Itinerary
- Day 1
Catania to Taormina
You'll arrive at Catania airport where your driver meets you for the transfer to Taormina. After you settle into your accommodation, walk through the town center with a local guide who'll show you the main spots and how locals actually live here. The guide takes you to three food stops: first a family trattoria serving fresh fish and white wines, then a traditional bottega with cheeses and cured meats, and finally a pastry bar for Sicilian sweets and coffee. By evening you have time on your own to wander around Taormina at your pace.
- Meals
- Dinner (Three foodie stops including fish selection and white wines at family trattoria, cheese and cured meats tasting at traditional bottega, and Sicilian sweets, liquors and coffee at pastry bar)
Included Activities
- Taormina Gourmet Walking Tour with local guide
- Three foodie stops including fish selection and white wines at family trattoria
- Cheese, salumi, and red wine tasting at traditional bottega
- Sicilian sweets, liquors and coffee tasting at pastry bar
Landmarks/POIs Taormina - Day 2
Taormina
Breakfast at your hotel kicks off the day, then you head to Taormina's food market with a local guide and chef. You'll walk through picking out ingredients from farmers, fishermen, and butchers for your cooking class later. In the kitchen you'll learn how to make homemade bread, pasta, fish dishes, and vegetable preparations the traditional Sicilian way, then taste everything with local wines. The rest of the day is yours to either relax on the beaches or continue exploring Taormina on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (Homemade bread, pasta, fish and vegetable dishes prepared during cooking class with local wine pairing)
Included Activities
- Visit to Taormina's Food Market with local guide and chef
- Taormina Cooking Class - preparation of homemade bread, pasta, fish and vegetable dishes in traditional Sicilian style
- Wine pairing with prepared dishes
Landmarks/POIs Taormina Food Market - Day 3
Mount Etna
After breakfast your foodie guide picks you up for a trip to Mount Etna, driving through villages where you see lava stone houses and agricultural areas while learning about Sicilian traditions. You'll go up to about 3,300 feet elevation for volcanic views. Next comes a family winery visit with a cellar tour and wine tasting paired with organic appetizers in an open-air space. Lunch follows at a farmhouse with seasonal appetizers, homemade pasta, and traditional pastries. You return to Taormina with free time afterward.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (Seasonal antipasti, homemade pasta and typical pastries at picturesque farmhouse)
Included Activities
- Etna Food & Wine Lovers Tour with local foodie guide
- Drive through typical Etna villages and agricultural plantations
- Guided visit of antique family-run winery cellars
- Volcanic wine tasting with organic Etna appetizers
Landmarks/POIs Mount Etna - Day 4
Noto - Marzamemi - Syracuse
After hotel breakfast you meet your driver at 10:00 AM for the transfer to Noto, a UNESCO baroque town. Your local guide walks you through the area where you'll taste Modica chocolate and Sicilian ice cream. Then you head to Marzamemi, a fishing village by the sea, for lunch at a family restaurant with fresh seafood. From there it's on to Syracuse where you check in and have the evening to walk around this romantic town on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (Sea lunch at family trattoria in Marzamemi)
Included Activities
- Noto Walking Tour with local guide
- Modica chocolate tasting
- Sicilian ice cream tasting
- Lunch at family trattoria in Marzamemi
Landmarks/POIs Noto Marzamemi - Day 5
Syracuse (Ortigia)
Your foodie guide meets you around 6:30 PM for an evening walking tour through Ortigia, Syracuse's old town area. You'll stop at three different food spots sampling fresh fish, typical Sicilian appetizers, homemade pastries, and local wines. Your guide shares stories about the area's history and traditions while pointing out important sites and hidden corners. The tour ends in the heart of Ortigia, leaving you to enjoy the evening atmosphere on your own.
- Meals
- Dinner (Three food venue tastings including fresh fish, typical Sicilian appetizers, homemade pastries, fragrant wines and liquors)
Included Activities
- Ortigia Food & Wine Tour with local foodie guide
- Three food venue tastings including fresh fish, Sicilian appetizers, homemade pastries, wines and liquors
Landmarks/POIs Ortigia - Day 6
Palermo
Your driver picks you up after breakfast for a visit to a castle-style winery in Syracuse's countryside. The owner gives you a tour of the cellars and old millstone, then serves a light lunch with local organic products and wine tasting in a courtyard. You'll compare wines from the Syracuse region with Etna wines. After that you drive about 2.5 hours to Palermo and have the evening free to rest or explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast), Lunch (Light lunch with local organic products and wine tasting in winery courtyard)
Included Activities
- Syracuse Winery Tour with guided cellar visit and old millstone viewing
- Light lunch with local organic products and wine tasting in courtyard
Landmarks/POIs Palermo - Day 7
Palermo
A local expert guide leads you on a 3-hour walking tour through Palermo's street food scene. You'll visit the busy Vucciria and Mercato del Capo outdoor markets tasting five different Sicilian foods including panelle (chickpea fritters) and arancine (fried rice balls). The guide walks you through the old town pointing out important sites and sharing stories. You have the evening to explore Palermo however you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast)
Included Activities
- Palermo Streetfood Walking Tour (3 hours) with local expert guide
- Visit to Vucciria and Mercato del Capo outdoor markets
- Tasting of five Sicilian street food treats including panelle and arancine
Landmarks/POIs Vucciria Market Mercato del Capo - Day 8
Palermo to Departure
After breakfast you check out of your hotel. Your driver takes you to Palermo airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hotel breakfast)
Optional Activities
- Pre/post accommodation at hotels
- Single room upgrades available on request
