A taste of Sicily
WORDS Vicki Ravlich-Horan PHOTOS Brydie Thompson
It’s mid-afternoon on another cloudless day in Sicily, and I’m taking a moment. It is day seven of our first Taste of Sicily tour, and after another busy day, we will be in Ortigia for the afternoon.
My resting place is more accurately the stone foundations of the Temple of Athena, which the Normans turned into a cathedral. Its beautiful Baroque façade was added in the 18th century after the devastating earthquake of 1693. This tapestry of history, which is evident beyond the magnificent buildings, is what makes Sicily a remarkable place to visit, and sometimes you just have to take a minute to let it all soak in.
The fact that we are sitting on 2500 years of history is not lost on the group as they slowly join me after wandering around Ortigia. We only have one more day left on our tour, and I’m not alone in my reverent mood (it’s not just the wine we had at lunch). We have seen, experienced, and eaten so much since arriving in Sicily, it’s hard to believe it’s only been a week.
We started in the capital, Palermo, where the chaos of the markets and busy streets was balanced by a beautiful dinner and introduction to Sicilian wines in a perfectly restored private palazzo. We wound our way up the mountain to the charming town of Erice, where we learnt to roll the local pasta and were fortunate enough to meet the famous pastry chef Maria Grammatico (author of Bitter Almonds). We visited Marsala’s ancient salt pans and took a boat trip to Mozia Island for a glorious picnic. We’ve sped around the narrow streets of Modica in Fiat Bambinas and watched the sun set over the ancient Valley of the Temples. We’ve sampled granita in Noto and visited local cheesemakers, chocolatiers, and winemakers, enjoying their passion as well as their products.
Tomorrow, we’ll be awed by the fresh produce and fish in the Catania markets. Then, we’ll head up Mount Etna for a sensational lunch at a local winery before our last night in the picturesque town of Taormina.
Find out more about Taste of Tours’ bespoke, small-group food tours, including the Taste of Sicily tour at tasteoftours.com