Exploring Sicily’s Gastronomic and Archaeological Delights on Its Eastern Shore and Medieval Villages
It is fitting that culinary enthusiasts come to Sicily, as it is said that the first school for professional chefs was founded in Syracuse, and the first recorded cookbook was written by Siracusan Mithaecus in the fifth century BC. Sicily's delights are as palpable as they are palatable: the amalgam of cultures and culinary traditions on the island have allowed for some of the best of the bests to emerge as inspiring hybrids. Manifested in architecture, art and aliment the Greeks, North Africans, Normans and Romans all contributed to what makes Sicily so unique. It is the nexus of Mediterranean flows and fusions; a happenstance anchored in ardor and rooted to a land whose simplicity is sprinkled with opulence and relished by a resourceful population ready to open its heart and its kitchens to share the creative curiosities held within.
Grand Sicily Culinary and Cultural Expedition
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ItineraryAccommodationsMapFAQ
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please note:
Tour inclusions can change depending upon
seasonality and weather conditions.
•4+ Star Resort Accommodations
•Round-Trip Catania Airport Transfers
•Full-Time Hosted Tour
•Sicilian Breakfast Buffet each Morning
•5 Dinners, 3 Lunches, 4 Tastings
•3 Hands-On Cooking Classes
•Castello Del Solacium Tour
•Neapolis Archaeological Park Tour
•Historic Ortigia Tour
•Catania Walking Tour & Markets
•Taormina Guided Tour
•The Nebrodi Park Visit & Tour
•Almond Museum and Visit
•Marzamemi Village Visit
•Majestic UNESCO Noto Walking Tour
While our tours are designed as soft adventure experiences, walking, climbing stairs,
and in rare cases mild hiking may be required. If you have mobility issues, you should
speak with one of our culinary travel specialists to determine if this tour is
appropriate for your situation.
AVAILABLE DATES
April 14 - 20, 2024 and October 20 - 26, 2024. Please inquire for 2025 dates.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.
Click arrows (▶) to show details
Day 1
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Benvenuto | Transfer to Calatabiano | Welcome DinnerUpon arrival at the Catania Airport, you will meet your private driver for the group, as well as your fellow travelers. Enjoy a picturesque transfer to Calatabiano where you will check into your beautiful resort accommodations. This evening you will meet your full-time host for a delicious, locally sourced welcome dinner. (D)
Day 2
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Sicilian Breakfast BuffetStart your day off right with a delicious Sicilian breakfast buffet to energize you for the adventures ahead. Savor fresh fruits, juices, coffee, yogurts, breads and pastries, charcuterie, as well as cooked items.
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Village Cooking Class | Wine Tasting | Palmento DinnerAfter breakfast, your tour host and private shuttle await to take you to Motta Camastra in the Alcantara National Park, named after the river which flows through the natural gorges created after an eruption of Mount Etna was cooled by the icy waters. Visit the village with the local ladies to learn the story of their village and its ancient mill, before your first Sicilian cooking lesson in a private home and lunch feasting on your freshly made creations. Say goodbye to your new friends as your next stop is a winery on the slopes of Mount Etna. Tour the vineyards and an ancient lava cave before visiting the winery to try the wonderful wines being produced on the volcanic slopes. This evening enjoy a delicious Sicilian Buffet included at your hotel in the historic Palmento, the traditional Sicilian winery where the grapes used to be crushed. (B, L, T, D)
Day 3
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Sicilian Breakfast BuffetStart your day off right with a delicious Sicilian breakfast buffet to energize you for the adventures ahead. Savor fresh fruits, juices, coffee, yogurts, breads and pastries, charcuterie, as well as cooked items.
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Castello Del Solacium Tour | Hands-On Cooking Class | Wine Tasting | Neapolis Archaeological Park Siracusa and Ortigia | DinnerAfter breakfast, your tour host and private shuttle await to take you to Castello del Solacium. This beautiful 12th century Baronial castle close to the city of Siracusa is privately owned and surrounded by vineyards. Here you will take a cooking lesson preparing traditional Sicilian dishes to enjoy over lunch, together with a tasting of the wines produced on the Estate. After lunch visit the Archaeological Park of the Neapolis in Siracusa to see one of the best preserved Ancient Greek monuments in the world. You will also have a chance to explore Siracusa's heart - the island of Ortigia. A private guide will take you to learn about the Greek Temple of Apollo, as well as the Byzantine, Norman, Medieval, Baroque and Neoclassical influences that make up the museum-like center of the historic city that was once one of the greatest ports of trade in the world. Dinner is included in Ortigia before the private shuttle and tour host take you back to the hotel. (B, L, T, D)
Day 4
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Sicilian Breakfast BuffetStart your day off right with a delicious Sicilian breakfast buffet to energize you for the adventures ahead. Savor fresh fruits, juices, coffee, yogurts, breads and pastries, charcuterie, as well as cooked items.
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Catania Walking Tour with Market Visit | Taormina Tour | Authentic Pizzeria DinnerAfter meeting your host in the hotel lobby, enjoy a vibrant guided visit of the city of Catania, its market and fish markets to learn the secrets of today's catch. Have some time for lunch in the center of Catania, perhaps grabbing a bite under the awnings as the fishermen noisily hawk their wares (Lunch on your own today). After time to relax at the hotel, in the late afternoon your private shuttle and tour leader will take you to see the breath-taking city of Taormina, perched on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. Taormina is a jewel of the Sicilian coast, where you can explore the rambling alleys, its Greek theatre, historic churches and antique shops, before dinner this evening in a Pizzeria. (B, D)
Day 5
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Sicilian Breakfast BuffetStart your day off right with a delicious Sicilian breakfast buffet to energize you for the adventures ahead. Savor fresh fruits, juices, coffee, yogurts, breads and pastries, charcuterie, as well as cooked items.
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The Nebrodi | Hands-On Cooking Class | Ancient Stone Mill VisitAfter breakfast, your tour host and private shuttle await to take you to Nebrodi Park in the deep heart of the Sicilian Island. Meeting the villagers in the heart of the Nebrodi is an opportunity to travel back through time and discover the culture and traditions of Sicily. Learn how to make the "Sicilian granita" and traditional "macaroni" served at lunch with the wonderful Nebrodi black pig sauce. After lunch learn how to weave a small key ring, or "pezzara" on a loom using the ancient carpet technique, typical of the area, creating your very own souvenir. Lastly, visit the Ancient Stone Mill of 1800 which still produces local flours rich in quality because of the mechanical function which does not overheat the grain. Dinner will be on your own this evening. (B, L, T)
Day 6
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Sicilian Breakfast BuffetStart your day off right with a delicious Sicilian breakfast buffet to energize you for the adventures ahead. Savor fresh fruits, juices, coffee, yogurts, breads and pastries, charcuterie, as well as cooked items.
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Avola Almond Museum and Tasting | Marzamemi Village Visit | Noto Walking Tour | Farewell DinnerAfter breakfast, your tour host and private shuttle await to take you to Avola. At the Almond Museum learn more about the almond, its properties, its uses and its role in some of the best Sicilian pastries. You will then see and taste this local treat. Afterwards, visit the lovely fishing village of Marzamemi, used as a location for many Italian films and just 2 miles away from Pachino where the delicious little red gems of tomatoes are grown. The coastal area is full of charm and great little aperitivo places, which you can use your free time to enjoy and check out on your own. Don't forget to try the local delights like the almond or mulberry granita and red tuna bottarga (dried tuna roe, made using ancient Arab-Phoenician techniques). In the afternoon the marvelous city of Noto awaits you - a UNESCO site where, according to legend, Hercules stayed after completing his seventh task. In the evening the private shuttle and tour host will take you back to the hotel where you will enjoy a grand farewell dinner among friends. Please note that lunch is on your own today. (B, T, D)
Day 7
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Sicilian Breakfast BuffetStart your day off right with a delicious Sicilian breakfast buffet to energize you for the adventures ahead. Savor fresh fruits, juices, coffee, yogurts, breads and pastries, charcuterie, as well as cooked items.
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Check-Out and Departure | Transfers to Catania AirportAfter breakfast at leisure, pack your bags and your memories, and bid farewell to your own little oasis of Sicilian paradise, with a solemn promise to return. Arrivederci! (B)
Castello San Marco
This princely 17th century Baroque residence offers 28 comfortable garden suites in 10 acres of landscaped parklands. Traditional Sicilian hospitality, beautiful historical buildings and modern elegance in the guest rooms make for a unique stay. The castle is situated by the sea although it is hidden away by a wealth of trees and greenery. The grounds are perfectly situated between the romantic town of Taormina and the fiery volcano Etna and is surrounded by a flourishing and calm Mediterranean garden. Castello San Marco is conveniently placed to visit some of the most interesting sites in Sicily, with no less than three natural parks: Mount Etna, the Alcantara river and the Nebrodi natural park. Each offers their own unique and outstanding beauty not easily forgotten by those who visit.
Catania, Sicily, Italy•Calatabiano, Sicily, Italy•Syracuse, Sicily, Italy•Ortigia, Sicily, Italy•Taormina, Sicily, Italy•Nebrodi Park, Sicily, Italy•Marzamemi, Sicily, Italy•Noto, Sicily, Italy
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What Currency is being quoted?
The Currency Code is listed directly after the published amount. If it states USD, then the quoted price is in United States Dollars. If it states CAD, then the quoted price is in Canadian Dollars. If it states EUR, then the quoted price is in European Union Dollars…etc. However, please note that all charges are processed in USD, and Epitourean’s Merchant Bank automatically calculates the currency conversion on the day of the charge.
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What does Double Occupancy mean?
Two persons traveling together, and staying in the same room. Tour prices are normally quoted as “per person, double occupancy” in case two people are traveling together and staying in the same room, but paying separately. The cost of the lodging is also shared by two people, thereby reducing costs. This could be a married couple, two friends or relatives.
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What is a Single Supplement?
Whenever a person travels alone, the cost of their lodging cannot be shared by another person. When tour products are priced, they are normally stated as “per person, double occupancy.” Whenever a guest occupies a room as a solo, the whole cost of the lodging must be incurred by that one individual. Tour companies accommodate this by charging a Single Supplement. Epitourean does its best to keep the single supplement as low as possible, but it is a real cost that tour companies must absorb, and must pass along to the single traveler.
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If I am a Solo Traveler, will I be paired with another person?
Epitourean never pairs a solo traveler with another person without a special request. If you book Single Occupancy, you will have a room entirely to yourself. However, should you wish to be paired with another solo traveler to save on the single supplement, you may make this request. We cannot guarantee that we can accommodate such requests, since it would take another solo traveling on the same tour for the same dates. But if requested, we will certainly try.
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Are flights included in the tour price?
No. Flights are never included in the price of our land-only tours. Epitourean does not provide air, rail or sea travel, unless expressly noted in the itinerary.
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May I give a culinary tour as a gift?
Yes. Epitourean has a special program designed specifically for this purpose. Our Gift Packages come with features such as special messages to the recipient, gift box option, gift link (without pricing), and floating dates (should you not know when the gift recipient wants to travel). Contact a Culinary Travel Specialist at 800-390-3292 or customerservice@epitourean.com to receive additional information about this unique offering.
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May we request separate beds if sharing a room?
Yes. In most cases, Epitourean can accommodate a request for two beds to be placed in one room. Just make sure to make this request in the comments section of the reservation process.
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Does each guestroom have a private bathroom?
Yes. Epitourean partners with the best lodging options in each destination, and private (en suite) bathrooms are a requirement. However, you should inquire as to the configuration of bathrooms should you have a special need. For example, some tours include accommodations in medieval villages, where either a shower or bath(but maybe not both) are present.
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Can your tours accommodate my dietary restrictions?
In almost all cases, Epitourean can accommodate dietary choices and restrictions. But we do request that you ask a Culinary Travel Specialist prior to making your reservation so that we can assess your individual situation.
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If I am unable to use a portion of the tour, can I get a partial refund?
Unfortunately, due to vendor and supplier contracts, we are unable to provide partial refunds for unused portions of any tour or tour component.
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Are Transfers included in the Itinerary?
Round-trip transfers from the airport or train station are normally included in our international tours. Transfers to the destination (for both international and domestic tours) are not included in the tour price. Please see the Sample Itinerary. If it mentions that transfers are included, then yes, transfers are included at no additional cost.
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What meals and excursions are included in the tour?
The Sample Itinerary should be your reference. If the meal or excursion is described in the Sample Itinerary, then it is included at no additional charge. For those days where it expressly notes Free time, then any optional activities you elect to participate in might have an additional cost. In addition, if the itinerary states "evening on your own," it would imply that you have the opportunity to visit a restaurant of your own choosing, and at your own expense. If you have any question about inclusions, please submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button under the price section.
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Is it possible to book pre or post tours or stays through Edible Destinations?
Yes, we often do have optional 2 and 3 night excursions that are priced separately from the tour. We can also assist with pre and post night stays in a hotel if you choose to come in early before the tour starts, or stay on after a tour ends. The price of those hotel stays are not included in the price of the tour, but we would be happy to provide a quote. Simply ask your Culinary Travel Specialist, or submit an inquiry by clicking on the blue "Ask Us a Question" button.
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Are Guide or Host Gratuities included in the price of the tour?
Since tipping guidelines and customs vary widely between countries, we do not include gratuities in the price of the tour. Your Culinary Travel Specialist can provide you with recommendations. But the general rule is to tip modestly when you are pleased with a guide’s services, either at the end of the tour, or at the conclusion of a specialty day excursion where you will only be with that guide (or chef) on that day.
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Should we plan on any personal expenses during the tour?
All lodging, meals, transfers, classes and excursions mentioned in the Sample Itinerary and Vacation Highlights are included in the price of the tour. However, we highly recommend taking local currency for purchasing personal items, souvenirs, tipping, etc. You can either get the local currency at an airport exchange service, ATM or from your local bank prior to travel. However, you should note that many hosted destinations do not accept credit cards for personal purchases.
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Do you recommend Travel Protection?
We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and
your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include
coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency
Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more. For more information
on the available plans or to enroll, click on the link below or contact Travelex
Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0248.
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries
and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including
limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA
Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire
Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company),
1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N
Gifts and Gift Cards
The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries
and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including
limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex CA
Agency License #0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire
Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (formerly known as Stonewall Insurance Company),
1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102. 11.17 E7N
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