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Our Philosophy
Passage to Sicily is a cultural association that aims to expose culturally curious travellers to Sicily’s historical and visual treasures, and to promote responsible tourism on the island.
The distinguishing traits of our philosophy are:
Travelling with a scholar
Our historians, art historians, archaeologists, journalists, and other specialists lead tours, seminars and workshops that bring participants to a genuine understanding and appreciation of Sicily’s historical and cultural heritage.
Human approach
We limit the size of our groups to a maximum of 10 participants. This makes our scholars and specialists good travelling companions, it encourages in-depth conversations with them and between participants, and it allows for more meaningful contacts with locals.
Responsible tourism
We seek to minimize the impact of our activities on the island’s cultural heritage, local communities and the environment. The choices we make with respect to the modes of transport we use, the number of participants and the partners we work with, reflect our commitment to a more ethical form of tourism.
Local expertise
The expertise of our scholars, and the fact that they reside in Sicily or are Sicilians by birth, are complementary qualities. With their first-hand knowledge of the island and its hidden facets- private palaces, museums, cafés and trattorie- solely known to the locals or neglected in ‘standard tours’, they will turn your visit into a richer and more authentic experience.
Preference for Sicilian foods and products
In an age of culinary ‘homogenization’, it is ever more important for the culturally curious traveller, to discover local products, native cuisine and wines. Therefore, we solely work with catering professionals who can expose the traveler to authentic Sicilian cuisine, even if this does not always mean eating in the most sophisticated restaurants!
Residences of character
When suggesting your residence(s) we look for a place with character, a good level of comfort, warmth of welcome and, importantly, proximity to the places of interest. Hence, regarding our cultural tours, the residences we suggest are mostly located in historical centers.