Small Group Culinary Vacations in Sicily

Day One – Saturday

• Pre-arranged transfers will take place in the afternoon from the Catania Airport or a local hotel.
• Then travel to our hotel on the Island of Ortigia, the ancient and most picturesque part of Siracusa. Home to many Greek historical landmarks, Sicilian Baroque architecture, unique stores, and a local market.
• Check in and get settled.
• The afternoon will be left to your leisure. Relax and get acquainted with your fellow guests or discover the island on your own.
• Our welcome dinner will be held at a popular seafood restaurant featuring the best of the local waters. We will hold a brief orientation to discuss the details of your fun – filled cooking vacation.

Day Two – Sunday

• This morning head out for a guided tour of the Archeological Park, featuring an impressive Greek theater, a Roman amphitheater, and an array of well-preserved ancient Greek and Roman monuments.
• We will enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Ortigia.
• Following lunch, our guided tour will continue on the island of Ortigia. We will enjoy its amazing Ancient Greek heritage and its well-preserved baroque architecture. There will be time to relax, shop, and perhaps visit a spa.
• Head to a local restaurant for dinner.

Day Three – Monday

• We start with a scenic drive to an authentic Sicilian Baglio. This unique attraction inludes an old world farmhouse-fortress with its own private olive mill and chapel.
• After a tour, we will have a hands-on cooking lesson and lunch with the Nonna of the casa. The lunch lesson will introduce you to classic Sicilian dishes served in large portions, as is traditional.
• On our way back to Ortigia, enjoy a stop at the UNESCO-heritage town of Noto for a brief visit. Noto is significant for its beautifully preserved Sicilian Baroque architecture.
• Dinner will be at your leisure.

Day Four – Tuesday

• Begin the day with a visit to a Nero d’Avola winery, producers of a highly regarded Sicilian red wine. Beautifully located, the winery is nestled between almond tree groves and the coast.
• We will enjoy a typical Sicilian lunch following the tour and tasting.
• After lunch, depart for the picturesque seaside fishing village of Marzamemi. You will explore the town and the local tuna fishing heritage, including the canneries.
• In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant back in Ortigia.

Day Five – Wednesday

• Depart Ortigia and begin the second half of our journey with a drive back to Catania.
• In Catania, you will have a market visit with a local chef. The chef will guide you through the many local products- including herbs, produce, and seafood- that are found at their market, one of the largest in Sicily, while weaving a tapestry of interesting stories and anecdotes.
• Once the ingredients have been selected, head to a cooking lesson with the chef at a palace in the city’s center. This will include a demonstration on cannoli making.
• Continue the day with a drive to beautiful Taormina, and check-in at the hotel with a coastal view.
• Settle in and relax, then head to dinner at a delightful restaurant in Taormina.

Day Six – Thursday

• We begin our day with a walk through the town center to an ancient Greco-Roman amphitheater, for a guided tour and visit.
• Then head to the Michelin-Star Chef Pietro D’Agostino’s Cooking Lab for a cooking demonstration followed by lunch.
• Learn his technique for making some of the delectable seafood dishes that have cemented his claim to fame.
• Spend the afternoon and dinner at your leisure. Explore and take advantage of the many artisanal and trendy shops in town, or take a break and head to the beach if the weather is nice!

Day Seven – Friday

• Begin the morning with a short drive up the mountain above Taormina to see the tiny town of Castelmola. Built upon the ruins of an ancient Norman castle, it is a well preserved Medieval town sitting at 500 meters above sea level. It boasts breathtaking panoramic views of Mt. Etna and the entirety of the Southern coastline.
• You will drive to the highest point of Mt. Etna accessible by car, and take a walk around an extinct crater with lava flow, all the while enjoying spectacular views of the volcano and the coastline.
• For lunch, visit a winery located on the side of the mountain. Enjoy a lunch paired with some of the most distinguished fine wines in Sicily. Sicily’s wines have a distinct flavor resulting from the rich, volcanic soil.
• After lunch, return to Taormina in the late afternoon. Enjoy leisure time before farewell dinner.
• Enjoy our ‘Arrivederci Dinner’ in Taormina and a farewell celebration.

Day Eight – Saturday

• Transfer to the Catania airport for departure flights. Flights can be scheduled from Catania to Rome or to any other major European cities for international flights.