Top Sicily Holidays - page 3

Finding the best cannoli bakeries—pasticcerie—in Taormina can be a fun challenge, but it can also turn into fruitless trips between neighborhoods. With this tour, take the guesswork out and let a chef help you prepare cannoli from scratch, using traditional recipes starting with the crusty shell and ending with sweet ricotta cream. When you’re done, taste your creations and receive a “cannoli expert” certificate.

We will welcome you to the beating heart of the company, where you will begin a fascinating journey to discover the vineyards and a unique, fully sustainable and vertically developed winery. A journey that, step by step, will reveal the secrets of wine production processes, between tradition and innovation. The tasting includes 4 iconic wines, authentic expression of the founding values of the company, created by Count Paolo Marzotto in 1997. These wines represent the wine excellence of the territories chosen by Baglio di Pianetto: Palermo, Noto and Etna, always respecting the vocation of the different terroirs. The wines, all 100% organic, that you will taste are: Viafrancia Bianco (Sicily DOC – Organic) Viafrancia Rosso (Sicily DOC – Organic) Stop 125 Etna Bianco – Carricante (Etna DOC – Organic) Stop 125 Etna Rosso – Nerello Mascalese (Etna DOC – Organic)

Discover the Di Giovanna winery, situated inside the nature reserve of Monte Genuardo, on this guided tour in Sambuca di Sicilia. Sip organic wines, while taking in the expansive panoramic views of the region from the wine cellar balcony. Also, sample local cheeses and organic extra virgin olive oil. Plus, learn about the winemaking process—from grape to bottle.

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.

Explore Mount Etna with this tour from Catania that introduces you to the landscapes and geology of the volcano. Following a hiking route, you'll have the chance to admire forests, craters, and scenic views—and explore a lava cave with headlamps and helmets. After lunching on Sicilian food and wine, head to the Alcantara River gorges to experience more of Sicily's natural beauty.

Some history-focused group walking tours can feel impersonal and rushed. Enjoy an intimate experience on this private walking tour of the small island of Ortygia in the historic center of Syracuse. As you walk from the ancient Greek Temple of Apollo to the Arethusa Fountain and through the Jewish Quarter, your guide reveals the rich history of the ancient city.

The historic towns of Taormina and Castelmola are two of the most scenic in eastern Sicily, and with this private tour, you can visit both without the hassle of public transportation or the stress of navigating the island’s twisting roads. Take in the highlights of Taormina at your own pace and relax over lunch, then head to Castelmola to enjoy the sweeping views over the coastline from its medieval center.

The Etna excursion and wine tasting with lunch begins in an SUV or minivan (up to 8 people) with a first stop in an off-road vehicle up to the lava front of the 2002 eruption. Subsequently, crossing the Ragabo Pine Forest, we will arrive at the starting point of the trek to the Monti Sartorius craters where we will continue on foot starting from 1650m and arriving at an altitude of 1750 metres, a walk suitable for everyone. We will then explore a lava flow cave, the Grotta dei Ladroni, equipped with helmets and torches. After the excursion to Etna, we will visit a local winery where you can taste various Etna wines and a complete lunch based on Sicilian specialties. A sommelier will tell you about viticulture in Sicily, the winemaking processes and the history of the winery. In summary, this tour represents the ideal opportunity to discover the beauty of Etna, its geological history and the food and wine culture of Sicily, through an evocative and unforgettable experience.

Taste wines and Sicilian delicacies on a local farm and vineyards with a 2-hour tasting near Catania. Sample locally-made salami, cheeses, breads, and more, enjoying a generous spread of treats served in the farm’s palmento, where grapes were once crushed into wine. This 2-hour gourmet tasting makes a generous lunch, and includes a discount at the farm store.

Step into the world of artisan chocolate and enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind experience: a genuine bean-to-bar journey where you become the protagonist of cacao’s transformation. In our laboratory in Modica, you’ll be guided on a sensory adventure that begins with raw cacao beans. Get hands-on with every stage of production: select the finest cacao beans, breathe in their aromas as they develop during roasting, and discover how they slowly transform into cacao mass through traditional stone grinding. Throughout the experience, you’ll taste cacao at its different stages, gaining a deep understanding of what makes the artisan bean-to-bar method so special. Finally, create your own raw chocolate bar by choosing each ingredient, package it yourself, and take home an authentic reminder of your day as a chocolatier. A perfect activity for chocolate lovers, curious minds, and anyone eager to discover what truly lies behind every artisan chocolate bar.

Learn how to make pizza the Sicilian way in this cookery class. Based in an authentic pizzeria, get hands-on experience making dough whilst familiarizing yourself with traditional ingredients. Settle into a fun and laid-back atmosphere as you enjoy a choice of wine and soda. The perfect activity for travellers who enjoy learning about a new culture through its food heritage. Take away new culinary skills and try what you have learnt at home.

Explore Mount Etna, the world's most active stratovolcano, on this small-group hiking tour from Catania. Ride up the mountain on a 4WD vehicle and take a moderate hike through Mount Etna's moon-like landscape in the Valley del Bove depression. Explore Etna's largest caldera, aka a large crater, and take in spectacular views of the Sicilian landscape and the Ionian Sea.

Explore Europe’s largest active volcano on this day trip to Mt Etna from Taormina. Relax with transportation to the base station of Rifugio Sapienza and then take off through the foothills where you can hike at your leisure. Upgrade your ticket for a guided walking tour through the volcanic craters.

Since 1998, Vincenzo, Vito's son, raised by the smells of musts and climbing the "mountains" of marc of the grapes processed at the Florio plant, immediately manifests his vocation for wine, he is the one who takes care of the company and relaunches the family brand, together with his wife Liliana. The building was erected at the beginning of the 19th century, a historical architectural-engineering complex of the Cellar and now also a Museum, tastings of organic wine and oil from the Adamo farm, celebrate the entrepreneurial action and worker heroism of the twentieth century. The wine museum, where you can buy food and wine excellences, is a structure that combines history and food and wine, to discover the winemaking traditions of the past, among the wonderful scenarios of Sicily. The historical path is taken care of by the owner Vincenzo Adamo - agronomist, who will accompany you through the supply chains and the indigenous flavors and aromas of Sicily.

Catania has a lively food scene, but it takes an insider to guide you to the top spots for sweet and savory treats. Explore the city's markets and food shops on this street food tour through the old town led by a local foodie, sampling Sicilian favorites like artisan cheeses and cold cuts, olives, arancini, and more while soaking up the vibrant atmosphere. Along the way, you’ll uncover what makes Sicilian cuisine unique and discover some of Catania’s cultural highlights.

Experience the stunning beauty of Sicily on a private half-day tour to the Gole Alcantara. Explore Alcantara Park, swim in crystal-clear waters, and marvel at the incredible lava rock formations. Enjoy a traditional Sicilian lunch featuring fresh, organic local cuisine and wine, all with convenient hotel or port pickup and drop-off included.

Explore the deep historical roots of Sicily on this private tour. Spend four to five hours touring monuments and landmarks in Syracuse and learning about their fascinating past. See spots that were important in classical Greek and Roman times, and take a walking tour of Ortigia, the center of Syracuse. If you have selected that option, a visit to a top restaurant completes the tour with a tasting of local wines and food.

Reaching Palermo from Taormina by public transportation can be time-consuming. Shave hours off your trip with this private transfer that includes pickup at your Taormina hotel or the Giardini Naxos port and drop-off at your final destination in Palermo. Leave the driving to a professional and relax on board an air-conditioned minivan with bottled water provided.

Sample the best of Sicily—without needing to plan a thing yourself—with this full-day tour, combining wine tasting, a village stop, and scenic views. Taste Sicilian wines at a winery on the slopes of Mt. Etna and find out how well it works with local dishes. Tour an ancient village that has spectacular views over the Alcantara Valley. And all the while, admire the impressive volcano looming over the landscape.

Take the guesswork out of reaching Segesta and Erice from Palermo and save hours on this full-day tour that includes hassle-free transportation. Delight in the medieval majesty of Erice, a walled town that reigns over the picturesque harbor of Trapani, enjoying free time to explore at your own pace before continuing on to Segesta. Take in this premier archaeological site independently, including temple ruins perched above sweeping vistas of Sicily’s countryside.

See the stunning Aeolian Archipelago on this day trip to the islands of Vulcano and Lipari from Taormina. Take a motorboat across the turquoise waters to the UNESCO-listed chain of volcanic islands. Enjoy free time to explore, cooling off with a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea or checking out the Lipari Archaeological Museum for a bit of island history. Your day concludes with transportation back to Taormina.

Discover the Aeolian Archipelago on this day trip to the islands of Stromboli and Panarea from Taormina. Journey to each island by motorboat, exploring the local shops at your leisure or taking a cool dip in the sea. Afterward, cruise around Stromboli to see the island’s volcano. Keep your eyes peeled for the crater of Sciara del Fuoco, known to light up the sky with its jet-like eruptions.

Explore Europe's highest active volcano with this Jeep tour on Mount Etna. Join a nature guide and head up to about 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) to discover lava flows and extinct craters, plus take in the views over the Caldera del Valle del Bove. Then don a helmet and headlamp and venture into a lava tube to better to learn how lava flows are formed and cool.

The only way to fully experience the beauty of Sicly’s Egadi Islands is by sea. Set sail from Trapani with this sailboat tour and skirt the coastlines of these idyllic isles to explore their hidden coves and caves. Take in the famous bays on the island of Levanzo, stopping to swim and snorkel in the turquoise waters. Continue on to Favignana to enjoy time on land to sightsee and have lunch.