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  (Options: Custom Tours, Day Cooking Classes)
Sicily, Italy - 7 nights
Available year round
Discover the secrets of Sicily with this unforgettable seven night experience. Stay in luxury and comfortable accommodations while immersing yourself in the tastes and flavors of this very special land. Take hands-on cooking classes with chefs, including the famous Eleanora Consoli.
 Visit the historical food market of Palermo with a famous chef and admire the most important points of interest all around Sicily, taste fabulous wines and learn to cook "Sicilian" style.
You will visit Palermo, Monreale, Erice, Segesta, Agrigento, Taormina and Siracusa. Visit a special pastry shop, two famous wineries and learn the magic behind Sicilian cooking. What a culinary experience that awaits you in beautiful Sicilia! SAMPLE ITINERARY Day One - Arrival in Palermo  Upon your arrival at Palermo airport you will be met and transferred by private car to your charming four star hotel.
After checking in you are free to relax and unwind. Dinner will be on your own. Overnight stay. Day Two - Palermo, food market and Monreale  Breakfast in hotel, meeting with Chef Clemente, you will venture to one of Palermo’s historic markets (Il Capo, La Vucciria or Borgo Vecchio) where you will purchase all the ingredients necessary to prepare your meal. Along the way, you will also taste some of Palermo’s most typical foods, such as “panelle” and “pane con la milza”. Hands on cooking class in a typical restaurant and lunch. The dishes you've prepared will be served with just the right Sicilian wine, and dessert accompanied by local biscotti and Sicilian dessert wine.
After lunch you will meet your local guide to visit the most important monuments of Palermo as Quattro Canti (the Four Corners), Palermo’s extravagant Baroque square and the twelfth-century Cathedral of Palermo. Transfer to Monreale, where you’ll admire the Arab-Norman magnificence of the Cathedral. Return to hotel and overnight stay. Day Three - Segesta and Erice  Breakfast and departure for Segesta, ancient village in the Western part of Sicily, to visit its magnificent Greek Theatre and Doric Temple, masterpieces of Greek architecture in Sicily. Transfer to Erice, a wonderful and mysterious medieval town. Walking through the cobble – stoned streets of the town, you will see the Norman Castle and the Duomo. Stopping at the world famous pastry shop “Maria Grammatico”, we will taste almond sweets, genovesi and nougat to match with Marsala wine.
Lunch on your own. After lunch, visit of Donnafugata Winery for a visit of the cellars and a wine tasting of their best wines. Arrive in Agrigento at Mandranova Estate. The farm stands out among the colors and fragrances of the immense olive groves which surround it. Dinner and overnight stay. DAY FOUR - COOKING CLASS AND OLIVE OIL  This morning, after breakfast we will meet with the owners Silvia and Giuseppe to visit the farm, see the olive tree groves, and the oil press. Then you'll roll up your sleeves and join a cooking class with our hostess. On the menu - maybe some Cavatelli all’agrigentina with eggplant and basil, one of the most ancient Sicilian dishes. You'll also learn to cook panelle with chickpea sour, fritto di latte and finally a typical cake. Lunch and relax in the countryside. During the afternoon you will learn how to distinguish 4 different kinds of Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Giuseppe.
Dinner is not included in this overnight but you can reserve your table at Mandranova. Overnight stay. DAY FIVE - VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES  Breakfast at the estate. Depart for Agrigento to visit the beautiful Valley of the Temples with a local guide, one of the most representative sites of Greek civilization in the Mediterranean area. Visit to the Temple of Hercules, the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the wonderful Temple of Concord and finally the beautiful Garden of Kolymbetra. Lunch on your own in Agrigento.
Free time during the afternoon to enjoy the historical centre of Agrigento and some shopping at the Via Atenea. Dinner at leisure and overnight stay. DAY SIX - SIRACUSA, TAORMINA 
Breakfast at the farm and departure for Siracusa. Until the Arab conquest of 878, the city was the capital of Sicily. It was by far the most important city on the island. You will visit the Ear of Dyonisus, the Greek Theatre, the Altare di Ierone. Walk through the historical centre on the Ortigia Island to admire the Cathedral, constructed over the ancient Temple of Athena, the Aretusa fountain and the ancient streets. We suggest to have lunch at the exclusive restaurant Don Camillo. Transfer to your charming hotel in Taormina and walk through the historical centre of this beautiful town, famous for its Greek-Roman Amphitheatre. Dinner on your own. Back to the hotel and overnight stay. DAY SEVEN - COOKING CLASS & WINE TASTING  Breakfast at hotel. Departure for Viagrande. During the tour you will admire the beautiful volcanic landscape of the biggest European volcano. You will meet Mrs. Eleonora Consoli in her La Cucina del Sole (The Sun’s Kitchen). Eleonora has written several cookbooks on Sicilian gastronomy and she is an official expert on Sicilian cooking in the world. She will do a hands-on cooking class, teaching the class several classic Sicilian dishes. Your lunch will be spent with Eleonora in her home.
During the afternoon, you will visit the Mount Etna and finish at the Murgo Winery to visit the cellars and taste their best wines, brut and finally their aromatic olive oil. Return to Taormina and overnight stay. DAY EIGHT - ARRIVEDERCI Breakfast and departure for Catania airport or choose to extend your stay in Taormina to visit Mount Etna. GROUP SIZE A minimum of 2 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 12 participants. (The number of participants refers to how many persons are required to run the tour, not to how many persons you must have in your party. Please inquire.) HOW TO ARRIVE Closest Airports Palermo City - Palermo Airport 33km - 35 minutes Taormina - Catania Airport 60km - 40 minutes *These details are provided as additional information. Please check below to see if transfers are included in this tour.
BOOKING INFORMATION
DOUBLE ROOM - SELF DRIVE VERSION Double Room/US$1775 SUPPLEMENT PER PERSON FOR ENGLISH SPEAKING DRIVER AND PRIVATE CAR Two Persons/US$1350
Four Persons/US$900 Single Supplement/US$550 *Inquire about Christmas and Easter options/supplement applicable
*The price can be reduced with a larger number of people; please inquire
**Supplement for tourist guides on request *Pricing may vary depending on market fluctuation After availability is confirmed, a non-refundable 30% deposit per person and the completed and submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Final payment is due in full 75 days before your arrival date. Available year round upon request *2 BB at Hotel Ambasciatori *** in Palermo or similar
*2 HB + 1 BB at Mandranova Estate **** near Agrigento (beverages not included) *2 BB at Hotel Isabella *** in Taormina or similar
*Accommodation in classic room
*All cooking classes with lunch/dinner and beverages
*Visit and wine tasting at Pastry Shop, Donnafugata & Murgo winery
*Tourist guide in Palermo and Monreale Not included *Airfare
*Personal Expenses
*Individual extras and suggested lunches
*Entrance fees and tips
*Beverages at Mandranova
*All has not been clearly indicated in “The price includes”
For further inquiries or to register, click here.
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CANCELLATION POLICY
Please contact us for cancellation policy information. Travel insurance is highly recommended.
CLIENT REMARKS
"Thank you for a wonderful itinerary on our recent trip to Sicily, it was the best vacation we have ever taken! Again, our thanks and warm regards." "Well, we are back in the states after a wonderful trip to Sicilia. The trip was a great pleasure! The tour guides were all excellent! You were always available to help and answer our questions and attempt to smooth out any problems. You are a delightful person and a true asset to your company! We look forward to our future visits to Sicilia! With warm regards" "We had a marvelous journey to Sicily. Massaria Rosselle is a lovely quiet place and Mandranova is a magical place where the hosts are exceptional. Silvia was there to cook with us, she is a excellent chef. We spent at least four hours preparing a variety of delicious dishes for twenty guests. Her almond cake with only four ingredients is to die for. Our guides were knowledgeable, kind and gracious. Accommodations were lovely. Cooking classes were fun and informative. We were amazed at the generous amount of olive oil used to prepare Sicilian dishes...and so many delicious sweets and potatoes (as well as pasta). Many thanks for arranging a memorable journey to Sicily for my daughter and me. Best Regards" "Thank you again for all your hard work in making such a wonderful vacation for Sue and I. We had the best of times and have been telling all our friends about our trip.
Thank you so very much." Click here to return to top of page.
MAP*
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*In some cases mapping may give clients a general sense of location due to changes in venue. Please inquire about specific location. Click here to return to top of page.
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Culinary Sicily
