Taste of Sicily
The chef within you will love this gourmet tour where traces of all cultures that have existed in Sicily over the last two millennia come alive in the local cuisine.
The Greek left behind a preference for olives, grapes and broad beans, the Arab influence brought citrus, pine nuts and spices like cinnamon and the Spanish introduced many items from the new world as cocoa, peppers and tomatoes.
All this transforms into an almost endless variety of foods and wines that will tease your taste buds!
Highlights:
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Morning tour of food market and cooking class afterwards
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Tour of an historic wine cellar
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Visit to a local bee farm and lunch with the family
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Visit an organic vineyard with lunch
11 DAYS & 10 NIGHTS
Starting from € 4.995,00
DAY 1
Palermo
You’ve Arrived!
Meet your private driver and transfer to your hotel in the historic city center of Palermo. The approximate travel time is 30 minutes. Freshen up and enjoy some free time before the welcoming dinner where we will talk about the highlights of our upcoming journey and get acquainted with your travel companions.
DAY 2
Palermo
Food is all you need!
Get your walking shoes on and start your new day at the core of Sicilian lifestyle as you will visit one of the first food markets in Palermo. Your guide and cooking class teacher will take you shopping for delicacies and, later on, you will be transforming them into a wonderful meal for you to savor at her house. Later on in the day enjoy an e-bike tour of Palermo, with your private guide, and have a first glance of the wonders that the city reveals. You’ll be enchanted by Palermo’s traditional Sicilian Old Quarter, and baroque palaces, the Arab/Norman neighborhood, the Quattro Canti di Citta’ (the Four Corners of the City), Palermo’s extravagant baroque squares and the 12th-century Cathedral of Palermo. Along the way your sweet tooth will be rewarded with a stop at the Santa Caterina Convent to taste the typical Sicilian sweets, still prepared with their ancient recipe. The rest of the day is for you to discover the city, maybe you want to take a closer look at some of the landmarks seen during the e-bike tour or choose your restaurant for a hearty meal.
DAY 3
Palermo, Erice and Trapani
Windmills and Medieval Towns
Salute Palermo as your private driver takes you to Erice, a medieval town nestled on top of a 700 mt cliff overlooking the town of Trapani and the Egadi islands. Your private guide will escort you through the cobblestone paved alleys while explaining the history of this one of a kind town. Your home for the night is a beautiful construction from the XVII century that once used to be the fulcrum of the farmers’ activities and life of the rural community turned into a Resort by a local winemaker. Enjoy a light lunch and wine tasting at their restaurant and have a siesta by the pool because in the afternoon your private driver will take you to see the salt ponds with its windmills and, if luck is on your side, you will be able to see the pink flamingo take a rest in the ponds as they continue their migration from Africa to the different parts of Europe. Dinner at a local restaurant by the salt marshes. Conclude your day at the hotel.
DAY 4
Trapani, Marsala and Sambuca di Sicilia
The Historical Wine Cellars
After a hearty breakfast your private driver takes you to visit a century old wine cellars of a wine producer internationally known but with strong Sicilian roots. Immerse yourselves in this amazing tour through the vast aisles of barrels and conclude your visit with a wine tasting of their renowned wines and local delicacies. Relax and enjoy the view as you travel to your next destination, Sambuca di Sicilia. The family owned hotel where you’ll be staying allows you to see the soft hills of the Sicilian countryside as you sip a glass of local wine by the pool. Dinner at the hotel.
DAY 5
Sambuca di Sicilia, Burgio and Montallegro
More vineyards and wholesome foods
A nice stroll is what you need to take in the beauty of this village that in 2016 won an award for the most picturesque town in Italy. A mid morning snack with a cannolo is a must but you mustn’t overdue because at lunch you’ll be guests at a local winery for a unique opportunity to understand the entire organic production process, from the vineyard to the wine cellar along with a selection of their organic extra virgin olive oil, paired with typical antipasti. The winding road across the protected nature reserve takes you to Burgio, a small town known for its unique ceramic designs and you’ll find out why when your private guide takes you to visit a workshop. Your home for the night is a “baglio” (typical farm house) with a modern twist. A light dinner and wine tasting with their organic wines will bid farewell to yet another day of adventures.
DAY 6
Montallegro, Palma di Montechiaro and Ragusa
Bees and Baroque
After a short drive your private guide will take you for a stroll through this baroque town stage of the famous novel “Il Gattopardo” written by the Sicilian Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. Did you know that Sicily has an indigenous breed of bees? Today you are about to discover everything there is to know at a family owned bee farm and on top of it all a tasty lunch awaits you at the farmer’s house. Conclude your day in Ragusa where your next hotel is located.
DAY 7
Ragusa, Castello di Donna Fugata and Ragusa
The Magnificient Ragusa
In 1693 a devastating earthquake caused the almost total destruction of the entire city. The reconstruction, which took place in theXXVIII century, divided it into two large districts: on one side Ragusa Superiore, located on the plateau, on the other Ragusa Ibla, built from the ruins of the ancient city and rebuilt according to the ancient medieval structure. The architectural masterpieces built after the earthquake, together with all those present in the “Val di Noto” area, were declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2002. Ragusa is one of the most important places for the presence of Baroque art testimonies, such as its “Duomo di San Giorgio” (the Cathedral of Saint George). With your private guide you will admire the town and the Castello di Donna Fugata located just outside the town. Free time in Ragusa on your return to town and dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY 8
Ragusa, Scicli, Marzamemi and Ortigia
Back to the Seaside
Have ever heard of “Commissario Montalbano”? He’s a fictional character of Italian writer Andrea Cammilleri a must read to know how Sicilians think and live life and Scicli is the location of the tv series from his books. A small white village that you will visit with your private guide. The next town will be Marzamemi a seatown tiny village where a lunch awaits you in the most picturesque “piazza” you’ll see in the tour. Early departure for Ortigia, Siracusa’s historical city center and take some free time to begin to unravel the city. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
DAY 9
Ortigia
The home of God Apollo
As your private driver takes you in town the roman ruins of the Temple of Apollo welcomes you to the precious Ortigia. Legend has it that the god of the sun, Apollo and the goddess of hunting, Artemis (identifiable with the goddess Diana) were born. Your private guide will reveal the city to you by telling tales and legends as you stroll the maze like streets. The rest of the day, until dinner, is for you to enjoy exploring at your own pace. For this special evening we will take you to a unique restaurant for our farewell dinner hoping to share a new journey soon.
DAY 10
Siracusa and Catania
CIAO!
Your private driver awaits you for the transfer to the Catania Fontanarossa Airport at a previously agreed-upon time. CIAO!
Details
DATES
All our tours depart on Tuesdays and end on Thursdays
2024
March 12 - March 21
June 4 - June 13
Oct 1 - Oct 10
Oct 29 - 7 Nov
INCLUDED
10 breakfasts
7 dinners
2 lunches
2 snacks or aperitif with food
Deluxe or superior accommodations
All park entry fees (unless noted)
All admission fees to historic sites
Experienced guides
Transportation during the trip, whether by bus, boat or other
NOT INCLUDED
Air and land transportation to and from the trip
Beverages other than water
Non-scheduled visits and activities
The Heart of Sicily tour is for those who don’t “do" a trip but for those who dream of immersing themselves in the culture of a place.
~FEDERICA DE DONNO