Southern Italy Grand Gourmet Journey
15 Days / 14 Nights | Sicily – Aeolian Islands – Calabria – Apulia
Highlights of the Journey
Private access to Europe’s most captivating landscapes — from Mount Etna to the Aeolian Islands
Exclusive cooking experiences with renowned local chefs
Curated wine tastings and visits to boutique estates
Hand-selected historic accommodations and countryside masserie
UNESCO World Heritage towns and architectural masterpieces
Artisan encounters: olive oil mills, pastry ateliers, DOP cheese producers
Coastal escapes along Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia
Intimate cultural experiences rooted in tradition and authenticity
Seamless private transfers and personalized concierge support throughout
DAY 1 – Arrival in Sicily | Etna & Alcantara
Private arrival at Catania Airport.
Transfer to your elegant resort near Mount Etna and the Alcantara Gorges.
Set above a dramatic volcanic canyon carved over millennia, your property offers panoramic views, refined Sicilian cuisine, and a tranquil natural setting.
Welcome drink
Leisure time to unwind
Gourmet Sicilian dinner paired with local wines
Overnight near Etna
DAY 2 – Mount Etna & Sicilian Pastry Heritage
The White City & Olive Oil Heritage
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning ascent to Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. Walk along the Silvestri Craters and admire sweeping views over the Ionian coast.
Afternoon visit to a historic pastry atelier (est. 1850) for a private tasting of:
Traditional Sicilian granita
Warm brioche with honey
Artisanal sweets
Return to hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 – Private Sicilian Cooking Experience & Noto
Morning transfer to a countryside farmhouse for an immersive hands-on cooking class.
You will:
Learn traditional Sicilian techniques
Taste fresh ricotta and local wines
Prepare regional specialties
Receive a certificate and personalized apron
Lunch featuring your creations.
Afternoon guided visit to Noto, Sicily’s baroque jewel (UNESCO).
Return to hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 4 – Castelmola & Taormina
Breakfast.
Visit the medieval village of Castelmola with panoramic sea views.
Lunch at a traditional trattoria featuring pistachio specialties.
Guided exploration of Taormina, including:
Greek-Roman Theatre
Corso Umberto boutiques
Historic palaces and churches
Return to hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 5 – Nebrodi Mountains & Lipari Island
Scenic drive through the Nebrodi Mountains.
Lunch at a mountain restaurant featuring:
Nebrodi black pig ragù
Local cheeses and salumi
Regional wines
Transfer to Milazzo and hydrofoil to Lipari (Aeolian Islands).
Check-in at seaside 4★ hotel with direct sea access.
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 6 – Lipari Panoramic Discovery
Private panoramic tour of Lipari:
Quattrocchi viewpoint
San Calogero thermal springs
Obsidian and pumice quarries
Light rooftop lunch overlooking the archipelago, including Malvasia wine tasting.
Return to hotel.
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 7 – Vulcano Island & Artisan Dairy
Hydrofoil to Vulcano Island.
Island tour including:
Volcanic landscapes
Panoramic viewpoints
Traditional ricotta farm visit
Tasting of artisanal cheeses, olives, local wine.
Return to Lipari.
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 8 – Salina Island & Malvasia Wine
Hydrofoil to Salina, the greenest Aeolian island.
Panoramic tour including:
Pollara cliffs (filming location of Il Postino)
Ancient churches
Lingua seaside village
Lunch featuring “Pane Cunzatu” and Malvasia wine tasting.
Free time for boutique shopping.
Return to Lipari.
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 9 – Calabria | Tropea & Borgo Estate
Hydrofoil to Reggio Calabria.
Private transfer to Tropea, dramatic cliffside town above turquoise waters.
Visit to Pizzo Calabro for tasting of the famous Tartufo di Pizzo dessert.
Arrival at historic countryside estate in Calabria (Borgo Santarosa area).
Welcome reception and dinner featuring authentic Calabrian cuisine.
Overnight.
DAY 10 – Le Castella & Calabrian Dairy Heritage
Breakfast.
Visit to the iconic seaside fortress Le Castella.
Seafood lunch at local trattoria.
Afternoon visit to artisan dairy producing:
Buffalo mozzarella
Caciocavallo DOP
Traditional pecorino
Tasting and return to Borgo.
Dinner and overnight.
DAY 11 – Arrival in Apulia | Ostuni
Transfer to Apulia (Puglia).
Farm lunch en route.
Arrival and check-in at countryside masseria.
Afternoon guided visit to Ostuni, the White City.
Visit to underground olive oil mill with premium tasting.
Welcome gourmet dinner at Masseria Frantolio.
Overnight.
DAY 12 – Alberobello, Wine & Baroque Towns
Guided visit to Alberobello (UNESCO) — the Trulli capital.
Wine tasting at Albea Winery:
Primitivo
Negroamaro
Verdeca
Nero di Troia
Afternoon visits:
Martina Franca
Cisternino
Dinner in traditional rotisserie in Cisternino’s old town.
Overnight.
DAY 13 – Apulian Cooking & Castellana Caves
Morning Apulian cooking class at masseria:
Handmade orecchiette
Veal chops
Turnip greens
Local meatballs
Lunch with regional wines.
Afternoon guided visit to Castellana Caves.
Evening folklore dinner with traditional music and dance performance.
Overnight.
DAY 14 – Castel del Monte & Matera
Visit to Castel del Monte (UNESCO) — Frederick II’s mysterious octagonal castle.
Wine tasting lunch at Torre Vento winery.
Afternoon guided exploration of Matera (UNESCO) and its ancient Sassi cave dwellings.
Return to hotel.
Farewell dinner.
Overnight.
DAY 15 – Departure
Breakfast.
Private transfer and departure.
The packige include:
-
14 nights in 4★ hotels and selected estates
-
14 breakfasts
-
11 lunches (including tastings)
-
14 dinners (with wine and water)
-
2 private cooking classes
-
English-speaking escort throughout
-
All transfers
-
All excursions as per program