Epicurean Delights: The Food & Wine of Sicily

This cruise is part of a collection of PONANT themed voyages that are specially-tailored for English-speaking travelers who want to engage with the world. In addition to the usual elements of the PONANT experience, the listed price for these voyages includes transfers to and from the ship, talks and discussions aboard ship by world class experts, and a shore excursion or activity in each port of call that encourages guests to embrace the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the local environment and culture.

This carefully curated voyage to Sicily combines visits to some of the most culturally rich destinations in the country with a focus also on the distinctive culinary traditions of the regions visited. Moving through Sicily, a crossroads of the many historical civilizations—Greek, Roman, Arab, Byzantine, Norman—that have flourished along the shores of the Mediterranean, you explore no fewer than seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And as you make your way, you sample the wines of Etna, as well as the breads, olives, meats, and cheeses of the island. An ideal way to experience Sicily, where food—its cultivation and preparation—has always been central to the good life.

As a special treat, acclaimed Italian chef Denny Imbroisi and his team will join you aboard to prepare authentic Sicilian and Italian dishes for you to enjoy during your voyage.

Setting sail from Malta, your first stop in Sicily is Porto Empedocle, gateway to the fabled Greek temples of Agrigento, among the most captivating ruins in the entire Mediterranean. Opt to visit Kolymbethra Garden, a shaded corner of paradise in the Valley of the Temples, filled with centuries-old olive trees and the sweet fragrance of citrus fruits.

After rounding the western tip of the island, you arrive in Trapani for an excursion into the countryside and the ancient Doric temple of Segesta or to medieval Erice, perched on a high triangular plateau sloping down to the sea. Or opt to sample the region’s famous Marsala wine at a local winery.

Your fourth day aboard Le Dumont-d’Urville brings you to Palermo, founded by the Phoenicians in 827 BC and becoming one of Europe’s greatest cities in the 12^th century, when the Normans took control. Here you will visit Cappella Palatina, a Byzantine-Arab-Norman structure featuring dazzling mosaics and magnificent inlaid marble floors and walls, and Monreale to explore its famed Norman cathedral. Alternatively, wander the streets of the Ballarò Market, one of the oldest street markets in Palermo, to sample traditional Sicilian street food like panelle (chickpea fritters), sfincione (typical Sicilian pizza), crocchè (fried mashed potatoes), and Sicilian caponata (a local eggplant dish).

In Lipari, discover the 16^th-century Norman castle-turned-archaeological museum on the site of an ancient acropolis before sailing in the evening to Stromboli, whose active volcano provides the backdrop as you cruise around the island.

From Stromboli, your ship calls in the city of Reggio di Calabria on the Italian mainland. Just across the Strait of Messina from Sicily, Reggio di Calabria is home to the National Archaeological Museum of Magna Graecia and the world famous Riace Bronzes. The surrounding area, both along the coast and in the interior mountains, boasts a number of intriguing castles and many wineries. During your time here, you may visit the hilltop Norman Castle in Vibo Valentia, the Ruffo Castle overlooking the Messina Strait, or the Aragonese Castle in the village of Pizzo, enjoying a variety of local food specialties whichever excursion you choose, including the native citrus bergamot and the ice cream and fruit delight called tartufo.

Back in Sicily, across the Strait of Messina, the beautiful resort town of Taormina, perched high on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea, is home to a stunning Greek theater, an Odeon from Roman times, buildings blending Arab and Norman cultures, and villas built by European aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is also your gateway to Mt. Etna and the vineyards that thrive in the rich volcanic soils of its slopes.

The final port of call before your voyage comes to an end in Valletta is Syracuse, where you may choose to focus on Ortygia, the ancient center of this once-powerful Greek colony, and on the city's extensive archaeological park; enjoy a tasting at a nearby winery; or join excursions—including one to Baroque Noto—that combine visits to historical sites with samplings of arancini, cheeses, salamis, breads, and desserts.

Your voyage ends back in Valletta.