Sicilian Food Odyssey

Day 1

ARRIVAL IN CATANIA, TRANSFER TO THE HOTEL FOR WELCOME DINNER.

Welcome to Sicily! The group flight is scheduled to arrive at Catania airport (details to be confirmed). On arrival, you will be transferred to Villa Favorita near Noto, about an hour away. This hotel will be our base for the first four nights as we explore the tastes, sights and sounds of this region. At around 6pm we will have our first “aperitivo” where our host will tell us the story of the building and the family who owns it. We then have our dinner, composed exclusively of locally sourced ingredients. D

Day 2

DISCOVER THE BAROQUE CITY OF RAGUSA FOLLOWED BY SLOW FOOD LUNCH IN MODICA & VISIT TO CHOCOLATE FACTORY; LATE AFTERNOON IN THE FISHING VILLAGE OF MARZAMEMI FOR A SUNSET APERITIVO

Today, we'll explore the ancient city of Ragusa, dating back to the 2nd millennium BC as Hybla Heraea. Rebuilt in baroque style after the 1693 earthquake, Ragusa was divided into "Ragusa Superiore" and "Ragusa Inferiore" before reuniting in 1926. We'll visit main sites like Santa Maria dell’Irta church, Duomo di San Giorgio, and Giardini Iblei. Next, we head to Modica, a Baroque town, for a light lunch with local produce. Modica is renowned for its unique chocolate, introduced by the Spanish during their Sicilian reign, featuring a grainy texture and aromatic flavor. After a quick refresh at the hotel, we head to Marzamemi, a small fishing village dating back to the 1630s. We'll visit the Tonnara di Marzamemi, where tuna is caught, cleaned, and canned. Sampling tuna produce and various pesto types at the Campisi family retail shop, we'll conclude the day with a delightful dinner by the sea at a local fish restaurant. BLD

Day 3

VISIT BLACK PIG SLOW FOOD PRESIDIA IN PALAZZOLO ACREIDE.

Today we will visit our first Slow Food presidia at Palazzolo Acreide. Palazzolo Acreide is a baroque town with Greek roots, not generally included in the touristic itineraries. The presidia is set for the preservation of the Sausages of Palazzolo Acreide, which have been forged over centuries of meat-cutting skills that date back to Roman times. We will visit a breeding farm, a dairy farm, and finally we will be tasting the produce at Ristorante Andrea, a slow food hotspot for the town. In the afternoon we will be visiting a Succulent plant nursery, which also produces jams, marmalades, olive oil, oregano, almonds, sun dried tomatoes and tomato sauce. We will be visiting an extended nursery of cacti and other ornamental plants, but also tasting the produce of their land and neighboring farmers. We will have aperitivo by the pool before a dinner al fresco. BLD

Day 4

VISIT SIRACUSA, THE ORTIGIA MARKET AND ITS ANCIENT QUARTER. REST OF THE DAY FREE TIME, COOKING CLASS AND TASTING WITH THE MARKET PRODUCE.

We start our Sicilian experience with a morning visit to the ancient quarter of Ortigia. Ortigia is an island connected to the mainland by two bridges and is referred to as “Citta Vecchia” – the old town. Here we visit the historic food market, packed with local produce, where the beautifully presented fresh-caught fish, ruby red oranges, walnuts as big as peaches, and bags of spices give life to a kaleidoscope of colors and flavors. We will be tasting some of the produce, as well as visiting the city’s main sites before having a tasty, tasting lunch at the popular Deli Fratelli Brugio. After lunch, we will be visiting the Archaeological Park, Neapolis, where you will be able to explore a Greek theatre, a Roman amphitheater and the famous ‘Ear of Dionysus’, a cave carved in limestone with exceptional acoustics and an unsavory history. In the late afternoon we will catch up with the lovely Alessia for a cooking class and tasting with the produce we sourced at the market. BLD

Day 5

VISIT VILLA ROMANA DEL CASALE

In the morning, we head to Piazza Armerina to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Villa Romana del Casale – a large and elaborate Roman villa that has one of the largest and most varied collections of Roman mosaics in the world, as well as interior and exterior frescos. In Agrigento we will check-in our hotel and enjoy an aperitivo in “terrazza” followed by a delicious meal overlooking the pool, adjacent to the large terraces to enjoy the lights and colors of the sea. BLD

Day 6

VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES VISIT THEN ONTO SALINE DI TRAPANI PRESIDIA.

Early morning visit the Valley of the Temples and the mythical Kolymbethra Gardens. This region has a rich cultural history - it is home to some of the most outstanding examples of Greater Greece art & architecture and is a national monument of Italy. We continue our journey to Trapani, stopping briefly for lunch in the town of Sciacca. Once we arrive in Trapani and check into the Relais Antiche Saline, our hotel for the next three nights, enjoy a welcome drink before we head to Trapani for dinner. BLD

Day 7

ERICE TO TASTE THE PASTRIES, A SLOW FOOD LUNCH, AND A VISIT TO ELMYAN TEMPLE OF SEGESTA

In the morning we will drive up to Erice – the town on top of Mount Erice, a dramatic formation behind Trapani. The town was founded by the Phoenicians but was strongly influenced by the Greeks. Destroyed by the Carthaginians in the First Punic War, Erice was later conquered by the Arabs and, later, the Normans. We will take the Gondola from Trapani up to Erice, here we will be visiting the entire town to take in the breathtaking views. We will also stop at a famous Pasticceria and discover some of the secrets of Sicilian marzipan and pasta di mandorla (almond paste). We will then head for San Vito Lo Capo peninsula where we will stop for a Slow Food lunch. After lunch, we will be visiting the idyllic town of Scopello at the edge of the Zingaro natural park. BLD

Day 8

THE ANCIENT SITE OF SELINUNTE, THEN TO MARSALA TO TRY SWEET WINE

This morning we will drive to Selinunte, on the south coast of Sicily. Now a 270-hectare Archaeological Park overlooking the Mediterranean, Selinunte was once one of the most important of the Greek colonies in Sicily. We will make our way to Marsala for a wine-paired lunch at Ciacco Putia Gourmet. After lunch we set off to discover the town at a leisurely pace. Marsala is particularly famous for its dessert wine or Marsala wine, which you will have sampled at lunch, but also for the docking of Giuseppe Garibaldi and his thousand men who “freed” Sicily from the Spanish and unified Italy. Dinner tonight is a light affair – experience the street food and culture of Marsala. BLD

Day 9

MONREALE CATHEDRAL AND PALERMO.

On this day we will leave Trapani behind and head for Palermo. On the way, we will stop in Monreale where we will visit the famous cathedral whose architecture is a mix of Norman, Byzantine, and Arab style – very different from the other churches we have visited so far. From here we will also have a full view of Palermo and its gulf. After a light lunch at Monreale, we make our way into Palermo to our next hotel, Palazzo Brunaccini. We will be visiting a couple of private residences in the area before heading back to the hotel for our aperitivo and dinner with a twist. BLD

Day 10

PALERMO’S BALLARÒ STREET MARKET, EVENING AT CEFALÙ FISHING VILLAGE.

In the morning we will be visiting the Ballarò street market. One of the most famous of the island, the Ballarò market is a symposium of colours, smells and flavors that are reminiscent of an Arab bazaar. After a light lunch at the Osteria Ballarò you can enjoy a bit of free time – a visit to Regional Archaeological Museum Antonio Salinas is recommended. At around 3pm we will make our way to Cefalù. Once a sleepy fishing village, Cefalù is now a popular tourist spot. Generally, at around 5pm the majority of tourists head back to Palermo, so we will enjoy the benefits of visiting during a quieter time of day, sipping local wine while gazing at the sea. After an early dinner, we head back for our final night in Palermo. BLD

Day 11

HYDROFOIL TO SALINA ISLAND IN THE AEOLIANS. A RELAXING EVENING BY THE SEA AWAITS.

Today we have an early start to make our way to Milazzo where we will embark for Salina, one of the Aeolian Islands. We expect to arrive on the island and check-in at Locanda del Postino around 2 pm. On our way to Locanda we stop at the 'museum of emigration'. Australia is considered the “8th of the Aeolian Islands” due to the high number of locals who left in the beginning of the last century looking for a better life down under 4000 from a population of 7000. The museum is a collection of stories, photos and objects of the people that left. The rest of the day is left at your own leisure until aperitivo time followed by dinner overlooking the sunset and the other Aeolian islands. BLD

Day 12

VISIT THE SLOW FOOD PRESIDIA FREE AFTERNOON AND DINNER WITH MUSIC.

Late start today with a visit to Capers Slow Food presidia mid-morning. Salvatore D’Amico is not only the man in charge of the Slow Food presidia but is also a wine producer and an endless source of stories and legends about the Aeolian islands. Here we will be sampling the capers, of course, but also Salvatore’s wine which he produces in the old fashioned, organic way. Free time in the afternoon and we head for a musical dinner at Santa Marina. BLD

Day 13

LUNCH IN LINGUA FOLLOWED BY GRANITA AND SUNSET BOAT TOUR OF STROMBOLI

Free time in the morning, we head to Lingua for lunch. After lunch here we head out to explore the island by boat – weather permitting. After a tour of the island and a swim at Pollara, where the 1994 movie “Il Postino” was shot, we will be heading for the island of Stromboli. This famous volcano has been in almost continuous eruption for the past 2000 years. We will have a light dinner at Stromboli, and we head on the boat to wait for the volcano to put on a show. BLD

Day 14

MAINLAND SICILY AND TRANSFER TO TAORMINA.

In the morning we will board the hydrofoil to make our way back to mainland Sicily. From Milazzo it will be just over an hour drive before we reach Taormina, our last stop. We will drop our bags at the Hotel Villa Schuler and then head for lunch. After lunch we will visit the Greek theater, probably the best-known site of the town, a unique theater still in use today, with a breathtaking backdrop of the gulf of Taormina. We will then head back to the hotel to check-in the rooms followed by some free time until aperitivo. During the aperitivo, Mr Schuler will tell us the story of his family and how the hotel has become the longest-running hotel in Sicily. The dinner this evening will be at your own arrangements, so that you can have a bit of “me time” and find your own favorite restaurant in Taormina. Suggestions will be provided and as this is an all-meals inclusive tour an allowance will be provided for the meal. BLD

Day 15

ETNA VOLCANO & BRONTE. FINAL DINNER IN TAORMINA.

For our last day out, we will be visiting Mount Etna, the active volcano that lies behind Taormina. Centuries of volcanic eruptions have enriched this area with dark, fertile soil, full of nutrients and minerals and perfect for the many types of produce farmed here. We will visit Bronte, a beautiful town on the flank of Mount Etna, and the world-famous capital of pistachios. The Bronte pistachio is also a Slow Food presidium, and we will be visiting the production site. The harvest only occurs every two years – the next harvest season will be September this year – and during the 2024 season the growers will cut the buds and prune the trees to promote growth for the following year. After our lunch in Bronte – where you will certainly be able to sample the local pistachios! – we will head back to Taormina for some free time when you will be able to do some last-minute shopping. After an aperitivo at the hotel, we will make our way to the restaurant Il Granduca for our final dinner. BLD

Day 16

TRANSIT AND LAST BREAKFAST TOGETHER.

This morning we say goodbye to Sicily with a final transfer to Catania airport based on the group flight. If you have a flight out of Catania in the morning or if you wish to extend your stay in Taormina, please let us know so that we can make arrangements for you, otherwise…. Arrivederci!! B

Where history, culture and cuisine are interconnected

10 October - 25 October 2025 (16 days)

Enjoy the pleasures of the table

ITINERARY