Delight in hands-on cooking experiences, wine, and interaction with locals
Thur., Sept. 13 – Thur., Sept. 20, 2018
(8 days, 7 nights)
Experience Sicily in cooperation with Zest! of Lititz, Penn., presents Stirring Sicily. Combining three hands-on cooking experiences accompanied by beloved Zest! teacher Antonino Elia, Stirring Sicily will give guests the opportunity to learn valuable cooking techniques while taking in the culture and sites of the Island of the Sun. We will savor each day with a market tour led by a local mamma, a wine class led by a professional enologist at a spectacular vineyard on Mount Etna, and long lunches and dinners hosted at the island’s most outstanding traditional and contemporary restaurants. Additionally, we’ll explore three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Etna, Europe’s largest, most active volcano, the Roman Villa of Casale in Piazza Armerina, and the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto. Starry nights, boutique shopping, and interaction with locals ensure a remarkable experience in Sicily.
The total cost per person for 8 days/7 nights is $3,400* for double occupancy**
Price includes in-Sicily airport transfers, all accommodations, transportation by air-conditioned coach bus, all but one meal (see day-by-day descriptions for details), excursions with English speaking guides, and hands-on cooking lessons led by local teachers. Price does not include airfare or travel insurance.
* Save $300 per person when you pay in full by January 15, 2018.
* Save $200 per person when you pay 50% by January 15, 2018.
** Single Occupancy Supplement is an additional $250.00.
*** Save $100 when you pay in-full, by personal check.
Sold out! Join us in 2019!
Day by Day Descriptions
This itinerary is subject to change.
Departure Day/ Wed., September 12
- Departure Day Flight from U.S.A. to Catania Fontanarossa Airport
- Airplane tickets and travel insurance are not included in land cost.
Day 1/ Thurs., September 13
- Arrive at Catania Fontanarossa Airport
- Air-conditioned, mini-bus will transport you to our family-run, country inn
- Lunch at our inn upon arrival/enjoy on your own depending on arrival time
- Settle in, rest, enjoy the beautiful property and pool
- Evening welcome meeting to get acquainted and review Stirring Sicily program
- Dinner as group featuring traditional Sicilian cuisine on the premises of our family-run country inn
Meal Included for Today: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Family-run country inn, Siracusa Province
Day 2/ Fri., September 14
- Hands-on cooking lesson #1: Learn the secrets of making artisanal Modican chocolate in the baroque town of Modica. Brought by the Spanish to Sicily from The New World, cocoa took on a new life when local chefs married it with Arabian sugar. We’ll learn the history of this outstanding delight that is particular to southeastern Sicily.
- Lunch as a group in Modica at a typical restaurant featuring regional cuisine
- Explore the beautiful baroque town of Ragusa
- Dinner as a group
Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Family-run country inn, Siracusa Province
Day 3/ Sat., September 15
- Hands-on cooking lesson #2: Tour the Mercato Anticoin Ortigia, Siracusa, where we’ll learn about seasonal, regional ingredients followed by cooking a menu of traditional Sicilian dishes with a local mamma.
- We’ll delight in the fruits of our labor for lunch.
- Explore Siracusa’s archeological park with an expert guide
- Free-time for shopping, wandering, and dinner on your own in Ortigia
Meal Included for Today: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodations: Family-run country inn, Siracusa Province
Day 4/ Sun., September 16
- Inhale the fresh mountain air! This morning we’ll have a gentle hike on Etna, Europe’s largest, most active volcano with a local, expert guide. We’ll see extinct craters and lava caves and learn about the flora and fauna of Mongibello
- For lunch, we’ll picnic under the trees, enjoying typical food and wine of the volcanic region.
- Sharpen your pencils, because we’re going to school…wine school, that is! This afternoon, we’ll be tangled in the vines at a spectacular vineyard on Etna for a wine class, vineyard tour, and tasting with a professional enologist.
- Dinner as a group at our family-run, country inn
Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Family-run country inn, Siracusa Province
Day 5/ Mon., September 17
- We’ll start the day meeting some new friends at a local sheep farm. Don’t fill up too much at breakfast because you’ll want space to eat the fresh ricotta after our cheese-making demonstration.
- Lunch as a group at a typical trattoria in Piazza Armerina
- Tour of the UNESCO designated Villa Romana del Casale, home of the world-famous Bikini Girls and 4000 square meters of mosaic-tile scenes from ancient Rome with an expert, guide
- After a short drive, we’ll visit the City of Ceramics, Caltagirone, where you’ll have time for shopping and wandering.
- Dinner as a group at our family-run country inn
- Prepare for check-out the following morning
Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Family-run country inn, Siracusa Province
Day 6/ Tues., September 18
- Departure in mini-bus for Palermo Province
- Lunch as a group at a fabulous seaside pizzeria
- Check-in to our family-run inn
- Dinner as group at a neo-traditional restaurant in Termini Imerese, our co-host, Nino’s hometown
Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Family-run inn, Outside of Palermo
Day 7/ Wed., September 19
- Hand-on cooking lesson #3: Discover the joys of cooking traditional Sicilian cuisine with Nino’s friend, Chef Giuseppe Sciurca of Napèe, in Termini Imerese
- Lunch as a group, when we’ll eat the fruits of our labor.
- Short tour of Nino’s hometown, Termini Imerese
- Special visit to local museum
- Time on own at inn to enjoy the property and prepare for departure
- Final dinner as group at local trattoria
Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Family-run inn, Outside of Palermo
Day 8/ Thurs., September 20
- Ground transportation to Palermo Punta Raisi International Airport
- Arriverderci Sicilia!
Meal Included for Today: Breakfast, if time allows
Secure your place today by calling 646-281-4324 or emailing AllisonScola@ExperienceSicily.com.
Experience Sicily
Important Notes to Consider
- The boutique nature of this itinerary means that it is subject to change as we approach the departure date. In most cases, changes made will enhance your experience. It is our mission to delight you by providing you with the most memorable experience in Sicily that we are able.
- The tour officially begins with transfer from Catania Fontanarossa airport on Thurs., September 13, 2018 to our family-run farmhouse/inn in Siracusa Province and ends with transfer to Palermo Punta Raisi airport on Thurs., September 20, 2018. Schedule of ground transportation to and from airport and accommodations in Sicily will be determined once an inventory of guests’ arrivals and departures is assessed.
- The trip price is for double occupancy and does not include airfare or travel insurance. There is a single supplement fee of $250. If you wish to share a room with someone, we will try to match you with another single on the trip.
- IMPORTANT: Fly into Catania airport and out of Palermo airport.
- Flights from the U.S. will depart the night before on September 12, 2018 and arrive the morning or afternoon of September 13. Please plan accordingly.
- Details about our accommodations will be released once you have paid in full. All information will be emailed to you about 30 days before departure. A complete, printed trip packet with preparation information will be sent via post.
- The cost of this tour does not include travel insurance; however, it is highly recommended that you purchase a comprehensive plan to cover the costs of your airfare, tour, loss of luggage, and emergency medical expenses.
- Tour price includes costs for all excursions, entertainment and ticket prices, tour transportation, and all but one meal (consult day by day description for details). Price does not include airfare, travel insurance, or personal purchases and gifts.
- Each meal included in the tour price includes two glasses of wine and/or soft drinks per meal. If you wish to enjoy additional wine and other alcoholic beverages, you are welcome to purchase them separately from the group’s bill.
- Please inform us in advance regarding any dietary restrictions, food allergies, and other personal concerns.
- Sicily is a large region that requires a lot of driving. It is also very mountainous and, as a result, has many winding roads. We have designed the itinerary to break up the driving as much as possible, but on some days, long drives will be necessary. If you suffer from motion sickness, please bring motion-sickness medication with you.
- You must be in good physical health to enjoy this tour. Although we will not be engaging in physically rigorous excursions, there is a significant amount of walking on various surfaces and types of terrain as well as standing for extended periods of time, especially during cooking lessons, at archaeological sites, and on Etna.
- Photographs or, in some cases, videos of participants of Experience Sicily tours and events may be used for educational and promotional purposes by Experience Sicily. Participants expressly consent to this manner of promotional use when reservations are completed.
- Gratuities are included, however, at the conclusion of the tour, if you are pleased with the hospitality and service of our local driver/guide, additional recognition at your discretion is appreciated.