Sicily's Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions Day 7

Day 7 - September 26, 2015 - Saturday - Boat Ride to Mozia Island; Marsala Wine Tasting

After breakfast we took a little stroll in the garden area. The aroma of the jasmine from the hedges by the fountains was almost overpowering. The temperature was 72 degrees and the humidity was 73%.

We met our fearless leader, Maurizio at 9:00 to travel an hour’s distance to the port city of Marsala and then to the dock. On the way we shared our stories of the community interaction from our morning in Castelbuono. The drive went quickly – how time flies when we were having fun.

Another highlight of the drive to the port was a lesson in Sicilian gestures. If talking with one’s hands is typical of Italians; the Sicilians take it to a whole other level and it is another unique language!

Arriving at the dock at 10:00, we met our Captain, Franco who piloted our pontoon boat across to the Island of Mozia. There was an audio guide in English that helped us to visualize the Phoenicians who lived here over 2,700 years ago.

The Phoenicians built an advanced settlement on the island and worked the salt evaporation pans on the mainland, trading the “white gold” all over the Mediterranean Sea. Most of the discovered treasures have been moved into the Whitaker Museum, a small but well-done collection of ancient artifacts.

Maurizio took us on a nature hike around the perimeter of the island so we could get a closer look at the archaeological sites and take more photos. Very little restoration has been completed necessitating a good imagination.

At 12:30 we came back for an in-depth visit to the Whitaker Museum. The highlight of the exhibit was the marble “Statue of a Young Man” (charioteer) found in a nearby field in 1979.

Back at the main center, Maurizio has arranged a picnic lunch for us. Salad, bread with fresh tomatoes and feta cheese, olives, eggplant capanata, and special cookies and Panatonni for dessert was a banquet under the cool cedar trees.

The boat came for us at 2:00 and took us directly to the mainland in 20 minutes. Our next discovery was at the Baglio Oro Winery.

Giuseppé, the grandson of the founder, presented an interesting history of the tools and implements used in the processing of wine as well as the agricultural equipment for working the vineyards and cultivating the land.

We arrived at the height of harvest season so we were able to see a truckload of grapes that had just come from the fields being processed through the first auger. After the stems, skins, leaves, and other impurities are discarded, the grapes are sent through the mother press.

We were able walk through the whole production process and then proceeded to the tasting room. Giuseppé offered us a taste of white, red, and the signature wine of the area, Marsala.

Although Bagio Oro has been making wine only since 2009, they have won several major awards. At 4:30 we thanked Giuseppé and then Pepé took us back to the hotel. We were back at the lobby at 5:30 only to find out there was still no WiFi – for two days now.

We worked on photos and the journal and then met our group at 7:00 for a short ride back to town of Mazara for dinner at a colorful restaurant La Vela Ristorante & Pizzeria on the promenade. Vic had a pizza and Gennie had the swordfish. Yummy!

The moon was full and the Saturday evening atmosphere of Mazara del Vallo was alive with people on the streets. Maurizio suggested we take a short walk just to feel the electricity of this vibrant city.

We got back to the hotel at 9:30 and managed to complete our notes and Vic was able to go to the office to post the day’s journal.

Tomorrow is a travel day so tonight we will pack, shower, and get to sleep as we have more to see in Sicily!

Accommodations: Giardino de Costanza - - - Meal: B, L, D