The Cruise to Egadi Islands: Mozia & Ustica

The Egadi Islands is an archipelago of complete peace where the time slows down but its value increases. The islands are called The pearl of Sicily by right: crystal clear water, cozy bays, fascinating shores unique reliefs, natural caves attract tourists seeking solitude far from noise, stress and civilization. There is everything: sea, sun, cycling — everything a tourist needs on an island to have good rest. We invite you to experience all the delights of the small archipelago: full idyll and trekking, yachting and traditional fishing for blue fin tuna, as always, with the twist that distinguishes our tours. The tour is designed for the people who love adventures and the unknown. It can be said — the real romantics who want to discover the authentic and natural beauty of the Mediterranean, though sometimes sacrificing comfort a little… However, you will find the rare beauty of sunsets and sunrises on the yacht, you will be able to try your hands at being a skipper, observe the seabed using the unique equipment and count millions of stars that appear in the Sicilian sky at night.

CRUISE DETAILS:

  • Sailing yacht (4-5 DBL cabins) Bavaria 49/«Neptune Planet»/the Bavaria 51/«Jupiter Planet»
  • It is a sport boat with a small cabin (far from comfortable stay 5*)
  • Taking into account the possibility of tracking the sports shoes are needed.
  • The order and length of stay on each island can be adjusted to the weather and sea conditions.
123 The host team: naturalists, trackers, navigators. Among them there will be ANATOLY STRUNIN who is a well-known author, journalist and photographer.

Anatoly began his career as a journalist in Kamchatsky Komsomolets in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russia), he published his first notes in the naval newspaper Zalp (“Salvo”). That was followed by Vladivostok, Volgograd and Moscow where Anatoly was a correspondent of Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. Also Anatoly worked in the spheres of advertising, publishing, PR and marketing, moreover, he was a part of Rossiyskaya Gazeta and ITAR-TASS’s teams.

Due to the profession of journalist, Anatoly visited more than 50 countries and nearly 300 cities. Only Australia and Antarctica still remain unexplored by him. He usually publishes reports accompanied by comments, however, Anatoly tries his hand at all genres, except for black and white photography. He’s been a member of the Journalists’ Union since 1981 and a member of the Union of Photographers of Russia since 2011. His personal blog: a-strunin.livejournal.com/

DETAILS OF THE PHOTO-JOURNALISM COURSE

  • Day 1. Introductory talk. Features of the genre. Pictures and texts. Genre and street photography. Practical tips on photography in public places. Methods of collection and accumulation of factual material.
  • Day 2. Analysis of the shooting, determination of characteristics of «good» and «bad» pictures. The concept and the content of the «right» image.
  • Day 3. Analysis of the shooting. The «ideal» composition in combination with «crucial points» in the street photography. Dynamics as the basis of the genre and reportage photography. Secrets of intriguing images and stories.
  • Day 4. The ethnographic component of the Travel Journalism. «Taboo» shooting ethics. Prevention and resolution of conflicts.
  • Day 5. Analysis of the shooting, rules of the selection of photos for the portfolio. Alternation of themes, meanings, perspectives and shots in a report. Efficient treatment of photos, preparation for the production of a material; the Internet and printing.
  • Day 6. Not a blogger, a travel journalist. Blog is not a genre, it is a section. The essay as a way of thoughts expression. The drama of travel writing. How to get out of the stupor when there is something to say, but there are no words.

PROGRAM

DAY 1
• We will meet you at the airport of Trapani (or at the railway station nearby) and take you to the boat in a private port.

• After the registration you will enjoy a romantic evening tour of the old Trapani streets (optional).

Trapani is the extremity of Southern Europe, it is a city that has always been at the crossroads of several cultures. Trapani still offers architecture of different eras (from Muslim streets of IX century to Spanish neighborhoods of XVII century). We will be able to see the Palace of Giudecca and the Sanctuary of the Annunziata. Due to its location at the sea shore Trapani has always been an important commercial port, where salt and tuna had been sold. You can still visit the old saltworks. One should admire the city from the observation deck.

DAY 2
• First of all, we will visit Mozia which is a tiny island located in the national park of archipelago Statone in front of Trapani. Since private transport is not allowed in the park we will go there in small boats. Mozia bridge was built by the Greeks and then the Romans and monks settled here. Traces of those settlements have reached us in the form of the ruins of several houses. In the XVII-XVIII centuries some archaeological excavations were conducted on the territory of Mozia. At the beginning of the XX century the island was acquired by Joseph Whitaker, an archaeologist and heir to the British throne. The Royal family lived permanently in Sicily and made its fortune in the wine trade. We will visit Kappidatstsu Sanctuary, which can be translated from Sicilian dialect as «big hat», the ancient necropolis, Mosaic House and Kazermetta.
DAY 3
• Today we hit the road towards adventures, we are going to visit Favinyana — our first island of the archipelago Egali. History lovers will be interested to visit its capital — the city of the same name. There is the legendary fort of Santa Catarina (Forte Santa Catarina). The Arabs built the first watchtower on Favinyana. After the Normans had occupied the archipelago the fort was transformed into a prison and the island was closed to public access. Today only the rigorous appearance of the port recalls the gloomy past of the island. The only bastion of civilization on the island is the port, in addition, it is the only tourist center of the archipelago. In fact it is a village that specializes in fishing for bluefin tuna. The ritual fishing «matantsa» is considered to be one of the most spectacular events of the island. This is the main source of income for the island’s population. Also the extraction of tufa is important since it is exported even to North Africa. Usually people describe the island with the word «butterfly» because outlines of Favignana look like the insect. Each wing is a bay or a beach. There are two main beaches of the island: sandy Cala Azzurra and stove Lido Burrone, where transportation is always available. However, there are other nooks: the bay Cala Rossa and Cala del Bue Marino with caves, arches and beaches for the divers.
DAY 4
  • Free day or a fishing & cooking lesson with dinner (optional). Fish dishes are in honor on the islands due to the long tradition of local residents. Well-known tuna fishery tonnara has centuries-old roots. Tourists rarely leave the island without canned tuna, there are more than two dozen varieties of tuna recipes on the island. Unfortunately, due to the mass extermination of tuna fishing in large quantities was banned. It is allowed to catch no more than one tuna per day, so we will have release the rest of the fish to let it spawn. Tuna fishing will be accompanied by a nice aperitif on the deck. After sharing the caught tuna with the crew your portion can be cooked in one of the coastal restaurants on the beach.
DAY 5
•   Marettimo is a fishermen island and the most distant island from Sicily. There are even no hotels and accommodation is available only in the fishing villas of Scalo Nuovo and Scalo Vecchio. People come here for the complete tranquility of the sea, for the landscape views of rocky coast covered with wild vegetation of Mediterranean maquis and mountain flowers.
DAY 6

•   Picturesque views of the bays and beaches of Levanzo are indescribable. It is the smallest island of the archipelago, but very attractive. Levanzo seems almost uninhabited with its tiny village of Cala Dogana. It is a kind of a real storehouse of amazing natural attractions, exploring the island on foot gives a great pleasure. Levanzo is covered with hills, the highest is the Pizzo dei Monaco. Climbing the mountain of 278 meters high became a tradition among tourists. The summit of the rock offers an unforgettable panoramic view. There is only one settlement on the island, so it seems rather empty. Tourists can visit the old village whose way of life of has not changed for many years and archeological areas with the ruins of prehistoric buildings. Besides relaxing on the sea we suggest visiting the caves of Grotta del Genovese with rock paintings Paleolithic times.

DAY 7
•        We arrive at the port of Palermo in the morning.

•        You will be transferred to the airport, train station or hotel if you want to continue the holiday.

•        (OPTIONAL) — Sightseeing tour of Palermo and the surroundings. Palermo or Panormus in Greek means «the entire port» is surrounded by mountains and the sea. The city with a rich history was founded by the Phoenicians in the VIII BC; later Palermo was appointed the capital of Normans’ kingdom in the XII century. It is a city where east meets west. The Normans built mighty castles and cathedrals, the Byzantines decorated them with mosaics of gold, the Arabs added Arabic character and ornaments. The evidence of the long Spanish rule is the numerous churches of the Baroque period, covered with marble inlays and refined decoration of stucco. Each new ruler left an indelible mark in the history of the city. Montreale is a small town situated on the slopes of Mount Caputo on the height of 310 m above the sea level. It was the favorite place of the Norman kings. The city’s name comes from the Latin Mons regalis that means Royal Mountain. The city was built around Benedictine monastery, one of the parts of which is the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria Nuova. This valuable monument of architecture combines the styles of Norman, Arab and Byzantine masters. Decorated with wonderful mosaics of XII-XIII centuries its interior reflects the history of Christianity.

DAY 8
•        OPTIONAL. We offer a unique trip to the island of Ustica. A series of undersea volcanic eruptions northward of Sicily broufht to the surface millions of tons of lava about a million of years ago. It was formed a dark, inhospitable island, that in antiquity was called Ustum which means «scorched, burnt down». But over time the sun, wind and water turned the rock into a beautiful Mediterranean island. Today it is a black pearl of Sicily. Ustica is full of attractions and exotic beauty of such a concentration that cannot be found in whole Italy. Once the island was a place of burial of the Phoenicians. Thousands of soldiers of Carthagen found their death here, also the execution of guilty slaves of Rome was made on the island. But for the Roman aristocracy it was resting place. After 1.5 hours boat ride from Palermo we will arrive at the main port of Ustica. A walk inside the island is the easiest way to get acquainted with the beauty of the landscape and the originality of the architecture of the islanders’ homes scattered around. In the castle Grotta Azzurra you will see a specific blue light (the light filtered with sea water), the walls covered with stalactites and stalagmites, crystal clear seabed at a depth of 10 m.

OR

For those who want to get close to the grotto a boat trip will be more convenient. We offer the optimal visiting of the island not only the land, but also by water, since it is the best way to explore the rocky coast of Ustica with a series of caves, coves and cliffs and the highest point of the island — Capo Falconara. Scuba diving is very popular on the island, it will give you the opportunity to enjoy the underwater flora and fauna. Then we will return to Palermo in the evening boat.

Cost of the tour: Euro 1,900

CRUISE DETAILS:

  • Sailing yacht (4-5 DBL cabins) Bavaria 49/«Neptune Planet»/the Bavaria 51/«Jupiter Planet»
  • Note: this is a sport boat with a small cabin — far from comfortable stay of 5* level.
  • Taking into account the possibility of tracking the sports shoes are needed.
  • The order and length of stay on each island can be adjusted to the weather and sea conditions.

Included into the price:

  • Yacht, skipper, sailor
  • English-speaking guide — 24 hour assistance
  • Accommodation
  • Meals: half-board
  • All port charges and fuel as required
  • All equipment needed on the yacht

Not included into the price:

  • Air-flight
  • Visa (if required)
  • Medical Insurance
  • Lunches
  • Transfer to the airport/railway station on the day of arrival
Последние новости
19.09.2023
Винный туризм не только про вино
19.09.2023
История и моральные долги
19.09.2023
За закрытыми дверями или винные секреты вулкана Лацио
19.09.2023
ROME WINE EXPO – новая капля в океане винных событий от Riserva Grande

© 2015 Italia Unica Events. All Rights Reserved.

Политика конфиденциальности
события в Италии

Напишите нам