Top Sicily Classes & Workshops

The best way to connect with any local culture is through food, and nowhere is this more true than Sicily. With this cooking class, shop for ingredients at the market in Taormina like a local before learning how to prepare a variety of traditional Sicilian dishes with Chef Massimo in his restaurant kitchen. Enjoy the fruits of our labors over lunch afterwards, served with two local wines.

Put a fun slant on a food experience in Palermo with this small-group cooking class and market tour. Shop alongside chefs at Mercato del Capo, selecting fresh seasonal ingredients, then learn to make a typical 3-course meal from scratch, including arancini, pasta alla Norma, and freshly baked cannoli. Enjoy your creations family-style with local wines, savoring authentic Sicilian flavors. The group is limited to 20 people, and the tour runs rain or shine.

All my dishes are made with passion and most of the products come from my garden where you can go before/during the lesson. Abandon yourself to the tranquility and breathtaking view during your lunch and dinners.

In a familiar and comfortable environment I will guide you step by step to the creation of an entire 3-course Sicilian menu from starter to dessert. You will be greeted by a welcome drink and immediately afterwards you will tie on your apron to start cooking! We will begin by preparing a starter that varies with the season. Then I will reveal the tricks for making the best fresh pasta at home, starting with the dough made of water and flour, which will be topped with a great seasonal sauce that I will teach you how to prepare. We will also make together a traditional dessert according to the season such as water melon jelly or a cassatella with ricotta cheese. At the end of the preparation we will taste the dishes together with some excellent local wine.

Go beyond sightseeing and connect with an artisan olive oil producer and his family at their farm in Sicily for a tour of the olive groves followed by a tasting lunch. Learn about the history and culture of olive oil production on the island as you stroll through the olive trees, then settle around the family table for a Sicilian lunch. Sample a variety of traditional dishes plus the farm’s own wine and olive oil.

Sicily's ceramic artists have thousands of years of heritage. Discover their craft and your own creativity on this small-group experience, with a maximum of 10 travelers per group. You'll learn the history of ceramics in Sicily and how to work with the wheel, then decorate a tile to discover the art of color. Your pieces will be ready for collection (or shipping, at an additional charge) in two working days.

Discover Sicilian cuisine during a cooking class in Taormina that begins with a guided visit to the local market. Learn regional techniques from your chef instructor, prepare traditional dishes, and enjoy a meal paired with local wine. This small-group experience offers an authentic way to explore Sicilian flavors.

Take a break from the heat and crowds of the mainland and see Taormina and Mount Etna from the sea on this small-group boat tour. Depart Giardini Naxos to follow the coast, as you admire attractions such as the Grotta dell'Amore, Capo Taormina, the Grotta delle Sirene and the Scoglio dell'Elefante. Dive into the crystal clear waters off Isola Bella for a refreshing swim and relax on board while savoring Sicilian sweets and Prosecco.

What's better than a cooking class to learn how to prepare Sicilian Pizza and Cannoli just a few steps from the Sea of Taormina and Naxos? Together with the "Family Siciliano" you will learn to use fresh and local ingredients, which enhance the flavor of each dish, and make Italy and Sicily famous throughout the world. With Chef Mimmo you will learn the art of preparing Pizza and typical "Bruschetta" with local products: Pachino cherry tomatoes, basil, oregano and olive oil. With the father Siciliano, a great local pastry Chef, you will create the famous Cannoli, learning the secrets of preparing the perfect wafer and cream that make Cannoli the most famous Sicilian dessert in the world. Furthermore, you will learn how to make "Angel Wings", typical traditional sweets which in Sicilian are called "Chiacchiere", and which are popular sweets of the Carnival period. And then everyone to the table, facing the Mediterranean Sea, to enjoy your creations accompanied by a tasting of Limoncello.

Sicilian cuisine is renowned as some of the best in Italy, and this half-day group cooking class is the perfect introduction. Alongside a professional chef, learn to make traditional Sicilian dishes, including fresh pasta, then sit down to enjoy a delicious homemade 4-course lunch or dinner, accompanied by Sicilian wine.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Catania and discover the great Mount Etna on this full-day excursion. Alongside a private guide, head to the southern slope of the volcano and explore the lava flows and craters. Then, head to Taormina for a guided tour of the city center and free time to explore. End your day in the medieval village of Castelmola and stop to taste the special almond wine.

Many cooking classes in Italy focus on complex dishes that require solid kitchen skills. On this beginner-friendly experience, learn insider tips and tricks to mastering classical Italian pizza no matter what your skill level. Under the expert tutelage of a local pizzaiolo (pizza chef) instructor, you’ll make dough from scratch and top it with traditional ingredients. Pick up easy-to-learn tips and techniques, then sit down to savor your hard-earned Sicilian feast with soft drinks to accompany your meal.

Learn to cook delicious Sicilian specialties in a warm and welcoming setting, just steps from the beach and the sea, guided by a professional chef. This experience will make your Sicilian holiday truly unforgettable, letting you savor the authentic flavors and aromas of the island. Begin with a visit to a small local market in Taormina, where you’ll discover fresh, seasonal ingredients and immerse yourself in the vibrant local atmosphere. Then, prepare and enjoy traditional Sicilian dishes with your own hands. Discover ingredients carefully combined to create dishes that are never repetitive and always full of surprises: from the taste of the sea and the mountains, to the sweetness of almonds and ricotta, to the rich flavors of Sicilian olive oil and fresh local produce. Every dish tells the story of the region’s vibrant culinary tradition.

Snack your way through the streets of Palermo on this Sicilian food tour. Explore backstreet markets and food stalls specializing in local delicacies such as stuffed rice balls and chickpea fritters as your guide fills you in on local history and culture. Find eateries you’d probably miss going alone. Plus, this small-group tour has a limited number of participants for a more personalized experience.

Get hands-on instruction in preparing two kinds of Italian pasta and a tasty tiramisu during this half-day culinary workshop. Learn homemade, generations-old recipes in an intimate group setting, capped at only 12 participants. Small-group pasta-making workshops take place in the home of a local Palermo chef and include a welcome prosecco with snacks, plus a sampling of your culinary creations.

Master three different traditional pasta recipes during this private cooking workshop in Messina. Head to the home of a local cook for a culinary immersion. Put your cooking skills to the test at your own workstation with ingredients and tools. Then, taste your home-cooked creations, paired with red and white local wines.

Learn the secrets of Sicilian cuisine—and cook with a Messina local in their own home—when you sign up for this immersive, private cooking class. Pick between morning and afternoon class times to best suit your schedule. You’ll be cooking alongside a Cesarina; a local ambassador of Italian cuisine that has been carefully vetted and is part of a national network. Enjoy an authentic experience, prepare several gourmet dishes, and sit down to enjoy your meal (with local wine on the side).

Indulge your love of food and wine on this all-day tour of the Etna countryside. After a convenient hotel pickup, learn about the region’s history and culture from a local guide as you cruise through scenic Sicilian villages. Stop at a family-run winery and an antique farmhouse with delicious food. Enjoy wine tastings and samples of local cheeses, salami, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes.

Get a taste of Sicily with this private tour to Mt. Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. Leave the driving to your private guide and take in the scenery as you drive through mountain villages, stopping at a local honey shop. Visit volcanic craters and an Etna winery for lunch and a tasting of red and white Sicilian wines.

Go beyond restaurant dining and dig into Sicily's traditional cuisine on this exclusive chef-led cooking class in central Taormina. Join a professional Sicilian chef to purchase ingredients at the local market, then head back to the restaurant kitchen to get to work. Learn about the history of the regional cuisine as you prepare a 3-course meal from scratch, then sample your handiwork over lunch (served with wine).

This experience does not take place in a tourist kitchen, but in my private home in Palermo. It is not a show: it is real cuisine, with authentic recipes of Sicilian cuisine, local ingredients and the atmosphere of a royal family. For thirty years I worked in haute cuisine in different parts of the world, passing through the most prestigious starred restaurants. I was the Chef of National TV Shows (Rai 1) and author of two cookbooks. I chose to go back to the roots and open the doors of my home to those who want to experience Sicily, not just taste it. Every dish tells a story, every gesture has a value: here you cook, eat, talk, laugh. It is an experience that also nourishes memory. You will not find scripts or fiction, but spontaneity and warmth, just like at the home of a Sicilian friend. I'll teach you what you don't find in books: perfumes, slow tempos, dialect words, hands stained with dough. For a few hours, you will really immerse yourself in Sicilian culture.

Complement your Taormina excursions with a dose of Italian culture when you attend this evening of opera. Talented singers will perform duets and arias from some of the most popular Italian-written operas, including La Traviata, Tosca, and La Bohème. Tickets also include a glass of Champagne, plus opportunities to admire photo-worthy views of the city from the theater's terrace.

Mount Etna is one of the most striking natural features in Sicily, and with this tour, you can experience both its beauty and geology. Set off from Catania, stopping at an organic farm on the mountain slopes to sample honey, wine, olive oil, and other specialties. Afterward, continue up to the Valle del Bove.