How to best enjoy a gastronomic experience in Sicily
Sicily is home to one of the richest food and wine cultures. Whether you choose to cook an Italian feast with the Duchess of Palma in her astonishing palazzo or to join a delicious cooking class with an expert local chef, Sicily’s gastronomic traditions are not to be missed. We have curated a guide to the area’s fascinating experiences to explore some of the most unique flavours it has to offer.
Not only that, our villas feature unparalleled beauty and great locations near many of our favourite food and wine experiences. Browse our collection of luxury villas in Sicily to make your experience as memorable as possible.
Sicily food and wine experiences
Catania street food walking tour
Catania is the second largest and second most important city in Sicily, after Palermo. While the locals would grudgingly accept this status, woe betide anyone who claims that their culinary traditions are in any way second best. Catania’s identity is a mix of many things but food is at the top of the list. Indeed, any attempt to get to know the city must include an immersion in its culinary traditions, especially those regarding street food. While foodies flock to sample street food in Italy, Sicily is the nation’s true home of al fresco deliciousness.
On our Catania street food walking tour, you’ll explore some of the city's most characterful streets, stopping off at the most iconic food landmarks, including the amazing Pescheria fish market, historic bars and kiosks beloved by locals.
Your introduction to Catania's street food will include:
Delicious local cheeses
Sun dried tomatoes
Arancini (stuffed rice balls)
Cipolline (pastries filled with cheese, sauce and onions)
Cipollate (bacon rolled around green onions)
Zuzzu (pork gelatin)
Granita
Minni di virgini (a ricotta cheese dessert)
Scricciu (a soft drink made from soda water and syrup flavoured with lemons, tangerines or grapes)
During the tour, you'll also take in some of Catania's most important and beautiful monuments, including St Agatha Cathedral, Piazza del Duomo and its Liotru (lava elephant), the second-century Roman amphitheatre and Via Crociferi, the city's most picturesque street, bordered by superb Baroque churches and convents.
Book a Catania market food tour
Cefalù cooking class
Home to the oldest and best-preserved Byzantine mosaics in Sicily, the spectacular coastal city of Cefalù is worth visiting for its rich history and soaring towers alone. The city’s cathedral is one of the most impressive examples of Norman architecture in Sicily. With the gorgeous local beaches of Mazzaforno and Settefrati to the west, this gem on Sicily’s north coast is not to be missed. With a vibrant culture and rich local culinary traditions, it’s also a foodie’s paradise.
To sample the gastronomic delights of Cefalù, we would be happy to arrange a bespoke Cefalù cooking class at the stunning Villa Palamara. Here you will have the opportunity to learn how to prepare a delicious Sicilian meal. You’ll get to roll up your sleeves and enjoy a completely hands on, joyful lesson in traditional local cooking.
Cooking with love in Modica
There's one ingredient that all recipes need: love. That's why we've teamed up with Katia Amore to offer our clients unique gastronomic experiences while on holiday in Sicily.
One of Sicily's best cookery teachers and food experts, Katia has been passing on her secrets and her passion for Sicilian cuisine since 2004. Her knowledge, much of it gained from her food-loving parents and grandparents, and her insatiable curiosity make her a fascinating companion in the kitchen for both amateurs and professionals alike.
We offer a selection of delicious courses:
Three-course cookery class - This course begins with a short introduction to Sicilian culinary traditions. You will then enjoy a practical, hands-on cooking experience, at the end of which it will be time for a feast: the three-course meal you prepared, accompanied by some excellent Sicilian wines.
Pasta, Sicilian street food and chocolate making classes - For those with a sweet tooth, taste for street food or a passion for pasta, Katia offers special classes with a focus on your favourite Italian foods.
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The Leopard’s kitchen
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the renowned author of The Leopard, spent his last years in Palazzo Lanza Tomasi, a splendid mid-eighteenth century palace overlooking the sea from Palermo's old defensive walls. Now, through The Thinking Traveller, it is possible to enter this magnificent home to spend a day of gastronomy with the current owner: the Duchess of Palma, Lampedusa's daughter-in-law.
A day cooking with the Duchess
Cooking with the Duchess is a fascinating journey into Sicily’s rich cuisine, history and culture. Immerse yourself in a cooking class and lunch with the Duchess of Palma.
The day starts with a journey deep into the colourful local Capo market to purchase ingredients for the class. Under the guidance of the Duchess, you will carefully select the finest Palermo food and freshest seasonal produce, and learn about Sicily’s outdoor market tradition. You will then witness more of the city, which has been influenced by thousands of years of foreign conquests - this is reflected in all aspects of the culture, from the language and architecture to, of course, the cuisine.
Back at the palazzo, you will pick flowers and herbs from the terrace garden, once the original sixteenth-century city walls. In the palazzo’s warm and welcoming kitchen, you will engage in a hands-on cooking class. The Duchess teaches traditional dishes and family recipes, and you will learn more about the history of Sicilian cuisine and cooking techniques.
You will then gather in the library for aperitivo while listening to stories of the family’s history. In the elegant formal dining room, you’ll enjoy the four-course Sicilian menu you prepared. To conclude the day, the Duke and Duchess will treat you to a tour of the private wing of their beautifully restored palazzo.
A Santa Rosalia dinner
14 July in Palermo is the Festino di Santa Rosalia, a celebration of the city's much loved and venerated patron saint, who is paraded through the old town centre from the cathedral to the sea. As the procession finishes, the fireworks begin.
One of the best places to enjoy the special atmosphere of the Festino is Palazzo Lanza Tomasi. Spend the day arranging a wonderful dinner and, via a secret passage through the old town's defensive walls, a privileged peek at Santa Rosalia as she arrives at her final destination. You will also be in the best possible vantage point from which to admire the stunning firework display that rounds off the evening's events.
Palermo food experiences
Palermo has a centuries-old culinary tradition, with Greek, Arab, Spanish and French influences. Whether you are a food amateur or a serious foodie, this immersion into Palermitan street food will give you a good understanding of the provenance and use of many Sicilian foods, as well as of local gastronomy. During the walk, your guide, who will have specialised in architecture or art history, will highlight many of Palermo's artistic and architectural landmarks, including its Norman heritage, which has recently been included on the World Heritage List.
This culinary and cultural immersion commences with a stroll through the Ballarò Market, one of the liveliest places of the city, with its shouting vendors and colourful, fragrant stalls. Your guide will discuss the history of Palermo’s markets, and relate it to the peculiarities of some local food specialties, some of which have Arab, Norman or Spanish influences. While exploring the market and other family-run speciality food shops, you will indulge in savoury snacks such as:
Arancini
Sfincione (deep pan pizza with fresh tomato sauce, onions, anchovies and cheese)
Pane e panelle (fried chickpea flour pancakes seasoned with lemon juice)
Pani ca meusa (spleen sandwich)
Delicious ricotta-based sweets
The Palermo walk continues through other parts of the historical centre, where you will explore the complexities of the city’s layered history, culture and artistic expression. Keep your eyes peeled for three buildings in particular - La Martorana, the cathedral and the Palazzo Reale - which reveal the sometimes harmonious, sometimes incongruous composition of the different architectural and artistic cultures (Arab, Norman and Spanish) that have characterised Palermo for centuries.
Taste Palermo with The Thinking Traveller
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Planeta cooking lesson
Le mani in pasta
The Thinking Traveller has collaborated with Planeta’s La Foresteria Resort and its chef, Angelo Pumilia, to organise le mani in pasta - a very special hands-on cooking class.
La Foresteria is situated in Menfi, amongst rolling hills, with mesmerising views of the sea and the vineyards of Sicily. Here Chef Angelo will guide you through some of the tastiest traditional Sicilian recipes. A member of the Planeta team will be on hand to delight you with fun, historical and gastronomical anecdotes, regarding the area and the menu.
Depending on the time of year, you may find yourself preparing a typical festive feast, such as an Easter lunch. In true Sicilian style, the recipes will be based on seasonal products and will use only the freshest local ingredients.
A trip to Sicily would not be complete without a day spent discovering the joys of the local cuisine, so why not discover the chef that lies within you?
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La vendemmia
Sample red, rose and white wines from across vineyards in Sicily and enjoy a tour of one of the island’s finest wine producers. Planeta is without doubt one of Sicily’s foremost producers of quality wines and the grape harvest - or la vendemmia - is a joyous celebration that brings together friends and family.
Planeta has vineyards in Sicily’s six regions, which allows guests to sample the varied wines of the island. This Experience includes a visit to the winery, participation in the harvesting, wine tasting and lunch. To enjoy the natural beauty and wine culture without the summer’s sweltering heat and crowds, why not consider a harvest time holiday?
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The olive harvest in Sicily
October and November are dedicated to the beautiful, ancient olive trees and their world-famous fruit. Planeta has opened up its oil mill in Capparrina and our clients are invited to visit and experience olive oil production first hand.
You will be able to pick the olives from the trees and discover the production process of extra virgin olive oil. The olive harvest is a busy time, with each producer eager to pick their olives at exactly the right moment, ensuring they are taken straight to the press. Only in this way will they get the best quality oil.
After the harvest, you will be able to sample some of the freshly pressed, deliciously fruity and aromatic oils. You will try three varieties, each surprisingly different and accompanied by traditional country dishes.
Experience the magic of the olive harvest
Syracuse markets
Ortigia, the vibrant heart of Syracusa, boasts over 2,600 years of history. It was once amongst the most important areas of the Mediterranean, mightier for a period even than Athens and Carthage. Boasting fascinating archaeological remains, a picturesque web of ancient streets, a multitude of al fresco restaurants and bars, divine piazzas, inspiring sea views and a sublime cathedral, Ortigia has much to offer - particularly its bustling daily market.
During your guided tour around Ortigia, a local expert will lead you through Syracuse market. Sicily is home to a number of astonishing outdoor markets, but the market in Ortigia is an explosion of colour, flavours, fragrances and sheer atmosphere. You'll be able to speak to vendors, identify seasonal produce and learn about food provenance, as well as sample some mouthwatering food along the way, including cheeses, delicious sun-dried tomatoes, olives and other local products.
As you continue to explore Ortigia, the discussion with your guide will touch on a variety of gastronomy-related themes such as how Sicilians shop for their food, and cooking and diet practices. You will also be able to taste local treats fresh from Syracuse Market. Interestingly, Sicily has many different specialities at each of its markets. Here, the sweet granita and cannoli are truly revelatory.
Ortigia is an open-air museum with a multi-millennial history, so part of the tour will include some of the town's most fascinating landmarks. Once the walking is done, you'll be able to sit down and enjoy a glass of Sicilian wine at one of the oldest wine shops on the island. This is a well-earned break and an opportunity to learn more about Sicily's viticultural traditions and the importance of wine, ever since, it’s said, Dionysus himself brought the first vine to the island many aeons ago.
Mozia and Marsala wine tour
Embark upon a fascinating full day Marsala wine tour, which includes a visit to the island of Mozia. Both destinations are connected to the Whitaker family, who were central to the unearthing of one of the world's most important Phoenician archaeological sites (on the tiny island of Mozia) and the development of Marsala's world-famous wine industry. The Marsala wine tour includes a guided visit of Mozia, the museum and the Whitaker family's house, as well as a visit to the historic Florio wine cellars and a wine tasting.
Sip your way through Mozia and Marsala
Syracuse walking tour with street food tasting
Enjoy a walking tour of Syracuse’s historical district, Ortigia, led by a guide and a Sicilian food storyteller. This Sicilian food experience starts with a visit to the bustling market in Ortigia, with a tasting of cheese, meats and other traditional delicacies. From there you will reach the Baroque heart of the city, which features the sea, the light of white sandstone, amazing buildings and churches and pretty boutiques. You will have the chance to sample pastries, street food and all manner of delicious offerings.
This tour offers a deep immersion in the culture of Sicily, where food is itself a piece of the local heritage.
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Vineyards in Sicily
When it comes to Italian wine tasting, Sicily is an unmissable region to tour. Discover one of the most exciting wine-producing areas in Sicily on a tour of two of the best wineries in the southeast. This tour will introduce you to the wonderful wineries of Planeta, and a leading biodynamic winery, COS. These outstanding wine producers both create Sicily's only DOCG wine, Cerasuolo di Vittoria.
Your tour will begin at the COS winery near Vittoria, where you will taste a selection of natural wines produced using age-old techniques, and some local cheeses and salamis. Afterwards, you’ll be whisked off to Planeta’s Buonivini winery, just a short drive away near Noto. There you’ll have lunch, enjoy a little wine tasting and then tour the winery and its vineyards.
Explore the vineyards of Sicily
Noto tour and Modica chocolate tour
Modica and Noto can be called the epitome of Sicilian Baroque. Both have many splendid Baroque palaces and religious edifices that guests will have the opportunity to explore on a full-day tour.
Modica, like many other towns in the area, is a World Heritage Site. Lower and upper Modica have their own opulent Chiesa Madre, which are the main points of focus of this tour’s itinerary. The church dedicated to San Giorgio, the patron saint of upper Modica, is of particular interest, notably for its remarkable grand façade and its elegant twin staircases leading to the church.
In the church of San Pietro in lower Modica, the largest chapel is decorated with a superb Madonna of Trapani. Next to San Pietro is the cave-church of San Nicolo Inferiore, the oldest church in Modica. Its earliest fresco depicting a scene of the Ascension dates from the late Byzantine era.
The city of Noto was entirely rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake and is famous for its masterpieces of Sicilian Baroque style. It has many fine churches that are outstanding on account of their architecture, decorations and strategic locations. Numerous aristocratic palazzi, with their delightful Baroque facades and twisted iron railings, flank the main Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the many adjoining streets.
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Barocolate: Where the Baroque meets chocolate
We also offer the opportunity to sample the region’s delicious chocolate on a shorter half-day Modica chocolate tour. Modica is an architectural gem and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Val di Noto - but man cannot live on sublime Baroque architecture alone! In this tour, you can visit Bonajuto's jaw-dropping chocolate shops to find out how, for several hundred years (ever since the Spanish first brought cocoa back from South America), the Modicans have been making chocolate in the Aztec way.
Taste Sicily with the Thinking Traveller
Our team of experts has curated unique experiences for you, allowing you to immerse yourself in Sicilian gastronomy. Our range of experiences encompass everything from discovering Sicilian food culture in a palazzo kitchen and enjoying the local wine traditions to the full in some of the oldest cities on the island to learning to cook real Sicilian food using fresh local ingredients with the best cookery teachers.
Enrich your Sicily experience with luxury activities and thrilling adventures. Our team of experts will work closely with our dedicated Local Specialists and take care of all the little details to ensure you have the holiday of your dreams. Experiences are available exclusively to clients of The Thinking Traveller. To book any of these unique enriching additions, contact your Villa Specialist.
Download our itineraries and plan your escape to enchanting Sicily:
