Itinerary
- Day 1
Palermo
You'll arrive in Palermo at your own pace with no set activities scheduled. If you get there early, there's time to check out the Gothic Cathedral, wander through the Botanical Gardens, or browse the open-air markets that Palermo's known for. Your tour leader will be at the hotel reception at 6pm if you want to meet up and get oriented.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Tonic), Hotel (Hotel Mediterraneo (or similar))
Optional Activities
- Visit Gothic Cathedral with mosaics and cloisters
- Explore Botanical Gardens
- Visit Palermo's open-air markets
- Dinner with tour group (optional, 6pm hotel reception)
Landmarks Palermo Cathedral Botanical Gardens of Palermo 
- Day 2
Palermo
Head out with a local guide for a culinary tour through Palermo's historic markets. You'll walk through Ballaro market with its souk-like atmosphere and then the packed Capo market, trying Sicilian street food like arancini, panelle (chickpea fritters), and sfincione. The afternoon is free to explore Palermo on your own schedule.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Tonic), Hotel (Hotel Mediterraneo (or similar))
Included Activities
- Guided culinary tour through Sicilian street food
- Visit Ballaro open-air market
- Visit Capo market
- Street food tasting including arancini, panelle, and sfincione
Optional Activities
- Afternoon exploration of Palermo
Landmarks Ballaro Market Capo Market - Day 3
Monreale - Agriturismo
Drive up into the hills to see the Norman Cathedral of Monreale, which has extensive mosaics and beautiful cloisters worth your time. After lunch on your own in town, you'll head to a Masseria (farmhouse) for the night. There's a guided walk around the estate, information about olive and wine production, an oil tasting, and then a hands-on cooking class with the owner's grandmother. Dinner features dishes you'll help prepare.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner including specialities created during hands-on cooking class)
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Agriturismo Ponte Calatrasi), Lodge (Agriturismo Ponte Calatrasi (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Norman Cathedral of Monreale
- Guided walk through Masseria estate
- Olive grove and vineyard viewing
- Milk and cheese production demonstration
- Oil tasting
- Hands-on cooking class with Nonna
- Dinner with specialities created during cooking class
Optional Activities
- Swimming pool (open end of May to end of September, weather permitting)
Landmarks Norman Cathedral of Monreale 
- Day 4
Teatro Andromeda - Morreale Estate - Agrigento
Drive to Corleone and visit the Mafia Information Centre to learn the real history and context of the Mafia. You'll have free time for lunch, then stop at a historic pastry shop for cannoli before exploring Teatro Andromeda, an artistic park created by shepherd-artist Lorenzo Reina in a striking location. Later you'll tour Morreale wine estate for a tasting, then drive to Agrigento for the night with your evening free to rest.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Colleverde Park Hotel), Hotel (Colleverde Park Hotel (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit Mafia Information Centre
- Visit historic pastry shop for cannoli experience
- Explore Teatro Andromeda artistic park
- Learn about artist Lorenzo Reina's story
- Tour Morreale wine estate
- Wine sampling at Morreale estate
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Corleone (free time)
Landmarks Teatro Andromeda Morreale Wine Estate 
- Day 5
Modica - Scicli
Walk through Agrigento's Valley of the Temples with a local guide, seeing the massive Temple of Zeus, the perfectly proportioned Temple of Concord, and the Temple of Hercules. After lunch on your own, travel east to Modica to tour a chocolatier and learn about cold-processed chocolate techniques. You'll continue to Scicli for the night, a picturesque town famous for filming the Italian detective series Inspector Montalbano.
- Meals
- Lunch (Tomato-based lunch at tomato producer)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Albergo Diffuso), Hotel (Albergo Diffuso (or similar))
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Valley of the Temples
- Visit Temple of Zeus
- Visit Temple of Concord
- Visit Temple of Hercules
- Modica chocolatier tour
- Chocolate laboratory demonstration
- Chocolate tasting session
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Agrigento (free time)
Landmarks Temple of Zeus Temple of Concord Temple of Hercules 
- Day 6
Noto - Syracusa
Visit a Sicilian tomato producer to see cultivation and processing methods, then have lunch featuring tomato-based dishes with local products. Drive to the baroque town of Noto for an orientation walk with your tour leader and try granita (Italian frozen dessert). From there, continue 40 kilometers to Syracusa, where you'll settle into accommodation on Ortygia Island and have the evening to explore after the day-trippers leave.
- Meals
- Lunch (Tomato-based lunch with local products from tomato producer)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Posta), Hotel (Hotel Palazzo Cavalieri (or similar))
Included Activities
- Visit tomato producer
- Learn about tomato cultivation and production process
- Orientation walk in Noto with Tour Leader
- Granita tasting in Noto
Landmarks Noto - Day 7
Syracusa
Spend the day on foot exploring Ortygia Island with your tour leader, visiting the Fonte of Aretusa, Temple of Apollo ruins, Maniace Castle, and the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter. You'll stop at a local cafe to learn about Sicilian coffee traditions. The afternoon is yours to explore however you'd like, then you'll gather this evening for your final dinner featuring fresh Syracusa seafood.
- Meals
- Dinner (Syracuse seafood cuisine with fresh preparations reflecting the region's strong connection to the sea)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Posta), Hotel (Hotel Palazzo Cavalieri (or similar))
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Ortygia Island
- Visit Fonte of Aretusa
- Visit Temple of Apollo ruins
- Visit Maniace Castle
- Explore Jewish Quarter and old baths
- Visit local cafe with Tour Leader
- Learn Sicilian coffee traditions
- Final dinner with Syracuse seafood cuisine
Optional Activities
- Afternoon exploration of Ortygia Island
Landmarks Fonte of Aretusa Temple of Apollo Maniace Castle Ortygia Island - Day 8
Syracuse to Catania
After breakfast in Syracuse, you're driven to Catania Fontanarossa Airport and arrive around 9:30am. Flights depart from 11:30am onwards, so you'll have a couple hours to check in and get through security before heading home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Catania Fontanarossa Airport 
