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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 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

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 16 participants.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

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.

Massimo Tomarchio View biography

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.

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.

Loredana Graziano View biography

Loredana Graziano is a native of Sicily. For almost three decades, she lived in the UK where she made a successful career out of her passion for food. She became a private chef, a teacher in a cookery school, and the owner of a cafe/restaurant. She moved back to Sicily during the pandemic and retrained as a tour director, following her love for art history and her native Italy. Since then, she has been working as a group leader for different travel companies.

Cooking in Sicily

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Protecting the Environment

At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

General Notes

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