A Taste of Sicily - Our Private Villa by the Sea 
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Reserve your space!    No money due now.
October 17 -25,  2025
Limited space available. SOLD OUT 
​8 days and 7 nights in our own fully staffed private luxury villa by the sea. Join us for the memories to last a lifetime.
​Trip includes airfare, many meals, tours, cooking classes, winery visits  and so much more!!!
Sicily in October... the hordes of summer tourists are gone and the weather is perfect for relaxing and exploring the gorgeous coastal towns with average daily highs in the mid 70s. We'll spend seven nights in our own private fully staffed villa overlooking the Mediterranean on a 110 acre estate.  Lounge at the pool, get a massage, or just relax and enjoy the beautifully manicured grounds.

The estate is located in north Syracuse, conveniently located only a short distance away from Catania airport. This opportune location offers the ability to visit the entire southeast region of Sicily, including UNESCO heritage sites, all within a short drive.

East Coast of Sicily
The East Coast of Sicily is a perfect location to enjoy the sea, countryside, history, culture and, of course, fabulous food and wine. With Mt. Etna and the sea surrounding you, there is always a beautiful view. The seaside villages of Taormina, Ortigia and Siracusa not only have some of the best vistas in Europe, but they also have some of the oldest Greek theaters and monuments. The quiet fishing village of Marzamemi will take your breath away. And, you will be in awe of the Architecture of the Baroque town of Noto. The influences of the Greeks, Romans, Spanish, German, French and Arab Nations have created a colorful and eclectic culture in Sicily. This will all become apparent while exploring the Island. Most importantly, this unique cultural mix will provide a variety of mouth-watering culinary treasures as well as excellent wine. You will learn this first-hand while visiting two distinctly different, yet both amazing, wineries.

$ 5499  includes roundtrip airfare, all air taxes and fuel surcharges*, all transfers in Italy, breakfast daily, three lunches, two dinners including wine, two more dinners with cooking classes in the villa with our own chef,  guided tours of all the gorgeous coastal towns listed in the itinerary, with plenty of free time to eat, drink and explore your way through them! We'll visit two wineries for tours and tastings... one with a 5 course food pairing for lunch! There's a swimming pool of course, and on a scheduled down day we'll have the use of our own private spa. There is so much included in this trip! 

Solo travelers - There is no single supplement for solo travelers, but space is very limited. There is a separate private villa called the Zigolo Cottage located on the estate where you will stay with your fellow solo travelers. It's a five minute walk down a private road (read no traffic) and it has it's own swimming pool and grounds. Meals and group activities will be at the main villa, but think of this as your own private retreat.
Price is per person based on double occupancy.  Round trip transportation from Easton to the airport is available for an additional charge.
​*Airport departure taxes and fuel surcharges are included but subject to change until time of ticketing. See additional airfare notice below.
Reserve your space!    No money due now.
If you've ever wanted to visit Sicily this is your chance. The culinary experiences in this part of the world are to die for and the bottle of house red wine you just ordered with your dinner is probably as good as you've ever tasted!  

Catania - On our first full day, we will visit the Catania Market with our chef, who will later provide us with a cooking lesson. While there, she will purchase items for our class and dinner. She will show us around the market as well as guide us on what street food to buy. Then, we will have some time to wander the market to shop and try some different Sicilian bites.

Marzamemi - The sleepy fishing village of Marzamemi is located near the southernmost point of the island. The heart of this stunning seaside town, and the main attraction is the Piazza Regina Margherita. A large square piazza surrounded by quaint old buildings and bursting colorful vases, flowers and tablescapes. The entire village is car-less so people flow freely throughout the village full of cafes, restaurants and bars, furthermore, it’s a great place to try traditional Sicilian food, especially seafood.

Taormina - Spectacularly perched on the side of a mountain, Taormina is a beautiful seaside town on the eastern coast of Sicily. It's located near Mount Etna and is home to a well preserved Greek Theater, beautiful coves and beaches, and tons of quaint cafes and restaurants.

Syracuse & Ortygia - Syracuse was the most important city of Magna Graecia. It defeated mighty Athens in 413 BCE and was home to many a great Greek, including the inimitable Archimedes. At the height of its economic, political and military powers, the city had a population of 300,000 and, according to Cicero, was “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all”. We will have a guided tour of the Greek ruins to learn about the history of this fascinating area before heading next door to the tiny ancient Island of Ortygia, Ortygia remains Syracuse's most beautiful corner, a deeply atmospheric quarter with an ever-growing legion of fans enamored with its beautiful streetscapes and attractive dining, drinking and shopping options.

Noto  is an architectural supermodel, a baroque belle so gorgeous you might mistake it for a film set. The town is home to one of Sicily's most beautiful historic centers. The pièce de résistance is Corso Vittorio Emanuele, an elegant walkway flanked by thrilling baroque palazzi and churches. Dashing at any time of the day, it’s especially hypnotic in the early evening, when the red-gold buildings seem to glow with a soft inner light.
Explore - We'll also be offering a couple optional group tours to climb Mt  Aetna or go for a boating excursion along the coast. 
Reserve your space!    No money due now.
Itinerary

Day 1 Friday October 17 – Our ITA Airways flight AZ0609 departs JFK at 4:05 pm and arrives in Catania on Saturday morning after a brief layover in Rome. 

Day 2 Saturday October 18 – After landing at 9:30 am in Catania on ITA Airways flight AZ1709, our private coach will take us on the short drive over to our Villa. We'll have lunch and get a little orientation tour of the grounds and learn about the history of our home for the next week. The rest of the day is free to explore and unwind.  Group dinner included.  

Day 3 Sunday October 19 - After a very leisurely breakfast we'll head back to Catania to shop at the local market with our chef. The afternoon is free to wander, explore, eat and drink your way through Catania. Afterwards we'll head back to our villa for a cooking lesson and enjoy the fruits of our labors!

Day 4 Monday October 20 - After breakfast we'll head to the seaside town of Marzamemi. Next stop is Planeta Winery, where they grow almonds, olives and grapes. After a tour of the vineyards we'll head in to their "invisible" underground winery for a hearty snack and wine tasting. Last stop of the day is the gorgeous baroque town of Noto, where we'll have plenty of time to explore and enjoy a leisurely dinner in one of their many excellent restaurants. 

Day 5 Tuesday October21 – Free day at the villa. Sleep in. Relax. The spa will be open. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Optional day trip to climb Mt Aetna or take a private boat ride along the coast. 

Day 6 Wednesday October 22 - After a leisurely breakfast we'll head to the famous Barone di Villagrande Winery on the slopes of Mt Aetna for a tour and 5 course lunch pairing. Next stop is the beautiful seaside town of Taormina where well have plenty of free time to visit the famous Greek Theater, take a funicular to the beach, eat, drink and shop. Back home for a nightcap and a good night's rest.

Day 7 Thursday October 23 - Today we'll have breakfast and a lite lunch at the villa before heading off to tour Syracuse and Otygia. Syracuse was one of the largest and most important cities in all of ancient Greece. We'll have a guided tour of the ruins and head just across the water to the Orygia, the gem of Syracuse. The best way to see the island of Ortygia is just to wander. It’s difficult to get lost (it measures just 1km by 500 metres), but packed with over 2,500 years of history. Architectural styles vary widely, encompassing Greek and Roman remains, Mediaeval Norman buildings and a great deal of (relatively) understated Baroque. Restaurants, trattorie and bars fill these winding cobblestone streets.

Day 8 Friday October 24 - Our last full day in Sicily will be a free day at the villa.  Breakfast and lunch are included. Optional day trip to climb Mt Aetna or take a private boat ride along the coast. We'll have a cooking class followed by sharing a final group dinner with your traveling companions. 

Day 9 Saturday October 25 - After breakfast we'll say our Good-byes and board our private motorcoach to the airport. Our ITA Airways flight AZ1724 departs Catania at 11:40 am. After a brief layover in Rome we'll board the 3:10 pm flight AZ0610 to JFK. We should arrive in JFK at 6:55 pm and be back in Easton later Saturday evening.
*Airfare prices have been extremely high and erratic since COVID. Final airfare schedules and prices will be available ten months prior to the trip. In the meantime I have done my best to estimate pricing based on current trends. The final price may increase if airfare rises dramatically again. It is my hope and guess that airfare pricing will normalize and may even come down.