The Culture of Food in Eastern Sicily with Elizabeth Minchilli
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Sicily
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March 21-27, 2027
Although I now split my time between Rome and Umbria, Sicily has had my heart since I was twelve. My first visit was a Christmas adventure, wedged into the back of a Fiat 124 with my sisters, racing along winding coastal roads while my parents navigated by paper map. Even then, I felt it: that electric mix of wild beauty, layered history, and irrepressible spirit that makes Sicily unlike anywhere else in Italy. I’ve been returning ever since.
Over the years, I’ve experienced the island in every season, from almond blossoms in February to blazing summer sunsets over the sea and autumn harvests heavy with olives and grapes. I’ve come for work and for pure pleasure, and along the way I’ve built friendships across the island with winemakers and farmers, chefs and fishermen, shepherds in the hills and hosts by the sea. Sicily, to me, is personal. It is not just a destination but a community I cannot wait to share with you.
We’ll be based in one of my favorite places, Ortigia, the luminous old heart of Syracuse, where Baroque balconies spill flowers over sun-washed stone streets and the sea is never more than a few steps away. Our days will be rich with adventure, exploring sun-drenched countryside, vibrant markets and ancient cities, and even the dramatic slopes of a volcano.
And just as important, there will be time to linger over a long lunch, browse the shops or a quiet wander down a hidden lane.
Come experience the Sicily I know and love. I can’t wait to introduce you. – Elizabeth
Day 1: Arrival & Introductions
Hotel
We’ll be based in one of Sicily’s most beautiful cities: Ortigia, the small historic island off the coast of Siracusa. Our home for the week is Hotel Gutkowski, a small, family-run 3-star boutique hotel just steps from the sea. It’s simple, charming, and full of character.
You’ll have time to settle in and relax before we gather in the evening. In your room, you’ll find a welcome package that includes local snacks, a tote bag for any treasures you pick up throughout the week, and our personal guide to Ortigia with recommendations for places to eat and shop to help you make the most of your free evenings.
Drinks and Introductions
We’ll meet for a welcome drink at the hotel to kick off the week. You’ll get to know Elizabeth and your fellow travelers, and hear more about what the days ahead will hold.
Dinner
Our first dinner is at a contemporary Sicilian bistro, where the chef takes a fresh, seasonal approach to traditional dishes.
Day 2: Market & Cooking
Market Walk, Cooking Class, and Lunch
It’s our first full day in Sicily, and we’ll spend it getting to know our home base. This morning, we’ll meet our friend Alessia for a walk through the winding alleys to Ortigia’s famous vegetable and fish market. Along the way, we’ll stop at several stands, including a renowned salumeria, for tastings of local cured meats, cheeses, and a glass of wine. We’ll pick up ingredients for our cooking class, where we’ll have a hands-on lesson preparing a few classic dishes for lunch.
Tour of Ortigia
In the afternoon, we’ll join Alessandro, one of our favorite local guides, for a walking tour of Ortigia. He’ll lead us on a leisurely passeggiata through the town, stopping at significant churches and exploring Ortigia’s heritage. It’s a perfect introduction to the history and rhythms of the city.
Aperitivo
We’ll end the walk at one of our favorite bars for an aperitivo—drinks and snacks, Italian-style.
Dinner
The rest of the evening is yours to rest or explore Ortigia on your own. A list of our favorite restaurants is in your room, and the hotel concierge is happy to assist with reservations.
Day 3: Architecture & Almonds
Noto
This morning we head south to Noto, one of Sicily’s most beautiful towns. We’ll meet up with Alessandro, who will guide us through its fascinating history. After an earthquake in 1693, the entire town was rebuilt in a distinctive local Baroque style, using honey-colored stone that gives the town its unique glow. It’s often described as looking like a wedding cake. After our walk, you’ll have free time to explore and maybe try a pastry from Noto’s famous Caffè Sicilia.
Almond Farm
At the end of the morning, we will head south to an area world-renowned for its almond cultivation, the Val di Noto. We will spend the afternoon at a farm, learning all about their traditions.
Upon our arrival, we’ll be greeted with refreshing almond milk before we walk through the almond grove, home to the Romana and Pizzuto almond varieties. We will then join the family for an almond cookie cooking lesson. Lunch features almonds, of course, but also produce freshly picked from the vegetable garden.
Dinner
Tonight is free to enjoy Ortigia at your own pace.
Day 4: Ragusa & Ancient Grains
Ragusa and An Ancient Mill
Today we head west to the town of Ragusa, one of the island’s most scenic towns. Along the way, we’ll visit an ancient water-powered flour mill carved into the rock beneath the town. We’ll learn about traditional Sicilian grains and prepare scacce, a local stuffed flatbread, using flour milled just minutes before. We will also enjoy the delicious Sicilian pizza called sfince.
Ragusa Ibla
We then continue to Ragusa Ibla, the historic heart of the city, for a walking tour of its stunning medieval and baroque architecture with Alessandro as our guide. You might feel like you are walking in a movie set since so many movies and commercials are filmed in this gorgeous spot.
Dinner
The evening is free.
Day 5: A Day in the Countryside
Giuseppe’s farm
Today we head west into the Hyblaean Mountains to spend the day with our friend Giuseppe and his family on their stunning farm. The drive takes us through a landscape shaped by grain cultivation and livestock farming, two pillars of Sicily’s rural economy.
Giuseppe’s farm is a model of biodiversity and sustainability. We’ll meet his family and explore the land, where they grow heritage grains and raise cows, horses, and other animals. You’ll see how the grains are used to make local pasta and bread, and experience firsthand the rhythms of rural life.
Lunch
We’ll enjoy a long, abundant lunch featuring products from the farm and wines from one of Sicily’s most interesting producers.
Dinner
Evening at leisure.
Day 6: Ruins & Olive Oil
Neapolis Archaeological Park
This morning we’ll visit one of the most important archaeological parks in Italy: Neapolis, just outside Siracusa. Alessandro will lead us through the Greek and Roman amphitheaters, the Altar of Hieron, and the Ear of Dionysius, an ancient limestone cave steeped in myth.
Olive oil
Next, we’ll travel to the Hyblaean countryside to visit Dario’s family-owned olive oil estate. We’ll tour the groves and learn about Sicily’s native cultivars—Tonda Iblea, Nocellara, Biancolilla, and Ogliarola—before enjoying a guided tasting in the farm’s light-filled tasting room.
Lunch will be served in the family’s dining room, set amid the citrus garden for an olive oil-centric meal. Each course is centered around their award-winning olive oil.
Free time and farewell dinner
You’ll have some free time this afternoon before we gather for our farewell dinner at our favorite seafood restaurant in Ortigia. We’ll toast our week together over a spread of Sicilian seafood dishes.
Day 7: Departure
Our tour is officially over, and you will be checking out of the hotel.
Is This Tour For You?
The Culture of Food
All of our tours are designed around experiencing a place through its food culture. Nearly all activities are food-focused, with generous meals and often snacks in between. If you have a small appetite, significant dietary restrictions, are squeamish, or a particularly selective eater, this tour may not be the right fit. Our trips are best suited for those who are excited to eat adventurously, try new things, and fully engage with the local culinary traditions.
Food Intolerances
Southern Italy’s cuisine is deeply rooted in the Mediterranean diet, with an emphasis on vegetables, grains, and seasonal ingredients. That said, many of the traditional dishes we enjoy together include gluten, fish, meat, and cheese. While guests with dietary restrictions will always be fed, they may not experience the full range of the food culture we showcase. We’re happy to accommodate where possible, but flexibility is key.
Activity Level
Each day involves visiting a new town or village, often on foot. Expect up to an hour or more of walking per day, occasionally on uneven terrain, hills, or stairs. While not strenuous, our pace is steady, and all guests must be able to move comfortably with the group without assistance.
Travel Companions
Many of our guests find us through social media and come knowing what to expect: immersive food experiences, visits to farms and markets, hands-on activities, and shared meals in rustic, authentic settings. If you’re bringing a friend, partner, or family member, please ensure they’re equally excited about this kind of travel. If they’re not enthusiastic about food, long meals, or rural experiences, they may not find this tour enjoyable.
Pricing:
Double occupancy (2 people in 1 room): €6900 per person
Single occupancy (1 person in 1 room): €7600 per person
The fee includes:
- Lodging: six nights in 3-star Hotel Gutkowski
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- All specified meals and activities in the tour description (subject to change*)
- All transportation during the tour
- Coupon for dinner at Gutkowskino (the restaurant in the hotel)
- Gratuities
Not included:
- Transportation to and from Italy
- Transportation to and from the airport
Each tour is limited to 12 participants
*Since our tours are based on small family-run businesses, we reserve the right to vary the specifics of the itinerary. We may switch days, add/change activities, or substitute locations. We send out an updated itinerary within 30 days prior to the start date.
"I want to thank you and the whole Via Rosa team for an outstanding experience in Sicily. You truly exceeded expectations, from the accommodation to the meals and (especially) to the group events. The whole week felt like a privilege to meet such interesting people and to peak behind the curtain of Sicilian life."
Joan & Joe
Your Hosts for the Week
Elizabeth Minchilli
Elizabeth is one of the founders and owners of Via Rosa Tours. She has been writing about the joys of Italian life for 35 years. She is the author of 9 books on Italy, including her most recent, The Italian Table, Eating My Way Through Italy, and Eating Rome. She has written for over 40 publications, including Bon Appetit, Travel & Leisure, Food & Wine, and The New York Times. Her award-winning blog is where she has shared her passion for Italian food, writing about recipes, meals, and restaurants for the past 15 years. She now publishes one of the best-selling travel newsletters on Substack. She has been leading food tours since 2011, and you can read about them in magazines and in this article from the New York Times. You can follow Elizabeth on her very active Instagram and TikTok accounts, where she shares scenes from daily life, including her tours.
Luca Di Giacomo
Born and raised in Augusta, Sicily, Luca has always been driven by a desire to uncover and celebrate the lesser-known stories of his homeland. A tour guide and researcher, he has spent years exploring Sicily’s history, landscapes and ancient traditions, while also leading journeys in Morocco and Turkey.
Equally at home hiking through Sicily’s hidden canyons or immersing himself in the colour and energy of its markets, Luca loves revealing the many layers of the island. Passionate about archaeology, traditional crafts and cooking, he sees food as a profound expression of culture, generosity and connection—and loves sharing these stories with his guests.