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.
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
Deposit
After availability is confirmed, a 30% non-refundable deposit per person and the completed and submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Final payment is due in full 75 days before your arrival date.
2024 Dates
Available year round upon request
Included
*Two (2) nights' at Casa Vecchie in the countryside of Palermo with dinner and beverages included
*Two (2) nights' at a B&B in Ortigia, Siracusa
*Two (2) nights' at a four star hotel in Taormina
*All cooking classes with lunch or dinner and beverages
*Tasting at Regalali Winery and lunch with tasting Gambino Winery
*Driver guide in Palermo (if you choose the driver service) Or Local guide in self drive version
*Driver Guide in Catania & Riviera (if you choose the driver service) Or Local guide in self drive version
*Private Car and driver guide on Mount Etna
The package does not include:
*Individual extras
*All that has not been clearly indicated in “The price includes”
*Airfare
*Personal expenses
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.
Jamie F., Yukon, Canada
Nancy
"I'm so sorry that I haven't written to tell you what a wonderful time I had. Sicily is a very beautiful country, but we were truly able to enjoy it's spectacular scenery and rich history because of you. The time spent with Anna at her house and in her kitchen---I will never forget. In fact, I will never forget a moment of the trip. The itinerary you created for us could only have been created by a person, like yourself, who knows and loves her country. Thank you for taking the time to meet us when we were in Agrigento--it is now possible to match a name with a face and that makes us feels like we are friends. Our tour guides--Giani, Terese and Nunzio were simply wonderful and we will always remember their enthusiasm, scholarship and patience with me when I tried to speak Italian!!!! "
Judy P.
"We totally enjoyed our tours and cooking class. Everything and everybody is wonderful! It was so good to meet you yesterday in Agrigento. You have put together a truly memorable trip for Emily and me. Grazie mille"
Carol
"We had a marvelous journey to Sicily. Massaria Rosselle is a lovely quiet place and Mandranova is a magical place where the hosts are exceptional. Silvia was there to cook with us, she is a excellent chef. We spent at least four hours preparing a variety of delicous dishes for twenty guests. Her almond cake with only four ingredients is to die for. Our guides were knowledgeable, kind and gracious. Accommodations were lovely. Cooking classes were fun and informative. We were amazed at the generous amount of olive oil used to prepare Sicilian dishes...and so many delicious sweets and potatoes (as well as pasta). Many thanks for arranging a memorable journey to Sicily for my daughter and me.
Best Regards"
Christine
We think of you often! Thank you again for all your hard work in making such a wonderful vacation for Sue and I. We had the best of times and have been telling all our friends about our trip.
Thank you so very much."
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