Walking Fest in Chiaramonte Gulfi

13/14/15 April 2018 - TREKKING AND CLIMBING.
You will live an intense and pleasant Chiaramontana experience, with a complete and accessible menu of activities to deepen your knowledge of this slice of intrinsic natural, gastronomic, and cultural beauty in the Iblei. Within the scope of the outdoor activities offered, in contact with this splendid nature, you will have the opportunity to get to know local gastronomic and cultural aspects up close, in a setting of hospitality and direct connection with your hosts.
Chiaramonte Gulfi (Ciaramunti in Sicilian) is located 15 km from Ragusa, on a hill further to the north. The town is also known as the Balcony of Sicily due to its panoramic position, with views stretching from Gela (West) to Etna (North-east), the Ippari valley, and the ridges of the Erei up to Caltagirone, in addition to the sea and the Iblei mountains.

Program

Friday, April 13th

• 2:00 PM – Meeting at Piazza San Santissimo Salvatore (Chiaramonte Gulfi) for the opening of the sports/nature event.
• 3:00 PM – Opening of sports activities with access to the equipped artificial climbing wall.
• 3:00 PM – Walking through the town and visiting the Museums. A walk in the historic center, accompanied by Professor Giuseppe Cultrera, already well-known for various activities in the cultural heritage sector of the Iblei area.
• 3:30 PM – Visit to the Oleificio Cutrera - Museums.
• 7:30 PM – Return to Piazza San Salvatore for accommodation check-in.
• 8:30 PM – Dinner at your leisure in Chiaramonte restaurants.

Saturday, April 14th

• Breakfast at your accommodation. For those staying at the Ostello della Madonna di Gulfi, breakfast at Bar Pentagono.
• 9:00 AM – Meeting at Piazza San Salvatore - Start:
• Equipped wall available all day.
• A day dedicated to authentic nature trekking with various options:
• 9:00 AM - Nature excursion in the Chiaramonte Iblei - Full-day duration.
• 9:00 AM - Excursion - L’Uortu ‘U Maistru – Santa Margherita Rock Church. Half-day (morning).
• 2:30 PM - Excursion – A dive into the past among the Neviere (ice houses) – The Snow Industry of the Past. Half-day (afternoon). At the end of the event, the second edition of Giuseppe Cultrera’s book “l’Industria della Neve – Neviere degli Iblei” will be available. An edition for Ciaotrekking as a guide for visiting the Neviere.
• All listed activities will conclude with a return to the accommodations by 5:30 PM.
• Please note that the museums will be open all day.
• 8:00 PM – Meeting at Piazza San Salvatore for a traditional Iblean dinner.

Sunday, April 15th

• Breakfast at your accommodation. For those staying at the Ostello della Madonna di Gulfi, breakfast at Bar Pentagono.
• 9:00 AM – Meeting at Piazza San Salvatore - Start:
• Equipped wall available until 12:00 PM.
• 9:00 AM – Excursion and visit to the Mulino Damigella – Scents and flavors of Ancient Grains.
• 9:00 AM – Workshops: observation and preparation of typical Chiaramonte products – Ricotta – Homemade bread and Gelato.
• Please note that the museums will be open for the half-day.
• At 1:00 PM in Piazza San Salvatore for the closing lunch of the event, featuring a tasting of warm ricotta, pane cunzatu (seasoned bread), cavateddi (traditional pasta), etc.

INFORMATION - TECHNICAL SHEET

All scheduled activities, including artificial wall climbing with an instructor, overnight stays in hotels or B&Bs (double or triple rooms), breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday, Saturday dinner, Sunday lunch, museum visits, and the Friday afternoon walk in the historic center accompanied by Professor Giuseppe Cultrera (already well-known for various activities in the cultural heritage sector of the Iblei area), will have the following costs.
Fee for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday:
Hotel format: € 95.00 Includes guide service, organization, and RCT insurance.
Hostel format: € 75.00 Includes guide service, organization, and RCT insurance.
Fee for Saturday and Sunday all-inclusive as per the program.
Hotel format: € 75.00 Includes guide service, organization, and RCT insurance.
Hostel format: € 60.00 Includes guide service, organization, and RCT insurance.
For those participating in all 3 days of activities, (without overnight stay) including Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch: € 45.00.
Costs do not include: travel to and from the meeting point, Friday dinner (at your leisure in Chiaramonte restaurants), Saturday packed lunch, and unspecified extra expenses.
Deposit: € 40.00 at the time of booking.
Balance - To be brought and paid on-site.
Meeting point: Friday, April 13th at 2:00 PM, Piazza San Salvatore, Chiaramonte Gulfi.
End of weekend: Sunday, April 15th at 3:00 PM, Chiaramonte Gulfi.
Insurance: Name, surname, date of birth, place of birth, and residence required.
Nights: Accommodation in hostels, hotels, and B&Bs.
Meals: Refreshment areas, restaurants, and packed lunches.
Travel: Stationary.
Difficulty: Easy.
Necessary equipment: Trekking clothing, trekking shoes, long trousers, hat, walking poles, k-way (rain jacket), sweater, waterproof jacket, water bottle, and personal toiletries.
Tips: For this weekend, we recommend bringing a backpack with a max capacity of 25/30 liters for the excursion.
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights.
Booking deadline: April 4th, 2018 for those booking accommodation with half-board (subject to availability). Booking for individual days by: April 11th, 2018.
Notes: The program may be subject to changes due to unpredictable natural events; in such cases, the guides and organizers will make the final decision.
Guides: Salvatore Marletta – 333/4987946; Salvatore Nicosia - 333/7447419
Collaborators: Sylvana Myburg – 3335841574; Vito Cutrone - 368/7348961
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ciaotrekking.com

History of Chiaramonte Gulfi
The name Chiaramonte Gulfi refers to Count Manfredi Chiaramonte who, having been made Count of Modica by the Aragonese King Frederick III in 1296, founded the town and gave it the name of his own family, following the destruction of Gulfi perpetrated in 1299 by the Angevins. Chiaramonte, which arose around 1300, was immediately inhabited by the few survivors of the Gulfi massacre. The name of the ancient center of Gulfi was added to the official name of the municipality only in 1881, as a memory of the town’s ancient origins. The city was founded under the name Akrillai by the Syracusans in the 7th century BC. Destroyed by the Carthaginians in 406 BC, it was the site of a Syracusan defeat at the hands of the forces of the Roman consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus in 213 BC. With the Roman conquest, it took the name Acrillae. Acrillae was reportedly destroyed by the Arabs of the caliph Asad ibn al-Furat in 827 during the conquest of the eastern part of the island. The inhabitants founded a new settlement on the slopes of Mount Arcibessi, which took the name 'Gulfi', meaning 'pleasant land' in Arabic. Today, this enchanting town is recognized as the City of Oil and Museums, thanks to the profitable activities surrounding olive cultivation and the very important oil mills present in the area; there are 10 museums in total, including rich displays of traditions, history, and archaeological finds brought to the city by the current administration.
Figures linked to Chiaramonte Gulfi:
Corrado Melfi, baron, scholar of local history and archaeology, author of numerous books and pamphlets, and discoverer of the sites of Scornavacche and Akrillai.
Father Samuele Nicosia, a historian of Chiaramonte. Author of the book 'Notizie storiche su Chiaramonte Gulfi'.
Serafino Amabile Guastella (1819-1899), writer in the Sicilian language.
Vincenzo Rabito, a semi-illiterate laborer who became a writer, author of 'Terra matta'.
Antonino Di Vita (1926-2011), archaeologist, member of the Accademia dei Lincei, professor at the University of Macerata, and director of the Italian Archaeological School of Athens.

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