New York, Jan. 21, 2010 – What better way to embrace winter than with a defiant nod to spring? With its new nine-day “Mystery & Fire: Taormina and the Aeolian Islands” tour package, Select Italy does just that and more. By bringing its already legendary Italian travel expertise to the most storied Sicilian shore and the Mediterranean’s relatively obscure but arguably most pristine archipelago, Select Italy opens a new door to an unforgettable journey for travelers ready to upgrade from the tried-and-true to something sparkling blue and refreshingly new.

Located off the northern coast of Sicily, the seven volcanic islands in the Aeolian chain include lush Salina, where sweet Malvasia white wine grapes grow and where Il Postino was filmed, the jet-set playground isle of Panarea, and ethereal Stromboli, with its eponymous active volcano which erupts nightly – a sight which has mesmerized travelers since the days of Odysseus. All three are included in this unique, unescorted trip that’s been custom designed for the independent traveler who wants to focus on more on the destination and less on the legwork. Normally it could take hours if not days to sort out ferry schedules, choose suitable hotels and identify and book worthy excursions. Select Italy has sifted through a sea of choices to present the best possible options, leaving travelers with more time to explore the elemental beauty of these stunning islands. Here’s what the package includes:

• Private Arrival Transfer (from Sicily’s Catania Airport)
• 2 Nights at the four-star Romantik Hotel Villa Ducale (Taormina)
• 2 Nights at the five-star Hotel Raya (Panarea-Aeolian Islands)
• 1 Night at the deluxe La Sirenetta Park Hotel (Stromboli-Aeolian Islands)
• 2 Nights at the luxury Hotel Signum (Salina-Aeolian Islands)
• Half-Day Private Walking Tour (Taormina)
• Half-Day Private Boat Excursion (to Basiluzzo)
• Sunset Cruise to Pollara, Salina
• Land and Water transportation between arrival and departure at your hotels
• Private Departure Transfer (to Catania Airport)

The Taormina, Sicily portion of the package features a private guided walking tour in the morning, leaving the afternoon free for shopping, the beach, quiet contemplation of Mount Etna or all three. After check-out from the four-star Hotel Villa Ducale, a private driver takes travelers to Milazzo, the closest jump-off point from mainland Sicily to the Aeolian Islands. From there, they’ll go by hydrofoil to Panarea: with its neon-blue waters, chiseled coast and stylish ambience as exemplified by the five-star Hotel Raya, it’s like Capri without the crowds. The following day includes a half-day cruise to beguiling isle of Basiluzzo, with its ancient sunken Roman dock still visible beneath the waves.

The mystery of this breezy archipelago – named for Aeolus, mythical god of the wind – intensifies on Stromboli, where from the comfort of La Sirenetta Park Hotel (the island’s finest hotel property), one gets an eyeful of the mighty volcano known as the “Lighthouse of the Tyrrhenian Sea.” That’s because every night, lava erupts from the top and streams down the Sciara del Fuoco, the slope of fire, into the wine-dark sea. Electrifying, primordial, and – lest there be any trepidation about proximity to a lone mountain of such fiery temperament – under scientific observation every second of the day. Night-time viewing cruises can be arranged.

As active as Stromboli is, that’s how hushed – and extinct – are the two lofty volcanoes that form the spine of Salina. Travelers arrive via another hydrofoil for a transfer to the village of Malfa and the seaside Hotel Signum, with its sybaritic open-air spa featuring a series of therapeutic mineral-rich thermal pools and authentic fango (Italian mud) treatments as the centerpiece. Slather it on and say arrivederci to stress, and hello to unbridled Mediterranean bliss. Then it’s time to indulge the appetite for discovery: On the second day in Salina, there’s a sunset cruise to Pollara Beach, where memorable scenes from the classic Italian movie Il Postino were filmed.

The “Mystery & Fire: Taormina and the Aeolian Islands” tour package is at present the only package on the market to focus exclusively on this fascinating corner of Italy. It is priced from $3,520 per person based on double occupancy for departures April 5 - May 13 and Oct. 1 - Nov. 2 (low season), land-only. Select Italy will book wholesale airfares on request. Helicopter transfers to and between the islands may substitute hydrofoil transfers upon request and for an additional charge. For the complete itinerary and range of departure dates, as well as other package details and to make bookings, call (800) 877-1755 or visit www.selectitaly.com.

Press contact:
Anthony Grant
Tel. (646) 379-0767
tony@selectitaly.com

About Select Italy

Based in Chicago and New York with representatives in Italy, Select Italy has been a trusted ambassador of Italian travel expertise since its establishment in 1997 by Italian-born company President, Andrea Sertoli. The ultimate source for travel to Italy, Select Italy offers a wide array of superior Italian products and services, including customized itineraries, state-of-the-art tours and packages, wedding/honeymoon trips, unique culinary classes, a complete pre-departure ticketing service for museums and musical events, private guided services, yacht charters, transportation, hotel reservations, villa bookings and more. Select Italy is committed to creating the perfect vacation and maximizing enjoyment in Italy for its clients by adhering to the highest standards of professionalism. Through the You & Italy project, Select Italy is also dedicated to delivering the best of Italy to your doorstep. For more information call (800) 877-1755 or visit www.selectitaly.com.