Food Focus Sicily

Thursday, October 31 to Monday, November 11, 2024 

Holy cannoli! Don’t miss this opportunity to travel with Lori Chisholm on a foodie tour of Sicily. Space is limited to 10 persons on a first come, first served basis so be sure to act fast!!! 

*Please note, you will have to travel on the 30th of October to arrive for the start of the tour on the 31st.

**This tour involves extensive walking, often uphill and/or on stairs and uneven surfaces.

Cost of tour : Land only – $4655 CAD    To keep costs as low as possible, we have not allowed for credit card merchant fees. Credit card payments will be subject to a 3% surcharge.

WAITLIST ONLY

BOOKING INFORMATION

October 31 - November 11, 2024

Land Only: $4,655 based on double occupancy

Waitlist Only

DOWNLOAD PDF OF ITINERARY

*If the tour is SOLD OUT, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.


ITINERARY

Day 1 - Thursday, October 31: Catania

Check in to our centrally-located Dome Hotel in Catania: https://www.domecatania.it/dome-suite-catania. We’ll meet for introductions and cocktails, then head for our welcome dinner at one of Catania’s best seafood restaurants.  Overnight Catania.

Day 2 - Friday, November 01: Catania

Late morning after breakfast, our expert guide will lead us on a foodie and cultural exploration of the city centre. Late afternoon and evening free.   Overnight Catania.
 

Day 3 - Saturday, November 02: Catania and more

Today after breakfast, we are off to the countryside for an insider visit to a pistachio farm in Bronte. From there, we’ll move on to one of the Etna region’s most renowned wineries for tastings and lunch. Overnight Catania. 

Day 4 - Sunday, November 03: Taormina

We’ll depart by coach after breakfast for beautiful Taormina where we’ll visit the ancient Greek theatre, then enjoy free time for lunch and strolling. We’ll indulge in a brief aperitivo before boarding the coach to return to Catania in the late afternoon.    Overnight Catania.

Day 5 - Monday, November 04: Ortigia

It’s moving day! After breakfast, check out - we are moving on to Ortigia, stopping on the way at a lovely tenuta - an olive oil farm - for a guided tasting and lunch with the family. Dario produces award winning oils and teaches us how to taste like the professional judges. Check-in at our Ortigia B & B on the port:    https://www.apprododellesirene.com .   Overnight Ortigia.

Day 6 - Tuesday, November 05: Ortigia

This morning, our host Fiora will lead us to the wonderful Ortigia market to pick up ingredients for our cooking class and lunch back at her apartment.  Late afternoon and evening free.   Overnight Ortigia.

Day 7 - Wednesday, November 06: Modica and Ragusa

It’s time for another day trip. Today, we explore the Baroque towns of Ragusa and Modica. Our lunch will be at a local caseificio - a cheese farm - where they also produce their own salumi, wheat and breads. Upon our return, we’ll enjoy a group dinner at a local trattoria.    Overnight Ortigia.

Day 8 - Thursday, November 07: Day at leisure

Free day!    Perhaps visit the Roman amphitheatre, take a short boat tour, lunch at the market. Overnight Ortigia.

Day 9 - Friday, November 08: Piazza Armerina and Palermo

It’s moving day again. Today on our way to Palermo after breakfast, we’ll stop at the town of Piazza Armerina to visit a Roman villa with incredible mosaics. We’ll lunch at a local trattoria, then arrive late afternoon in Palermo, Sicily’s exciting capital city. Check in to Hotel Teatro Massimo: https://www.massimoplazahotel.com/en/ .   Overnight Palermo.

Day 10 - Saturday, November 09: Palermo

We’ll start the day with a historical walking tour of the city centre. If we have time, we’ll squeeze in a tour of the opera house. But this is a food tour so we’ll visit Palermo from a foodie point of view in the evening.    Overnight Palermo.

Day 11 - Sunday, November 10: Palermo

Our last day will be free up until our closing dinner. You might hop the train to Cefalu, a lovely resort town down the coast. Wander any of the markets again. Take a bus to Monreale to see the mosaics there.  We’ll enjoy an aperitivo before walking to our farewell dinner.   Overnight Palermo.

Day 12 - Monday, November 11: Tour ends

Our tour is over after breakfast. Safe home or carry on!

ITINERARY PDF

EXPLORE THE AREA

INCLUDED

- All transportation in a private vehicle as per the itinerary from start at hotel to finish at hotel - 10 nights’ accommodation in a superior tourist-class hotels, based on double occupancy; wifi included - 10 substantial breakfasts - 4 dinners: welcome dinner in Catania with wine; dinner in Ortigia; “dinner” during Palermo food tour; farewell dinner in Palermo with wine; - 6 lunches or equivalent as per itinerary - Welcome aperitivo, Taormina aperitivo - 9 activities exclusive to our group of 10: › food tour (walking) in Catania with expert guide + substantial tastings › food tour (walking) in Palermo with expert guide + substantial tastings › day trip to pistachio farm and Etna winery › day trip to Taormina with theatre visit › guided historical tour in Palermo with expert guide and headsets › olive oil tasting and farm visit › cooking class with Fiora › day trip to Ragusa and Modica with cheese farm visit and chocolate tasting › excursion to Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina -Entrance to Taormina ancient theatre, Villa Romana del Casale, (Teatro Massimo tentatively)

NOT INCLUDED

- Flights and transfers – the tour begins and ends at the group hotels - Items of a personal nature - Alcohol and beverages with meals unless specified in the itinerary - Travel or health insurance – please contact Pauwels travel

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