Taormina is one of the most magical places in Italy! The enchanting town clings atop a steep lush hillside and hangs right over the sparkling Ionian Sea. The massive snowcapped Mount Etna looms on the horizon. Located on the Eastern coast of Sicily, north of Catania, Taormina is the jewel of the island. The town is full of delightful 18th-century villas, charming cobblestoned laneways, high-end boutiques, antique shops, wine bars, perfumeries, and romantic restaurants. You can enjoy dramatic sweeping views over the coastline’s beaches and coves from many nooks and corners in Taormina.
This beautiful and wealthy Sicilian town has a long and fascinating history. The Greeks founded trading colonies on the island as far back as 735BC and built beautiful towns such as Syracuse, Agrigento, and indeed Taormina (then called Tauromenion). We can still enjoy the excellently preserved Ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina, perched overlooking the entire bay in a magnificent natural environment. Taormina was a prosperous trading center and eventually came under Roman rule, and when Rome fell, it became a vital hub during the Sicilian Byzantine period. Later, conquerors and inhabitants included the Arabs, Normans, Spanish, and French (under Napoleon) until finally, Sicily was incorporated into greater Italy.
The architectural and gastronomic influences of so many cultures are evident today. For foodies and wine lovers, Taormina is a “must-do” as it is home to some of the best restaurants in Sicily and on the doorstep of Mount Etna, which is producing some of Italy’s most exciting wines. We have designed this luxurious tour in Sicily for guests looking for gorgeous scenery, stunning food and wine, charming accommodation, and a private driver-guide. Contact us for more information on this unforgettable tour.
Signature journey
Highlights include Wine Tastings Mount Etna, Luxury boat tour, Authentic Eastern Sicily cooking class, Luxury Boutique Hotel Taormina, and Private Chauffeured Mercedes.
Day 1Catania airport – Catania - Taormina
Beautiful Taormina
Arrive at Catania airport, and your charming driver guide and Mercedes will be waiting for you. Transfer to the heart of Catania, where you will meet your private guide and start a gourmet walking tour of this vibrant town. You will get a historical overview of the UNESCO heritage old town and sample the Sicilian culinary delights it offers. These delights include arancini (called arancine on the western side of the island), fresh fish at the fish market, cipollata (grilled spring onions wrapped in pancetta), ricotta infornata and other cheeses, cartocciata. You will wash everything down with the best local wines and artisanal beers.
Transfer north to beautiful Taormina and settle into your luxurious boutique hotel, a converted small palazzo with spectacular views overlooking the sea.
Take some free time to enjoy a glass of wine waiting for you in your room, have a siesta, or enjoy shopping on your own in glamorous Taormina. Enjoy a stroll up the Corso Umberto, the main pedestrianized thoroughfare in town, nip into the beautiful Duomo and enjoy the sea views from Piazza IX Aprile. In the early evening, your private guide will collect you at the hotel to take you on a sightseeing and food tour of Taormina. Discover the most beautiful little shops and pick up some gifts such as Modica chocolate, Trapani sea salt, “Martorana” Fruit (made with Marzipan), fine olive oil, or perhaps some rare Sicilian wines from Pantelleria or the Aeolian islands.
Your guide will take you to the best place in Taormina for some wonderful and sinful cannoli, granita, and a glass of bubbly, and you will finish with a visit to the stunning Ancient Greek Theatre at sunset.
Tonight you have an outstanding welcome dinner waiting for you at one of Taormina’s gourmet havens, enjoy! Bavarian Heinz Beck is one of the world’s most famous chefs and has a 3 Michelin starred restaurant in Rome. At his restaurant in Taormina, he will astonish you, with dishes like whole-wheat pasta “Maccheroncini al ferretto” with red prawns, smoked aubergine coulis, and flavored bread’s crumb.
Day 2Taormina - Etna wine country - Taormina
Murgo winery in the shadow of Mt. Etna
Today is a wonderful wine tasting excursion to volcanic Mount Etna! But first enjoy an outstanding breakfast at your hotel, one of the best in Italy. Enjoy views over the sea while tucking into a fabulous breakfast with fresh-squeezed Sicilian red-blood orange juice, of course.
From Taormina, your driver will take you towards the volcanic Mount Etna, a fertile paradise for winemaking and Sicily’s most exciting wine region. Apart from vineyards, the pretty countryside around Etna is home to abundant chestnut groves, peach and lemon trees, wild wisteria, and artisan honey making. Local grape varieties in the exciting DOC Etna appellation include Carricante, Lucido, Catarratto, and Minnella Bianca (white); and Nerello Cappuccio and Nerello Mascalese (red). Nero d’Avola is also found in many cru reds. There is a multitude of excellent producers here, including the trailblazing Benanti, high-end Planeta, the friendly Murgo estate, the famed Cottanera, and many more. The lead singer of Simply Red Mick Hucknall also has a cult wine here in Etna called Il Cantante (legendary Salvo Foti is his winemaker).
You will visit two exceptional wineries and receive VIP private visits and superb tastings. Lunch will be in the wine country, of course, and will feature delicious regional Sicilian specialties paired with excellent local wines.
If you like pistachio, a must-visit is Bronte. Planted by the Arabs, the trees here produce very high-quality pistachio, thanks to the lava stone and the ashes from volcano eruptions. You can have a walk, visit Admiral Nelson’s castle and taste Green Pistachio of Bronte DOP based delicacies, sweet and savory. If you prefer, we can organize an excursion to Alcantara gorges, a unique natural landscape with high black lava cliffs formed from cooling lava and millennia of erosion.
Arrive back to Taormina in the evening, and enjoy a relaxing night on your own with our suggestions.
Day 3Taormina – Motta Camastra - Giardini Naxos - Taormina
Taormina's main square
After a leisurely breakfast, transfer to a small quaint inland hamlet, where you will participate in a rustic and authentic hands-on cooking class, mama style. Learn how to make Pasta alla Norma, meatball wrapped in lemon leaves, and caponata.
After lunch, a complete change of scenery! Transfer to the beautiful coast for a private boat tour in the Caribbean style waters. You will see Isola Bella, Giardini Naxos gulf, Blue Grotto, and the Fortune Cave.
Before dinner, enjoy refreshing Etna Spritz as an aperitif on the stunning terrace of the Grand Timeo, directly overlooking the sea and Etna. Bring the camera, as the views are breathtaking! Taormina has an array of restaurants, you are spoiled for choice, and depending on if you want something rustic and homey or chic and Michelin starred, we’ll make suggestions for you.
Day 4Taormina – Catania airport
Buon Viaggio!
Today your charming driver guide and comfortable Mercedes will pick you up at your hotel in Taormina to transfer you to Catania airport. But do not forget to try granita and brioche for breakfast before leaving beautiful Sicily! Depending on your flight time, we could also fit in some more sightseeing or activities.
We hope you had a marvelous tour and look forward to seeing you again!
Cellar Tours private itineraries include chauffeur-led transportation, carefully selected hotels, winery appointments, restaurant planning, and practical support before and during your journey.
Depending on the destination and proposal, your tour may also include private guides, tastings, special experiences, cultural visits, regional transfers, and dining reservations.
Your custom proposal will clearly show what is included, what is optional, and what is not included.
Our custom itineraries include chauffeur-led transportation, carefully selected hotels, private winery appointments & tastings, restaurant planning, and support before and during your travel.
International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses, optional spa treatments, gratuities and meals or tastings not listed in your itinerary are usually not included unless specifically stated.
All itineraries are private and pre-arranged for your party.
Yes, 100%. Share mobility considerations, allergies, dietary preferences, and pacing needs early so we can adapt hotels, transport, restaurants, and visits wherever possible.
