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Experience the beauty and the history of Sicily and its food with Joseph Vargetto (Mister Bianco) on a tour of discovery over 14 days in 14 different locations by Rushdown Travel.
Sicily is a mythological island and one of Italy’s best kept secrets. Fabolous sunshine for nine months of the year makes the Sicilian people and food unique. At the heart of Sicily is its food, and at the heart of its food is its history.
Renowned for her authentic Italian lifestyle journeys, Melissa Rush of Rushdown Travel has prepared the quintessential Italian experience. Come on a tour of discovery through the history of Sicily and its food with Joseph Vargetto over 14 days in 14 different locations commencing 18Jun17 in Catania and finishing 01Jul17 in Palermo.
Experience this amazing journey. But be quick as seats are strictly limited.
Your Chef and Guide
Joseph Vargetto is intrinsically connected to the Sicily of his parents but he brings it to his own table with a lightness of touch and a quirky understated sense of humour. He has a contagious zest for kitchen life and cleverly transfers that to his presentations and events.
Joseph Vargetto is the renowned Head Chef and owner of Kew’s Sicilian institution, Mister Bianco, and quintessentially stylish CBD venue, Massi. Trained in part by three Michelin Star chef, Gualtiero Marchesi, and renowned French chef Philippe Mouchel, Joseph’s impressive career has seen him win a slew of awards and take part in many exciting international events.
Itinerary
Day One
Arrive in Taormina
Giro di Sicilia Tour begins at 12:00 at the Catania airport, or later at your hotel in Taormina. You may wish to visit Caffé Caprice in via Etna where you can snack on Catanese specialities from the rosticceria, arancini with sauce or a ricotta filled cannolo for those who have a sweet tooth. Taormina is the dream of tourists from all over the world who love the beauty of nature and want to enjoy the passions of art and culture. Overnight in Taormina. You will be met in the lobby area for an aperitivo and some light dinner to welcome the tour.
Meals included: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Taormina
Day Two
Taormina/Mount Etna/Castelmola
After breakfast, visit the town’s baroque monuments. Stop and purchase typical sweets at Piazza San Placido, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral at Nonna Vincenza, before continuing to explore majestic Mount Etna, Europe’s largest volcano – passing through the extraordinary beautiful surrounding countryside. You will stop at Santa Venerina at Russo and visit an ancient pastry shop specialising in products made with almond paste. Dine at La Taverna dell’Etna to view the spectacular views of Mt Etna. You will also visit Castelmola. Return in the early afternoon to savour your time in Taormina.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Taormina
Day Three
Taormina/Siracusa/Ortigia
After breakfast, you will leave for the town of Siracuse with its world famous ruins and archaeological sites from the Greco-roman area. Check into your charming boutique B&B accommodation in Ortigia (the old part of Siracuse). The tour of the city will commence in Ortigia with its characteristic streets lined with medieval mansions and baroque buildings and then you will explore the archaeological cal park with its many vestiges of the Greek civilisation. For lunch, you will dine at the Antica Locanda da Enrico, reachable by foot. Prior to lunch, you will partake in a corsi di practici, a hands-on cooking course.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: B&B in Ortigia
Day Four
Siracusa, Baroque Modica and Ragusa/Noto
After breakfast, leave for Ragusa and Ibla- it’s old city. This area is famous for its stunning Baroque architecture and is also regarded as the culinary centre of Sicily (the Antica Drogheria sells local products such as carob honey, oil from Chiaramonte and local cheeses and smallgoods). Continue to Modica for shopping for refreshments at L’Antica Bonaiuto, the oldest and most celebrated pastry shop in the area where time seems to have stood still. Here you can buy quince pastes, candied fruit of orange and citron, but its most famous is “mpanatiggie“, little cakes filled with chocolate, cinnamon, chopped almonds and…minced meat! For lunch, you will visit an agriturismo and you will witness fresh ricotta being made. Ricotta literally means recooked and you will see first hand the process in an enormous cauldron over a fire of olive branches. In the afternoon, you will visit Noto, the baroque capital of Sicily. Make a brief stop at Avola to taste the sensational almon milk granita. This evening is free for you to savour.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Siracusa
Day Five
Siracusa/Ortigia
A day to be spent to enjoy the lungomare (along the sea walk). Eat at your favourite restaurant. In the late afternoon, enjoy a boat tour of the Isle of Ortigia in Siracusa including a local snack, schiuticchiu.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siracusa
Day Six
Siracusa/Caltagirone/Piazza Armerina/Agrigento
After breakfast, you will be driven to Caltagirone for a visit to the renowned centre of ceramic production. After lunch, drive to Piazza Armerina to visit the Villa Romana del Casala with its magnificent mosaic floors. Continue to Agrigento where you will check into your hotel. Dinner in your hotel optional.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Agrigento
Day Seven
Agrigento
After breakfast, you will visit the enchanting valley of Temples. Free time to relax.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Agrigento
Day Eight
Agrigento/Sciacca
After breakfast, you will be driven to Sciacca. Once this was a Greek city on the flat plain above the swamps. Sciacca, also Sciaccia, is a town and commune in the province of Agrigento on the south western coast of Sicily. It has noteworthy views of the Mediterranean Sea. Rice was actually introduced to Europe through the Arabs in Sicily and Spain. There were paddy fields around Sambuca and Sciacca, where the river gave great conditions for the rice fields. Apart from the Nocellara olives, varieties like the big green Verdello grapes are produced near Sciacca. You can tell right away by how unique the olives are in the tasting. In Sciacca, the fish market is bustling, crazy and very loud. You are going to live that market experience.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Sciacca
Day Nine
Menfi/Corleone
After breakfast, you will stop in Menfi, which is like stepping back in time: dusty roads and tumbleweed. Here, you will participate in an olive oil tasting and enjoy a light lunch at Villa Ravida.
After lunch, you will be driven to Corleone. Corleone is a small town and commune of approximately 12,000 inhabitants in the Province of Palermo in Sicily, Italy. Several Mafia bosses have come from Corleone, including Tommy Gagliano, Jack Dragna, Giuseppe Morello, Michele Navarra, Luciano Leggio, Leoluca Bagarella, Salvatore Riina and Bernardo Provenzano. It is also the birthplace of several fictional characters in the Godfather, including the eponymous Vito Corleone. Overnight in Sciacca.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Sciacca
Day Ten
Sciacca-San Vito Lo Capo
After breakfast, you will be driven to San Vito Lo Capo. Here, you will enjoy a demonstration of how to make couscous. It was the Arabs who brought semolina to Sicily. San Vito Lo Capo is a town and commune in North-Western Sicily and is part of the Trapani province. The small town is located in a valley between spectacular mountains and is home to a public beach popular with locals. The town’s primary industries are tourism and agriculture. Small farms of olive groves are typical for this region.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in San Vito Lo Capo
Day Eleven
Trapani/Erice
After breakfast, you will travel to Trapani which is a city on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Trapani. Founded by Elymians, the city is still an important fishing port and the main getaway to the nearby Egadi Islands. Enjoy walking and shopping around this beautiful little village. In the afternoon, you will return to Erice, a tiny hilltop town famous for its pasticceria. You will meet Maria Grammatica, featured in “Bitter Almonds” who learnt how to make wonderful pastries with almonds and citron growing up with nuns in an orphanage.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Erice
Day Twelve
Palermo
After breakfast, you will reach the beautiful city of Palermo. You will accompany your local guide to the Vucciria, the exotic popular market of Palermo, reminiscent of an Arab souq with all its noise, colour and movement. Continue with the guided tour of the most important monuments of the city of Palermo: the Norman Castle with its splendid Palatine Chapel, San Giovanni degli Eremiti and the Cathedral. You will stop to have lunch in a typical trattoria. Panelle are the quintessential street food. In Palermo you can see vendors frying the thin fritters of chickpea flour in oil on street corners. You will take part in a theatre event.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Palermo
Day Thirteen
Palermo
In Palermo, you can see the layers of history in the buildings-churches, synagogues, Arabian mosques. Palermo is a loud city, from the swallows that wake you up in the morning to the sellers in the market, everyone seems to shout. This is a vibrant Palermo. Late morning, you will visit Monreale, followed by Mondello, which is situated on the beach. Followed by arrival to the beautiful Villa Marchesi Gregorio where you will spoil yourself amongst the Sirignano countryside. Lunch and cooking class will be included. Via Libertà in Palermo is almost like the Champs d’Elysées in Paris. Since it is your last night, a special dinner will be organised and a warm farewell of amazing Sicilian hospitality.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Palermo
Departures & Rates
Rates per person twin share: From $8,500
Tour Includes:
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- Transport (air conditioned bus with driver)
- Accommodation (twin share only)
- Professional English speaking escort
- Local guide in each location
- Concierge services at available hotels
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- Ticket and entrance fees where applicable (e.g. Museum and Theatre fees)
- Organised meals
- Organised events and experiences, including: Wine and Oil demonstration and tasting at Tenuta delle Terre Nere; Cooking classes at Antica Locanda in Syracuse; Boat Tour of the Island of Ortigia
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Exclusions:
- Airfares are not included in the price (Business class airfares with Qantas/Emirates are available upon request)
- Travel insurance is not included in the price
Payment Terms:
A deposit of AUD$500 shall be paid to secure a reservation of the tour. Full payment of the price shall be paid at least 90 days prior to the start date.
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
