Bucci Tours

23/11/2024

Grazie mille to my amazing Italian class!

It’s been such a joy to explore the beautiful culture of Italy with this group. The community of people at the Alice Desmond Center is truly a special one. Till next session, arrivederci!

Exciting news: there’s an opening for a Sicily tour in September 2025, and I’m thrilled that some of our class participants are considering joining. This group will consist of max 10 guests as this allows us the proper care and attention to fully engage in a special curated foreign experience with the locals.

The rest of our 2025 tour schedule is fully booked so this is your opportunity to make it happen!

Feel free to reach out if you’re interested in more details. 🌍✨

23/11/2024

A new program favorite, “Italian Language and Culture”, ended at the Alice Desmond Center this week. Led by Ryan Bucci of Bucci Tours, the program immersed students into the rich tapestry of Italy. The six-class series was designed for those passionate about Italy's language, history, and culture, and offered a special focus on the captivating region of Sicily. Students explored Sicily’s unique contributions to Italian heritage through its art, cuisine, and historical landmarks. Participants learned simple conversational Italian phrases, enabling them to communicate effectively and enhance their travel experiences. Alongside language skills, surprises such as virtual tours, traditional Sicilian recipes, and guest speakers sharing insider knowledge were part of the journey for students.

13/11/2024

31/10/2024

“Slightly overcast sky, fresh air at the top of the olive trees, and birds singing. There’s enough silence,
with the distant sound of tractors working.”
~ 10/31/24
🫒 Olive harvesting season has started! It typically starts during the “Day of the Dead” period of the year which is between Oct 31st and Nov 2nd.
💧 🚫There was severe drought in Sicily this year so the olive trees have suffered a bit. It’s amazing how through all the distress, these magical trees still produced!
✨

27/10/2024

“In September 2024, we had the privilege of experiencing Western Sicily for ten days with Bucci Tours. We found Ryan Bucci to be very flexible in designing an itinerary consistent with our interests. Every detail was taken care of including transportation. The food, wine and accommodations were outstanding throughout our stay. We were able to enjoy the Sicilian people, their culture and history in a very intimate way. Our interactions with a variety of local people and their businesses made this trip very unique. The tour guides utilized during our visits to historical sites shared a wealth of knowledge with us. Our wonderful visit to Sicily exceeded our expectations. We highly recommend Bucci Tours.”
~ Evan & Linda
🏝️🇮🇹🍷

09/10/2024

Pack your bags and head to the Alice Desmond Center for Community Enrichment for an adventure to Sicily, Italy with Ryan Bucci of Bucci Tours! This six-session class offers a unique opportunity to learn about the famed city from the comfort of the Hudson Valley. Don't miss out on this chance to expand your horizons, register today! Classes begin October 16th and seating is limited. As with all Alice Desmond Center programs, pre-registration is required to ensure a seat. To register please visit: townofnewburgh.recdesk.com or call the Alice Desmond Center at 845-565-1326.

03/10/2024

September and October are important harvesting months in Sicily. During this time of the year it is possible to see the process yourself in person as the summer sun, consistent winds, and the manual labor bring to sight the “white gold” salt mounds!
Throw in these sunsets over the Egadi Islands and magic is served.
🌅 🧂

23/09/2024

An interesting fact about the surrounding landscape of Sant’Angelo Muxaro is its unique karst formations. The area is characterized by limestone hills, caves, and sinkholes created by erosion over millennia. One of the most notable features is the Grotta di Sant’Angelo, a large cave near the town that was used as a burial site in ancient times. The landscape, with its natural formations and fertile valleys, provides stunning views and has been an important agricultural area since antiquity, contributing to the settlement’s prosperity.
🇮🇹📸🏞️

19/09/2024

Pistachios in Sicily are typically harvested between late August and early September, so the timing was perfect for Simone to show us a few days ago.
In regions like the Sicani Mountains, pistachios are harvested every two years, as the trees are allowed to rest in alternate years to produce higher-quality nuts.
Does anyone else agree that we need a pistachio emoji?

18/09/2024

“It’s not the place, but it does its part...

It’s not food, although it does stimulate the senses...

It’s not the guide, who doesn’t have to guide anyway...

It’s not all the things that could be anywhere in Sicily and in the world...
..It’s a community project that has been living synergistically for 22 years and feeds on human relationships...”

🗣️~

16/09/2024

A beautiful September morning illuminated our experience through the melting pot of Palermo.
The new statue of the patron saint of the city, Santa Rosalia, was on display and it really exuded her power.
We were guided by Enrica through the city center with a visit to the Massimo Theatre, largest theatre in Italy and 3rd largest in Europe.
We also checked out the quattro canti, the shame fountain, the cathedral, and came across numerous vehicles from decades ago. A true step back in time.
We enjoyed a lunch in the Mercato del Capo ranked 5th best street food market in the world.
Lots of laughs and emotions in between.
Palermo is special.
🎭 🇮🇹

15/09/2024

Reflecting like the moon over another rich day full of culture, friendship, and deep experience on tour.
Grateful for this opportunity.
More about our day out in Palermo tomorrow.
This was our seaside view from our dinner table tonight.
🌖 🙌🏼

13/09/2024

A dinner to remember. Everything organic, farm to table, and homemade with love by a team of “mammas”.
Add a bold and smooth Syrah by the countryside sunset to accompany our meal, and you’ve got something special.
🍷 🍝

12/09/2024

A gentle paced experience through a local Sicilian cantina is always appreciated by our guests with an affinity for wine. Tasting it directly from the oak wood barrel is amazing. Pairing it with their perfect match of cheese, sweets, and chocolate is the cherry on top.
Connecting the dots that brought the wine to actuality was masterfully presente by our guide as our guests gathered many historical insights.
🍷 🇮🇹

11/09/2024

There’s something romantic about eating inside a medieval structure.
There’s something charming about seeing a rotary wall telephone in a wooden casing with a corded receiver dating back to the 1920’s.
There’s something special about Erice that needs to be experienced.
This is time-travel.
🇮🇹 🏰

09/09/2024

An afternoon sauntering through Marsala after a top level lunch. Earlier in the day we were guided through a wine cantina. Just another day on a BucciTour.
🥂👌

08/09/2024

A once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate the grape harvest season with the locals in the heart of Sicily.
We had the privilege of cutting the grapes ourselves and also to witness the locals stomp them with their feet as they did back in the day.
Live music, genuine food, and great company had our guests enjoying the moment fully.
This is experiential tourism.
🍷 🍇 💃🏻
A big thank you to my friend Calogero for inviting us and making the day special.
Check out his wine
🥂