EVENT: The Sicilian adventure with Benzina Vintage Car Finder

14. to 20. of October

Drive, drink and dine with us. During 7 days and 6 nights we will travel Sicilia with classic Italian cars. This will be an adventure of driving and enjoying the finer things in life. The experience is unique for Benzina and co-arranged with our Dutch friends at www.hiddensicily.co.uk
 
Price: Euro 2399 or NKR 23.900 per. person
 
Event must be paid in full before April 15th 2018. Exclusive only 12 places. First ordered first served.

What is included

• The car (Vintage Alfa Giulia or Fiat 124 Spider) two people share the cars. It is possible to change cars during the event.
• 6 night’s stay on basis of B&B.
• 4 dinners
• a 60 pages roadbook with all the itineraries in dot-arrow style including maps, tips and tricks and a heap of information and addresses on things you pass along the trip.
• The aperitivi, parking and police escort in Palermo.

 
We can order airplane tickets for you to Catania airport. However, that is extra.
 
THE PROGRAM
 
Catania Airport 14th of October (Sunday)
Upon arrival at Catania Airport you will be welcomed personally by our staff and escorted to the vintage cars in the parking lot of the airport. After an hour’s drive you will arrive in Linguaglossa on the northern slopes of mount Etna. After checking in at Shalai Resort there will be an aperitivo and time to fresh up I your room.

Linguaglossa on the northern slopes of mount Etna
Chef Giovanni Santoro of the hotels Michelin Star restaurant will be preparing dinner that night. The special 7 dishes menu will let you explore the Sicilian and international cuisine in a very pleasant and from time to time surprising way. All that accompanied of course, by a nice selection of wines.

Castelbuono 15th of October (Monday)
The first day of driving will take you partly over mount Etna and then crossing the inland towards the town of Castelbuono almost right on the classic Targa Florio Circuit. After the 200 km plus drive that will take you some 5 hours you will be welcomed in the old Abbazia di Santa Anastasia.

Abbazia di Santa Anastasia.
Dinner will be different this time. After a refreshment in your room the sommelier will show you the cantina and let you taste the fine wines Santa Anastasia has been producing for many year. Wine that will also be leading the dinner this time as the food will be adapted to the wines of your choice. 

Targa Florio 16th of October (Tuesday)
Next day we will get to the real driving experience. The Targa Florio is the oldest street circuit in Europe that exist far longer than the Mille Miglia or the La Mans track. 148 Kilometres of normal road. Nowadays on race-days in the road-track would be closed to public traffic. The practicing however was on the road when it was open to the public. In that same way you are going to round the track. No competition in speed here but all the more in regularity. Control posts will check if you did right, we do need some competition after all.

Abbazia di Santa Anastasia.
Dinner will be at the Abbazia again but different. A big table, timetables and scores. Food and drinks will be served while you discuss the reason why you missed the second check point for example. And in the end of course there is the little trophy for the one that did best.  

Palermo 17th of October (Wedensday)
On day number four we will take you to Palermo. Not a long drive but exciting nonetheless. Coastal roads, winding through Bagheria and passing the famous Villa Cattolica. Upon entering Palermo you will be escorted by the Stradale to the Grand Hotel et des Palmes. Valet parking of course at this illustrious hotel where in in 1957 Lucky Luciano and Joe Bonanno settled their French Connection.
No dinner organised here. At seven you are expected to show up for aperitivo in HIC, la Folie du vin. Drinks and snacks will do as a start. The rest is up to you. In Palermo you want to decide for yourself where to go and with whom. In the roadbook you will find a vast selection of options to entertain yourself or to be entertained. Still worried, ask our staff in the hotel, they will be more than happy to check things out and make a reservation for you.

Baglio Caruana 18th of October (Thursday)
Breakfast at Et des Palmes is a must as it is being served in the hall where Bonanno met Luciano made theis deal so is said.  So no way you can skip that. Then it’s off to the south coast and the beach. You will be staying at Baglio Caruana, a winery on a stone’s throw of the Beach. Opon arrival we start with a tasting besides the pool here, dinner however is served at Capitolo Primo. Chef Damiano no doubt is going to try and “over-cook” Shalai’s Michelin chef Giovanni. Since “don’t drink and drive” is our policy, we will take care of getting you back to the Baglio.
Modica 19th of October (Friday)

From Baglio Caruana, Primo Capitolo and Montallegro it is almost a straight stretch to Modica, Straight in a Sicilian way as you can imagine. 175 km And some 3 hours to get to the town of Modica. Get there in time. Dinner is served at eight across the street from the hotel. And as it is only a 5 minutes’ walk back to the hotel, the menu is including wine.

Brucoli and going home 20th of October (Saturday)
Depending on the time of your outbound flight the last trip is scenic or highway. Up to you to stretch the last day as much as you can. We would suggest a lunch- stop in Brucoli, which leaves you with a 20 minutes’ drive to cover after that to get to the airport.

Order here.