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Italy

Cooking in Sicily

Program No. 22069RJ
Learn the time-honored art of Sicilian cooking as you visit a historic winery and enjoy chef-led cooking classes!
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Food & WineSmall Group
Length
10 days
Rating (4.71)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,199
Flights start at
900

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10 days
9 nights
16 meals
8B 3L 5D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
2
Arrive Catania, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Taormina
3
Taormina Field Trip, Free Time, Cooking Lesson
Taormina
4
Syracuse Field Trip, Boat Ride
Taormina
5
Castelmola Field Trip, Cooking Lesson, Taormina Field Trip
Taormina
6
Messina, Ganzirri, Free Time
Taormina
7
Savoca, Cooking Lesson
Taormina
8
Cyclops Coast, Catania, Cooking Lesson
Taormina
9
Mount Etna, Gambino Winery
Taormina
10
Program Concludes, In Transit From Program
In Flight
View Full Itinerary

At a Glance

Sicily takes immense pride in a cuisine that reflects the influences of many cultures — Italian, Greek, Spanish and Arab — but is separate from any of them, as only an island can be. It’s a cuisine that showcases incredible abundance: fresh fish; eggplants, peppers and tomatoes nurtured by plentiful sun; grapes grown in Mount Etna’s volcanic soil. Savor a Sicilian cooking adventure including lessons from a cookbook author and a chef. Visit bustling produce markets and a historic winery. Enjoy great meals (and the satisfaction of having made them) and return with new recipes and techniques.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 2 miles at a time and standing for up to an hour and a half. Some cobblestones and other uneven terrain, stairs without railings. There are steps everywhere in Taormina and they can be steep and narrow in some areas.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Get cooking during hands-on lessons.
  • Experience Sicilians’ passion for food and wine at bustling daily markets and a historic estate winery.
  • Delve into the island’s ancient history on expert-led excursions in Syracuse and the lovely town of Taormina.

General Notes

• This is an introductory program suitable for participants who wish to learn the basics of Italian cuisine. • Group size limited to 14 participants.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Massimo Tomarchio
Massimo was a curious child. He spent hours in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother as a child, preparing typical Sicilian foods. “My fondest memories are those hours passed in the kitchen with my grandmother,” says Massimo. He is inspired by Sicilian cuisine not only because of the variety of ingredients offered from the land but also “by the love that is cooked up behind the stove when cooking for loved ones.” Today Massimo is a private chef and teaches cooking classes in Sicily.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Massimo Tomarchio
Massimo Tomarchio View biography
Massimo was a curious child. He spent hours in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother as a child, preparing typical Sicilian foods. “My fondest memories are those hours passed in the kitchen with my grandmother,” says Massimo. He is inspired by Sicilian cuisine not only because of the variety of ingredients offered from the land but also “by the love that is cooked up behind the stove when cooking for loved ones.” Today Massimo is a private chef and teaches cooking classes in Sicily.
Profile Image of Rosa Rizza
Rosa Rizza View biography
Rosa Rizza was born in Palazzolo Acreide in the province of Syracuse in Sicily. She emigrated with her parents to the U.S. in 1967. After earning her high school diploma, she returned to Sicily in 1978 and made her home there. Rosa became a certified group leader in 1995, and has been working with Italian Exclusive Vacations ever since. She is passionate about her native island, art, culture, food, and wine.
Profile Image of Rita Tarantino
Rita Tarantino View biography
Rita Tarantino has worked in the travel industry since 2002, first as a MICE (Meeting, Incentive Travel, Conferences and Exhibitions) and event organizer then as a consultant in Palermo. She has been a group leader since 2016, accompanying groups in Sicily and in other countries. Her greatest passion is to travel and to discover all of the heritage that a place offers. She loves the idea of being able to share the emotions and the experiences of traveling with others.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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Program No.
22069
Duration
10 days
Program Begins
Taormina
Program Concludes
Taormina
Group Type
Small Group
Activity Level
At a Glance
Sicily takes immense pride in a cuisine that reflects the influences of many cultures — Italian, Greek, Spanish and Arab — but is separate from any of them, as only an island can be. It’s a cuisine that showcases incredible abundance: fresh fish; eggplants, peppers and tomatoes nurtured by plentiful sun; grapes grown in Mount Etna’s volcanic soil. Savor a Sicilian cooking adventure including lessons from a cookbook author and a chef. Visit bustling produce markets and a historic winery. Enjoy great meals (and the satisfaction of having made them) and return with new recipes and techniques.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Get cooking during hands-on lessons.
  • Experience Sicilians’ passion for food and wine at bustling daily markets and a historic estate winery.
  • Delve into the island’s ancient history on expert-led excursions in Syracuse and the lovely town of Taormina.
View Full Itinerary
General Notes
• This is an introductory program suitable for participants who wish to learn the basics of Italian cuisine. • Group size limited to 14 participants.
Featured Expert
Profile Image
Massimo Tomarchio
Massimo was a curious child. He spent hours in the kitchen with his mother and grandmother as a child, preparing typical Sicilian foods. “My fondest memories are those hours passed in the kitchen with my grandmother,” says Massimo. He is inspired by Sicilian cuisine not only because of the variety of ingredients offered from the land but also “by the love that is cooked up behind the stove when cooking for loved ones.” Today Massimo is a private chef and teaches cooking classes in Sicily.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Profile Image of Rosa Rizza
Rosa Rizza
Rosa Rizza was born in Palazzolo Acreide in the province of Syracuse in Sicily. She emigrated with her parents to the U.S. in 1967. After earning her high school diploma, she returned to Sicily in 1978 and made her home there. Rosa became a certified group leader in 1995, and has been working with Italian Exclusive Vacations ever since. She is passionate about her native island, art, culture, food, and wine.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 2 miles at a time and standing for up to an hour and a half. Some cobblestones and other uneven terrain, stairs without railings. There are steps everywhere in Taormina and they can be steep and narrow in some areas.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List: 7 Books
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
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Call 800-454-5768
Start Enrolling





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