Sicilian Adventure

Over the centuries this beautiful island with its fertile soil and constant sunshine has attracted many covetous foreign predators, and each race has left its mark on the land, the people and their culinary heritage.

Sicilian cooking vibrates with intense colours and flavours and is the quintessence of all the elements that have made Italian food a universal favourite. Here pasta reigns supreme, while fresh herbs, sumptuous vegetables and lambent olive oil are used with flair and imagination. The sea provides an infinite variety of fish, and opulent fruit, honey, nuts and ice cream add to the excitement.

Sitting on a shady terrace, perfumed with orange blossom and jasmine, holding a beaded glass of chilled Sicilian wine, you feel close to the ancient pagan gods !

Our Sicilian adventure follows the ancient Greeks from the beautiful city of Siracusa, birthplace of Archimede, to the majestic ruined temples in Agrigento. We will hunt for antiques in Ragusa, cook and discover Aztec chocolate in Modica, experience the olive oil harvest in Mandranova and explore the lively food markets.

Dates for 2012  October 6 - 12

Price 2250 euros

I am now back in Rome after a very exciting school in Sicily. We visited Siracusa fish market by boat with the Barone Beneventano, dined in his superb, historic palace with incredible wines before we went on to Ragusa, Noto and Modica where we sampled Atzec style chocolate at the Antica Dolceria Bonajuto and had two inspiring cooking lessons.. In Mandranova we cooked a mixture of monzừ and cucina povera dishes, and watched the new, prize-winning olive oil being made.  When we checked in for our early morning flight back to Rome we had so much baggage with our olive oil , wine and pottery we gave the clerk hysterics so that she became confused and lost control of the situation. This was very fortunate because we all had excess weight on our person and in our bags !

           Sample programme

 Flight to Palermo or meet in Palermo

 Private bus transfer to Mandranova stopping for a light lunch  in Monreale    

 Settle in

 8.15 Leave by taxis for Welcome Dinner in Licata

           Optional visit to Agrigento

           Light lunch Mandranova

           Cooking lesson and dinner Mandranova

Drive to Noto to visit city

           Lunch Crocefisso trattoria

           Drive to Siracusa for light meal and overnight

          Explore Ortygia and light lunch

          Optional visit to the Greek ruins

          Dinner and wine tasting at Palazzo Beneventano

          Drive to Marzamemi and Pachino to explore and lunch

          Drive to Modica for cooking class and overnight

          Cooking lesson and lunch

          Visit to see chocolate made in the traditional Atzec manner

           Dinner and overnight Modica

          Drive to Ragusa to explore and dinner        

          Overnight Ragusa

Drive to Catania to visit fish market, lunch, then flight back to Rome.