Snapshot of the Itinerary
Welcome to Sicily
Discover Sicily — land of contrasts, a world apart, an island separated from the rest of Italy not only by the sea but also by centuries of history and cultural experience. Let us show you, our Sicily, the land of our ancestors.
Sicily Tour October 11 - 19, 2025
Day 1 - Arrive in Palermo and be transported by private motor coach to our wine resort hotel on the southern coast in Menfi, for a relaxing light lunch and a special wine dinner planned and guided by your host sommelier.
Day 2 - We begin the day with a private cooking class with an acclaimed cookbook author and executive chef at our resort. After the lesson, we will dine on the feast we have cooked together. Later that afternoon, drive to Agrigento for a private guided tour of the ancient Greek ruins, Valley of the Temples. Before returning to our hotel, we will stop for a light dinner at a typical seaside town restaurant.
Day 3 - We leave in the morning to visit the countryside olive groves of a local olive oil-producing family. We will taste their award-winning olive oil, and discuss the olive oil-making process. After, we will enjoy a lunch on the farm, made from products cultivated and harvested locally. Our day continues as we travel to our hillside hotel in Ragusa to check in. Dinner in a local authentic Sicilian restaurant.
Day 4 - Morning visit to a traditional, family-run cheese farm for a tour and tasting of the cheeses made on their farm. We return to Ragusa so that we can enjoy a group lunch at a Two-Starred Michelin restaurant, a true culinary experience. We will head to Noto to spend the evening strolling through the quaint, Sicilian Baroque town of Noto with time for dinner on your own or a chance to taste the sweets from a renowned pastry shop.
Day 5 - Today we journey to the town of Siracusa (Syracuse), the port city on the southeastern coast of the island of Sicily. We will visit the historical center of Siracusa known as Ortigia, which is also called by the locals ‘Città Vecchia’ (old town). You will have some free time to explore this seaside town, visit its chic boutiques and taste some local delicacies. We’ll enjoy panini (sandwiches) and freshly made plates of cheese and meats at a famous market deli. We continue to our hotel in Taormina with breathtaking views of the Bay. Later in the day, we will explore the Ancient Greek Theater and the historic center of town. We wrap up the day with a group dinner of authentic Sicilian cuisine.
Day 6 - We journey up to Mount Etna to visit an award-winning winery and engage in discussions with vineyard managers and winemakers to understand how volcanic soil affects grape growing. We’ll stay on the mountain to enjoy a delicious countryside lunch. We return to Taormina in the afternoon. Later, we gather for aperitivo cocktails at our seaside hotel, followed by dinner on your own.
Day 7 - Depart Taormina for our final destination with a stop in the lively beach town of Cefalù, famous for its history, shopping, and magnificent cathedral. We’ll dine at a water-view trattoria, and you’ll have time to shop or walk the town. We then continue on to our hotel in Palermo, the capital city of Sicily. We check into our palatial historic Art Nouveau luxury hotel—group dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 8 -Morning guided walking tour of Palermo, through the ancient food markets, where we will meet local merchants and experience many different Sicilian street foods. We stop at one of the city's oldest taverna to taste local beverages and snacks. Along the way we will learn about Palermo's history as we observe architecture and landmarks. An evening farewell group dinner will wrap up the trip and provide a time to reminisce about the incredible week we just spent together.
Day 9 - Morning departure transfers to Palermo International Airport.
IN VINO WE TRUST
Sicilian Wines
Sicily is one of Italy’s most exciting wine growing regions. A new generation of winemakers has created a renaissance of exquisite wines, gaining acclaim among wine critics and wine connoisseurs from around the world. Some of the most exciting wines have been coming from vineyards surrounding Mt. Etna using Nerello Mascalese and Caricante, as well as in the southeast near the town of Vittoria, home to Cerasuola di Vittoria, Sicily’s only wine to achieve DOCG status, the highest quality designation in Italy. We’ll be tasting wines from some of the finest producers around the island.
SITES WE WILL VISIT
Our Sicilian Adventure
We begin our tour in Palermo, the Arab-Norman capital of Sicily. From this point, we continue counter clockwise around the island concluding our tour back in Palermo. Along the way we will enjoy walks through UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites, eat local street food, enjoy hands-on cooking classes, dine in world-class restaurants, stay in premium historical hotels, learn about Sicily’s history and culture, visit Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano and find some time on your own to sit, relax and enjoy a gelato, espresso or cocktail in an authentic Sicilian café.
FOOD YOU WILL TASTE
Sicilian Cuisine
Rooted in richly layered multi-cultural invasions, Sicily’s street food and traditional cuisine are beneficiaries of its sunny island location. Experience cuisine that is diverse, exotic and downright delicious! Let’s try Sicily’s famed street food like arancini and sfincione. Taste famous eggplant dishes like caponata and pasta alla Norma, and delicious fish dishes like pasta con le sarde and grilled swordfish, but let’s not stop there, Sicily is a true paradise for dessert lovers. Let’s try some great pastries including decadent cannoli, cassata cake and homemade gelato.