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What You’ll Love About Your Week in Sicily
Are you a fan of White Lotus? If you are (and even if you haven’t watched White Lotus!), uncover the real Sicily with us on a spectacular 7-day immersion into the food, culture, and history of this gorgeous island.
Dazzling, sunny Sicily is a crossroads of Mediterranean influence: Italian, Spanish, Arab, French. Oldways and The Feedfeed will take you beyond the tourist attractions so you can enjoy a true Sicilian experience. We’ll be joined by Chef John daSilva of Chickadee Restaurant in Boston, who will help us experience this tour through the eyes of a chef!
On our trips, you don’t just get to taste a fabulous meal—you get the recipes and knowledge to bring these ”old ways” home with you. In between all the excitement, you’ll have time to shop or take a siesta, and then relax in five-star hotels at the end of the day.
You’ll experience:
- A street food tour of Palermo
- Cooking demonstrations (and recipes to take home!) from Chef John DaSilva
- A special presentation by culinary historian and cookbook author Mary Taylor Simeti (last time Mary presented to one of our groups, a participant wrote us: “Mary’s talk alone was worth the full price of the trip!”)
- Mosaics at Monreale
- Tour of Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples
- Private tours at wineries, olive oil producers, chocolate makers, cheesemakers, and food markets
- Many fabulous & authentic Sicilian group meals, and free time to eat and shop on your own
- A group of fellow food lovers to get acquanted with. Many of our travelers have made lifelong friends on our trips!
Questions? Please read our Travel FAQ here. For additional questions, please call us at (617) 896-4861, or email us at Travel@OldwaysPT.org
Day-By-Day in Sicily
At a Glance
Sunday, OCTOBER 8, 2023Benvenuto! Check into the Grand Hotel Wagner and get settled, then join us for a wine tasting hosted by Wines of Sicily, followed by a welcome dinner in Palermo. |
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2023Get oriented on our walking tour of Palermo. Then, we’ll eat at Corona Trattoria, where Chef Giovanni Corona will prepare us a special lunch (he’s usually closed on Mondays). Cookbook author + culinary historian Mary Taylor Simeti will explain the traditions behind our delicious meal. |
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2023We’ll drive to south to Baglio Donnafranca, a beautiful wine estate, where we’ll get a special tour and guided tasting. Afterwards, we will have the pleasure of a cooking demo by Chef John, followed by lunch. When we return to Palermo, you’ll be free to explore Palermo’s restaurants on your own. |
 Courtesy of Baglio Donnafranca |
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2023Find the best spots for world-famous Sicilian street food on our walking tour—taste pannelle, arancini, cannoli, and more! Then, in the afternoon, we’ll tour the Monreale Cathedral, known for spectacular mosaics. |
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023We’ll tour the UNESCO site Agrigento, an ancient city filled with magnificent temples. Then, we’ll lunch in the Valley of the Temple’s Hidden Garden, and have an olive oil tasting. Check-in and relax at our next hotel, the Algilà Ortigia Charme Hotel. |
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2023Chef Maurizio Moceo will guide us through the Ortigia marketplace, then take us for a special cheese tasting at Caseficio Borderi. After, Chef John will teach us more Sicilian recipes during his cooking demo and lunch. |
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023Choose among three tours: a wine tour + tasting at Planeta, or a chocolate-making experience at Bonajuto, or a historical tour of Ancient Siracusa + Medieval Ortigia. We’ll all come back together for an unforgettable farewell dinner. |
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2023Arrivederci! Today you will check out, and we’ll help you arrange your transportation to the airport—or, perhaps you will choose to continue your stay in Sicily on your own!
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See Your 5 Star Accomodations
GRAND HOTEL WAGNER (PALERMO)
This five-star, luxury hotel was named for the famous German composer Richard Wagner, who lived with his family on this street in the 1800s. With marble steps, a majestic chandelier, paintings, and a rare antique fireplace, it will be a beautiful home-base for us in Palermo.
We have the possibility to have four upgraded rooms at the Wagner. Available to our group is 1 Superior room and 2 Triple rooms, each for an additional $20/night, and 1 Deluxe Room, for an additional $80 per night charge.
See pictures and read more about the Grand Hotel Wagner
ALGILA ORTIGIA CHARME HOTEL (ORTIGIA-SYRACUSE)
Looking out at the sea, the hotel is a unification of multiple buildings, renovated on the grounds of architectural discoveries that have been gradually uncovered. Only materials of Mediterranean origin and local workmanship were used in the construction. The result is a luxurious resort that combines medieval and Sicilian Baroque elements.
See pictures and read more about the Agila Ortigia Charme Hotel
Meet the Chef You’ll Be Traveling With
Meet Chef John dasilva
Our tour is led with Chef John DaSilva of Chickadee Restaurant in Boston.
A lifelong New England resident, Chef/Owner John DaSilva graduated from the New England Culinary Institute in 2004. He trained in various kitchens including The Boarding House on Nantucket Island and Barbara Lynch’s flagship No. 9 Park before opening Spoke Wine Bar in 2013. During his time at Spoke, John received a great deal of critical acclaim, being named one of Zagat’s “30 Under 30” for Boston and earning the title “Rising Star Chef” from StarChefs.com. Most recently John was named “Best Chef, Up & Coming” from Boston Magazine. When he’s not in the kitchen, John enjoys watching the Boston Celtics and exploring New England with his adorable daughter Maple.
Book Your Flight
Travelers book flights independently. Closest to our program schedule, fly into Palermo (PMO) and depart from Catania (CTA). If you wish to return from Palermo, the hotel in Ortigia can arrange a return transfer for you.
Pricing & Tour Registration
Please download and complete the registration form below, which includes instructions for how to submit the form and deposit to Oldways.
Price per person from $4,950 per person
If this trip must be cancelled due to Covid-19, refunds will be issued.
Prices are based on rates of exchange, taxes, and other costs as of the tour publication date. We reserve the right to correct errors and changes, and to increase program prices to cover increased costs, tariffs, and taxes received after prices are published and to reflect currency fluctuations.