Cooking Classes with a Market Tour in Sicily: the 5 Worth Booking

1.From market to Table Cooking lesson with a local in Sicily

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 114 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $163Our pick

Meet Letizia or Giuseppe at Syracuse’s Temple of Apollo, shop Ortigia Market for seasonal ingredients, then cook at the family country home. You may prepare fresh pasta, caponata, bruschetta, seafood, and dessert, with wine served at the shared meal. The group is limited to seven people.

“We had a fabulous day with Letizia and her family in Ortigia. She met us in the market where she took us on a shopping trip. There she showed us some of the local delicacies and how the many cultures that have been to Sicily in the past, influence its cuisine today. We then went to her lovely home where we picked fresh herbs, and vegetables from her large garden. And then the cooking and eating began! We were given a sample of local cheeses, some made by her father, as well as pistachios and olives. And of course, some Prosecco! She then instructed us in how to prepare a…”

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2.Visit of the Ortigia market and cooking class of typical dishes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $155

Meet chef Ettore at Bar Del Ponte for a guided walk through Ortigia’s Ancient Market, tasting and choosing fresh ingredients before cooking Sicilian dishes in his kitchen. You may prepare seafood, eggplant parmigiana, pasta, arancini, couscous and cannoli, then sit down to lunch with your group.

“What a fantastic experience...from selecting fish at the outdoor market, preparing the food and eating our fabulous creations”

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3.Ortigia market tour and traditional cooking lesson

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $240

Meet Teresa near Ortigia’s port for a guided market visit, local tastings, and food shopping. Then travel about 15 minutes to her villa in Arenella and prepare Sicilian dishes such as caponata, pasta, arancine, impanata, and ricotta desserts. The four-and-a-half-hour experience is offered in English for groups of up to six.

“We had a wonderful experience with Teresa. She is kind, patient and an incredible Sicilian cook! We hope to book another cooking lesson with her when we return to Sicily!”

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4.Market Tour with Cooking Class and Lunch with Negropolis View

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $142Best value

Meet Maria Rita near Ortea Palace Hotel and walk through Ortigia Market, learning about seasonal produce and Sicilian cooking. Then visit her home to make handmade pasta and other dishes suited to your tastes or dietary needs. Sit down to lunch with wine, coffee, and views of the archaeological park. Maria’s husband Pepe may join the meal.

“We had an unforgettable day with Maria Rita and got to know the soul of Sicilian food. First we walked the local market, where she had a lot of friends who offered us all kinds of samples. We discussed food options and picked ingredients for our cooking adventure. After a walk to her beautiful home, the cooking began. Making home made pasta seems easy but was harder than expected. After a while we made good progress while Maria Rita started preparing fish and vegetable. Finally the meal was ready and we tried all the fantastic food, and shared a good conversation on Sicilian traditions and food from different regions. We…”

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5.Cesarine: Small Group Market Tour & Cooking Class in Messina

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $176

Start in Messina with a local market visit, then join an English-language cooking class limited to 12 people. You will prepare two traditional Sicilian dishes, including pasta and tiramisu, before sitting down to eat with wine and coffee. The class lasts about five hours and returns to its starting point.

“They cancelled on us twice. The 2nd time was the night before we arrived so I had no way to rebook. Everything was sold out. So disappointing. My kids were so sad. Really looking forward to this.”

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