Our family just returned from a magical 10-day trip to Sicily, and I can’t say enough about how exceptional the experience was. From start to finish, every detail was thoughtfully curated, and we were made to feel so well taken care of throughout our journey.

First and foremost, I have to give credit to Laura, the owner of the trip planning company, who lives in Palermo. From our very first conversation it was clear that she is an incredible listener, genuinely dedicated to creating a personalized experience. Traveling with tween boys can be a challenge, but Laura understood exactly how to craft an itinerary that would captivate their imaginations while immersing us in the rich culture of Sicily. Her connections on the island run deep, and it truly showed in the unique and meaningful experiences we enjoyed.

Our guide for the majority of the trip, Maria, was an absolute gem. She was not only knowledgeable but also incredibly kind and caring. Despite facing terrible rainy weather for three days in a row, Maria remained flexible, always adjusting our plans with grace and ensuring our boys stayed engaged and happy. Her warmth and dedication to making our trip special truly made a difference.

One of the highlights was our time in a small Sicilian village, where we cooked alongside an extended family and their children. Sharing stories and recipes in such an intimate setting made us feel like part of the community. Another remarkable experience was visiting a Sicilian cart maker’s workshop and participating in a painting tutorial led by a master artisan who also creates textiles for Dolce & Gabbana. It was fascinating, and my sons were particularly enthralled by the Archimedes studio outside of Siracusa. There, they learned about the scholar’s inventions with real-life replicas, bringing ancient ingenuity to life in a way that still has them talking about it.

In Palermo, we had the privilege of meeting one of the last remaining puppet makers (pupari) on the island. Not only was the art of puppet making more captivating than we ever imagined, but the experience was also deeply moving. The generosity and passion shared during that visit left a lasting impression on all of us.

This trip to Sicily was not just about sightseeing; it was about forming connections and understanding the heart of the island. Laura and Maria made sure we experienced Sicily from a local’s perspective, which made every moment feel so much more profound. Thank you for an unforgettable adventure. We will always remember our time in this extraordinary place!

The Triche travelers at a “terrific” cooking class at Fontes Episcopi.

Sicily is a special place, the crossroads of history and Western civilization, and the sense of a continuous living history is everywhere. We have been four times now, and will likely return yet again. The possibilities are seemingly endless. The small towns and their people are steeped in that history, the food is unforgettable, landscape rugged and rocky and beautiful, and the freedom to simply soak it all in is perhaps the best part of the trip.

We chose our destinations based on things we had not seen before, and we were not disappointed. We focused on destinations away from the crowds and in the process met wonderful people, both the Sicilians and the guides. The food was amazing, and helping prepare at least three meals in different locations was special. Late Fall is definitely a great time to go; the weather was perfect. Our travel adviser, Laura, and her associates were pretty incredible; they were available at any time and were truly interested in making our trip memorable. There were so many unique destinations she chose based on our interview before the trip that it would be difficult to single out only one, but the way the trip evolved, from small Baroque towns on the southeast coast to the interior and Villa Romana (a spectacular don’t-miss destination) and Agrigento, and finally Taormina and environs was perfect, leading to a crescendo finish.

Each of the luncheons was special in its own right, but the ones at Motta Camastra (with Le Mamme del Borgo) where we prepared the macaroni, and Zio Pippo’s vineyard were something to remember. At his place we enjoyed simple food prepared by his wife and accompanied by his wine. Both are something you don’t forget. These people have been living there for 7,000 years, and it shows in their food, their wine, their engaging friendliness and their homes and land. The entire trip was a treat, but the hidden jewels were the small town visits and sitting down and eating with the local population.

Laura Massoni planned an amazing trip for us to northern Italy for 2 weeks in May 2024. Her team listened to what we were looking for and they nailed it! Perfect boutique hotels, great knowledgeable guides, and wonderful, meaningful experiences that we will always remember. We highly recommend Laura Massoni and her team and plan to utilize their services again for our next trip to Italy!

We were referred to Laura to help plan part of our trip to Sicily. We had already planned a bicycling trip and were looking to spend time before that started in a different part of Sicily. We were very pleased with the guides and drivers provided, as well as the recommended places. We especially liked our stay and cooking experience at Fontes Episcopi in Aragona, as well as our guided day trip from there to Sant’Angelo Muxaro, where we made cannolis and had a delicious lunch with a local family. The whole day, including a walking tour around the town as well as tasting local cheeses, olive oil, almonds and other products, was a nice experience that we would not have known to do without the recommendation from Laura.

The following day we had a guided tour of the valley of the temples in Agrigento. Our guide was excellent as well as the planned private lunch after at Casa Barbadoro. I don’t think we would have figured to plan any of this ourselves without the guidance from Laura’s office. We thank you for referring us to them and will refer other friends in the future.