Activities


For the SEAC2024 meeting we decided to organize not a classic 'gala dinner' but a wine experience in one of the wineries closest to the city: the Etna Urban Winery. Etna wine has now become famous throughout the world, the particularity of the volcanic soils gives the wines produced a great quality. Considered among the most important wine-growing areas in Europe, on Etna we find wonderful and fascinating wines.

We will therefore have the opportunity to visit a typical Etna vineyard, an ancient 18th century palmento and to taste typical Sicilian products with some of the organic wines produced on the Etna volcano, a UNESCO site since 2013

As for cultural visits, we have chosen to let you experience an entire weekend (November 16/17) discovering the beauty of one of the most important archaeological parks in Europe: the archaeological park of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Saturday 16th we will spend the day in the Park visiting the famous Greek temples, such as that of Juno, Concordia, Hercules, Jupiter, Dioscuri, but also areas closed to the public, with a special visit to the Temple of Demeter and Persephone and the archaic fountain.

On Sunday 17th we will move to Licata, to visit the splendid Badia Museum, where the most beautiful vases of the Castelluccian culture (EBA) are kept, those of the Muculufa site, excavated by archaeologists from Brown University (USA) in the 80s of the last century. We will then have lunch in one of the most famous cellars in Sicily, that of the Princes of Butera) and we will also see (but from afar) the magnificent Pizzo della Muculufa.

For the details on the proposed activities, below you will find more informations.

November 15 (Friday) | Etna Urban Winery (18:00-22:00)

Etna Urban Winery gives the visitor the opportunity to enjoy the history of Etna wine making in Sicily, to visit an urban vineyard, to learn about the territory and to taste four Etna wines in a unique historical urban environment.

Vineyard trail
Walk our urban vineyards with us or at your own pace while discovering dry stone walls and an the bafflng “Cuba di Vigna Grande” (very old domed building). You will also walk through one of the few oak forests still in the area (now protected) and an olive grove.
Gourmet tasting
Enjoy and experience the quality of the wines born on the slopes of Mount Etna along with a selection of gourmet food created by the outstanding local chef Carlo Sichel. Wine selection includes our “Vigna Grande” IGT Nerello Mascalase as well as wines from partner wineries (e.g. Tenuta delle Terre Nere, Tenuta di Fessina, Masseria Setteporte, Murgo, Cantina Russo, Famiglia Statella, Murgo, Eudes and Nicola Gumina).
History
Learn about the traditional way to produce wine in Sicily. You will visit our 17th century Palmento (winery) that is host to two 10,000-litre wooden barrels and an old wine press that was once able to process around 8 tons of grapes!
Cost
Bus travel, wine experience and buffet dinner at 60 euros (per person).

November 16 | Valle dei Templi (Agrigento)

Below you will find the program of the day.

Morning
Departure from Catania to Agrigento; visit to the Archaeological Park of the Valley of the Temples (UNESCO site), in particular to the temples of Juno, Concordia, Hercules, Jupiter and Dioscuri.
Lunch
  • Casa Diodoros (inside the Archaeological Park).
  • Authorities greetings:
  • Dott. Roberto Sciarratta, Parco Archeologico della Valle dei Templi, Director
  • On. Giusy Savarino, Assessorato Territorio e Ambiente della Regione Siciliana, Councilor
Afternoon
Continuation of the visit to the Park, in particular the temple of Demeter and Persephone and archaic fountain; possibility of visit to the archaeological museum P. Griffo.
Night
Dioscuri Hotel (San Leone).

November 17 | Museo della Badia (Licata) e Muculufa (Ravanusa)

Below you will find the program of the day.

Morning
Departure from Agrigento to Licata; visit to the Museum of the Badia, and special attention will be given to the room dedicated to the magnificent decorated vases from the Castelluccian site of Muculufa (EBA site).
Lunch
Cantina Principi di Butera.
Afternoon
Observation of the Muculufa landscape and return to Catania.
Cost
  • Bus travel, entrance to the archaeological park and museum, overnight stay (1 night), 2 lunches:
  • at 150 euro (in a double room - 40 euro per person)
  • at 180 euro (double room (single use) - euro 70 per person)