Modica chocolate is a signature Sicilian dish in Italy.


 A Perfect Sicily Culinary Tour

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Palermo, Sciacca, Selinunte, Agrigento...

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Suggested Duration

8 Days

Bask in the simultaneously simple and complex flavors of Sicily in a paradise that you never knew existed. The Mediterranean Sea sparkles along the golden sandy beaches. Greek ruins adorn hilltops and overlook the surrounding valleys. Citrus orchards and olive groves provide ample tastes of the island’s natural flavors. Wineries blanket the undulating landscape and chocolateries fill the streets with indulgent rich aromas. Your Sicily culinary tour is custom tailored to your desires, allowing...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Discover the sensational flavors of traditional Sicilian cuisine with a cooking lesson taught by a Palermo chef, who will guide you in the morning market
  • Explore the stunning flavors of celebrated gelaterias in the beautiful town of Noto
  • Indulge in the sensational richness of the chocolate dishes created and shaped by the brilliant minds of celebrated pastry chefs in Modica
  • Tour an organic vineyard at Mount Etna to learn about the traditional methods of winemaking, along with sampling the variety of wines produced
  • Delight in the remarkable Greek ruins of Sicily that offer insight into the modern culture of the island that is based on a global heritage
  • Enjoy the beachside luxuries of a resort-style accommodation overlooking the wondrous Mediterranean Sea 

Detailed Description

The generous portions and succulent qualities of Sicilian cuisine inspired the movement of what many believe to be authentic Italian food. Rich tomato sauces grace the plate and fresh basil garnishes the dish. Brilliant wines accompany each plate, followed by the cream filled dessert everyone desires, known as a cannolo, which is the singular of cannoli. Your 8-day Sicily culinary tour introduces you to the exciting world of Sicily’s traditional cuisine, ranging from historical influences from Arab and Norman societies and even ancient Greek civilizations to the contemporary movements encouraging local aspiring chefs. You arrive in Palermo, the capital of the province.

Your private transfer meets you at the airport and escorts you to your lavish accommodation overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. After settling in, your guide leads you on a private tour of Palermo and Monreale, where you have a firsthand look at the cultural influences present in the architecture. Your guide takes you through the bustling markets of the city in search of fresh ingredients. You continue with a private cooking course, where you learn how to make the traditional cuisine of Sicily and Palermo. Your private transfer escorts you to the seaside town of Sciacca where you settle into your resort-style accommodation.

You can bask in the hot sand on the shores of the Mediterranean or stroll through the town of Sciacca in search of local culinary treats. Next, you venture to a family-owned winery for a private culinary class and wine tasting, seeing if you can properly pair each dish with a local vintage. In the afternoon, you make your way to the ancient town of Selinunte for a private tour of the historic ruins. The following day takes you to the borders of modern Agrigento to view the remarkable ancient ruins at the Valley of the Temples before continuing to the seaside city of Taormina for a pastry tasting. Travel to the beautiful Baroque town of Noto. Tour the charming streets and sample the celebrated gelato, or Italian ice cream, of the city.

You continue to the enchanting city of Modica to tour the palaces and sample the exquisite chocolate concoctions for which the city is famous. The following day, your guide leads you along the foothills of Mount Etna to visit a winery and enjoy an incredible sampling of the vineyards enriched by the volcanic soil. On your final morning in Sicily, your private transfer escorts you to the airport where you board your flight home. There is always much more to experience in Italy. You could extend your culinary excursion with a gastronomic tour of Tuscany to contrast the diverse dishes of the regional cuisine of Italy. 

Starting Price

$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.9 stars based on 5894 reviews.

Italy, Greece Travel Review: Como, Bellagio, Wine Tour,...

The overall trip was great. The weather was terrific and the countries we visited had so much to see. Zicasso's tour company did a good job of balancing relaxation with fun. Each of the guides we had was so pleasant and shared so much information with us. They were very attentive to our needs.

Reviewed By Nisha V.

Italy Vacation Review: Florence, Rome, Truffle Hunt, Cooking...

Wow, where to begin. This trip was an absolute dream.

When I first spoke to Zicasso’s travel consultant, I told her my main travel concern: traveling with nine- and 15-year-old boys as a single mom in Italy. I was excited to take the trip with them, but I really needed something that was meticulously planned to take away the nerves of having to navigate alone with two kids. She listened and executed the most beautiful trip.

She planned activities that captured the attention and imagination of a fourth grader and a teenager. And the experiences were unique. Probably the highlight of the trip was a truffle hunt with the hunter and his dog in the countryside outside of Florence. My oldest wants to move to Florence and start hunting! We had a personalized cooking class, a private Vespa tour of Rome, and a delicious and informative art and food tour, among other amazing experiences. As we were sending photos back home, I got so many requests for our itinerary because it was so special and unique. Both boys were hard-pressed to choose which part they liked best.

The hotels she selected were beautiful, comfortable, and right in the heart of the cities and attractions we wanted to see. When we encountered a small hiccup (by our hotel, not our travel agent), I contacted her and she responded right away, getting us a free room upgrade and free dinner! We felt very taken care of.

Aside from the amazing activities and locations we saw, the trip was fantastic because everything was so seamless. We always had a private driver arranged, pre-booked train tickets, and even someone to make sure we made it on time for our flight home. I never had to worry about a thing. It was also telling that every tour guide we interacted with had only glowing things to say about our travel agent and her keen attention to detail and organization.

If you're planning on visiting Italy, this travel company is the travel agency you need to select. It takes any of the stress and guesswork out of the travel process, and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.

Thank you so much! You helped us make some amazing memories!

Stephanie

Reviewed By Stephanie S.

Italy 25th Anniversary Travel Review: Positano, Sorrento,...

This was possibly the best vacation we have ever taken. A fitting trip to mark our 25th anniversary, we will remember our days in Positano and Sorrento forever. Everything was perfect and the service and support were extraordinary.

Zicasso's travel specialist and the other people were always super-helpful and friendly. The hotels they chose for us in particular were exactly what we wanted. I can’t think of a single issue. Transport, transfers, etc., were perfect. The only bad part was that we had to return to normal life afterwards! We highly recommend our travel company to anyone! Grazie mille!

Reviewed By Mauro A.

Italy Trip Review: Amalfi Coast, Herculaneum, Vatican, Capri,...

We had a fantastic time and Zicasso's tour operator did an excellent job organizing every detail of our trip. Drivers and guides were always punctual, and the itinerary was perfectly balanced—full days, without ever feeling rushed.

Some real highlights for us were Herculaneum, the Pantheon, the Vatican, and our unforgettable Capri boat tour. Our guide brought Pompeii's history to life in a way that made it feel like stepping back in time and the Naples street food tour was delicious and nostalgic—her pizza fritta instantly took me back to the calzones I grew up with in Niles, Ohio. Our driver was with us for several days and made every transfer feel effortless.

There was a small hiccup at the very end with a trip planner, but it was minor compared to the overall quality of the trip. The organization, communication, and attention to detail throughout made this a truly memorable experience and we wouldn’t hesitate to book with this tour agency again. We had a fantastic time and the tour company did an excellent job organizing every detail of our trip.

Reviewed By James T.

Italy Vacation Review: Positano, Boat Tour, History, 16-Day...

I want to give a huge shoutout to Zicasso's trip coordinator. She was our coordinator through WhatsApp. She was always available, provided quick solutions and documents whenever we needed them. Given a few airline delays, we needed to adapt our itinerary rapidly and she always came in clutch.The itinerary was put together very fast, as we approached this travel company six weeks before our desired travel dates. We had an amazing time and all the activities were tailored to our interests. We would highly recommend them for any Italy travel.

Reviewed By Brad B.

Italy Tour Review: 9 Nights

It was very good and lived up to our expectations.

Reviewed By Sarpreet B.

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