Food and Wine Lover's 4-Day Itinerary to Sicily

You will likely arrive in Palermo in the afternoon, either by boat or plane. Check into your hotel and head to Trattoria Corona for delicious seafood. I recommend the bucatini with sardines, but if sardines aren't your taste, try their fish of the day. If you aren't hungry enough for a full meal, head to Franco U' Vastiddaru for a bite of arancini.

Next, explore Palermo. Take a walk through the Botanical Garden and then head to the Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel for a beautiful look at beautiful Byzantine Mosaics. If you really want to immerse yourself in the city, check out the Mercato di Ballaro and grab an Aperol Spritz while you explore a diverse array of food and other products.

Drive about an hour east of Palermo to the town of Cefalú, a fairly quiet beach town with colorful umbrellas against cappuccino colored walls. If you arrive early enough, I recommend grabbing a table in the center of Piazza Duomo for a pastry and coffee. If you can't make it to the Piazza Duomo in the morning, try to visit Piazza Duomo for a gelato and passeggiata (stroll) to or Piazza Garibaldi in the early afternoon, followed by a glass of wine or Aperol Spritz.

I try to get to Cefalú beach early to set up my umbrella. However, if vying for a premium section of beach isn't for you, try visiting one of the many lidos (beach clubs) Cefalú has to offer. You can expect to pay about €30 per day.

People surrounding the base of Mount Etna have practiced winemaking for over 1,000 years. I recommend visiting a few of the many natural wine makers, including Vini Eno Trio, Vino di Anna, Salvo Foti and Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen. No matter which vineyard you visit, you'll encounter winemakers full of passion and hospitality. Who knows, if you're willing they might even take you up on an offer to help harvest their grapes.

If wine isn't for you, don't worry. You'll also find delicious foods like olive oil, honey, cherries pasta and cheeses (don't miss out on the baked ricotta). There are also fantastic tours of Mount Etna, where you can take a cable car to the summit and explore fossilized lava trails.

Catania is a beautiful, Baroque city on Sicily's east coast. You can't go wrong getting lost in the maze of streets the city offers.

I recommend booking a dinner at Locanda Cerami or Osteria Antica Marina, which has a tasting menu starting at only €25. For a late night meal, check out barbecue stands on via Plebiscito. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try the local delicacy, horse meat in the form of meatballs or steak. Wherever you chose to eat, try Catania's signature pasta sauce, alla Norma.