A journey through historic cellars, Michelin-starred tables, and seaside sanctuaries, set to the slow rhythm of the island.
In Sicily, the summer air is a perfume of orange blossom and sea salt. It’s a season whose story, especially in the ancient Val di Mazara, is told in vineyards that tumble toward the sea, in theatrical sunsets, in meals shared under a canopy of stars, and in ancient traditions constantly reborn.
This is La Sicilia di Ulisse, a curated collection of the island’s finest experiences. It is an invitation to journey along an itinerary that weaves from bustling cities to tranquil mountainsides, from historic wineries to coastal sanctuaries. From June to September, this path invites a deeper connection, a chance to savor not just the flavors, but the very soul of a landscape bathed in summer light, where the slow rhythm of the season becomes a luxury in itself.
Palermo: A Feast of Noble Palaces and Modern Plates
In time for the Festino di Santa Rosalia, from July 10th to 15th—one of Palermo’s most cherished and spectacular traditions—Palazzo Brunaccini Boutique Hotel unveils the Santa Rosalia Experience. This special package weaves together hospitality and gastronomic culture in the heart of the capital, including a private cooking class and a tour of the historic center.
A stop at Gagini is essential. Here, Chef Marco Massaia curates three tasting menus, where technique is in perfect service to the raw ingredients. Elevating the entire affair is the setting: a former artist’s studio that celebrates the interplay of art and cuisine. Also in Palermo, the Michelin-starred Mec restaurant delivers an experience where boundaries blur, merging design and innovation from its home within the Apple museum—a chance to discover the contemporary, technological soul of Sicilian gastronomy.
The culinary journey continues at Osteria dei Vespri, nestled in the heart of the old city. Here, a creative and intense cuisine honors the local territory without betraying its essence, an experience completed by a cellar showcasing over 600 Italian and international labels.
For an evening of true enchantment, on select nights dinner can be paired with a visit to Palazzo Gangi, the baroque masterpiece immortalized as the setting for the famous ball scene in the film Il Gattopardo—The Leopard by Luchino Visconti. It is a passage through art, history, and signature flavors inspired by Tomasi di Lampedusa’s novel—an authentic immersion into the noblest Sicily. One cannot, however, depart the city without paying homage to the historic Pasticceria Cappello, where the region’s sweets are still crafted with recipes passed down through generations.
Just a few kilometers from Palermo lies Bagheria, where, in a new location within the historic outbuildings of Villa Palagonia—a splendid jewel of the Sicilian baroque—Chef Tony Lo Coco of the Michelin-starred I Pupi orchestrates exclusive gastronomic journeys, including a coveted Chef’s Table. For travelers in Sicily in early July, the Baaria Film Festival (July 2-6) is a cultural highlight. The festival’s inaugural gala dinner, held on July 1st in Villa Palagonia’s magnificent Hall of Mirrors, saw chefs Lo Coco and Nino Ferreri present a menu dedicated to the island’s rich lands.
The Madonie Mountains: A Taste of the Wild Hinterland
The eastward journey along the coast leads to Cefalù. Here, within a historic 15th-century residence, in summer Cortile Pepe by Toti Fiduccia embraces its Arabian garden, where ancient trees hold court. It is a dialogue between Mediterranean cuisine and the creative flourishes of the young and talented Chef Vincenzo Sansone. Deeper inland, the sensory exploration continues in the unique setting of Sclafani Bagni, where Terrazza Costantino presents an unforgettable culinary experience with a tasting itinerary dedicated entirely to the produce of its own garden.
A notable date for the calendar is August 31st, with the Sclafani Wine & Food Fest, a celebration dedicated to promoting local gastronomic excellence. This region is also home to Tenuta Regaleali, the historic heart of the Tasca d’Almerita family, which reveals itself in all its charm amidst a landscape of rolling hills and country roads. Here, a journey into Sicilian wine geography unfolds for guests, with tastings enriched by an engaging family narrative.
The experience is completed by a tasting of extra virgin olive oil produced from the estate’s own groves. The Madonie also frame the small village of Castelbuono, where for forty years at his restaurant Nangalarruni, Peppe Carollo has been crafting menus based on local mushrooms and wild herbs.
The Far West: Sunset Cellars and Salt-Kissed Shores
Moving westward, near Monreale, Tenuta Sallier de La Tour, also part of the Tasca d’Almerita estate, invites an immersion among hillside vineyards with the “Alla scoperta di Sallier” experience, a celebration of Syrah and indigenous Sicilian varieties. Not far away, in Partinico, Cantine Brugnano ushers visitors into barrel rooms and historic cisterns transformed into tasting spaces. Here, two distinct wine journeys narrate contemporary Sicily—”I Tre Territori” and “Contemporary Sicilian Wines”—guided by the new generation of the Brugnano family.
Descending toward the coast, the sunset holds court in Marsala, where Cantine Florio and Cantine Pellegrino open their doors to multisensory experiences. The former presents Aperiflorio and Florio di Notte, two summer itineraries featuring tastings on a sea-view terrace and evening tours of the historic barrel cellars. The exquisite wines of Cantine Pellegrino, meanwhile, take center stage at the much-anticipated ‘A Scurata – Cunti e Canti al Calar del Sole (July 21st – September 1st) at the Saline Genna, within the Stagnone Reserve. This theatrical and musical revue, hosted at the Teatro a Mare Pellegrino 1880, features a program that marries performances by national and international artists with events celebrating Sicilian culture and its gastronomic heritage.
The historic Marsala winery Donnafugata also opens its doors to culture—and to its estates across Sicily, in Marsala, Contessa Entellina, Pantelleria, Etna, and Vittoria. This summer includes the tasting Una domenica in casa Salina, inspired by The Leopard series (every Sunday), and the celebrated Calici di Stelle. Every year on August 10th, the Contessa Entellina estate transforms into an open-air stage where wine meets art and music, creating a multisensory experience that transcends a simple tasting.
In Mazara del Vallo, between the Lago Preola Reserve and the Mediterranean, Tenuta Gorghi Tondi honors the slow rhythm of summer with guided tours, organic tastings, and the refined evening event Appuntamento al Tramonto. Held every Thursday from late July to early September, it is a toast to nature, surrounded by the gentle sea breeze.
The entire region ignites with sounds, scents, and colors, culminating in the Cous Cous Fest in San Vito Lo Capo, from September 19th to 28th. The event marks summer’s end by celebrating the meeting of Mediterranean cultures through dishes, music, and international guests—an essential experience for those who delight in taking time to discover, listen, and savor the island’s most iconic culinary fusions.
Agrigento: Capital of Culture 2025
Heading south, La Foresteria Planeta in Menfi provides a sanctuary of peace and well-being, its rooms enveloped by aromatic gardens, citrus groves, and olive trees. Here, Chef Angelo Pumilia’s cuisine reinterprets family recipes with contemporary finesse, while the Insula Beach Club, open until late September, serves as the resort’s exclusive seaside destination.
The experience is enriched with cooking classes, themed tastings, and for a deeper immersion, the Planeta in Tour: a journey across four historic family estates, from the sea-view olive groves of Capparrina to the ancestral heart of Ulmo, passing through Dispensa and Monte Cirami. It is a path marked by selected wines, authentic landscapes, and panoramic aperitifs—a magical setting, particularly during special events like the Festival della Bellezza at the Temples of Selinunte (August 20th–27th) and Inycon in Menfi (October 3rd–5th).
Before reaching Agrigento, the experience of La Sicilia a passo lento (Sicily at a Slow Pace) awaits. This day in Racalmuto, curated by the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, explores the world of writer Leonardo Sciascia through literary routes, historic homes, and 19th-century theaters. The day concludes with a convivial lunch, welcomed into the home of two true custodians of Sicilian cuisine, Franca and Lillo—an invitation to slowness, memory, and conviviality.
As the Italian Capital of Culture 2025, Agrigento’s calendar of events is rich and varied. Yet, between exhibitions and performances, one experience demands to be lived: the luxury of a stay at Hotel Villa Athena. It is the only 5-star resort nestled in the heart of the Valley of the Temples Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with direct and exclusive access. For the summer, the hotel presents the evocative Orto Experience: a candlelit dinner under the stars, with an unparalleled view of the Temple of Concordia, a true jewel of the Valley.
The journey to Licata is rewarded with the unmissable experience of a dinner at La Madia, Chef Pino Cuttaia’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant. In a warm and welcoming atmosphere, each dish is a passage into the authentic flavors of the Mediterranean, a sensory narrative that unites local ingredients, traditional stories, taste, sight, and memory.
Foto in evidenza: italia.it