A View Of Etna™

Join Mamma Antonia in a delightful, hands-on, cooking experience as she blends her style and old-world Sicilian recipes to prepare focaccia & breads, antipasti, pastas, contorni, vegetables, meats, fish and desserts, using local and seasonal produce. Mamma Antonia is a prized chef, who learned Sicilian cooking from her grandmother, and is the keeper of old family recipes. The result is a repertoire of modern and old-fashioned dishes that are colorful and tasty. Mamma Antonia also hosts a typical Sicilian wine tasting, accompanied by traditional aperitivi, where you will discover the tastes, colors, and characters of the fine wine made on the island. The program also includes visits to the artisan cheese maker or fish market, along with cultural visits to churches, monuments, and piazzas.

Cooking Classes

The Sicilian cuisine is often described as “del sole e mare,” “of sun and sea,” and it’s something of a magical symphony, combining elements of Arab and Greek spices with Spanish and French influences making it the world’s tastiest seafood. Mamma Antonia leads cooking classes in her villa’s kitchen. Classes are limited to groups of maximum 6 people to ensure hands-on participation for each person. Chop and salt eggplant for a traditional Pasta Alla Norma, with eggplant and Mozzarella, create the finest balance of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, white wine vinegar and parsley to dress your grilled swordfish, whip the whitest biancomangiare, a light almond pudding, or stuff Sicily’s traditional Cannoli with Ricotta and candied orange and lemon peals.

Each cooking class includes the preparation of antipasto, first course, second course and dessert and lunch or dinner follows with the foods prepared in class. Menus vary by season and can be tailored to accommodate food allergies and diet needs. Cooking certificates are presented upon completion of the program.

Sicily

Sicily has a fiery passion about it, a vivacity and spirit that extends from the top of Mount Etna, to the waters that surround the island, to the hearts of all its people. Sicily is the melting pot of the world, where exists since it was first inhabited, a great marriage of civilizations and cultures. The island is Asia, Africa, and Europe melded into one spectacular place; it was once home to a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate, and a Norman kingdom. Each group left behind a rich tapestry of timeless beauty, eclectic history and rich food culture. Sicily is all at once complex and simple, a land like no other; a world and entity unto itself.
A triangular island, whose name derives from the Greek Sikelia, meaning three points, Sicily is surrounded by three seas, the Tyrrhenian to the north, the Sicilian to the south, and the Ionian to the east.

The Sicilian islands are the lands of eternal sunshine, where mountains meet sea, heavenly beaches adorn the shorelines, and where Europe’s greatest natural wonder, Mount Etna, the volcano that never rests, can be found. Orange and lemon orchards color lush forests, vineyards and ancient olive groves line the rugged lands, and almond orchards and wheat fields embellish the rolling hills.

The people of Sicily are genuine, passionate, and friendly. They are always willing to help or stop to have a conversation, and it is not uncommon for visitors and tourists to receive invitations to a local’s house for dinner. All who encounter Sicily and all her charm, diversity, and beauty are always reluctant to leave.

Accommodations

Enjoy your stay at the Villa, an 18th century villa farmhouse, set on the slopes of Etna, 500 meters above sea level. The modern restorations respect the old-world construction. On the property is an olive oil mill, a millstone for wine pressing, a Sicilian garden adorned with ancient column ruins, a terrace, library, and a swimming pool. Each double bedroom has a private bathroom and the villa also offers suites with kitchenette or full kitchen for groups and families.

The property is an oasis, close enough to the city, yet set in a private countryside. Only 20 minutes from Catania airport, it is a strategic point for day trips to Taormina, Mount Etna, Siracusa, and other small villages.

Photo GalleryClick Here For Property Photos

Itinerary~ 8 Days, 7 Nights

This program is available January 10 to June 15 & September 15 to December 15. Check in and start your program on any of the week.

Day 1: Arrival & Welcome

• Arrive in Sicily, pick up at airport, and transfer to the villa.
• Welcome aperitivo.
• In the evening, a welcome pizza party at the property.

Day 2: Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast served.
• Cooking Class 1. A morning cooking class, approximately three hours long, followed by lunch with the dishes prepared in class. After class everyone eats the fruits of their labor. Local wine included.
• Evening free and on your own.

Day 3: Cooking Class 2 & Wine Tasting With Mamma Antonia

• Breakfast served.
• Cooking Class 2: morning cooking class with Mamma Antonia followed by lunch with the dishes prepared in class. After class everyone eats the fruits of their labor. Local wine included.
• Evening Wine Tasting paired with typical Sicilian snacks at property.
• Dinner free and on your own.

Day 4: Full Day Excursion To Mount Etna

• Breakfast served.
• Full day excursion to Mount Etna including a stop at a local vineyard for a visit and tasting.
• Included is a stop for lunch in a typical trattoria. (Lunch is paid on site/and not included.)
• Evening return to the property. Dinner free and on your own.

Day 5: Cooking Class 3

• Breakfast served.
• Cooking Class 3: Tie on your apron and join Mamma Antonia in the kitchen for your third hands-on cooking class.
• Lunch follows with the dishes prepared in class. After class everyone eats the fruits of their labor. Local wine included.
• Afternoon free and time for touring on your own. Suggested itineraries provided. Dinner is free and on your own.

Day 6: Catania Fish Market & Cooking Class 4

• Breakfast is served.
• In the morning we visit Sicily’s colorful Fish & Food Market. Alive and kicking even before the first hints of dawn, this market sells everything from fresh caught shrimp, anchovies, sea bass, to the fruits and vegetables of the season.
• Lunch on your own.
• Return to the kitchen in the afternoon for your Cooking Class 4. Your afternoon cooking class, followed by dinner with the dishes prepared in class. After class everyone eats the fruits of their labor. Local wine included.

Day 7: Caltagirone ~ Sicily’s Ceramic Pottery

• Breakfast served.
• Full day excursion to Caltagirone, the town known for its famous Sicilian pottery makers. Included is a visit to a local vineyard for a wine tasting with local cheeses and ricotta.
• Return to the villa in the later afternoon. Evening free and dinner is on your own.

Day 8: Departure

• Breakfast served.
• Check out & departure transfer to Catania Airport or Train Station.

*Note: This schedule may vary due to inclement weather, saint days or festivals. All activities, in the event of rescheduling, are always included during the program.