Cefalù, Sicily
April 28 - May 4, 2024
During this immersive Italian language experience in medieval Cefalù, famous for its Norman cathedral and iconic beaches, you will have the opportunity to improve your language skills and speak Italian in a real life setting each day with a Cefalù insider and native speaker by your side.
trip overview
6 days / 6 nights
Trip departure and end point: Cefalù
Accommodation in a private palazzo; apartments with bedroom, living room, kitchenette, private bath, air conditioning
Italian-speaking experience directors and local guides
5 full days of language learning with skilled native-speaker instructors
1.5-hour language intensive semi-private session
Breakfast, two dinners, three lunches, and three aperitivo
All activities and admissions
Local transport for activities
Gratuities for local guides and drivers included
How to book
Single €2880
Double €2580
A 750€ deposit is required to reserve your space on this tour. The remainder of the trip cost will be due 30 days prior to the start of the trip. You can pay the deposit using the link below:
If you are traveling with a spouse, partner or friend who does not want to attend Italian classes, they may still participate in all activities, meals, etc., with the acknowledgment that all activities will be conducted in Italian. Price will be the same as the double occupant price.
Trip price does not include air fare or transport to and from Cefalù. Included meals and activities are noted in the attached itinerary.
Your deposit is non-refundable. Therefore it is strongly recommended that you purchase a trip insurance policy which includes trip cancellation for any reason.
We reserve the right to substitute an activity or venue of equal value in the case of issues created by weather, cancellations by guides or venues, closures, strikes and other unpredictable events beyond our control. Participants will be notified as soon as possible of any changes. We reserve the right to adjust this itinerary before the tour begins based on the number of participants. We reserve the right to cancel this tour if we do not have at least 6 participants. In the event of tour cancellation by Vero Viaggio, you will receive a 100% refund.
If the date of this tour doesn’t work for you, we will be offering other tours in 2024 and 2025. Please inquire and we’ll be happy to forward more information.
trip information
Where we’ll stay
Palazzo Maria, a stunning ancient residence exclusively reserved for our group. The building dates back to 1131 and is located in the main piazza of Cefalù next to the cathedral. Each room is an apartment with bedroom, living area, bathroom, and kitchenette. King size beds in each can be separated into singles. Each apartment also includes a sofa bed and air conditioning.
Tour size
We limit the number of people on our tours to 10 so that we can provide a very personal, small group environment. Once we receive your request to book and you have reviewed the trip details, we ask for a 750€ deposit to reserve your space.
Level of Italian:
We welcome all levels of Italian learners (even beginners). If you have questions about this, please get in touch and we will help you determine if this trip is a good fit for you.
Activity level
The activity level of this trip will be medium, with quite a bit of urban walking, steps, and some light hiking.
Food preferences
The activities involving food will have vegetarian options, but if you are lactose or gluten intolerant or have other food allergies your options may be more limited. Please let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you.
domenica / arrival
28 aprile
Between 3:00 - 6:00p Check-in at Palazzo Maria. Experience Director Jean Rivaldi will be there to greet you and answer any questions you have upon arrival.
6:00p We’ll welcome you to Cefalù with an aperitivo at Via Roma Vecchia where you’ll meet your Experience Director, Francesca Peretto, a native speaker and your Italian language expert for the entire week. We’ll review the schedule, discuss any changes, announce small groups and answer all of your questions. Small groups will be assigned, by level, in order to organize for semi-private language intensives with Francesca.
8:00p We’ll enjoy dinner together at Via Roma Vecchia.
lunedì / Cefalù
29 aprile
8:40a Meet Francesca at Palazzo Maria for the walk to school.
9:00a - 12:15p Italian class and coffee break. Classes will be exclusive to our group. There is a 15-minute coffee break during class each day.
12:30 - 1:45p Semi-private language intensive with Francesca (includes lunch), small group 1
3:00 - 5:00p We’ll take a guided walking tour of Cefalù and discover some of the hidden treasures in this medieval jewel by the sea.
6:00p Aperitivo with a view of the sea. Let’s toast to your first day, in Italian, of course!
Dinner on own
martedì / Sicilian wine
30 aprile
9:00a - 12:15p Italian class and coffee break
12:30 - 1:45p Semi-private language intensive with Francesca (includes lunch), small group 2
3:00p We’ll meet at the steps of the cathedral (duomo) for a guided tour through Cefalù’s UNESCO World Heritage site. Climb the towers for a stunning view across the piazza and explore the sacristy, episcopal chapel and the canon’s cloister in this comprehensive tour.
5:00p We’ll enjoy a tasting of Sicilian wines at La Jureka, with a friendly Italian wine expert as our host. Small bites included.
7:30p Casual dinner together, restaurant to be announced.
mercoledì / Palermo
1 maggio
Today is the first of May in Italy, a day when most of Europe celebrates Labor Day. School will be closed, so Italian classes will happen out in the world!
9:00 - 10:15a Semi-private language intensive with Francesca (includes breakfast), small group 3
10:30a Board the van for our adventure to Palermo and Monreale. We’ll discover the most renowned Arab-Norman sites in the area. And we’ll have a lunch of street food in Palermo, in the company of our expert guide.
7:00p Return to Cefalù
Dinner on own
martedì / Sicilian food
2 maggio
9:00a - 12:15p Italian class and coffee break
12:15 - 3:00p We’ll enjoy a cooking class and lunch, focusing on Sicilian specialties utilizing slow food concepts at ristorante La Galleria.
3:30 - 4:30p Museo Mandralisca tour
5:00 - 6:30p Semi-private language intensive with Francesca (includes aperitivo), small group 4
Dinner on own
venerdì / Sant’Ambrogio
3 maggio
9:00a - 12:15p Italian class and coffee break
12:30 - 1:45p Semi-private language intensive with Francesca (includes lunch), small group 5
3:00p It’s a short drive to the village of Sant’Ambrogio, where we’ll take a guided walking tour of this quaint village and visit a historic olive mill to learn about how olive oil is produced with our host, Giovanna. This experience ends with an olive oil tasting and aperitivo.
6:30p Return to Cefalù
8:00p Farewell dinner at Bastione & Costanza, overlooking the sea.
sabato / departure:
4 maggio
Optional activities
8:00 - 10:30a Breakfast at Bar Duomo. We’ll be available at Bar Duomo to say goodbye and help anyone with last-minute logistics as needed.
11:00a - 2:00p We’ll take a hike to the fortress above the town and enjoy the view and a sack lunch.
Meet your experience director:
Jean Rivaldi
“I’ve been deeply, madly in love with Italy for more than 25 years and have traveled all over this beautiful country. Ever since my first moment at Roma Termini station, navigating the happy chaos of the taxi line, I knew that I was going to fall head over heels for il bel paese, its food, culture, language and most importantly, its people. Fast forward to the present – I am a dual citizen of Italy and the U.S., living between Bologna and San Diego and I am fluent in Italian. This love affair (obsession?) hasn’t ceased and I’ve never stopped wanting to see what’s around the next corner. Let’s find out together.”
Founder of Vero Viaggio / International Tour Management Institute certified Tour Guide & Director / Speaks English and Italian
Originally from Nebraska, Jean’s travel resume began as a child camping with her family in a VW van. With a bachelors degree in journalism, she’s held a variety of roles in the higher education, software, toy and game and real estate industries, before diving into the travel industry. She finds real joy in learning something new each day, discovering hidden places, meeting people and hearing their stories.
Meet your experience director:
Francesca Peretto
“Where are we going?” is the question I have loved most ever since I was young. Each time we returned from a trip my parents would start planning the next one — and thus began my passion for traveling at just 6 months old and I haven’t stopped since. For 20 years I have been teaching Italian to foreigners who want to discover Italy. I try to not just teach the language, but also the finer points, like: when ordering gelato you should always try more than one flavor; cappuccino is only for breakfast, and that there’s so much more to Italy than just Rome, Florence and Venice. I am here to show you the hidden gems of my country and to continue to ask you, ‘Where are we going?”
Italian teacher and assistant director of studies Speaks Italian, Spanish, German and English
Born in Bolzano, Italy, Francesca graduated from the University of Bologna with a masters degree in Italian language and literature. She has more than 20 years of experience teaching foreigners to speak Italian and divides her time between Bologna and Cefalù. She takes great pride in helping people see Italy from an insider’s perspective and her enthusiasm for life and everything that makes it so beautiful is infectious.
