Essence of Sicily

26/10/2024

Your gateway to authentic Sicily!

We are excited to present our new image. Sicily, through a connection to its land, from the crashing waves that surround it, evoking the essence of the island’s history and culture.

Essence of Sicily: storytellers of experiences and ambassadors of Sicilian traditions and emotions.

16/02/2024

We are thrilled to announce that we are a finalist for a 2024 Virtuoso Award. Essence of Sicily is honored to be a finalist in the Highest Annual Growth AUNZ– Onsite Partner category.

07/02/2024

We’re excited to share that Essence of Sicily has been nominated for the DUCO 2024 Italy Awards in the ‘Unique Experience Provider’ category!

This is a big nod to our work and our beautiful Sicily.

Support us and Sicily by voting - link in bio ✨

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07/11/2023

Beneath the Sicilian sun, amidst ancient stories and azure horizons, we gathered as dreamers and doers to craft memories that shall forever linger!

Absolutely thrilled to express our heartfelt gratitude for the extraordinary Virtuoso Chairman's Event that has just concluded in the heart of Sicily. 🌟🌞

We extend our sincerest thanks to , the entire Virtuoso family, and our travel companions, IDI Travel, IC Bellagio, Sicily Lifestyle, as well as Belmond, Rocco Forte, and Four Seasons. Together, we've unearthed the very essence of this enchanting island.

This event was a testament to the power of collaboration, shared passion for Sicilian culture, and a commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for our clients. We are immensely proud to be part of this incredible journey, and we look forward to many more adventures amidst Sicily's timeless beauty. 🍷🍋

Here's to new beginnings, lasting partnerships, and the boundless wonder of Sicilia!

So Virtuoso
So Sicily

29/09/2023

We are thrilled to announce that we are now part of Signature Travel Network.

We can’t wait to make your Sicilian experience a memorable one!




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27/06/2023

What Essence of Sicily is?

Essence of Sicily is a boutique travel company operating in Luxury Custom Travel since 2003, currently established as a leader in the sector in Sicily and main local partner of some of the most renowned travel circuits in the world.

Our philosophy is simple: each one of you is a special universe, and our idea is to offer you completely custom-made inspiration, story-telling and vision, drawing on our twenty years of highly recognized experience.

But Essence of Sicily is also us, Viviana and Peppe and our special team, our love for Sicily and care for people who trust in us and let themselves be guided to discovery the Essence of Sicily

21/03/2023

SAN GIUSEPPE’S RITUAL

It’s March 19 , in the small town of Palazzo Adriano religion and food bring people together.

The elders of the village meet at Circolo Unione as usual, anything but usual is what will happen in a few hours through the streets of Palazzo Adriano.

The only sounds that are heard in the air is the gentle goushes of the fountain and the bells of the Byzantine church calling the faithful to partecipate in the ritual. Slowly the square begins to fill up with people of all ages; There are those who come from the countryside with precious loot, bunches of asparagus or daffodils, people who bring baskets of sweets, some children laugh and run, the industrious Basilian nuns silently emerge from their rooms and cross the square To take part to The morning liturgy. It’s San Giuseppe , and the entire community of this small town in the sicilian hinterland, particularly devoted to the saint, is at work to celebrate him…

Continue on the website 👆🏼

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06/03/2023

22/02/2023

To know it, you have to imagine and let yourself be transported by the thousands of stories that Ortigia has to offer.

Reading a city’s signage allows us to interpret its stratifications, know its history, and understand the chronological periods and the populations that have lived there over the centuries.

Syracuse is an open book and to travel through it accompanied by the competence, passion and enthusiasm of those who can reveal every secret is a unique experience.





sicily

15/02/2023

There are places where you can experience an authentic way to live, where the time goes slowly and the people smile each other ; places where you can feel the warmth of family even if you are a foreigner just by lighting the fire and cooking toghether ; in these place you can take your time to enjoy nature, to fall in love with beauty, to encounter the authentic hospitality of Sicilian people.
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Concept and Management
Planning and Design
Experience
Photo
Table set
Flowers

07/02/2023

Some trades like a tradition from the past to the present remain unchanged and are handed down like precious possessions.

They are trades but also lifestyles that take shape in that fascinating and still unknown inland Sicily.

For six generations, the shepherd's trade has been handed down from father to son. It is a job made up of regularly repeated gestures that begin at dawn.

An experience that is a meeting with an ancient feeling and bond with the Nature, a feeling still alive in the authentic shepard’s life.

31/01/2023

A flourishing countryside surrounds an old mansion where medicinal plants paths and fruit trees lead you to a refreshing natural pool and a ‘gebbia’: an old tub – once used for gathering rainwater – now is a pleasing pool for aromatic bath with orange blossom, lavender, rosemary, rose’s petals.

These essences capture your senses and mind releasing wonderful sensations. Every drop of these organic cosmetics, created by expert pharmacists, concentrates all the active ingredients of the plants from the garden and the organic plantations of fruit trees.

Particular attention is dedicated to ancient remedies inspired by ‘kòsmèsis’: the precious knowledge of the Ancient Greece. Tradition and innovation for the beauty of your body and the balance of your soul.






sicily

24/01/2023

There is an olive tree that is between five hundred and eight hundred years old and preserves the memory of this estate that rises in the Val D'Anapo.

It is immersed in the silence between the dry stone walls and the typical colors of the Sicilian countryside.

Here the olive harvest, between September and October, is done by hand and starts early in the morning following the rhythms of the countryside.

Learning the gestures of tasting means educating the senses, stimulating the sense of smell and taste.

This place tells of the passion of those who work there and of a family tradition that is preserved and renewed through research.

The tasting experience conducted by the landlord is a journey among the senses: a
practice made of gestures that stimulate taste, smell and touch.






sicily

17/01/2023

There is something in a recipe that is impossible to write down, you can try to transpose it on the paper, but the truth is that the essence of a recipe is a secret hidden in gestures, in the way we touch the elements and take care of them; something that can only
be felt personally, guided by people who know this secret,
handed down from mother to daughter over the years.

The kitchen becomes a place to share food and knowledge, an opportunity to rediscover the importance of doing and learning things together.

Cooking together is a way to learn about and experience
the recipes that have made Sicily an excellence in gastronomy.

09/01/2023

Whoever drinks wine has a sense of aesthetics, beauty and the way of life.

A bottle of wine always contains the story of the family who produced it. Wines speak of the place where they were born, when tasting a glass of wine in the Etna area, one can experience the pleasure of the minerality of volcanic soils and feel the power of the Volcano.

Take some time to discover the wine roads on the slopes of mount Etna, and let yourself be guided by the passion of the winery owners on a deep journey through the history, flavours and soul of this land.

29/12/2022

Modica' hot chocolate tradition is also handed down today and along the streets, during some periods of the year, you can still smell the scent of cocoa and hear the sound of
beating; a movement that must be repeated to prepare the chocolate bar.

On the balconies of Modica's main street, nobles drank hot chocolate in a cup; a tradition that over time has
transformed and made this baroque region of Sicily the home of chocolate.

Modica's families still continue to produce chocolate, following a few simple rules and creating new combinations and flavors.

The scent and taste of cocoa beans, Sicily's history and the joy of doing things together, are the elements of this journey through an ancient art
that still continues to exist.

During Christmas or Easter the sound of beating can be heard throughout Modica's streets: as a tradition from the past to present many people still continue to prepare hot chocolate at home.






sicily

29/12/2022

Modica was a county where many noble families lived who fell in love with hot chocolate in a cup, prepared with hot water, chocolate and chilli.






sicily

20/12/2022

As a child Angela watched the nativity scene that her father patiently prepared and was
fascinated by that miniature world made of streets and characters in which she imagined getting lost.

When she grew up, it was the sight of the nativity scene displayed in a glass case that rekindled her passion for this world and for sculpture.

With many sacrifices and enthusiasm he began to give life to his workshop and his terracotta and fabric statues.

Over the years his passion has been transformed into a workshop where master craftsmen create unique pieces every day that are exhibited all over the world.

This is a tradition that lives on through the teaching of a woman who has made her workshop a unique school in the city of Palermo.




sicily

20/12/2022

This craft workshop is a school where every piece is prepared with care.






sicily

13/12/2022

Are you watching The White Lotus 🪷? Well, here is one of the charming locations used in the award-winning American series! There is a secret gaden in Palermo, an anthropocentric place, everything has been designed to make the human feel at the center from whatever perspective you find yourself, both inside and outside.
A walk through the garden is not only an historical, botanical and architectural journey, but also a stimulation of senses and thoughts!
A one-of-a-kind experience, a total immersion in true Sicilian nature that can be experienced exclusively and in a tailor-made way through Essence of Sicily!

13/12/2022

There is a need for greenery for the human species, for oases capable of providing an intimate well-being.

04/07/2022

🏛️Sicily’s magic it’s due to its eclectic history.
The Mediterranean island was home to Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans and Jews, to mention a few. Their heavy traces are all over the island, from Norman palaces to Roman ruins and Greek temples.
All of these influences are easily spotted in its culture, arts, food and even language.

Dreaming about Sicily? Get in touch with us
Phone: +39 0922 605810
Email: [email protected]

27/06/2022

🍇A journey among the best Sicilian Wineries is the perfect way to discover the different production territories, methods of wine making and to taste local food and products.

Altitude, climate and conformation make every vine different from the other… that's what makes Sicilian wines so precious.

Dreaming about Sicily? Get in touch with us
Phone: +39 0922 605810
Email: [email protected]

24/06/2022

Our team is dedicated to create unforgettable experiences for you.
Here’s how we’re ensuring you the trip you’ve been dreaming of:

1️⃣CONSULT: our initial consultation can be done by phone or e-mail. We'd love to hear from you!

2️⃣PLAN: we’ll provide you with our Planning Form so we can learn about your groups’ basic interests, travel dates and budget.

3️⃣BOOK: we finalize the itinerary and request a deposit as a confirmation of the tour.

Get in touch and let’s us show you the true essence of Sicily
Phone: +39 0922 605810
Email: [email protected]

22/06/2022

“The tours that they arranged for us were excellent and having a very knowledgeable personal guides made it all the better. The cooking classes set up for us were simply fantastic. In addition the prepaid dinners that were arranged for us in Palermo were outstanding. It’s hard to believe that everything went so well I could go on for pages outlining all the good times we had. As far as we are concerned it was the trip of a lifetime for us. We fell in love with Sicily and its people.
Regards, Mike"

Dreaming about Sicily? Get in touch with us
Phone: +39 0922 605810
Email: [email protected]