Customize Your Travel

No two journeys to Sicily should be alike—this is a place that defies definition, rewards curiosity, and offers up its secrets only to those willing to slow down and listen. At Cognoscenti Travel, we don’t just plan trips—we craft layered, sensory-rich experiences grounded in cultural preservation and decades of local knowledge.

Whether you’re drawn to ancient Greek temples or baroque hillside towns, to Marsala wines aged beneath hand-sealed cork or marzipan shaped like tiny lemons, we’ll open doors—often literal ones—to the real Sicily. This is a journey designed around you, made possible by our deep connections, black book of trusted characters, and enduring commitment to this complex island.

Why Travel with Cognoscenti?

  • Cultural Integrity: Each experience supports the preservation of Sicilian history, cuisine, nature, and architectural heritage.
  • Exclusive Access: From aristocratic palazzi to boutique wineries, we unlock places the average traveler could never reach.
  • Tailored to You: This is a suggested itinerary—a canvas. We’ll curate every detail around your interests, rhythms, and desires.

Tailored to You

All our itineraries are suggestions and will be designed around your personal needs and requirements

Guide price

From €500 per person, per day

Best time

April to December

Perfect for

Cultural explorers, gastronomes, romantics, and anyone ready to fall under Sicily’s spell

Selected Experiences

Experience 1

The wine road to Erice

Begin in Marsala, where we’ll introduce you to one of the island’s oldest and most storied producers: Marco De Bartoli. In an intimate cellar visit, taste fortified wines dating back generations, poured by the family themselves. Lunch is served at Olio Titone, an award-winning olive oil farm that defines the word “terroir.”
Take the cable car up to Erice, a medieval jewel perched 751 meters above the sea, where cobbled lanes wind between stone churches and sea views stretch to the Egadi Islands. End the day at Gli Archi di San Carlo, a beloved trattoria with no need for menus—only trust.
Stay: Villa Cecilia, Marsala – A noble country house, reimagined for today, with jasmine gardens and a private pool.


Experience 2

The Salt Road and Segesta’s Echoes

Step back to 400 BC with a guided walk through Segesta, a classical city lost in time, crowned by its Doric temple and open-air theatre. Continue to Marsala, known for its sun-drenched salt pans and Phoenician ruins. Travel the Via del Sale, past pink salt flats and windmills, before reaching Mozia Island, once a thriving Phoenician colony. Enjoy an unforgettable dinner under the stars, surrounded by ancient history and still water.
Stay: Villa Cecilia, Marsala


Experience 3

Festive Palermo & Christmas in Erice

Wake on Christmas morning in a palazzo. Sip espresso and unwrap gifts as Sicilian carols float through the air. Join Palermo’s rich celebrations—or let us guide you to a candlelit Mass in a centuries-old church. Later, a private transfer takes you to Custonaci, where actors and animals perform Sicily’s most authentic live nativity. Ride the cable car to Erice, now dressed in festive lights and Medieval reenactments, and end your evening with hearty food and a firelit table at Gli Archi.
Stay: Palazzo Alliata di Pietratagliata – A private residence where Sicilian nobility once hosted poets and politicians.


Experience 4

Monreale Mosaics & Marzipan Artistry

Just outside Palermo, discover Monreale Cathedral—a marvel of Norman architecture, whose golden mosaics are rivalled only by Ravenna. Then, step into a private kitchen to learn the delicate art of crafting Frutti della Martorana: almond paste sweets shaped and painted to mimic real fruit. It’s an edible expression of Sicilian craftsmanship. End your day with a Michelin-starred dinner in Mondello, with the sea as your soundtrack.
Stay: Villa Igiea – A Belle Époque retreat once frequented by royalty and film stars.


Experience 5

Baroqueshire: Ragusa, Modica & the Chocolate of the Gods

Begin in Ragusa Ibla, where our Cognoscenti guide brings this baroque masterpiece to life. Meet a wooden cart artisan keeping Sicilian traditions alive, then enter the Circolo di Conversazione—an 18th-century gentleman’s club rarely open to outsiders. Transfer to Modica for a hands-on tasting at Antica Dolceria Bonajuto, where Aztec-inspired chocolate is still made by stone. Climb to the Duomo di San Giorgio and watch as the town falls away below you in golden light.
Stay: San Corrado di Noto – A Relais & Châteaux estate set amid citrus groves and soft hills.


Let Sicily Unfold Around You

These are just a few brushstrokes. We’ll shape the rest—whether you dream of sailing to the Aeolian Islands, truffle hunting in the Nebrodi, or feasting with a baroness in her private villa.

Let Cognoscenti Travel guide you into the heart of Sicily, one unforgettable moment at a time.

Luxury Itineraries & Private Tours

Every Cognoscenti Travel itinerary is custom-designed to match your style, interests, and pace

fennel and oranges served on a plate, top view, traditional Medi
Chef's Tour
A food lover’s dream. From bustling street markets and hands-on cooking classes to Michelin-starred dining and exclusive vineyard visits, this tour is a true culinary Journey.
Itinerary white lotus
White Lotus
The ultimate luxury tour through Sicily’s most iconic sights. Stay in opulent hotels and noble palaces, and unwind along glamorous coastlines. This is the best of the Best.
Itinerary Etna and wine
Etna Volcano & Vineyards
Experience the raw beauty of Europe’s largest active volcano. Hike or drive through its scenic foothills and enjoy tastings at some of Sicily’s most extraordinary wineries.
Turqoise Water on Lipary Island Shores , Aeolian Islands , Sicily, Italy.
Sailing the Aeolian Islands
Set off on a private island-hopping adventure through Sicily’s volcanic Aeolian Islands. Sail in style and discover hidden gems off the coast.
The Cathedral of Syracuse
Syracuse & Baroqueshire
Explore the culture-rich coastal cities of Siracusa and Ortigia, then journey inland to the beautifully preserved Baroque hill towns of Noto, Modica, and Ragusa.
Antiche saline in disuso sull'Isola Lunga (Marsala).
Customize Your Travel
Let us build your perfect Sicilian getaway, tailored to your schedule, group dynamic, and interests—whether it’s a weekend escape or a month-long journey.

Explore more of Sicily