Southern Italy Grand Gourmet Journey

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