Walk, Wine & Picnic in the Hyblaean Mountains

 

A discovery of the Hyblaean Mountains with lunch & natural wines in the middle of Sicilian nature.

Discover the Sicilian land and territory with a slow and contemplative walk through the Hyblaean Mountains where your walking guide and host Raffaella will show you the best of our land. After a morning fully immersed slowly walking in nature, history and culture, dine in the middle of nature with the trees, caves and flowers surrounding you whilst you enjoy lunch made just for you by Chef & host Emilia and of course all accompanied with a selection of Sicilian wines for you to try.

Immerse yourself in Sicilian nature with lunch & natural wines. 

The Hyblaean mountains is a mountain range, famous for trekking and excursions with a plateau of 987 metres above sea level that dominates the southeast of Sicily, with a rich historical-landscape heritage and natural beauty.

“Raffaella navigated the way through verdant alternating temperatures, highlighting carob, pistachios, pomegranates, lichened damp abandoned mill wheels, revealing Arab industry. A gate-now senseless, leading down to a bend/plunge pool in the river, with a half imagined water snake. All around us the gorge walls of limestone and lofty vegetation. Troglodyte habitation- villages in the rock. I had a sense of the very bones of Sicilian permaculture, after 3k trekking we stepped through a rough hewn shack/refuge where there awaited us a lunch spread out with nurtured simplicity in the prehistoric environment.” October 2023 Guest 

What's Included

  • A contemplative walk through the Hyblaean Mountains with your walking guide Raffaella
  • Professional walling sticks provided at request
  • A typical "Campagna" style lunch served sat within Sicilian nature & land
  • Sicilian wines to try with an explanation to the wine makers to accompany your lunch
  • A guided walk back to the cars

  • About your host

    Your Walking Guide & Host Raffaella, embodies the words "Petri Petri" which in Sicilian dialect literally means “when you wander on the rocks”, It is a way of living to immerse yourself in nature, to experience adventure and a wide sensation of freedom.

    In 2021 Raffaella became a certified Hiking and Nature Guide, a member of the Aigae (SI597). Walking around is her way to discover our Sicilian territory in a slow and deep mood, quiet in contemplation. She is also a kundalini yoga teacher (KRI level 1) and a yoga teacher for young children (“Yogare per crescere” method). She lives in Marina di Ragusa and whenever she can, she pauses and stops to listen to the sound of the sea.

    Our Founder: Emilia is proud to showcase the food & wine artisans of Sicily who strive to continue Sicilian traditions and pass them down to the next generation just as her Sicilian grandparents did for her growing up in the UK. Although Emilia’s experience takes her from cooking for the royal family in London, to a 3 Michelin star patisserie in Paris and a luxury 5 star hotel in Milan with a lot of fresh pasta making, Emilia has chosen to return back to her roots in Sicilian cuisine.

    Emilia cooks dishes she learnt growing up from her Nonni “Come una volta” (how they used to it) using only locally sourced ingredients from Sicily, including Sicilian natural wine. Emilia cooks traditional Sicilian recipes but always using her professional training, discipline & knowledge about Sicily behind her dishes too.

  • What happens on the day

    • 10:30am Meet & Greet at the chosen entrance to the Hyblaean mountains.
    • A stroll through the historically filled nature of the Sicilian land & territory.
    • Arrival to a traditional Sicilian Refuge for time to relax.
    • A typical "countryside" lunch served with Sicilian wines and an introduction to the winemakers.
    • A walk back to the cars.
    • Approx 15:00 End of the experience.

  • Location

    • Set in The Hyblaean Mountains, Ragusa, Southeast Sicily

  • How it works

    To request your experience with personalised quote please contact us via the request form here link with the following information.
    1. Number of People.
    2. Prefered date of visit.
    3. Any dietary requirements.
    4. Prefered language spoken.
    5. Any other requirements we need to consider for you e.g. transportation