Discover Magical Sicily, October 2024

Story Circle Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to women telling their stories, is proud and excited to sponsor this upscale trip, offered by Italy-based Scenic Europe, with private transportation, local certified guides, and first-class hotels located centrally for your comfort and convenience.

**REGISTRATION FORM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE**

Please join us for this to explore the ancient and historically-rich island of Sicily and be inspired by the delectable sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the Mediterranean. For writers who want to grow their sensibilities and skills, group writing sessions will be held daily for SCN members who want to record and reflect on our Sicilian experience.

**Deadline for registration and initial payment: December 10th**

WRITING WORKSHOP

The writing workshop will meet for 1 hour each day and will focus on sensory writing inspired by the beauty of the island. Resource materials will be provided, and there will be time for writing and sharing. At the end of the week, we will invite all trip participants to gather for an official “Reading,” where each woman who wishes to share may read a short piece or poem to the group.

Your writing instructor and host for the trip is Len Leatherwood, an award-winning teacher who has been teaching writing privately to students in Beverly Hills, CA for the past 23 years. Len is not only a published author of flash fiction and memoir, personal essay, and an eleven-year daily blog entitled “20 Minutes a Day,” but also a two-time nominee for the prestigious Pushcart Prize, which is the best of the small presses. She is also the Online Classes Coordinator and President of Story Circle Network. In addition, she has been a Licensed Professional Counselor for the past thirty years. For questions, you may email Len at lenleatherwood@gmail.com.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

10/13 – Day 1: Departure

Depart USA – Overnight Flight to Catania, Sicily

10/14 – Day 2: Sicily – Catania, La Riviera dei Ciclopi

In the morning, arrive at Catania Airport, and you will be greeted by your local tour guide and private bus that will accompany you throughout the tour. You will begin the day with a visit to Catania, which includes cultural sites and beautiful markets. You will have free time to enjoy lunch and shopping. Then onwards to our hotel in the area of Taormina, via “La Riviera dei Ciclopi.” This stunning coastline has been shaped by Etna’s lava flows over the centuries, resulting in rocks with twisted shapes and steep cliffs that guard inlets with crystal-clear waters. Upon arrival at the hotel, you will check in and attend a writing workshop (for those participating), followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

10/15 – Day 3: Etna & Taormina

We will start our day with breakfast at the hotel, before departing for Mount Etna. The natural landscape here is truly breathtaking and untouched, offering unique views of the volcano’s evolution, including its main eruption sites and spectacular caves. At a height of 1,900 meters, we will reach “Rifugio la Sapienza,” and from there we will use a cable car, jeep/bus, and an alpine guide to reach the highest part of the Vulcan “Grande Cono” at 3,300 meters. You will have some free time for lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit Taormina, an ancient town perched at the top of Monte Tauro, between the cities of Catania and Messina on Sicily’s eastern coastline. This ancient town is home to a number of elegantly preserved historic treasures, such as the grand Greek-Roman Theatre and the impressive Palazzo Corvaja, just waiting to be discovered. We will return to the hotel for the writing workshop, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

 10/16 – Day 4: Syracuse, Ortygia & Noto

We will begin our day with breakfast at the hotel before departing for Syracuse. Our first stop will be the island of Ortygia, which is the historic center of Syracuse and has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site since 2005. While there, we will explore the typical market, which is full of spice stalls, dried and fresh fruit, cherry tomatoes, vegetables, cheese, fish, almond sweets, and Modica chocolate. Afterwards, we will visit the ancient part of town and the Neapolis Archaeological Park, which is a natural area that is rich in archaeological remains from various periods of Syracuse’s history. You will have some free time to enjoy lunch and shopping before we move on to the beautiful town of Noto, which is the capital of Baroque and has an amazing Basilica. Finally, we will return to the hotel for the writing workshop, dinner, and overnight stay.

 10/17 – Day 5: Caltagirone, Piazza Armerina & Enna

We’ll begin our day with breakfast at the hotel before checking out and departing for Caltagirone, a town known for its production of pottery. While the focus is now on artistic ceramics and terra-cotta sculptures, maiolica and terra-cotta wares were once the main products. Next up, we’ll visit Piazza Armerina, a stunning medieval town with a beautiful baroque and Normand historical center. This is also where we’ll find the Villa Romana del Casale, which is famous for its intricate mosaics that depict scenes of ancient Roman life. These mosaics are regarded by UNESCO as the finest on-site anywhere in the world. We have some free time to grab lunch before we continue our journey to Enna, which is known as the “bellybutton of Sicily” due to its central location on the island. From the height of the town, we’ll enjoy spectacular panoramas before checking in at our hotel in the Palermo area for the writing workshop, dinner, and overnight stay.

10/18 – Day 6: Segesta, Trapani Salt Pans & Erice:

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll get to visit some of the most interesting sites in western Sicily. Our tour will start with a visit to Segesta, a significant Greek archaeological site. It was one of the most important cities of the Elymians, an ancient people known for their culture and traditions. After exploring Segesta, we’ll head to Nubia and the Salt Pans in Trapani, where you can admire the stunning natural landscapes and Sicilian coast. We have some free time to grab lunch in Trapani, and our tour will end with a visit to Erice, a hilltop town known as one of Italy’s most fascinating medieval villages. This itinerary is famously known as the Elimians’ Road, named after the first inhabitants of this part of Sicily. You’ll enjoy spectacular views throughout the day, and all of the sites are relatively close to Palermo, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore each of them. We will return to the hotel for the writing workshop, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

10/19 – Day 7: Agrigento “Valle dei Templi”

After having breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Agrigento, which was founded by Greek colonists from Gela in the 6th century BC. This ancient city is located on a plateau that overlooks the sea, and is fortified by a ridge to the north. We will enjoy a beautiful 2-hour scenic drive through the countryside before reaching the Valley of the Temples. While there, you will have some free time to enjoy lunch and we will visit the Hera, Concordia, and Apollo temples and the Hardcastle Villa.  We will then return to the hotel for the writing workshop, dinner, and overnight stay.

10/20 – Day 8: Palermo City & Monreale

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for a visit to Palermo. As we walk through the narrow, winding streets of this historic city, we will be surrounded by evidence of past cultures, due to varied invasions by Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs, and Normans – to name just a few of the most influential. Our tour will take us to the historic center with the the lively market of La Vucciria, the neoclassical opera house (as seen in the film The Godfather III), Teatro Massimo, and the Cathedral of Palermo with its unique Arab-Norman architectural style. We will also visit Corso Vittorio Emanuele where we’ll see “Porta Nuova”, the Royal Palace or “Palazzo dei Normanni” with its garden, and finally the Politeama Theater. In the afternoon, we will reach the hilltop town of Monreale, renowned for its Arab-influenced cathedral, blending Byzantine, Arab, Jewish, Gothic, and Norman traditions, heritage and art. We’ll break for lunch then reconvene for a tour of this stunning cathedral’s interior with its glittering, golden mosaics and the story-telling columns. We’ll take in the breathtaking views from the hilltop before returning to our hotel for the writing workshop, farewell dinner, and overnight stay.

10/21 – Day 9: Bye-Bye Sicily

Transfer to the airport of Palermo.

**REGISTRATION FORM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE**

COST & FEES

Revel in the enchantment of Sicily without breaking the bank!

A 7-day night stay in Sicily with a writing workshop included would normally start at $3500, but we are offering this trip at the non-profit rate of $2740. In addition, all SCN members and their guests are automatically provided a $500 Debra Winegarten scholarship, making your cost only $2240, excluding airfare.

What’s included in this price?

• 7 nights of accommodations in 4-star hotels (based on double room occupancy)
• Breakfasts and dinners at two different 4-star hotels
• A full-time guide who will travel with us via tour bus
• Daily tours in each location

Additional fees:

• Airfare
• Daily lunch on your own
• Tips to our guide and bus driver ($3 – $5 per day for each)
• Single room costs extra
• Trip insurance, which we highly recommend

Payment Details:

**Deadline for registration and initial payment: December 10th**

We will divide the total cost ($2270) into three payments:

• $30 Registration Fee to Story Circle Network
  • Due on Sign-Up
  • Non-refundable
  • Register and pay below.                                                                               
• Deposit – $350 
  • Due on Sign-up
  • Fully refundable until December 10, 2023; non-refundable after that date.
  • Email Len at lenleatherwood@gmail.com for complete instructions.
• 2^nd Installment – $890
  • Due no later than January 31, 2024
  • Email Len at lenleatherwood@gmail.com for complete instructions                                                             
• 3rd Installment – Balance of $1000                                                   
  • Due no later than April 20
  • Email Len at lenleatherwood@gmail.com for complete instructions

Cancellation Policy:

If cancellation is before March 31, 2024, then a 50% refund.  
Between April 01 and May 31, 2024, a 25% refund.  
No refund for cancellations after May 31, 2024.

Trip Insurance: 

We highly recommend trip cancellation insurance.  For carriers and policies go to insuremytrip.com.

Questions?

Email Len at lenleatherwood@gmail.com