Escape to the Enchanting World of Sicily: Join Our Magical Retreat!

"To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Are you ready to embark on a journey that will not only tantalize your taste buds but also enrich your soul? Our Sicilian retreat is your passport to the heart of this captivating island, where rustic beauty, family, love, and natural ingredients come together to create an unforgettable experience.

Discover the Magic of Sicily

🍝 Culinary Delights: Immerse yourself in the world of authentic Sicilian cuisine. Learn to prepare mouthwatering dishes like busiate trapanese, caponata, and pesce spada under the guidance of passionate local chefs. Sip on exquisite Sicilian wines such Planeta, and savor the essence of Sicily with every bite.

"Sicily is more beautiful than any woman." - D.H. Lawrence

🌿 Farm Adventures: Traverse the picturesque landscapes of Sicily as you visit olive farms. Experience the rustic charm of these working farms and connect with the traditions that have been passed down through generations.

"Sicily is the land of oranges, and orange trees and clove trees and lemon trees, and olive trees." - Anna Held

🌟 Transformation Awaits: Sicily has a way of changing you after you experience its unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. Let this retreat be your gateway to personal transformation.

Wellness and Lifestyle Activities

🚶 Passeggiata: Embrace the Italian art of evening strolls, or "passeggiata," as you explore charming streets and squares, connecting with locals and fellow travelers alike.

🍷 Dolce Far Niente: Indulge in the sweet art of doing nothing and savor the moments of relaxation and reflection, just like the Italians do.

"Sicily has suffered 13 foreign dominations from which she has taken both the best and the worst. The sequence of different cultures has made Sicily a fascinating place, quite unlike any other." - Valeria D'Amico

🍽️ La Tavola: Engage in long, leisurely meals with technology-free conversations, savoring the flavors of Sicilian cuisine while building connections in true Italian style.

👗 Italian Chic: Elevate your experience by learning the art of dressing in chic Italian clothes that reflect the effortless style of the locals.

Educator, Theater Artist, Culinary Enthusiast, and Sicilian Explorer

As an educator and theater artist, Giovanna Mosconi has a knack for storytelling and a passion for bringing narratives to life. In the vibrant theater scenes of both New York City and Los Angeles, she wrote, directed, and produced hit plays that captivated audiences.

However, Giovanna's life took an unexpected turn in 2014 when her legendary chef-father, Pietro Mosconi, faced a life-threatening heart attack. Her father, the executive chef of two of NYC's longest-running Italian restaurants, Villa Mosconi and Monte's Trattoria, is a beloved figure in the culinary world. In the face of this crisis, Giovanna made a promise to a higher power. If her father were to survive and continue his culinary legacy in Greenwich Village, she would write his cookbook and tell his remarkable story.

Determined to keep her promise, Giovanna embarked on a culinary journey of her own. She enrolled in the prestigious International Culinary Center, earning a professional culinary degree. Armed with her newfound culinary expertise, Giovanna joined her father in the kitchen, learning his cherished recipes and capturing his culinary wisdom in her book, "The Chef of Greenwich Village."

To share her passion for healthy eating, Giovanna launched an Instagram page, "TheChefsDaughterNYC." Here, she curates delicious, heart-friendly meals while also showcasing fitness inspiration and exercises from her friend Brooke Burke's fitness app, BBBODY - where her menus appear to help women maintain a healthy lifestyle.

But Giovanna's love for Italy and her annual summer sojourns to the enchanting island of Sicily hold a special place in her heart. It was on her first trip to Sicily a decade ago, where her husband proposed to her, that she discovered the island's captivating magic.

As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once wrote, "Sicily is the true Sicily for me, and I can only love her." For the past decade, Giovanna has returned to Sicily, deepening her connection to its beauty, culture, and traditions. Now, she's thrilled to extend an invitation to you to join her on a journey of discovery, where you'll experience the unparalleled allure of Sicily and why there's truly no place like it.

Get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure with Giovanna Mosconi, your host for the Sicilian Retreat, and immerse yourself in the magic of Sicily.

Join Giovanna in Sicily - Where Stories Come to Life and Culinary Adventures Begin.

Villa Igiea: a turn-of-the-century palazzo at the perimeter of vivid Palermo, the foot of Mount Pellegrino and the Gulf of Palermo. 

A long-loved seaside-meets-city sanctuary for royalty, dignitaries and Hollywood luminaries, trace their paths through tiered villa gardens that sweep down to the port and out to the Tyrrhenian Sea; on excursions to Palermo’s bustling markets, Baroque palaces and ancient sites, or yacht trips along its picturesque coast; and through Villa Igiea’s Italian restaurants, atmospheric bars and palatial Art Nouveau interior, revitalized as a Rocco Forte hotel.

Get the celebrity treatment with world-class service at Rocco Forte Villa Igiea

Offering panoramic views across the Bay of Palermo, Rocco Forte Villa Igiea is 1.2 mi from Palermo Harbor. 

It features an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, and elegant rooms and suites.  Every room has a different design and layout at Rocco Forte Villa Igiea and no two are the same. They do however have many facilities in common, including air conditioning, satellite TV with pay-per-view movies, and a writing desk. Some offer views of the Tyrrhenian Sea or Pellegrino mountain.   You will also find a gym, solarium and massage rooms at this luxury 5-star hotel.  

Verdura Resort:  Paradise Found on Sicily's South Coast. 

Welcome to Verdura Resort: 230 hectares of sun-kissed Mediterranean coastline, countryside, spa and golf.

Olive trees, orange groves, and white-sand beaches. Tennis courts, water sports, championship golf, and kids’ clubs. Infinity pools, thalassotherapy, and the flagship Irene Forte Spa. Fine dining, healthy eating, and world-famous local wine. Luxurious eco-architecture and organic ingredients, grown on our land. Verdura is an oasis, a center of well-being, escapism, and indulgence set against the backdrop of charming Sicilian villages, ancient Greek and Roman sites, and the beautiful, blue Mediterranean Sea.

Verdura Resort's spacious rooms feature a balcony, a king-size bed, satellite TV, and a large private bathroom. Some rooms have their own private courtyard and terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.  Free room amenities at the Verdura Resort include a beach bag and towel, together with bathrobes.  The Verdura's many sports facilities include 6 tennis courts, two 18-hole golf courses and one 9-hole course, a 60-yard infinity swimming pool, and a gym. The resort's running trails cross through lemon trees and olive groves.  

Verdura Resort features 4 thalassotherapy pools, an extensive beauty treatment program, and a variety of massages.  The Verdura Resort's restaurants and bars all provide a large selection of fine wines and characteristic Sicilian cuisine.

Verdura resort video 

Villa Igiea video

Planeta

Our story and our journey began at Ulmo. In the middle of the 1980’s we planted our first vines around the 16th century farmhouse which the family has always owned; a beautiful place full of memories which we wanted to provide with a new future. We built our first winery in 1995 on the banks of the Lake Arancio and its nearby woods, in really delightful countryside. We also established the Iter Vitis museum, surrounded by a ‘Collection meadow’ of different Sicilian and Georgian vines, inspired by the idea of enhancing the rich Sicilian winemaking tradition. The nature footpath, La Segreta, leaves from the winery and leads to exploration of three more different paths which border the vineyards, discovering untouched corners and unexpected views. Hidden within the Menfi hills and with 160 hectares of vineyard, the Dispensa estate is the beating heart of all our activities. The family houses are within the Baglio, while around them lie our production, administrative and planning centres. The larger part of the company’s production takes place here, and we have built two wineries; the large and the small. The Infernotto, inside the small winery, is our family caveau, with a collection of our favourite labels from all over the world and all the Planeta vintages.

Amodeo's Farm 

We propose a private experience and need a prior reservation. 

Olive oil experience includes a food tasting lunch of Sicilian home made food paired with our Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Our olive oil experience is a full immersion in our extra virgin olive oil world.

We will meet and stay at our farm old country house,visit the the olive grove, practice harvesting methods old and modern, have an olive oil tasting class.

You will have time to relax around the country side, front house terrace or under the olive trees.

History and territory of the Belìce Valley and of the earthquake of 1968.

Drinks: local Wines, coffee, water

See experience at this link

Villa Igiea SPA Brochure 

Verdura Resort SPA Brochure

Land in Palermo airport and transfer by minivan

Check-in at Villa Igiea + rest and settle in the room

Welcome Aperitivo 

Authentic Sicilian Dinner at Villa Igiea

Mindful chats and early bedtime sleep 

Rest and recharge after a long time travel

Morning fitness session at the Spa at Villa Igiea 

Breakfast at Villa Igiea 

All day in Palermo, city tour Transfer to the city by minivan

Guided walking tour in the heart of the city center, 3h30,  (including Entrance tickets) 

Dinner at a restaurant in Palermo (Restaurant suggestions attached)

Breakfast at villa Igiea

Check out from Villa Igiea

Excursion to Cefalu 

Transfer to Verdura Resort with a minivan bus

Fab dinner at Verdura Resort

Breakfast at Verdura Resort

SPA time 

Extra activity - this will last 4 hours (It is not included in the retreat cost, but we can organize it for those who want to go) - Olive oil tasting and lunch at Partanna olive oil farm. Amodeo's Farm in Montevago about 40 minutes away from Verdura Resort.

Please find the Experience at this link: Olive Oil Experience - Food Tasting Lunch.

The Olive oil experience includes a food-tasting lunch of Sicilian homemade food paired with our Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 

This is a full immersion in the Sicilian extra virgin olive oil world. We will meet and stay at Amodeo's farm in an old country house, visit the olive grove, practice harvesting methods old and modern, and have an olive oil tasting class. You will have time to relax around the countryside, front house terrace or under the olive trees. History and territory of the Belìce Valley and of the earthquake of 1968. Drinks: local Wines, coffee, water, etc. Estimated time: flexible from 2 to 4 or 6 hours. Transfer by minibus is included in the tour.

Lunch will be at guests discretion, for those who do not attend the olive oil tour

Once everyone is back to the resort, we will enjoy an amazing cooking class, hosted by Joanne. This class will be hosted at Verdura Resort. 

Dinner at Verdura Resort 

Evening stroll on the property

Start your morning with a beautiful yoga stretching session hosted by Joanne, followed by a delicious breakfast at Verdura Resort. 

Pasta-making class at our Casetta dell’orto, at Verdura Resort and lunch at Verdura Resort 

The afternoon will be at everyone's leisure, this is the free-to-be time, to be spent at the SPA, relaxing in your room or by the pool.

In the evening, we will be heading to the historic city of Sciacca

Dinner at Sciacca

Restaurant will be booked, but menu will be a-la-carte and this dinner is not included in the retreat package (everyone will be charged for what they will order)

Back to the hotel - rest and recharge

Total Body Sculpt to energize your morning

Breakfast at the hotel 

Followed by free-to-be time,. SPA time, relax 

At lunch, we will embark in a Caponata class at the hotel 

Wine tasting aperitivo + dinner Planeta Ulmo (4 hours excursion)

Back to the resort

Rest and recharge

Wake-up yoga and stretching 

Breakfast at the hotel 

Agrigento trip, Transfer by minibus (4 hours excursion) 1 guided tour at the Valley of the Temples (approx. 1.5 hours) entrance fee included in the retreat package 

Lunch at everyone's discretion and not included in the retreat package 

Aperitivo at Verdura Resort

Dinner at Verdura resort 

Rest and recharge

Morning breakfast at the hotel

We say goodbye but this is just really an Arrivederci - a see you again soon friends! 

Airport drop off

Departure back to the States