Gourmet Sicily
. . . learn to cook the magnificent cuisine of Sicily

To think of Sicily as just the far corner of Southern Italy is a misconception about this fascinating island. Sicily is more than an island, it is a unique part of the world full of art, archaeology, history, folklore and breathtaking scenery . . . and of course great food.

But it is also the island of the sun and of the volcanoes.

The world’s first multicultural society was in Sicily. Today, it is Europe’s most historic cosmopolitan region. The land is full of archaeological wonders. Amazing art, folklore and awe inspiring scenery greets visitors at every turn. Delicious food at reasonable prices is available wherever or whenever you have a craving.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean basin, with approximately 1,000 kilometers of coastline, which is sandy in the south, and rocky in the north. Around it lies the smaller islands of Pelagie, Egadi and Aeolian, among others. The landscape has great contrast, but mountains and hills dominate. Near Catania, there is a vast plain. To the east, Mount Etna is Sicily’s tallest mountain and the largest volcano in Europe. Every year in winter, bubbling, fiery lava flows down the sides of the snow-capped mountain, while ash and smoke spew from its mouth.

The south-east side of the mountain consists of high plateaus that are made up of lava, limestone and tufa. Numerous chasms have been carved into the mountainside through the ages by erosion. The majesty of the spectacular landscapes will leave you in awe.

Life in Sicily is slow-paced, the atmosphere one of relaxation and tranquility. The people of the region are delightful and, although intensely proud of family and country, are friendly, charitable, generous, cheerful and gracious. When greeted, visitors feel that at last they have come home.

Gourmet Sicily

This fully escorted innovative tour combines two important areas :

• the gastronomic
• the cultural

Cooking lessons and wine tasting but much more - special dinners, country lunches and the essence of Sicily 's magnificent cuisine are what you can expect from the Gourmet Tour of Sicily.

The tour is based on an eight days and seven nights itinerary concentrating on Sicily's unique cookery influenced by a dozen cultures ranging from Greek to Norman to Arab.

The tour is ideal for both the first time tourist who wants to experience the best of Sicily with its sights and tastes or the more seasoned traveler who is looking for an insider's take on Sicily' s most renowned wine producers, cheesemakers, producer farmers and Authentic Sicilian cooking lessons by some of Sicily's expert chefs.

Highlights:

• 3 cooking lessons
• tour and wine tasting in Marsala and Etna at famous wine cellars
• wandering the narrow streets of Taormina and Polizzi
• a tour by night of Palermo
  

The Road of Wine and Taste

The tour is for eight nights in this beautiful Island and you will leave having fallen in love with the Sicilians, their cuisine and their superb wines.

Travel with us and discover the sweetness of Sicily.

Sicilians like to say their grapevines sprang up in ancient times from the teardrops of the thirsty God Dionysus. Less poetic archaeologists at least confirm that Sicily was one of Italy's earliest wine growing regions - today making 15% of all Italian wine.

For years, Sicilian wines were synonymous with Marsala, a sweet wine often served with dessert or used for cooking. However, recently some top international wine experts have rediscovered Sicily and what they have found is that there are great wines, like nothing found anywhere else.

On this tour you will discover small unknown producers, meet top winemakers, owners of country inns and be invited into their homes. On this vacation you will enjoy lunches or dinners and large tastings as guests of the estates. The kind of thing that is not possible if you are travelling alone in the country, even if you visit the same places.

The wine tastings do not take up all the time and the travel itinerary is well balanced with free time and visits to places of interest.

Highlights:

• 7 top class wine tasting sessions: Sicily's most prestigious wines
• visit to a cheesemaker
• 5 gourmet restaurants lunches
• guided visits to some important archaeological sites
  

The Unknown Sicily

This special program has been designed for lovers of Sicily and all that it represents:

• the charming medieval towns
• the centuries old traditions
• the people and their culture
• the art
• and of course the great food and wine!

It is a holiday dedicated to the secrets and traditions of Sicilian cookery.

The combination of luxurious hospitality, fine food and wine, and an enthusiastic staff are the necessary ingredients for "one of the best vacations we have never had", as many of our recent clients tell us.

If you are a lover of good food and wine and are planning on visiting Sicily , then this program has been designed with you in mind.

Highlights:

• Marzipan demonstration
• 3 cooking classes with lunch
• Visit Palermo market
• Wineries tour
• Guided tour of Agrigento, Palermo and Syracusa

Sicily at Friends - a gourmet and special tour of Sicily

A chance to take in the delights of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, with visits to Catania, Taormino famous for its dolce vita lifestyle, Cefalu, Polizzi, Madonie Park and Palermo. Your guides will ensure you see the real Sicily and will look after you on each day. You will experience some wonderful meals eating typical Sicilian dishes and will have cooking classes where you learn to cook traditional Sicilian meals as well as fresh fish caught on a fishing trip around part of the island.

Highlights:

• Catania and to its colorful fish-market
• learn to prepare family recipes passed down through the generations
• day on the Aeolian Islands
• visit to island of Vulcano, the island that gave its name to every volcano
• cruising with a local fishermen aboard his colorful fishing boat
• cooking class preparing fresh fish
• a ceramic making demonstration
• cooking lesson with an authentic Sicilian family.
• Ricotta cheesemaking

Sicilian Cooking - a cooking tour in the hidden Sicily

A relaxing weeks stay in the Madonie Park at a rural farmhouse, Donalegge, in tranquil surroundings and away from frenetic urban life. As well as seeing many wondeful small towns you will also have the chance to see ricotta being amd by traditional methods. There will be many wonderful Sicilian meals to be enjoyed in good company and your guides will ensure you see the real Sicily and will look after you on each day. You will have cooking classes where you learn to cook traditional Sicilian meals as well as fresh fish caught on a fishing trip around part of the island.

Highlights:

• learn to prepare family recipes passed down through the generations
• cruising with a local fishermen aboard his colorful fishing boat
• cooking class preparing fresh fish
• pastry demonstration where you learn how to make cannoli
• a ceramic making demonstration
• cooking lesson with an authentic Sicilian family.
• Ricotta cheesemakin
• a day in Palermo

FranSicile is a well established travel business having been established since 1996. They are not a travel agency. They are Travel specialists whose expertise is to put together exclusive and personal tours for the traveller who is looking for something special.

The professional staff members of FranSicile have had years of experience of living in Sicily and their knowledgeable backgrounds ensure that they know the region intimately.

Their knowledge does not come from just organising a few tours, nor from brochures or the internet, but from living and experiencing their country and its culture.

They believe in offering a personalised service, with every aspect of each tour tairlor-made to the needs and requirements of each the customer - it is the only way to create and organise a tour for the traveller which will be an unforgettable vacation.

Our Mission

Together with you FranSicile will design an itinerary that includes the cities and regions you want to explore.
They will also help you to find the perfect accomodations, restaurants and activities that you require on your vacation..

From the day you first contact FranSicile to the moment you step on the plane, they are at your complete disposal, working with you every steps of the way, in order to create and ensure you have the ideal vacation.

Our Driver Guides

The guides and drivers are an integral part of the FranSicile tours, which is why they select experts who live in Sicily. They are the vital element that makes each of the tours a positive and wonderful vacation.

They are specialists in different fields, yet they are all passionate about Sicily and are more than happy to share their knowledge with the travellers they look after and guide.

San Domenico Palace Hotel

A former Fourteenth century monastery, the San Domenico Palace Hotel was converted into a hotel in the Nineteenth century and now has all the amenities and comforts that the discerning traveller requires. A place of tranquility and unashamed luxuery. Even the air of the San Domenico Hotel is redolent with the unique history of its surroundings. With the original structure still intact, it is surrounded by a garden filled all year round with flowers of rare beauty. The view that can be enjoyed from the terrace and the pool is extraordinary too - a panorama which embraces the ancient Greek theatre and Etna’s misty peak.

With its evocative architecture complemented by modern and efficient service, organisation and furnishing, the San Domenico Palace Hotel is a unique and unforgettable experience.

This is just an example of the sort of accommodation that can be provided by FranSicile.