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The tastes of Sicily west to east

14 days from $12,225pp

• Day-to-day Itinerary
• Italy trip ideas

Tour highlights

Experience Palermo like a local with a street food city tour.

Stay among vineyards and olive groves at a working winery.

Learn to cook traditional dishes with a Sicilian Mamma.

Visit the summit of Mount Etna before enjoying a wine tasting lunch on its foothills.

Price includes:

• In-destination transfers
• Activities and excursions as detailed
• All accommodations
• 24-hour support while you travel

Itinerary idea in detail

Ask us if you would also like us to arrange your international flights at our preferred rates.

Arriving in Sicily, you're met at the airport and transferred by your private driver to your hotel in the nearby seaside town of Cefalù. You then have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to either rest after your flight or explore the town's winding medieval streets filled with shops and cafés.

Today you will learn about the history of Cefalù with your private guide before continuing to Abbazia Santa Anastasia, a converted medieval abbey turned winery where you can enjoy amazing views and a delicious wine paired lunch. Before returning to Cefalù, you will enjoy some free time in the charming village of Castelbuono, up in the Madonie foothills.

Today you will drive one hour into the vibrant city of Palermo with your driver. This city is a real melting pot of architecture, culture and of course food. With a private guide, you will delve into one of the city's bustling markets and enjoy a range of street food as well as taking in some of the main sites such as the Quatro Canti. After your tour, you will head back to Cefalù.

You will travel southwest today to the amazing La Foresteria Planeta wine estate just outside of Menfi. You will then have the day at leisure to explore the amazing grounds and facilities.

Today you can take your pick from a host of amazing experiences on offer at La Foresteria Planeta Estate, from wine tasting and cookery classes to gourmet bike tours. In addition to the panoramic outdoor pool and spa, for those wanting a more relaxed day you can visit the nearby Insula Beach Club.

Next stop an hour east is Agrigento, home to the Valley of the Temples UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will head first to settle into your accommodation at the intimate Fontes Episcopi agriturismo. Here you will enjoy a local cooking experience with a real Sicilian mamma and learn to make simple and authentic local dishes, before tucking into them. This evening you will visit the Valley of the Temples with your guide. You will take a gentle stroll down through the archaeological area, learning about the ruins of what was once the great city of Akragas founded in 581 BC with its five massive Doric temples for which the valley takes its name.

You will be fully immersed in everyday Sicilian life as you visit the ancient hilltop village of Sant’Angelo Muraxo. You will see the village's thriving community including a local farm, a woman who makes fresh Ricotta daily and a baker. You will of course be able to taste some samples too! The day culminates with a stop at a local home for some homemade food and wine.

You will journey east today through the Sicilian countryside to your next base, the tiny island of Ortigia. This one-kilometer square island forms the historic center of Syracuse and is linked to the rest of the city via two small bridges. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to settle into your charming hotel and explore the cobbled streets teaming with shops and cafés on Ortigia.

With your private guide today you will walk through the winding streets of Ortigia. You’ll visit the stunning Piazza del Duomo as well as the buzzing market area and learn about the island's historical heritage. Many fascinating ruins can also be found in the archaeological park on the mainland, where you will travel with your guide and driver. The most impressive is the 5th-century Teatro Greco, an ancient theater which sat 16,000 people and where many of the most famous Greek Tragedies were premiered.

Time to get active today and see the natural beauty of eastern Sicily with a guided walk through the Vendicari Nature Reserve. This reserve is the most visited in Sicily and certainly one of the most scenic. In addition to stunning landscapes, the reserve is a wildlife hotspot, particularly for bird species. Due to its location, many migratory birds stop here during their journey from Africa to Europe, species often seen include herons, egrets and flamingos. Loggerhead sea turtles are also native to the reserve, and they lay their eggs on the beaches. After your tour and perhaps a sea dip, if you wish, you will be transferred back to Ortigia.

This morning you will depart from your hotel with your private driver and head for the Baroque town of Noto, where you will have some time to explore. The main street is filled with Baroque architecture with impressive buildings such as the Duomo, Teatro Vittorio Emmanuele III and the Palazzo Ducezio. From Noto, your driver will take you to the picturesque seaside town of Marzamemi, where you will have free time for lunch. Afterwards, you will head to a local winery. You will tour the winery, learning about the production process before having the chance to sample some local wines, each perfectly paired with aperitivi or mini desserts. When you are finished at the winery your driver will drive you to your final base of Taormina.

Mount Etna is Europe’s largest active volcano. With your guide and driver, you’ll drive around the base of the mountain before ascending. Once you’ve reached as far as you can by road, you will continue your journey by cable car to reach the upper slopes. From here you’ll jump in one of the all-terrain vehicles that take you up through the barren landscape to the dramatic craters at the summit. With a resident mountain guide, you will have chance for a short walk to view more of the landscape on foot. After heading back down, it will be time for some lunch. The rich volcanic soils here make the slopes of Etna excellent for wine production. You will be taken to a local winery for a tasting lunch.

Today, you will embark upon a scenic boat ride along the bay of Taormina, taking in sweeping views of the dramatic coastline, then head to Isola Bella, a tiny island off the coast of Sicily known for its biodiverse plant and marine life. You can enjoy time to swim, snorkeling or simply sunbathe. Later today you are at leisure and may wish to spend your time strolling around the center of Taormina which is rich with history and teaming with shops, cafés and restaurants.

Your private driver will take you to the airport in Catania for your departing flight.

Accommodation options

While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodations, Audley trips are 100% tailor-made, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.

Hotel Le Calette No 5

La Foresteria Planeta Estate

Fontes Episcopi

Hotel Villa Athena

Hotel Foresteria Baglio della Luna

Algila Ortigia Charme Hotel

Villa Paradiso

Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea

Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo

View more accommodations in Taormina

Catania International Airport Hotel

• Cefalù

The specialist who designs your trip to Italy will have explored the country many times and, in some cases, lived there. Their first-hand knowledge gives us the belief that no other travel company can match our expertise in helping you plan your trip.

Watch our tailor-made process

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Tournament Guide: Italian Challenge Open

The Road to Mallorca returns to Italy this week, for the Italian Challenge Open, taking place at Argentario Golf Club in Tuscany. Here’s everything you need to know before play gets under way on Thursday…

Argentario Golf Club

Argentario Golf Club is one of the most spectacular courses in Italy and plays host to a Challenge Tour event for the first time this week. The course is part of the exclusive five-star Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort, and offers a technically challenging test, with the venue set to welcome the Italian Open on the DP World Tour in 2025.

The strategic layout, which has received the Bioagricert environmental certification for sustainability and water management, requires golfers to weave in and out of natural mediterranean vegetation and ancient olive groves, whilst offering remarkable views of the Orbetello Lagoon, particularly on the back nine.

An event steeped in history

The Italian Challenge Open has provided the Challenge Tour with several memorable moments through the years, with a host of notable names making their mark. 

Matteo Manassero is the most recent to have triumphed at the event, with the home favourite all but securing his return to the DP World Tour by claiming an emotional three-stroke victory 12 months ago in front of huge home support at Golf Nazionale. By winning, he became the third Italian champion of the event, joining 2023 European Ryder Cup Vice Captain, Edoardo Molinari, and Matteo Delpodio, who triumphed in 2009 and 2015 respectively.

To date, Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia is the only player to win the event twice, doing so for the first time in 2014 before he added a second title seven years later in 2021.

The importance of finishing strong

The Italian Challenge Open is the 24th of 29 events on the 2024 Road to Mallorca, with time running out for those looking to make their move into the promotion places.

The top 20 players following the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final supported by The R&A will earn promotion to the DP World Tour, but the first hurdle for those in the field this week will be to make sure of their place in China. Back-to-back weeks in Asia precede the end-of-season finale, whereby the leading 68 players that have entered the events will remain in the race for promotion.

In short, those targeting promotion have three weeks to punch their ticket to Asia, starting this week and followed by the Swiss Challenge (September 26-29) and the D+D Real Czech Challenge (October 2-5).

In addition to that, this week will see the field competing for an augmented prize fund, with €350,000 on offer.

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Real reason why Italian restaurant exploded one Saturday night

The manager of the restaurant said the explosion was not caused by a gas leak

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A restaurant has reopened after an explosion left a chef hospitalised. Pecorino Cucina Italiana on Hoylake Road, Moreton, reopened to customers yesterday after being closed for a week.

The explosion caused glass to be blasted out the front window. Speaking to the ECHO last week, a staff member at Bamboo Thai restaurant, which is on the opposite side of the road to Pecorino Cucina Italiana, said: "We heard a loud bang and thought it was a car accident.

"But I looked outside and saw the panel of the window had just fallen right out. It was lying there intact on the pavement. It was incredible, really. Customers were still sitting at their tables eating. I couldn't see their faces but they must have been shocked."

It was originally reported that there was a suspected gas leak . However, an investigation determined the explosion was caused by a bottle of lighter fluid that was left too close to the gas hob by a member of staff. Merseyside Fire and Rescue confirmed its Incident Investigation Team had determined accidental ignition was the cause.

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One of the chefs at the restaurant suffered minor burns to his face and arms but is recovering well. He is continuing treatment and will return to work in a few days. Fortunately, no one else suffered any injuries.

The restaurant needed the front windows replacing but, according to restaurant manager Seyhan Urus, the decoration stayed intact and disruption was minor. Now, Seyhan wants a "fresh start", and to assure customers nothing like this will happen again.

She told the ECHO: "The explosion was nothing to do with a gas leak or anything like that. That's what we need make clear with all our customers. It has affected the business.

"It's really collapsed ever since. I think half of our customers are scared to rebook because they're worried it will happen again in the future. We've had really good feedback since we reopened, but we've also been told some scary scenarios from customers. This is why we want to make what actually happened clear, so our customers aren't afraid to come back."

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• Miami Restaurant Openings

The Team Behind Ghee Indian Kitchen Debuts Tropical-Cuisine Focused Paya

Expect unique spins on Caribbean flavors

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Paya , the newest restaurant from Feal Hospitality’s Niven Patel and Mohamed “Mo” Alkassar, will open next Thursday, September 26, at 1209 17th St. in Miami Beach. The James Beard Award-nominated team, known for South Florida favorites like Erba in Coral Gables, NiMo and Ghee Indian Kitchen , will offer island-inspired fare focusing on tropical flavors.

Patel draws inspiration for Paya from the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Spain’s islands. His approach centers on local ingredients from Rancho Patel and nearby purveyors. The debut menu features green papayas and mangoes from his farm, royal red shrimp from Cape Canaveral, crab and scallops from Maine, hearts of palm from Hawaii, local tomatoes, oysters, hogfish, and grouper from Florida, along with Iberian pork and octopus from Spain.

On the menu, diners can start with green papaya salad with pink shrimp and tamarind vinaigrette or coconut wahoo ceviche with island chips. The raw bar offers local seafood like Sebastian Inlet oysters with jackfruit mignonette and scallop crudo with peaches, passionfruit, and jalapeño. Larger dishes include lemongrass-glazed grouper with coconut curry sauce and tamarind-glazed lamb chops with roasted plantains and jerk-spiced yogurt.

Alkassar describes Paya as a personal milestone, located blocks from his first U.S. home after moving to South Beach close to nine years ago. The restaurant is his way of giving back to the community that shaped his career. “Miami Beach is my home, my comfort zone... Paya is full circle for me, it’s personal,” he says.

Housed in the former Joliet space, Paya’s interior, designed by Paty Duran of Hybrid Creative in collaboration with Alkassar, begins with a long foyer featuring tropical floral wallpaper and a sage stone table. From there, guests are drawn into the coral-colored raw bar, which seats eight and showcases seafood. The dining room follows, featuring brick walls, a ruddy banquette lined with plants, gold-hued wallpaper, and a combination of white oak and green marble tables. At the center of the space is a U-shaped teal wood bar with a sage marble top, seating 25 guests.

Paya will be open at 1209 17th St. in Miami Beach from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

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