GOURMET SICILY

1st day
Arrival at Palermo airport. Transfer to the hotel in the city centre. Dinner at the exclusive restaurant Osteria dei Vespri, famous restaurant where some scenes of the Visconti’s movie The Leopard were filmed. We will taste excellent dishes with Chef Rizzo. Overnight stay.

2nd Day
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, with the Countess Federico, we will go to the Ballarò street market and we will buy the ingredients for the cooking class. In the kitchen of the 13th century palace the Chef Giglio will teach us how to prepare insalata di arance (orange salad) with bottarga (salted tuna eggs) and swordfish, the black risotto with cuttlefish... The lunch will be delighted in a torch-lit atmosphere in the Torre di Scrigno. In the afternoon, we will visit the historical centre of Palermo: Cathedral, Church of La Martorana, Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria, Teatro Massimo. Dinner at Antica Focacceria San Francesco. Return in hotel and overnight stay.

3rd Day
Breakfast and departure to Agrigento. Our guide will take us to Agrigento to visit the Valley of the Temples. Along the “Sacred Way” we will visit the Temple of Hercules, the Temple of Concord, and the Temple of Juno. Finally, we will visit the wonderful Garden of Kolymbetra, an old water reservoir of the Greeks, and the Necropolis. Pic-nic lunch at Kolymbetra Garden to taste special Sicilian food as ‘mmiscate, ricotta and pecorino cheese, caponata…….
In the afternoon, we’ll meet our guide who will take us to the historical center of Agrigento. We’ll visit the Church of Santa Maria dei Greci, built upon the old temple of Athena, the Santo Spirito monastery, the Cathedral and Rabbato, the old Arab quarter. Finally, we will spend the morning browsing the many elegant and traditional shops. Accommodation at Mandranova Resort, dinner and overnight stay.

4th day
Breakfast at the farm and relax. This morning we will visit an oil mill dating back to 17th century and a modern one. Visit at the Olive Estate and extra-virgin olive oil tasting with the owner Mr. Giuseppe Di Vincenzo. He will show us the olive oil production. Afternoon at lesisure to relax or enjoy a cooking class. Dinner at the agriturismo. Return in hotel and overnight stay.

5th day
Breakfast and departure to Mount Etna, Europe ‘s tallest and most active volcano. Visit at Rifugio Sapeienza to admire the famous Creteri Silvestri. Lunch at Scilio Winery where Luisa Scilio, an expert guide, will show the vineyard describing the organic cultivation methods, the milestone and the cellar dating back to 1815, finally we will sample the best wines matched with local products. Transfer to Taormina and freee time to visit its Greco-Roman amphitheatre and the old centre. Accommodation at Grand Hotel Miramere.

6th day
Breakfast and departure to Lentini to visit the famous Giardino del Biviere: a truly unique Mediterranean garden, illustrated by the owner Mrs Carla Borghese. Here we will have a relaxing walk through the citrus orchards, fully immersed in the fragrance of zagara (orange blossoms). we will be surrounded by Mediterranean olive and lemon trees. Then driver to 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. We will visit the Orecchio di Dionisio (Ear of Dionysius), the Greek Theatre and the archaeological area. Then you will visit Ortigia, one of the most interesting urban areas of Sicily. We will visit its famous Duomo, built upon the old temple of Athena. Lunch at leisure.
After you will admire the historical centre of Noto, the capital of Baroque in Sicily. A very beautiful town with amazing palaces in baroque style. In 1693 age earthquake totally destroyed the town. The current town was rebuilt by famous architect. They made the new Noto a masterpiece of Sicilian Baroque, It is currently listed among UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Return in Taormina and overnight stay.

7th Day
Breakfast in hotel. Leaving for Catania airport