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Ragusa
Desert Flowers
Join Gabriele, our science communicator, and true ‘siciliano’, in traveling beyond stereotypes and exploring this magnificent side of the island.
- A complex and dynamic reality: Sicily is more than a romanticized image.
- Urgent issues: Grapple with pollution, migration, and climate change.
- Innovative solutions: Discover how local people and Gabriele have pioneered solutions.
- Land of contrasts: Experience the coexistence of culture, tradition, and modernity.
Note: Italian will be spoken during this trip and you will learn many Sicilian words too!
Cilone Holiday Home is located within a working farm dedicated to the breeding of Modicana cows, a rare and endangered cattle breed native to the Ragusa area. Accommodation includes a quadruple room with a private bathroom. Once widespread across Sicily, these cows now produce the prized Ragusano DOP cheese. Staying near the farm offers guests an authentic experience of local Ragusan life. The property features a holiday home with a pool, agritourism activities, and the opportunity to purchase traditional Iblean products, including specialties like ricotta and cheeses made from Modicana cow milk.
- Make a Difference: actively engage in the preservation of the Sicilian landscape, contributing to sustainable initiatives that promote a greener and more conscientious future.
- Sustainability: deepen your understanding of organic and sustainable agriculture, learning how local crops are adapting to climate change.
- Experience Authenticity: immerse yourself in Sicilian culture, experiencing genuine hospitality and the rich traditional heritage of the local community.
- Recharge: enjoy a rejuvenating experience in one of Italy's most enchanting places, where nature and history blend seamlessly.
- Food: breakfast for 2 days, 1 lunch at Gabriele's home with local products
- Accommodation: BnB for 2 nights at Cilone Holiday Home
- Transportation: transfers between the accommodation and points of interest, transfer from and to Comiso Airport 'Pio La Torre',
- Tour: explore Ragusa and Modica cities, visit the farm of Cilone Holiday Home, and Longarini/Cuba marshes, and attend at Ibla Buskers 2024 event. Guided by Gabriele "Ethoshock" Scrofani.
- Other: 24/7 ORMA coordinator availability, medical and baggage insurance
Note: The accommodation and restaurants may change depending on the number of participants.
- Food: lunches and dinners, unless specified otherwise
- Accommodation: city tax
- Transportation: transfers to and from any airport except Comiso Airport 'Pio La Torre', travel to and from Ragusa
- Other: trip cancellation insurance
- Anything not specified under "What's included"
Direzione Turistica APICAL Srl, Via Stretta 32, 25128 Brescia (BS). P.lva 03958620985 REA BS-577256 - SCIA 019363 of SUAP of Milano 2021. For any questions, write us at hello@ormaguides.com. For additional information, check out the Terms & Conditions in the footer of the website.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Ragusa and meet Gabriele
Arrival at Catania/Comiso airport. From Catania Airport, take the Interbus to Ragusa (2 hours, €8). For arrivals at Comiso Airport, a free transfer can be arranged with ORMA Guides (please confirm in advance). All arrivals must be by 4:00 PM. Upon arrival at your accommodation Cilone Holiday Home Ragusa, check in and unload your luggage. A quick tour of the farm and dairy. Dinner at the hosting farm, followed by free time with the option to explore Ibla city in the evening.
Note: We recommend using the train or bus to and from the destination whenever possible.
Day 2 - Exploring a Biodiversity Treasure
We'll begin with a visit to the Longarini/Cuba wetlands, a protected oasis that was once under the control of local landowners and misused as an open-air landfill. Thanks to the efforts of a German NGO, this area has been revitalized and is now a vital sanctuary for Sicilian biodiversity, home to migratory birds and beautiful flora. Preserving this precious natural space was a challenge, especially in the early years, but it has since become a key site for environmental conservation in Sicily. Visit to Modica to see the Baroque architecture of Ragusa and the Val di Noto, and taste the typical Modica chocolate. A walk with a visit to a panoramic viewpoint before heading back. Homemade lunch at Gabriele's house, where we’ll cook something vegetarian together. Afterwards, return to the hotel to prepare for the “Ibla Buskers 2024” event, a festival of street performers. Dinner during the festival. Return home late in the evening.
Day 3 - Reflecting on Our Time Together, Departure
Free morning, followed by a meeting with the hosts and a discussion with Gabriele. Lunch will be in Ragusa at a local restaurant, featuring regional dishes. After lunch, you can take advantage of the transfer to Comiso Airport provided by ORMA Guides (please arrange in advance), or you can choose to take the bus to Catania on your own.
Is a science communicator on animal husbandry, food production, animal welfare, and environmental issues. He has been passionate about animal behavior and ethology since childhood, making him interested in birdwatching and animal protection. He eventually studied animal production at the university, focusing on animal welfare and the environmental impact of husbandry.
Meanwhile, he started a science communication project on YouTube and Instagram called "Ethoshock" about animal behavior and sustainability bringing him to become a speaker and panelist in science festivals and conventions. Then he focused on novel foods like insects and cultivated meat and the environmental impact of food production and attended a science communication master's course at the SISSA of Trieste.
He is a video-maker and content creator and is writing for the PNNR partnership OnFoods, a collaboration of various Italian universities about the sustainability of food production.
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