An Exclusive Culinary and Wine Tour in Sicily

For a truly spectacular gastronomic tour of the best that the Mediterranean diet can offer, a trip to the beautiful ancient island of Sicily in Southern Italy is sure to satisfy any food and health enthusiast. As shown in scientific studies the Mediterranean dietary regimen is the one with the healthiest and most nutritional benefits in the world; reason why Sicily is the place to be: with its rich culinary heritage incorporating millennia-old recipes drawn from ancient civilizations like the Greeks, Romans and Arabs, preserving traditional methods of production, cultivation, pressing and processing of everything from olives, grapes, meat products, vegetable produce and wine-making, Sicily has the greatest and best variety of Italian food specialties, wines and liquors.

If you plan for your next holidays to truly immerse yourself in the authentic flavour of Sicilian gastronomy while also enjoying the lovely coastal sceneries,  you may choose to rent one of the many beachfront villas in Sicily through one of the top online resource with a great collection of vacation rentals located anywhere on the mainland or by the coast and also in the Egadi and Aeolian islands, at fantastic budget-friendly prices for a family or group vacation.

A major reason for the exceptional quality of its cuisine is also given by the fertile volcanic soil present all over the island and its neighboring Aeolian and Egadi archipelagos, which- thanks also to the region’s perfect Mediterranean temperate climate – provides the land with highly nutritional elements and has given Sicily a place of prominence in the food and wine industry. The many pristine and uncontaminated nature reserves present in the ‘Jewel of the Mediterranean’ are another additional factor that ensures the best in terms of crop cultivation and game rearing- and of course healthy animals and healthy crops are the main pre-requisites for any farming enterprise.
Culinary retreats and tours to the numerous agriturismo farms are available all over Sicily: from the mountains of Madonie and Nebrodi and Park of Etna- rich in game and natural products- to the coastal areas of Agrigento and Taormina where fresh fish abounds in the local markets, as well as in the fishing villages of Cefalù and Scopello to name but a few. Experience enriching wine-making and gastronomic tours to family-owned farms and cottages that possess inter-generational expertise in secret recipes, cooking and various preparation methods which have been passed down through the generations; take a cooking course and discover for yourself the real reason behind Italy’s quest for excellence in high quality cuisine. On Mt. Etna you can take cooking classes held by Monica Consoli in her 18th Century Sicilian house, learn how to make hand-made pasta and all you need to know about etiquette, the history of olive oil production, and Sicilian cheese products.

food culture in sicilyOr head to ‘La Pescheria’ in Catania where you can get direct hands-on experience, buy fresh ingredients straight from the local market and learn how to make the best dishes at the local family-owned restaurant. Prepare or taste wonderful pasta dishes like Anelletti al forno (baked pasta rings) and Pasta alle Sarde (pasta with sardines- one of the main Sicilian specialties) or the famous Polpettone (Italian meatloaf); the exquisite grilled swordfish which thrives in the fresh waters of the Mediterranean; including desserts like the famous Cassata (with almonds, candy and ricotta cheese) and the Cannoli in Agrigento. In Ragusa you will discover the delight of the famous Focacce (mini-pizzas), Pizza and the Sicilian Arancine. Savor the greatest Grappa Siciliana, granitas, or local wines like the ruby-red Nero D’Avola, the Pinot Bianco, the exceptional Tasca Cabernet Sauvignon, Nerello Mascarese, Nerello Mantellato and many others. It is also important to remember that Sicily has the greatest number of vineyards in the whole of Italy, and the largest variety of grapes.

And if you plan to truly immerse yourself in the authentic flavour of Sicilian gastronomy while also experiencing the traditional folklore and rustic character of Sicilian life, during your vacation you may choose to rent one of the many holiday villas in Sicily through wishsicily.com, the top online resource with the best collection of vacation rentals located anywhere on the mainland or by the coast and also in the Egadi and Aeolian islands, at fantastic budget-friendly prices for a family or group vacation.

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