Subscribe to RSSSicily is of Italy but not Italy, as we found out in a very special visit.
Elisa Celli, our leader, introduced us to Bella Vita, the beautiful life of Sicily and the very highest levels of hospitality and cuisine. Sicily Luxe is a not to be missed experience!
8 of us went –see the group
Elisa Celli, national best-selling author, TV hostess/producer
Joseph Cillo, fbworld.com Travel and Events Editor
Mary Buttaro, fbworld.com Photo Editor
Mark & Jo Lichtman, film producers and talent agents
Ed Dudkowski, TV Director/Director of Videography
Pat Orner, event chronicler, production associate
Bernard MacElhenny, international real estate developer
Here are the highlights of our visit.
Read our trip diary; view each day and photos — enjoy as we did.
Day 1
Rome, Italy to Palermo, Sicily
group meets at Fiumicino Airport (Rome) 2 PM –see
takeWindjet to Palermo airport, Sicily
taxi from airport to Palermo
overnight:
Grand Hotel et Des Palmes –go
Outside the Grand Hotel et Des Palmes.
highlights –see
Dinner: ‘a cuccagna ristorante –go
highlights –see
Day 2
Palermo & Mondello
Breakfast: Grand Hotel et Des Palmes
Squid cooking lesson & lunch: ‘a cuccagna ristorante –see
risotto with blood orange –see
Hosts: Francesco Paolo Sammarco (father) and Carmelo Sammarco (son)
on to Mondello Beach
stay:
Mondello Palace Hotel –go
Dessert from our Charleston dinner.
Dinner: Charleston Ristorante –go
dinner highlights –see
Day 3
Mondello and Palermo
early morning fishing at Mondello Beach –see
Breakfast at Mondello Palace Hotel
Grand Hotel Villa Igiea –go
tour and grand lunch –see
drive/sightsee through Palermo –see
visit/nibble
La Cubana Pasticceria (pastry shop extraordinaire) –see
Ristaurante La Strascino Pizzeria –see
overnight:
Day 4
Mondello and Palermo — on to Tasca d’Almerita winery
Breakfast at Mondello Palace Hotel
lunch at Trattoria Piccolo Napoli, Palermo – see
drive from Palermo to Tasca d’Amerita winery –go
extended visit with much gracious welcome –see
Dinner: Restaurante St. Vincent
overnight:
Tasca d’Amerita winery –go
Grounds outside Rosemarie Tasca d'Almerita's home and B&B.
Rosemarie Tasca d’Almerita’s home/B&B at Tasca d’Amerita winery–go
highlights –see
Day 5
Tasca d’Almeritawinery — on to Taormina
our gracious hosts, the Regaleali women –see
visit Anna Tasca Lanza’s kitchen and cooking class –see
drive from Tasca d’Amerita winery to Taormina
Accademia Italiana della Cucina Dinner –see
Achille Conti, President
overnight:
Hotel Villa Diodoro –go
Day 6
Taormina
Hotel Caparena –go
lunch, Tour Wellness Club and grounds, enjoy spa –see
Tour and sight seeing
Dinner with Sebastiano & Isabella DeLuca –see
Our dessert from Diodoro dinner with the DeLuca's.
overnight:
Hotel Villa Diodoro –go
Day 7
Taormina
walking tour and sight seeing –see
Dinner Vecchia Taormina Osteria Pizzeria
overnight:
San Domenico Palace Hotel –go
highlights –see
TaorminatoCatania – backtoRome
BreakfastatSanDomenicoPalaceHotel–see
Taxi to Catania airport
Fly to Rome — digest everything and collapse
Thank you to all who helped create our wonderful experiences.
Dr. Francesco Sciortino
Consul General of Italy — San Francisco
Wind Jet Airlines
‘a cuccagna Restaurant
Francesco Paolo Sammarco (father) and
Carmelo Sammarco (son)
Charleston Restaurant
Chef: Nino Tantillo
Sommelier: Georgio
Mondello Palace Hotel
Charleston Restaurant
Chef: Nino Tantillo
Sommelier: Georgio
Grand Hotel Villa Igiea
Chef: Salvo deCarlo
Matre’d: Rosario LaRosa, Matre’d
Tasca d’Almerita Winery
Lilly LoCascio, Relazioni Externe
Marquesa Anna Tasca Lanza
Giueseppe Tasca
Princessa Constanza
Lilly LoCascio, Relazioni Externe
Hotel Villa Diodoro
Sebastiano DeLuca and Isabella DeLuca
Stefania DeLuca, Driector of Sales & Marketing
Accademia Italiana della Cucina
Achille Conti, President
All pictures taken by Photo Editor Mary Buttaro with Olympus C-5050 digital camera OlympusCameras
