses - and we start with the milking of the goats, allowing us to make the different varieties of raw milk cheeses. All the mechanisms that allow us to preserve the qualities and benefits of milk to the maximum will be explained in detail. After putting on the appropriate uniform and shoes, our Maestro Casaro will welcome the group inside the dairy. Here we will explain all the secrets for obtaining a good, healthy and genuine cheese, the different processing techniques (lactic and rennet) and maturing. At the same time, you will help the cheesemaker prepare the Primo sale cheese. The experience will then end with a delicious tasting of the farm products: goat cheeses, ancient grain bread, EVO oil and Sicilian dessert.
WHAT TO BRING: it is recommended to wear comfortable clothing and trainers. The equipment to allow entry into the dairy (sterile gowns and shoes) will be provided by the staff.
THE DETAILS
times: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (5 hrs total)
Approximate distance from Noto: 40 minutes
Cost per person: € 505
number of participants: Minimum 4 - Maximum 20
Deadline for signing up: May 5th
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
INCLUDES
Private transfer with English speaking driver
Cheese farm experience with a local guide
Tasting of local products
.13.
A lesson in
SICILIAN EMBROIDERY
We depart for Chiaramonte Gulfi, a wonderful medieval & baroque town in the Ragusa area. We stop in the main piazza and continue with a short walk to reach the famous "Museo del Ricamo" - also known as the "Museum of Embroidery"! Where else but in Sicily, will you find a place that keeps intact this incredible tradition.
Guests will be surprised by the important heritage of Sicilian embroidery - ones in the rich style of "Caterina de Medici" or in the unique and precious style of "Cantu" - or even the "Sfilato Siciliano" to name just a few..Many of these works date back from the late 18th to the 20th century - and there are still some today who continue this very Sicilian tradition.
We will continue with a special embroidery experience which takes place in the museum - and where we will witness Signora Maria, expert embroiderer, guiding you through a very special embroidery lesson which you can take home with you afterwards.
During the lesson you will also taste typical Sicilian cakes and homemade biscuits. Later, you will rejoin your driver and on the way back, you will stop at the famous "Sicily balcony" - a piazza that offers a truly beautiful panorama over the Sicilian coastline.
Please contact essence of Sicily for details.
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
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INCLUDES
​Private English-speaking guide
Sicilian Embroidery experience:
a lesson at the Museum of Embroidery
Entrance fees and pastry tasting
.14.
SAILING
along the Hyblean Coast
We depart for the port of Marina di Ragusa. On arrival, we meet with the skipper & embark on a Dufour or Bavaria sail boat for a beautiful sail along the Ragusa coast, characterized by the very blue sea waters, limestone rocks and golden toned sandy beaches.
At one point, you will stop for a swim in the wonderful blue Mediterranean sea, witness beautiful fishes and Roman shipwrecks and also have time to do some snorkeling if wanted.
Depending on the wind, you will sail towards Donnalucata, Cava d'Aliga, Sampieri, fisherman's village or towards Caucana, Punta Secca and Punta Braccetto, ancient Roman towns.
While relaxing on your private boat, you also have the possibility to fish if wanted - and have a wonderful lunch on the boat.
THE DETAILS
times: 9 am - 6 pm (9 hrs total)
Approximate distance from Noto: 1h10m
Cost per person: €590
Minimum participants: 4
Deadline for signing up: May 15th
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
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Includes ​
​8-hour sailing tour starting at 9am until 6pm
brunch, water and soft drinks included
masks & flippers for snorkeling & fishing poles
beach towels
transfer from Noto to/from Marina di Ragusa port
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.15.
PIZZA MAKING
in a wood-fire oven
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Let’s light our wood oven together! In the meantime, learn how to knead our dough and prepare the fillings and all the ingredients. To make our pizzas, we will use our hands, lots of Sicilian flour and then shovels, shovels and much more... to make the best sicilian pizzas you have ever tasted!
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Details
Cost per person: € 505
number of participants: minimum 4 - Maximum 20
Deadline for signing up: May 5th
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
Private transfer with English speaking driver
Private assistant/guide
Pizza making experience and lunch
.16.
LOCAL REAL ESTATE TOURING
with interior designer & real estate developer Samuele Mazza
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Ever been dreaming about owning a country-house in Sicily nestled amongst palm trees & vineyards? Or finally making your dream a reality of owning a townhouse in a tiny Sicilian village? Here is your chance to discover all what this could entail by spending a day with respected interior designer & local real estate developer Samuele Mazza (who knows everything and everyone in this area) and take you on a walking tour of downtown Noto to show you a selection of current apartments & palaces currently on the market or as a tour of downtown Noto and the countryside for current opportunities of villas in the countryside. Add on is the option to also have an incredible homemade lunch at his beautiful villa in Noto!
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Details
Cost per person: €340 per person
or €480 depending on the tour
(the latter includes a minivan)
Special lunch extra add on
number of participants: minimum 4
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
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.17.
POMODORI PICKING!!
​A tomato sauce experience like no other!
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Welcome to the countryside of Noto, where the breathtaking Baroque gives way to a more rustic way of life, where the pace is slower and life more minimal. Today you will live an experience that has everything authentic about it: from the places, rural and uneven, to the food, historical and genuine, the fruit of people who from contact with nature and its products have created extraordinary delicacies: the family of Paolo is a portrait of the truest Sicilian history.
Mr. Antonio and his wife will welcome you to live a unique, exclusive and unconventional experience. You will stroll through their masseria, among nature, stories and animals, visit their 19th century parsonage, which has been preserved intact and will give you an unforgettable leap in time.
With them and their family you will be part of one of the most authentic Sicilian summer activities: TOMATO SALSA making!
From choosing and picking all those ripe sun polished Sicilian pomodori...through the whole process to let them become a true Sicilian tomato delicious sauce.
Finally, you will enjoy a delicious lunch al sole, genuine and of exceptional quality, tasting local delicacies such as ricotta cheese and scacce.
Get ready to experience the real Sicily! The one that goes beyond history, monuments and boundless beauty: it is the Sicily of the Sicilians.
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Details
times: from 9am - 4pm (7 hrs total)
Cost per person: € 490
number of participants: minimum 4 - Maximum 12
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Sign up here, by filling out the form
Includes
pickup & transfer to hotel & lunch