We first gathered together in the afternoon at top of the hotel with 360-degree views of the city, introduced ourselves, got our "tour buddy" assignments, and Alfredo gave a brief overview and review of tour expectations. Our first outing together was to visit with the Contessa Alwine for a personal tour of her family's home, the Palazzo Conte Frederico. This Palazzo is one of the oldest buildings in Palermo, boasting a 12th century Arab-Norman tower that is one of the few remaining parts of the old city wall. It has been in the Frederico family for hundreds of years, and they opened the building to tours and even some overnight stays to help pay for the upkeep. That evening, we enjoyed a group dinner under the stars at the hotel.