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Sicilian Flavours

(Option: Customized Itineraries)
Sicily, Italy - 6 nights
Available year round

Experience six days of magical travel through the stunning Sicilian landscape, meet and cook with a wonderful chef, Fabrizia Lanza, who follows in her famous mother Anna Tasca Lanza's footsteps. You will stay at her home, Casa Vecchie, as well as staying at two other beautiful accommodations during your stay. You will also have a market visit followed by a cooking class in Siracusa. This tour will allow you to discover the most traditional Sicilian dishes in Palermo, Agrigento, Catania, Siracusa, Taormina and the Etna Volcano area.

Learn how to prepare dishes such as the "pasta con le sarde", the "arancine", the "cassata Siciliana" and "cannoli" with ricotta cheese and of course will taste fine Sicilian wines.

This beautiful island awaits you! You will be pleasantly surprised at how much Sicily has to offer. The people, the landscapes, the food and wine - all the while enjoying beautiful accommodations including a charming home, a wonderful bed and breakfast and a four star hotel.

 

 

SAMPLE ITINERARY

 

Arrival Day: Fly into Palermo International Airport (Punta Raisi)
Departure Day: Fly out of Catania International Airport (Fontanna Rossa)

 

Day one

ARRIVAL IN PALERMO

Arrival at Palermo International Airport. You will be free to visit the city, the city’s main sights, including Quattro Canti, the twelfth-century Cathedral of Palermo, and the food market of “Capo”, typical par excellence, full of color and folklore. Here you will taste typical street food such as “pani ca meusa”, “panelled”, “arancini”. Transfer to Casa Vecchie.

The estate belongs to the Tasca d’Almerita family and is located in the center of the island. Eight generations of the Tasca family have been involved in the creation of some of Italy’s best wines from 500 hectares of land in the heart of Sicily. The Tasca family will host you for lunch sharing their history and giving you a taste of delicious wine and of authentic Sicilian cuisine. 

Dinner with wine tasting and visit of the Estate and of the Winery.

Day Two

COOKING LESSON AT WINERY

Breakfast in the kitchen. Today Fabrizia, or one of her chefs, will hold a cooking lesson about local cuisine and its history and you will learn how to prepare caponata, arancini and cannoli with ricotta cheese. Depending on Fabrizia's availability, the cooking class will be taught by Fabrizia or one of her staff members.

Lunch will follow the cooking lesson. In the afternoon you will explore the countryside and enjoy the vineyards. A look at the wine cellars of Regaleali with the immense barrels with a tasting of the various wines will accompany the dinner.

Overnight stay. (no driver service today)

 

Day Three

VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES & SIRACUSA

Breakfast and departure for Agrigento to visit on your own the beautiful Valley of the Temples, one of the most representative sites of Greek civilization in the Mediterranean area. Visit to the Temple of Hercules, the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the wonderful Temple of Concord and finally the beautiful Garden of Kolymbetra.

Lunch on your own and transfer to Siracusa accommodation in a lovely bed and breakfast in Ortigia, which is your cooking teacher's home. Dinner on your own at leisure this evening (not included). Overnight stay.

Day Four

MARKET VISIT, COOKING LESSON, TIME AT LEISURE IN SIRACUSA

Breakfast followed by a visit with your chef to the wonderful Ortigia Market to buy the ingredients for your second cooking class. Hands on cooking class and lunch included.


Afternoon at leisure to visit Siracusa. Until the Arab conquest of 878, the city was the capital of Sicily. It was by far the most important city on the island. You can visit the Ear of Dyonisus, the Greek Theatre, the Altare di Ierone. Walk through the historical center on the Ortigia Island to admire the Cathedral, constructed over the ancient Temple of Athena, the Aretusa fountain and the ancient streets. Back to the bed and breakfast and overnight stay. (no driver service)

Day Five

 

 

CATANIA & TAORMINA

Breakfast at hotel and departure for Catania, this city is dramatically situated between the Ionian Sea and the Mount Etna. The town was rebuilt in the Baroque style, and it was during this era that many of the town’s finest buildings were constructed. You will visit its impressive Duomo and experience the city’s strong personality during a visit to its ebullient Pescheria, the daily fish and vegetable market. Lunch on your own.

 

After you will drive to the famous Cyclops Coast through Acireale, its most important town, and Acicastello, with its Medieval Norman Castle built in 1076 on a prehistoric basalt lava terrace. As you gaze out over the Ionian Sea, you’ll admire the Rocks of the Cyclops, imposing, spiky shards of black lava that rises up from the water. Accommodation in Taormina at your four star hotel and overnight stay.

 

Day Six

MOUNT ETNA, WINERY & TAORMINA

Breakfast at hotel. Meet your driver guide to explore Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. There is hardly a more fascinating mountain with its unique combination of nature and the uncontrollable essence of fire. Your walk options are weather dependent and may include the excursion with the cobble car and jeep. Transfer to Gambino Winery and taste their best wines during a fabulous lunch.

In the afternoon you will visit Taormina, Sicily’s most famous city on your own. Dating from the fourth and third centuries B.C., Taormina is perched dramatically high on a rocky promontory overlooking the Ionian Sea. It’s a charming medieval town with typical cobblestoned streets leading into spacious squares. You can admire the extraordinary classical Greco-Roman theatre and the historical center. Dinner on your own and overnight stay.  

 

DAY SEVEN

 

DEPARTURE

Breakfast and departure to Catania International airport or choose to extend your stay by one night with a cooking class with the the daughter of the famous Eleonora Consoli.

*The content or order of the itinerary may change depending on dates, availability of services or activities, local festivals/holidays, weather constraints, etc. Menus are samples and may vary according to the season 

 

GROUP SIZE

A minimum of 2 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 10 participants.

 

(The number of participants refers to how many persons are required to run the tour, not to how many persons you must have in your party. Please inquire.)

 

HOW TO ARRIVE

Closest Airports:

 

Palermo Punta Raisi Airport (33km - about 35 minutes from first accommodation)
Catania Fontana Rossa Airport (60km - about 40 minutes from last accommodation)

*These details are provided as additional information. Please check below to see if transfers are included in this tour.

 

BOOKING INFORMATION

2024 Fees Per Person

DOUBLE ROOM - SELF DRIVE VERSION


Double Room/Please inquire

PRICE PER PERSON IN DOUBLE ROOM WITH ENGLISH SPEAKING DRIVER AND PRIVATE CAR 

Double Room/Please inquire
Single Supplement/Please inquire

*Pricing may vary depending on market fluctuation

 


 


For further inquiries or to register, click here.

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CANCELLATION POLICY

Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

 

CLIENT REMARKS

Jamie F., Yukon, Canada

"Fantastic trip! We are normally more independent travellers, but this experience was fantastic! Sicily itself really surpassed our expectations. And we could never have packed in so many wonderful and diverse experiences by coordinating things on own. In just one week we felt like we entered into the whole WORLD of Sicilian food, wine, olive oil, local markets, and even a bit of the history, culture, language, and geography. Thanks Jo-Ann!"

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MAP*

This exciting region is depicted below. You can also access Google MapsTM by clicking HERE

 

*In some cases mapping may give clients a general sense of location due to changes in venue. Please inquire about specific location.

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