Mindful Walks – A Mindful Week in South-Eastern Sicily

Few places offer the diversity and richness that can be found in Sicily, a paradise for anybody interested in history, nature, food & wine, sport, relax and, of course, Mindfulness.

The week described below is a combination of experiences for the senses, the body and the mind, an opportunity to get in touch with Nature at its best, its influence on its inhabitants, but also your creativity and well-being.

It is more than a retreat and way more than a holiday – it is an experiential time shared with a small community in a very privileged way!

Day 1 – Sept 30

Independent arrival in Siracusa (regular bus connections available from Catania and Catania airport, plus from Palermo twice a day).

Mid-afternoon pick-up from Siracusa bus station and transfer to Agriturismo Borgo Alto Country Hotel***. Check-in and resting time.

Welcome drink, introductions, dinner together at Hotel.

(Optional) Short Mindfulness practice and overnight stay.

Day 2 – Oct 1

Morning Mindfulness meditation together.

After breakfast, we head towards Ortigia, Siracusa’s historical centre, for a first opportunity to explore this unique island and its hidden corners.

We will meet our chef at the colourful daily market, for a market tour to learn about what’s in season and pick up our ingredients to cook dinner together tonight.

We will then jump on a bike and have an unusual tour of the small island on 2 wheels, with Alfonso from Movimento Centrale, an organic Café also renting out bikes and very bike- (and not only) friendly. We will also enjoy a light Aperitivo there, with a few bruschette with homemade sauces and dressings, plus two glasses of local wines to taste.

Some free time to explore Ortigia on your own, supplement your aperitivo with a gelato or just lie on a rock watching the sea, which is never more than 300 meters away.

By mid-afternoon, we will start moving back towards our Hotel, where the chef will meet us again to start our Mindful Cooking class together.

Dinner and overnight stay.

 

Day 3 – Oct 2

Morning Mindfulness meditation together.

After breakfast, we head towards Noto Antica, the ancient town destroyed by the terrible 1693 earthquake. Although there are very few buildings left to admire, it lies on the top of a magnificent canyon, rich in Arab tanneries and watermills, which we will explore together.

Picnic down by the stream (with Mindful Eating practice), then hike back up and time on your own to visit the ‘new’ (1700s) Noto, the true jewel of baroque.

Stop at an excellent local winery to enjoy the view and a taste of local products.

Transfer back to the hotel, time to relax and overnight stay.

Day 4 – Oct 3

Breakfast together, then we head towards the magic Natural Reserve of Vendicari, where we will have our morning Mindfulness meditation practice. This amazing area is inhabited by hundreds of flora and fauna species, many of which are endangered. Its landscape is unspoilt, yet the presence of man is clear and well-integrated. We will visit the ruins of the tuna factory and maybe even some Medieval catacombs.

We will then move to the nearby fishermen’s village of Marzamemi and spend some free time in this place that looks like a beautiful film set (and where many movies were indeed shot) around lunchtime.

Afternoon (optional) Photography workshop with a renowned photographer from Siracusa, then back to the hotel for a Pastry Mindful Cooking class and dinner together.

Overnight stay.

Day 5 – Oct 4

Morning Mindfulness meditation together.

After breakfast we’ll move again to Ortigia, to pick up the produce for our last cooking class. Some more free time in Ortigia, lunch on your own and early afternoon Creativity Workshop with Caroline Van Riet, the owner and artist of Circo Fortuna. We will get some inspiration and create our own piece.

Back to hotel (optional stop along the way and short walk by the Ciane river, famous for the papyrus plants that naturally grow there), rest before our Mindful Cooking class.

Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6 – Oct 5

Morning Mindfulness meditation together.

After breakfast we will devote the day to exploring the beautiful countryside around our Hotel, which offers amazing views and trails and very diverse landscapes, a perfect combination of Nature and Man. Picnic lunch and stop at a local dairy farm to get fresh cheese and bread.

(To be confirmed) Visit to oil press and flour mill in a nearby village, or time to walk around the hotel property and enjoy the peace, or even just to lie next to the hotel pool.

Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 7 – Oct 6

Morning Mindfulness meditation together.

Breakfast and transfer to Siracusa bus station.

Goodbyes !

Cost:

• 8 participants – € 1.099
• 6 participants – € 1.199
• less than 6 participants – get in touch for a quote

The price includes:

• 6 nights in a 3* Country Hotel (double occupancy)
• all breakfast and all evening meals (dinners or aperitivi with local products)
• 3 cooking classes (2 savoury and 1 pastry)
• 1 creativity workshop (painting on ceramics)
• transfer from and to Siracusa bus station (days 1 and 7)
• all the transfers related to the programme
• 2 picnic lunches
• daily Mindful meditation practices and activities
• a trip leader/Mindfulness instructor with you
• a guided bike tour of Ortigia + pre-lunch aperitivo (a light lunch for many :))

Get in touch

For any questions, for the cost of the single supplement, for a custom departure, for smaller group prices, etc. – please get in touch!

in collaboration with

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Organizzazione tecnica: Ferula Viaggi – Via Cappelluti, 34 - 75100 Matera.
Autorizzazione amministrativa Provincia di Matera n° 14 del 14-01-2016.
Ferula Viaggi è coperta da polizza RC Viaggi UnipolSai Assicurazioni n°1/75910/319/4201481/1 per la 
responsabilità civile di cui agli art. 15 e 16 dgls111 del 17.03.1995 e in conformità all’art.71 della 
L.R. N. 33/2002, massimale di 2.066.000,00 euro. 
Ragione Sociale: Slow Italy Srl
Sede Legale: Via L. Protospata, 55 _ Matera 
Capitale Sociale: € 10.000,00
Registro imprese di Matera
Foro competente: Matera
Codice fiscale: 01291770772
Partita Iva: 01291770772
Numero REA: MT - 87588