Once you’ve had your fill of beaches and vineyards, on Contiki’s Real Sicily trip, you’ll join up with a local guide in front of the opulent Teatro Massimo, one of the most jaw-dropping opera houses in Europe. Snaking through the historic centre, you’ll meet all of the business owners who have bravely united in opposition to the Mafia protection rackets.
At every stop you’ll learn about how this inspiring civic movement originally formed: with hoteliers, farmers, and restaurant owners staring down Mafioso culture and saying: “Enough”. (And remember, as this is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience, you’ll be supporting the Anti-Mafia movement financially through Contiki, in alignment with the 11 goals of our sustainability strategy).
From confiscated Mafia HQs turned into educational community centres, to moving street art that documents the Anti-Mafia movement, this tour isn’t just about organised crime, but the very soul of Sicily: filled with beauty, culture, defiance and very, very good food. Make sure you stop by Antica Focacceria at the end of the tour (one of Palermo’s oldest eateries and a notable Anti-Mafia institution), and you’ll get a delicious idea of what we mean.