Culinary Tour of Sicily

(10 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Palermo, Sciacca & Agrigento, Noto & Modica, Taormina & Mount Etna

This private tour of Sicily features the culinary and cultural highlights of this beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea.

During private market tours and cooking classes, learn about the Arab, Greek, Roman, Norman, Spanish, Jewish and other influences in Sicily's delicious and fascinating cuisine. Sample Sicilian specialties such as arancini (fried stuffed rice balls), pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines and wild fennel), caponata (eggplant relish) and cannoli. Also taste unique Sicilian wine and olive oil, visit local food markets, and tour ancient ruins and archaeological sites.

Begin in Palermo, the vibrant capital of Sicily. During private touring, explore the city’s cultural and culinary highlights, including lively food markets, favorite Sicilian specialty shops, private museums, and UNESCO sites such as the Norman Palace and Cappella Palatina. Also take a private excursion to the UNESCO-listed Monreale Cathedral, a masterpiece of Arab, Norman, and Byzantine art and architecture. 

Next, drive along Sicily's western coast, passing medieval windmills that dot the landscape. Stop at the famed salt pans outside Trapani, and visit a winery in the nearby town of Marsala to taste the eponymous amber-hued dessert wine. Continue to a luxurious resort on the Mediterranean Sea outside Sciacca. During leisure time, enjoy the extensive facilities at your resort, such as a beach, pool, golf course and award-winning spa. Also visit the local town, known for its ceramics and coral studios. One day, on a private excursion to a countryside vineyard and winery, enjoy a private cooking class and sample some of Sicily's best wines and unique varietals.

Next, you will be transferred to Agrigento to tour the Valley of the Temples, an outstanding archaeological site of well-preserved ancient Greek ruins that has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Also enjoy a picnic lunch in a beautiful garden filled with aromatic Mediterranean shrubs, almond trees, olive orchards and citrus groves.

Next, visit the UNESCO-inscribed Baroque towns of Noto and Modica. During private touring, explore important architectural highlights, atmospheric backstreets, renowned gelato and pastry shops, and a chocolate shop that uses Aztec recipes brought from Mexico by the Spanish conquistadors. Also enjoy a dessert and gelato tasting.

Next, enjoy a private tour of Syracuse, one of the largest and most powerful cities in antiquity and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the historic city center on the island of Ortygia, including the fascinating cathedral and charming neighborhoods filled with elegant architecture. Also enjoy culinary touring and see highlights such as the Greek theater, the Roman amphitheater and the cave known as the Ear of Dionysius. 

Continue to spectacular Taormina, an ancient clifftop town overlooking the sea that has a Greek theater, beautiful gardens, bougainvillea-lined backstreets and upscale boutiques. One day, enjoy a private excursion to Mount Etna, an active volcano with fertile slopes that support vineyards, orchards and farms. Tour some of the most interesting volcanic sites on the mountain and enjoy a lunch that incorporates fresh local produce and wine. 

There will also be free time to enjoy Taormina and its wonderful shops, restaurants, gardens, views, and leisure facilities at your luxurious resort overlooking the Bay of Naxos.