Italy

Winter in Italy: Taormina & Sicily’s Culture & Cuisine

Program No. 22850RJ
There’s no better time to experience Sicily than winter! Delight in local cuisine, discover Mount Etna and learn about the Roman and Greek history of Taormina.

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At a Glance

Sicily’s idyllic location on the Mediterranean Sea has long made it a place of inspiration and respite for multiple cultures. In the heart of Taormina, experience the sights, sounds and flavors of Sicily as you explore this historic island during the quieter months, and learn how the Byzantines, Greeks, Romans and others influenced Sicilian life through the years. Marvel in the views of Mount Etna as you enjoy a field trip to a local market, sample ricotta cheese at a local family-run caseificio, try your hand at creating traditional cuisine and much more!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 3 to 4 miles on uneven terrain, standing for at least one hour, and stairs without railings.
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.

What You'll Learn

  • Savor traditional Sicilian cuisine during a hands-on cooking class with Chef Massimo Tomarchio.
  • Get a taste of Sicily and learn all about ricotta cheese production during an exploration of a local family-run caseificio and enjoy a full Sicilian lunch.
  • Ride along the Circumetnea Railway around the base of Mount Etna, learning about one of the world’s most active volcanoes and taking in views of lava fields.
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 Boris Behncke
Boris Behncke View biography
Boris Behncke is a volcanologist at the Osservatorio Etneo of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV-OE). He works predominantly on Sicilian volcanoes: their histories, eruptions, and their impact on nearby populations. He is coordinator of the working area “Observation of volcanic phenomena” and key contact person for Communication and Information during volcanic emergencies via Internet and social media. Boris is also part of the Communications and Public Outreach group at the INGV-OE that organizes events and activities with schools and the general public.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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8 days
7 nights
14 meals
6 B 4 L 4 D
DAY
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
DAY
2
Arrive Catania, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Taormina
D
Hotel Continental

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: After arriving at the hotel, check in and get your room, then take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from our Group Leader and local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. All transportation will be provided by motorcoach unless specified otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. During the winter months, some stores are closed during the afternoon hours. Please note there are 5 sets of stairs for a total of 104 stairs, spaced by terraces, from the Continental Hotel to the Duomo square in Taormina. You will need to manage these steps on Day 3 when we visit Taormina, in the evenings when we go to dinners, and during free time. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/weather conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Before dinner, we’ll enjoy a welcome cocktail together.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know each other, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the full day ahead.

DAY
3
Walking Ancient Taormina, Free Time, Concert
Taormina
B,L,D
Hotel Continental

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles on uneven terrain, approximately 3 hours; steps to climb at the theater. In the evening, for the dinner we will use approximately 104 short, wide steps from the hotel to the main square. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Leaving the hotel, we will set out on a walking field trip exploring Taormina with our Group Leader. Walking through the city, we will head from the first main square to the Piazza Duomo, down Taormina’s elegant Corso Umberto, and ending with an on-site lecture at the ancient Greek theater. In order to properly experience the Greek theater, we will follow our expert halfway up the steps so that our on-site lecture can be enjoyed in the heart of the theater taking advantage of its spectacular acoustics. At the end of our field trip, we will have time to explore the theater or Corso Umberto on our own. As a Greek and Roman colony, Taormina was one of Sicily’s most important towns and remained so until being conquered by the Normans in 1078. One of the city’s highlights is the ancient theater, beautifully preserved with views of Mt. Etna and blue water of the Mediterranean. Taormina has attracted people with its pleasant climate and remarkable setting for centuries.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Dinner: We will walk and use the stairs to dine at a local restaurant.

Evening: We will attend an opera performance at the Nazarena Theater. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. The detailed information about the concert will be presented during the orientation session. We will return to the hotel in the late evening.

DAY
4
Cooking Lessons, Mount Etna Lecture
Taormina
B,L
Hotel Continental

Activity note: Getting in/out of a minivan. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 1/2 hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Leaving the hotel, we will walk through the city to meet our chef who will accompany us for the morning. Together, we will walk to the little outdoor food market of Taormina to learn what to look for when buying fresh ingredients including fish, meat, and produce. During our visit, the chef will purchase the ingredients that we will use in our cooking lesson. We will ride by minivan to the cooking school. We’ll be organized like a “brigata di cucina,” or a kitchen’s staff, with the aim of preparing a complete menu, including serving. In our small groups, we’ll be assigned particular dishes to prepare.

Lunch: At the cooking school, we will enjoy the results of our cooking lesson along with other dishes prepared by the chef himself.

Afternoon: Returning to the hotel, a local volcanologist will join us for a lecture on Mount Etna which will prepare us for our visit there later in the week.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Syracuse, Isle of Ortigia, Free Time
Taormina
B,L,D
Hotel Continental

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus and motorcoach; driving about 60 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 3 miles throughout the day on uneven terrain. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice. To get to dinner, we will use approximately 104 short, wide steps from the hotel to the main square.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Departing the hotel, we will board a bus that will take us to our motorcoach for the day for our field trip to Syracuse. A city with a long and storied history, Syracuse (Siracusa) was a Greek colony settled in the 8th century BCE and the most important of the colonial region of Magna Graecia; the area of Greek settlements along the coasts of Sicily and southern Italy. Arriving in Syracuse, we will visit the archaeological park Neapolis with a local expert. We will then return to the motorcoach and continue on to the island of Ortigia. Our day continues with an exploration of the island of Ortigia, the oldest part of Syracuse. We walk through the beautiful back streets of the island and stroll our way up to Piazza Duomo, one of the highlights of the island and we will visit the Duomo.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Ortigia.

Afternoon: We will return to the hotel in Taormina for the remainder of the afternoon to explore on your own to see and do what interests you most.

Dinner: We will walk and use the stairs at a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
6
Catania, Local Market
Taormina
B,D
Hotel Continental

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus, driving about 35 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles throughout the day.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will ride to the Catania, Sicily’s prominent eastern port on the southern foot of Mt. Etna. In Catania, we will visit the Teatro Bellini and the Piscaria, the famous open-air fish market located in the center of the city. With our local expert, we will explore the city market that has been in the same exact place in the exact same way since the 900s. In addition to the diverse options brought to the market by local fishermen, there are also a variety of local meats, fresh fruit, vegetables, cheeses, and prepared foods.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like in Catania.

Afternoon: We’ll return to the hotel and the remainder of the afternoon is on your own to enjoy what you like.

Dinner: At a local restaurant with folk music. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Linguaglossa, Mt. Etna, Family-run Caseificio
Taormina
B,L
Hotel Continental

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus, motorcoach, and train; driving about 50 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time; train ride is approximately 1/2 hour. Walking about 1.5 miles on uneven terrain, approximately 1 hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will ride by bus to Giarre and we will board the boxcar train used by locals to circumnavigate Mount Etna to Linguaglossa. Before boarding the train, we will hear some commentary that will allow us to sit back, relax, and enjoy the terrain and the beauty of the ride. Along the way, the train will stop to change directions by hand. As we ride, we will gain an understanding of the volcanoes’ vast terrain and its importance for Sicilian agriculture. Linguaglossa is an ancient city whose origins are not sure, though we can say that it was already existing at the time of the Norman king Roger II. It was built upon lava, and many of the buildings and pavements are built out of lava. We will go on a short walking field trip through the historical center of the town. Our next stop will be in Zafferana, where we’ll visit a small family-owned farmhouse (caseificio) that produces ricotta cheese. With an expert, we will learn how to make ricotta!

Lunch: At the small family-owned caseificio, we will enjoy some of the regional cuisine.

Afternoon: Afterwards, the motorcoach will be waiting for us for our return to the hotel, and the afternoon will be free time.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like in Taormina.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
8
Program Concludes
In Flight
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel depending on departure time. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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