Day 1: Our hotel is on Ortigia, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the island at the heart of Syracuse, about 45 minutes away from Catania airport. Our escorted gastronomic tour begins with a welcome dinner at a local Trattoria.
Day 2: We stroll through the bustling food market on Ortigia identifying and sampling the local produce in preparation for our first cooking class. In the afternoon we explore the long history of this city, visiting the Syracuse Archaeological Park, Greek Theatre and the eerie “Ear of Dionysus”. After an early evening stroll around the historical centre of Syracuse the rest of the evening is free for you to dine at a restaurant of your choice.
Day 3: We set sail out of the Grand Harbour of Syracuse where we will spend the day swimming in the azure sea, sightseeing and learning about the local fish and seafood. A free late afternoon and evening to relax and unwind.
Day 4: The day begins with a tour of the beautiful town of Noto, renowned for its Baroque architecture. From Noto we visit a local olive farm for a tasting session followed by a traditional rustic Sicilian lunch. After lunch we take a slow-paced tour of the near-by fishing village of Marzamemi and complete the day with a Tasting Demo Dinner at the Country Farmhouse Agriturismo we will be staying at for the next two days.
Day 5: A day to delight the senses. We begin with a demonstration and tasting of the traditional methods of making Modicano chocolate followed by a visit to a local herb farm. After lunch we take a tour of the historical town of Ragusa and tantalise our tastebuds with a traditional Sicilian cheese tasting.
Day 6: The day begins with a honey tasting and a walk to the Pantalica Valley Necropolis. One of Sicily’s UNESCO Heritage Sites and of considerable archaeological interest, it is a place of great natural beauty where a myriad of rock cut tombs are carved into the cliff faces. We lunch on local delicacies and taste olive oil, honey and preserves all produced on site at the Pantalica Ranch farmhouse in this flourishing and fertile valley. In the afternoon we set out for Taormina where we take in the stupendous views from its Roman theatre. An evening free in Taormina to dine at a restaurant of your choice.
Day 7: We spend the morning walking on Mt Etna in the company of an expert volcanologist, before visiting a local winery to enjoy a rustic lunch and sample the robust local wines that thrive on Etna’s slopes. A last chance to shop in Taormina followed by a sumptuous farewell dinner to mark the end of this glorious holiday in Sicily.
Day 8: Transfer to Catania airport, about 1 hour away.
