Savour the flavours of Sicily on a culinary tour

Itinerary

1. Day

   1

   Arrive in Capri Leone

   Rocca di Capri Leone, Italy

   

   On arrival, you'll transfer to the three-star Antica Filanda Hotel in the olive-rich hills of Capri Leone, near Messina. After checking in you'll enjoy a welcome drink and dinner at the hotel, where you can mingle with your fellow guests.

   Meals - Dinner
2. Day

   2

   Frazzanò

   Frazzanò, Italy

   

   This morning you'll take part in your first cookery lesson of the trip, where you'll learn how to make authentic Sicilian pasta. Afterwards, you'll taste your creations during a brunch of fresh pasta dishes with wine at the hotel.

   This afternoon, you'll visit the Monastero San Filippo Fragalá in nearby Frazzanò, followed by coffee, tea and local cakes in the village square.

   In the evening, you'll discover the art of Sicilian pizza in a local pizzeria. You'll try several different types of pizza, some with famous Sicilian porcini mushrooms, served with local beer and wine. Before sitting down to dine, you'll learn how to light the wood-burning oven used to make these delicious Sicilian pizzas.

   Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3. Day

   3

   Capo d’Orlando

   Capo d'Orlando, Italy

   

   This morning you'll join a cookery lesson which will teach you all about dishes made with the tasty local porcini mushrooms and other vegetable dishes. After your class, you'll again get to dine on the mouthwatering results with local wine.

   After lunch, you'll travel by coach to the enchanting seaside resort of Capo d'Orlando for a relaxing afternoon, promenading among the locals along the sand and shingle beach. Later, you'll return to the hotel for dinner.

   Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4. Day

   4

   Tindari

   Tindari, Italy

   

   This morning, you'll visit Tindari, a Greco-Roman town where you can see the fascinating remains of a 4th-century Greek amphitheatre. You'll then visit Vivi Vasari, makers of Mamertino wine, a typical Sicilian wine that has been produced in this area since Roman times. Here you'll enjoy a wine tasting followed by brunch at the farm.

   In the evening you'll have another Sicilian wine tasting in Ristorante-Hotel Antica Filanda's wine cellar, followed by dinner.

   Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5. Day

   5

   Santo Stefano di Camastra

   Santo Stefano di Camastra, Italy

   

   Your morning cookery lesson today is all about fish antipasti. You'll learn how to turn the deliciously fresh fish caught in the waters around Sicily into tastebud-pleasing plates.

   In the afternoon, you'll head to the town of Santo Stefano di Camastra, on the northern shores of Messina. This lovely little town is famous for its ceramics, and as you wander the quaint streets, you'll see shops dazzling brightly with the colours of traditional mosaics, tiles, and pots, made by local artisans. While here you'll take part in a pottery workshop to learn more about how these beautiful pieces are made.

   In the evening, you'll return to the hotel for a dinner of fresh fish.

   Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6. Day

   6

   Castell’Umberto

   Castell’Umberto, Italy

   

   Today you'll get a real taste of local life as you take part in the Palio di San Martino in your tour guide Tullio's home town of Castell'Umberto. Palio di San Martino is a traditional feast day celebrated by tasting the new wine.

   While in Castell'Umberto, you'll visit Tullio's house and meet his wife, Rosalia, who'll teach you how to make traditional local cakes like cannoli, sfingi, pignolata and others. You'll also sample Tullio's new Etna wine, straight from the barrel in his house wine cellar, with homemade antipasti.

   After this, you'll join the locals in the town square, feasting on street food and wine with them and witness a traditional barrel race through the streets of Castell'Umberto.

   You'll return to the hotel this evening for dinner.

   Meals - Breakfast, Dinner
7. Day

   7

   Nebrodi Mountain Park

   Parco dei Nebrodi, Italy

   

   This morning, a drive through the Nebrodi Mountain Park will take you through an amazing variety of landscapes and sights - from volcanic Etna, wooded mountains, hazelnut hills, and tiny medieval villages that retain age-old traditions.

   En route, you'll enjoy a coffee break with cakes made from local hazelnuts, plus a visit to a producer of local cheeses, black swine sausages and salami, before enjoying a grilled Nebrodian black pork dish with wine.

   In the afternoon, you'll visit a local producer of liqueurs with traditional local flavours and an ice cream maker's laboratory to see how hazelnut ice cream is made.

   You'll then return to the hotel for your final dinner of the trip.

   Meals - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8. Day

   8

   Return home

   Rocca di Capri Leone, Italy

   After checking out of the hotel, you'll transfer to Catania Airport for your flight back to London Gatwick.

   Meals - Breakfast