On this page you will find an overview of all the activities in which you can participate while visiting Sicily.
If you have any wishes or ideas that are not already mentioned on this page, do let us know. We will see whether these can be arranged before your arrival on the beautiful island of Sicily. Click here to contact us.
We organize pizza workshops in a small pizzeria in the town of Balestrate. We will start off enjoying some antipasti, after which a real Sicilian pizzaiolo will explain how to make a tasty pizza and give all participants the chance to make their own pizza! All pizzas will be made in the wood burning oven. When everybody has enjoyed their self prepared pizza and a glass of wine, beer, water etc., it's time to enjoy the typical Sicilian dolci (dessert). Martijn or Laura will be present to translate into English so you don't have to speak Sicilian / Italian to enjoy this workshop.
Have you always wanted to know how typical Sicilian dishes, like the caponata, the peperonata, the parfait di mandorle or the sarde a beccafico (see picture) are prepared? Then the cooking workshop is something for you! The workshop takes place in the afternoon in Agriturismo Tarantola after which you can enjoy a lovely meal, prepared by you, the other participants and the cook. If you'd like to learn how to prepare more dishes, then we can organize a cooking course. In a couple of afternoons, you will be taught how to make several dishes, allowing you to prepare a complete Sicilian meal from the antipasti, primi and secondi piatti to the Sicilian dolci.
During this workshop you'll learn how to make marzipan after which you will be shown how to make the tasty traditional marzipan sweets, shaped in the form of fruits and vegetables, called frutta martorana. This workshop is also suitable for (young) children. If you would like to practice on your own or if you'd like to know more about the frutta martorana's history, visit our recipe page.
During the ceramics workshop you will learn how ceramics are made after which you can paint your own plate in the atelier of Beatriz Silva Orta in Alcamo. The painting of ceramics is a real Sicilian tradition and Beatriz makes both traditional drawings and personal designs. The plates can be picked up after two days (they have to be baked in an oven).
If we have enough participants we can organize a more elaborate course. Do not hesitate to contact us for additional information.
The area around Castellammare del Golfo is known for its beautiful nature. If you'd like to explore the area on foot, we can organize trips with an English speaking guide. You will get a packed lunch with the typical local pani cunzatu (bread prepared in a wood burning oven with cheese, tomatoes, anchovies and olive oil), so you can enjoy both Sicilian nature and a typical Sicilian dish.
We organize wine tastings in several locations throughout the area, including Winebar Aurelia in Castellammare del Golfo and Agriturismo Tarantola in the Alcamo countryside. When held at Agriturismo Tarantola it is possible and recommended to combine the wine tasting with a lovely meal with many traditional Sicilian dishes.
Because a lot of our guests would like to visit Mount Etna, we now offer trips to this breathtaking volcano. The trip is not only an interesting option for those who don't want to book an extra night closer to Mount Etna, but also for those who don't want to drive such a long distance themselves.
In the morning you'll reach (by small bus) a hotel close to Mount Etna from which a jeep will bring you to the well-known Rifugio Sapienza at an altitude of around 2000 meters. From here you'll go for a walk with an English speaking guide to the Silvestri craters. After having visited the craters you can have lunch at the Rifugio. If you don't want to eat in the restaurant you can bring your own lunch.
After lunch you'll be driven to a volcanic cave. Helmets and torches are provided. After visiting the cave the jeeps will drive through a chestnut forest with a wonderful view of the Bove Valley, back to the starting point. There the bus will be waiting to bring you back to Balestrate or Castellammare del Golfo.
In collaboration with the professional scuba diving center Cetaria, in Scopello, we organize boat trips, allowing you to see the beautiful coast line from the sea (Golfo di Castellammare).
You will start at the famous Tonnara in Scopello, after which the captain will show you the most beautiful beaches, caves and rock formations. You will have every opportunity to take pictures or film the beautiful landscape, passing the Faraglioni (cliffs), Punta Leone, Cala Disa, and much more. You will also have the possibility to take a dive in the azure blue water of the Golfo di Castellammare. On board there will be wine or fruit juice.
Cetaria's personnel all speak English.
If you like to go cycling with someone who knows the area, we can arrange a local cycling guide. Based on your whishes, he will plan an itinerary with you (minimum 50 and maximum 150 km, maximum 2000 meters elevation). Depending on the route, the guide will be waiting for you at Eurobici's in Partinico or at the Eni gas station in the town of Balestrate.
Click here for some examples of cycling routes you can follow with a guide.
It is also possible to rent a boat yourself to explore the gulf area of the Golfo di Castellammare. You can rent a motorboat for a morning, an afternoon or for the whole day.
From the harbor of Castellammare del Golfo you can follow the coastline, passing the beautiful bays, cliffs, rock formations and view the nature reserve Lo Zingaro and San Vito lo Capo. On-Sicily guests get a special discount.
Sicily and the Golfo di Castellammare in particular is a great place for scuba diving. We offer you the possibility to participate in several diving activities for a special on-Sicily price, organized by diving center Cetaria (Scopello). You can dive with a buddy, follow an underwater course, or visit the underwater museum, an area in which all sea treasures were left untouched instead of taken to a traditional museum.
When scuba diving is something you have never done before, you should try the “sea baptism” (see picture). With an English speaking instructor you will have your first diving experience in full gear (and shallow water). The sea baptism is suitable for everyone, even for children (7 years and older).
If you are already an experienced scuba diver you can rent diving gear at Cetaria.
All Sicilian instructors speak English.
