Sally Maraventano
Presents her 56th Culinary and Cultural Tour of Italy to Sicily
May 26th – June 5th 2011
Travel with Sally Maraventano to explore the exotic island of Sicily, the land of her ancestors. More than any other region of Italy, Sicily embodies an ancient culture that has been impacted by a myriad of conquerors, starting thousands of years ago with the Phoenicians and followed by the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Normans and for six centuries by the Spanish. This complex island kissed by the sun and bathed by the sea enjoys verdant plains and snow-capped mountains. Among the many vestiges of those civilizations are the magnificent Greek temples of Agrigento and Segesta, the incredibly preserved amphitheaters of Taormina and Siracusa and the Roman mosaics of the Piazza Armerina. Splendid architecture abounds in the Norman cathedrals of Monreale and Cefalu and the Norman Palace in Palermo with its famous Capella Palatina.
The ever-erupting Mt. Etna contributes rich volcanic soil in which the fruit orchards, olive trees, and vineyards of Sicily have flourished for all of these centuries. It is the food of Sicily that draws me back time and time again to taste and remember those dishes that were present in our family meals on a daily basis. The riot of the color of eggplants in the markets of Palermo brings images of my Grandmother Pepina’s sweet and sour caponata and eggplant parmigiana. The wild fennel found throughout Sicily inspired the 
famous pasta dish we enjoyed, Pasta con le Sarde, a mixture of fresh sardines, fennel, garlic and olive oil, raisins and pine nuts, and topped with the mollica, toasted breadcrumbs instead of grated cheese. Who can resist the deep-fried arancine, “little oranges” that are rice balls stuffed with ragù and a cube of mozzarella that melts as the balls are deep-fried? So divine! Sicilians have long been recognized for their outstanding dolce (sweets). Crispy cannoli with fluffy ricotta and chocolate filling, ends dipped in pistachios are displayed in almost every pasticceria on the island. And we must not forget about the sweet and sublime cassata, a layered sponge cake filled with ricotta, whipped cream, citron and dark chocolate and frosted with green marzipan, a treat reserved for the most special of family occasions!!
I invite you to tour Sicily with me from May 26 – June 5, 2011 to experience first hand the land where my grandparents and my father were born. It will be an adventure, indeed an odyssey in every sense of the word. Our hotels are premium properties, from the elegant four-star Centrale Palace in Palermo to the deluxe five-star hotel in Agrigento with a stunning view of the Valley of the Temples. In Siracusa and Taormina we will enjoy luxurious rooms with sea views. In addition to my personally leading this tour, we will have a full time tour escort to attend to our every need and who is extremely knowledgeable about the history and local customs of the island. Travel will be by private deluxe motor coach for the entirety of the tour. Before leaving the States, I will choose each of the menus that we will enjoy while in Sicily.
A Brief Synopsis of our Sicilian Odyssey follows:
* Sumptuous breakfast in all hotels daily
* Two day stay at the charming Centrale Palace in Palermo with a multi-course welcome dinner at the Hotel. Visit to the bustling Mercato di Ballero meandering and tasting your way along; a private guided walking tour of the city including Martorano and Santa Caterina.
* An excursion to the charming seaside town of Cefalu where we will enjoy a lovely gelato by the sea and a dinner at a local Palermo ristorante when we return to the city.
* A visit to the Norman cathedral and Cloisters of Monreale and then a panoramic view of the temple of Segesta.
* A special wine tasting and tour to one of Sicily’s most prestigious wineries for a visit to the cellars and vineyards. Afterward the winery will host an excellent multi-course luncheon based on typical and local ingredients pairing the courses with several of their most notable wines.
* Two nights at the five-star deluxe Hotel Villa Athena in Agrigento. A guided walk through the Valley of the Temples, that rival those in Greece.
* An Excursion to Grotte, my Father’s birthplace, for a wine tasting. We will visit the cellars at the Morgante winery and enjoy a tasting of the superb Nero D’Avola wine; “Don Antonio” named after the owner of the vineyard. Private guided visit of the Valley of the Temples and cooking demo with dinner at Restaurant Caico by owner, Marco Macarone,
* A private tour of the Piazza Amerina, which boasts 3500 square meters of splendidly, preserved mosaics and the Roman Villa di Casale. Lunch at Ristorante Mosaici de Battiato
* Two nights at the five star Hotel des Etrangers et Miramare with a private walking tour to Siracusa’s fascinating archeological park and the elegant island of Ortigia.
* Excursion to Noto and Modica, two 17th century Spanish and Baroque cities. In Modica, the Antica Dolceria Bonajuto is as much a museum as a pastry shop. The most incredible chocolate made the same way it was when the Spanish brought it back from the Aztecs! Dinner tonight Oinos Restaurant in Sirscusa.
* Special cooking class featuring many typical Sicilian dishes and luncheon with Signora Giuliana Condorelli in her villa in Catania with a view of Mount Etna.
* Three nights in breathtaking Taormina where our final stay will be at the five star Grand Hotel San Pietro, a Relais and Chateau. We will have lovely rooms with panoramic sea views.
* A morning excursion to the magnificent Mount Etna provided it is not erupting! Lunch at Ristorante Granduca in Taormina.
Please note that the Cucina Casalinga tour of Sicily is limited to just 15 participants.
The quality of the meals, the hotels selected and the private tour leader elevates the experience to a very exclusive culinary and cultural tour.
Please call for more information. 203.762-0768.
Land Cost: Based on 12 participants is $6645 per person double occupancy.
Single Supplement based on double rooms for single use: $1306
AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED.
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