If you love Montalbano's fiction and you want to discover Vigata, this tour is unmissable!
“Montalbano sugnu!“. Who knows these words? Of course, everybody who knows Inspector Montalbano TV series. The tv series is adapted from the best-selling books by Sicilian author Andrea Camilleri. The TV series of Inspector Montalbano is set in and around the fictional town of Vigata, that is the picturesque area of southeast Sicily. This Montalbano Food Tour will take you around the places of the famous TV series of Montalbano, discovering baroque beauties, scenes of the film, and Sicilian food!
Montalbano food tour from Catania is a full day divided in severals stops:
Pick-up at your accommodation in Catania or in the close vicinity at around 8.30 am in the morning.
First stop: First of all, visit of Donna Fugata Castle which figures into the film as the residence of a mob boss and Cheese tasting. Donnafugata Castle is a patchwork of architectural and artistic styles, including one Venetian Gothic facade and Baroque interior. The visit will take you around through many decorated rooms on the first floor of the castle, including a Hall of Mirrors, smoking room, music room, royal bedrooms, and many rooms with trompe l’oeil paintings on the ceilings. Visit of the castle’s gardens with a ~300 year-old ficus and a labyrinth. In addition visit of an ancient cheese factory to discover the production of cheese and tasting of famous cheese “Ragusano“.
Second stop: Especially relevant, in this stop of Montalbano food tour we will take you to ‘Marinella‘ and Montalbano’s house by the sea. ‘Marinella‘ actually is Punta Secca, a small fishing village where you can recognize Montalbano’s house. The village has a lighthouse, a small port and an old watchtower (Torre Scalambri). The Punta Secca Lighthouse is the famous landmark. Free time to make photos and enjoy the beach.
At lunch time we’ll offer for free a rich tasting of Sicilian typical products of the province of Ragusa, with water and red wine from Mt. Etna.
Third stop: after lunch, we are going to Scicli. The police station in “Vigata” where Montalbano plies his trade, it is in fact the town hall of Scicli in the beautifully conserved baroque’ street of Via Mormino Penna. Furthermore Scicli is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and there are many baroque churches, palaces and historical buildings to explore.
Fourth stop: Modica, yet another glorious baroque town and UNESCO World heritage site. Walking around the streets of this Baroque jewel, you can’t miss out the magnificent Church of San Giorgio and the handsome façade of Palazzo Polara which appear in the Montalbano TV series. Modica, is also well known for Chocolate. In addition, you will have a free tasting of Modican chocolate, peculiar because it is exactly how the Aztecs (and the Mexicans until the nineteenth century) made chocolate.
When the tasting will be over, you will get back on the minivan.
The return to Catania is expected at approximately 7 pm.