We want to spend a day outside of Catana, Sicily - some combo of farm/wine/food - but we do not have a car for our time there. (Our Etna walk tour guide lives in Catania and is picking us up - hooray!).
Anyone have recommendations for a really great full day out - a combo food/farm/vineyard tour that doesn’t sit us down to a plate of salami and cheese but some real cooking? Or anything as a day trip along these lines.
Much appreciated.
bean
Wont your Etna tour guide have some ideas?
I wondered the same. The guide would be the first font of ideas..
I’m not sure vineyard tours are all that interesting unless you are there during harvest or you want to see the grapes growing and learn about them. As someone who’s done my share when partner was in the business, I don’t see the big attraction when many other options might be available. Tastings I get, but walking through the vineyard?
Would you be interested in seeing cheese being made?
There’s chocolate but that would be in Modica.
Pistachios, in Bronte? That’s a bit of a schlep, I think.
There’s lots of olive oil being made in the SE; even if Chiaramonte Gulfi is the center of production, the guide will probably know a small producer closer to the city.
Maybe you ought to look through a couple of food guides for the area (SlowFood would be one; you could get their app, discuss with the guide, and maybe book lunch. Before going, the guide could call and request a tour of the kitchen for you…
I’m sorry because these thoughts of mine don’t seem all that on target and I’m just throwing out vague ideas, but right now I can’t think of anything else…but do go with the guide to “A Piscaria,” the fish market in Catania, and the Fera O’Luni fruit and vegetable market, both in the morning. Look for those kiosks (choschi) where they sell fruit drinks and granita–some of these are beautiful and historic.
I m sure he will be a good Etna guide but do not think he’s going to be the guy to tell me about the kind of food/farm/wine combo I want. Instincts.
no guides for us within Catania …I have been in and out of the restaurant biz in my life and am a market aficionado and a pretty darned good home cook ( a gabillion years ago, I got accepted to CIA but decided not to go). I am, however, taking plentiful notes and appreciate the ideas you wrote about.
When are you planning to go? a lot of places shut down in the cold/nontourist season, but there is some skiing up around Etna too and it doesnt get super cold at the lower elevations. There are some recommended places in the winegrowing areas around Etna Here is a NYT article about the area, which might give you some ideas https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/travel/sicily-mount-etna-wine-food.html as would Katie Parla’s blog which has recommendations for food, vineyard recommendations - and a guide. https://katieparla.com/city-guides/sicily/… or the Slowfood Osterie app. - a group of restos seem to get recommended repeatedly . On our trip for last month we had planned to stay near and eat at 4 Archi in Milo, and hoped to go to Cave Ox near Linguaglossa and visit Randazzo, on the N side of Etna as well. I wish I had recommendations from experience to give you, but your guide should be able to advise and get you reservations for meals and tastings. Still hoping to take that trip, and so I will be eager to find out what you decide to do.
Thanks. I should have written this - this is for the first week in June - the very end of our trip.
It should be lovely - and starting to get hot - then. Certainly not harvest season but plenty to eat and taste. Probably cheeses getting made - cheesemaking occurs in particular seasons, you might want to look into that
