The first time I visited Italy, I felt something shift inside me immediately—I fell in love with the food, of course, but also the people, the architecture, the sense of beauty. I love the traditions and the deep respect for history. I love the fashion and the language and the expressiveness of peoples’ voices and faces. I love the chaotic swirl of colors and sounds and smells of a street market, the sacred hush of a church that’s been standing for centuries, the apertivo hour when the light turns golden and people stop to enjoy a bite, a sip, and the company of people they love.

I’ve learned so much about food—about how local and seasonal ingredients and simple preparations can yield such delicious meals. And I’ve learned so much about hosting and how to create meaningful rhythms around the table. I’ve learned about the importance of understanding history and supporting artisans who are committed to the preservation of traditions. And so much of what I’ve learned has come from my friendship with Elizabeth and Sophie Minchilli and the time I’ve spent on Via Rosa tours.

One week, one hotel home base, twelve people, a knowledgeable local guide. A thoughtful itinerary, charming spots you’d never find on your own, plenty of downtime to do your own thing in the evenings—I really love the Via Rosa style of traveling, and I’ve fallen in love with Sicily through their tours. This time around we’ll be on Sicily’s eastern coast—known for its gorgeous coastline, of course, but also stunning architecture and beautiful inland countrysides. We’ll be based on Ortigia, a small island, with day trips to Noto and Ragusa. We’ll stay at a charming family-run hotel, and our days will be full of adventures: a market walk, a cooking class, an architectural tour, and farm visits in an area known for olive oil, almonds, and fresh seafood. I’d love for you to join us! —Shauna

I first fell in love with Italy just after college, spending a summer tending grape vines on an organic vineyard outside Florence. Years later, during my honeymoon in Rome, a Shabbat dinner featuring Italian-Jewish dishes unlike anything I had grown up with — braised meats in wine and tomato, rosemary chicken, fragrant meatballs with softened celery — set me on the path of collecting and sharing Jewish recipes and stories from around the world.

For more than a thousand years, Sicily was home to one of Europe’s oldest Jewish communities, and traces of that rich culture still live on in the island’s food. On this journey through Eastern Sicily, we’ll explore beautiful Baroque towns, vibrant markets, and the flavors that tell the story of Sicily’s layered past.

While few recipes survive that are explicitly labeled as “Jewish Sicilian”, their influence remains deeply woven into the cuisine. Ingredients and techniques like almonds, sesame, eggplant, raisins in savory dishes, agrodolce, olive oil frying, and chickpea flour form a culinary fingerprint of Sicily’s Jewish and Arab-Sephardic heritage — one we’ll discover throughout the week through tastings, shared meals, and local traditions.

We’ll be based in Ortigia, the luminous old heart of Syracuse, once home to one of Sicily’s most important Jewish communities. Our days will be filled with wandering ancient neighborhoods, exploring markets, venturing into the countryside, and savoring Sicily at its most relaxed — lingering over long lunches and getting lost down hidden lanes scented with jasmine and sea air.

More than a history tour, this is an invitation to experience the living culture of Sicily through its food, its people, and the enduring flavors that connect past and present. Come experience the Sicily I know and love. I can’t wait to share it with you. – Leah

I’m Jenny Rosenstrach, author of the award-winning newsletter and book series Dinner: A Love Story. Italian food and traditions run deep in my family — my mother’s side hails from Abruzzo, and my daughters have been lucky enough to grow up with Italian grandmothers and great-grandmothers on both sides. After hosting unforgettable Via Rosa tours in Eastern Sicily , sun-drenched Puglia, and most recently in Parma, I’m thrilled to return to Italy once again — this time to western Sicily.

For six nights and five delicious days, we’ll be based in the vibrant city of Palermo, a jewel of a city known for its rich culinary traditions, layered history, and irresistible charm. Together, we’ll dive deep into the food culture shaped by western Sicily’s fascinating past and stunning landscape — think freshly filled cannoli, handmade couscous, and ricotta made before our eyes. Along the way, we’ll meet the passionate people who keep these traditions alive.

From bustling markets to countryside kitchens, every day will bring hands-on cooking experiences, behind-the-scenes tastings, and unforgettable meals. And don’t worry — there will also be time built in to relax, wander, and explore on your own.

I hope you’ll join me for this deeply delicious adventure in one of Italy’s most extraordinary food regions — Jenny

I’m thrilled to invite you to join me in Sicily. I’m even more thrilled because it will be my first time visiting. Exploring a place with fresh eyes is the most incredible experience – and I can’t wait to share it with you! Thanks to Via Rosa, there’s a thoughtful – and most importantly, delicious – itinerary waiting for us. Together, we’ll visit markets and learn about the cultivation and creation of specific ingredients, like almonds and chocolate. We’ll visit towns, ruins, and the countryside. We’ll taste incredible things (take me to the cannoli immediately), sit around many gorgeous tables together – and we’ll even get a chance to cook together, too.  It’s a unique chance to dive in, and really get to know this magical place thanks to Via Rosa, who know it so well. And in the process, we’ll get to know each other better, too. I look forward to sharing more about myself and my work as we share adventures in this truly beautiful location. I’m truly excited for this experience, and I cannot wait to meet you there! – Erin

My first trip to Italy changed my life. Working side by side with farmers and food producers gave me a deeper connection to Italian culture and made me a better cook. That experience sparked a passion that led me to host my first Via Rosa tour, where I could share the joy of discovering Italy through its food.

Now I’m thrilled to return—this time to Eastern Sicily—and I would love for you to join me so we can share this experience together.

During this tour, curated by Via Rosa, we’ll spend six unforgettable days in Sicily, diving deep into its rich food culture. I’m so excited to explore this region and all it has to offer. From lemons and olives to cannoli and fresh ricotta, we’ll discover Sicily through the people who grow, produce, and cook its food.

We’ll be welcomed into private homes, estates, and farms, experiencing a side of Sicily that most visitors never see.

I hope you can join me! – Shereen

I first fell for Sicily in the 1980s during an art history class while earning my BFA. The mosaics, ruins, and paintings told stories of a place that was endlessly beautiful—and just a little wild.

Over time, my art evolved into food, and Sicily took on an even deeper fascination. I love Italian food and have traveled throughout the country, but the flavors and ingredients of Sicily hold a special excitement for me. Almonds, dairy, citrus, cherries, and olive oil—just to name a few—form the foundation of the island’s extraordinary pastry tradition.

I’m as interested in the people who grow these ingredients as I am in the artisans who transform them into beautiful pastry (and pasta). There is no better way to understand a place than through its food, its history, and the stories of the people who make it. Sicilian farmers, bakers, winemakers, and cheesemakers all carry a deep connection to the land and to the generations who came before them. That’s how culture is built, how flavor develops, and how art is made.

This will be my fourth trip with Via Rosa and my third time exploring Sicily, but this journey takes us to the western side of the island. I can’t wait to discover Palermo and beyond while tasting almond pastries, granitas, and perfectly crafted cannoli along the way.

Pastry may be my true love, but I also adore pasta, seafood, and all the incredible food we’ll experience together. If you’re curious, hungry, and eager to explore, I hope you’ll join me and our Italian guides for a delicious journey through Western Sicily. – Zoë