Savor the flavors of Sicily on this culinary adventure. Explore lovely Taormina on its hilltop perch, overlooking the sparkling Ionian sea, learn to cook traditional Sicilian cuisine in Agrigento, experience the sensory spectacle of Palermo’s Arab Market, enjoy Catania’s elegant city center, and visit wineries, pistachio farms, and other artisan food producers in the sun-drenched Sicilian countryside.
Days 1-3: Taormina
We begin our experience upon arrival in Taormina, the beautiful hilltop town on Sicily’s eastern coast. Enjoy the stunning views, historical sites, and many restaurants in this charming town, then depart for Palermo. En route, visit the Villa Romana Casale in Piazza Armerina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest collection of Roman mosaics in the world.
Day 4-7: Palermo and Agrigento
Enjoy a morning walking tour of Palermo and a visit to the Arab Market, enjoying the local street food with a glass of wine. In the afternoon, enjoy a special lunch along the coast of Trapani, and then visit a wine cellar in Marsala to sample its famous sweet wine. Travel to Agrigento and visit a local farmhouse for a demonstration of traditional Sicilian cooking, pasta making and olive oil production, and enjoy a lunch of the prepared dishes. Visit the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk around the temples of Juno, Concordia, Hercules and Jupiter and take part in a guided tour of the Archaeological Museum. Visit a Sicilian Baron and his family at their 18th-century baglio and sample their wines, then depart for Catania. En route, stop in the town of Enna, known for its panoramic views as the “navel of Sicily” and participate in a cooking class with your chef at a local restaurant.
Day 8-10: Catania
Witness the art of bartering for fresh fish and produce while you visit the local market, and enjoy some free time in Catania’s elegant center. Then, depart for Mt. Etna. Visit a local winery for lunch and a tasting of wine and chocolate. Ascend by cable car to an elevation of 2500 metres, from where you have the option of continuing further by off-road vehicle. Visit the town of Bronte and the Castello Nelson, which belonged to Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was given the Duchy of Bronte by King Ferdinand III of Spain. Enjoy free time for lunch on your own. The countryside around Bronte is known for pistachio farming, and you will visit one of these farms to learn about the harvesting and production of this important agricultural product, and sample local confections made with pistachios, then return to Catania for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.