Savoring Sicily & Southern Italy with Chef Neil Blazin
Catanzaro Lido, Tropea, Siracusa
April 17-26, 2027
Starting at $6400/person
Join James Beard-nominated Chef Neil Blazin of Pittsburgh's Driftwood Oven for a culinary adventure through Calabria & Sicily! Embark on a captivating journey with us through the heart of Southern Italy, from the coastline of Catanzaro Lido to the sun-kissed cliffs of Tropea and ancient ruins of Siracusa.
This journey is an invitation to slow down and savor the soul of Southern Italy, where sun-drenched coastlines, ancient traditions, and unforgettable flavors come together - and where ‘dolce far niente’ comes to life. From the Ionian Sea to baroque piazzas, we’ll explore Calabria and Sicily through the lens Curata Travel does best: at the table, behind the scenes, and in the company of passionate locals who bring these regions to life.
On your tour, you’ll travel alongside Neil to experience the amazing culinary specialities of these regions. Get ready for hands-on culinary experiences, views you thought only existed in dreams, and the kind of moments that make you feel less like a tourist and more like you belong.
This is Southern Italy as Curata Travel promises it: deeply flavorful, beautifully curated, and meant to be experienced together. Keep reading for Trip Highlights and more important details! Contact us with any questions.
About Chef Neil Blazin
Neil Blazin is a James Beard Award–nominated baker and pizzaiolo, and the owner of Driftwood Oven in Pittsburgh. A devoted family man, Neil’s work is rooted in a deep love of craft and community, expressed through naturally leavened sourdough pizza, bread, and pastries. He draws inspiration from his love of travel and the joy of bringing people together, often using food as the centerpiece for gathering and connection.
At Driftwood Oven, Neil’s goal is to create exceptional food in a setting that feels welcoming, unpretentious, and familiar—more like gathering around a family table than dining out. Through his food and his business, he aims to build connection, support local producers, and offer an experience that is both elevated and deeply grounded.
Itinerary
Our 10 days will begin in the Calabria region before crossing the Strait of Messina to Sicily:
CATANZARO LIDO (3 nights) – this coastal hub along the Ionian Sea is renowned for its 3-mile stretch of golden sand beaches and a lively promenade and will serve as a perfect jumping off point for our Calabria experience;
TROPEA (3 nights) – with nicknames like "Italy’s Most Beautiful Village" and "Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea," this is a town you don't want to miss!
SIRACUSA (3 nights) – The small island of Ortigia, also known as Città Vecchia, is the oldest part of the ancient Greek city of Siracusa;
Tour Highlights
Enjoy some amazing seaside vistas at every turn! Stunning views of the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas at every stop.
We'll enjoy long, leisurely meals together, enjoying all the specialities that these regions have to offer! (leave room for dessert!)
Enjoy a caffè or aperitivo at the foot of the oldest church in Europe, in one of the most scenic piazzas in Italy, while watching the island of Ortigia bustle around you.
Walk the olive groves at a family-owned frantoio and enjoy a tasting of true extra virgin olive oil, right at the source!
Try the famous ‘Nduja of Calabria and learn about this fiery salume that's gaining in popularity amongst American chefs.
Pricing and other details
- Double occupancy: $6400/person
- Single supplement: $900
Deposit of $3000/person is due upon booking to reserve your spot, along with a signed & completed registration form. Booking is not considered confirmed until deposit has been received.
Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure, or installments can be made at any time up until that due date.
*The Best Price Guaranteed rate is the lowest price that will be offered for this tour. Once the Early Bird deadline has passed, pricing and promotions may change at any time. Any future discounts or special offers apply to new bookings only. We are unable to provide retroactive discounts or price adjustments for existing reservations.
Pricing includes:
- Nine nights hotel accommodations (3 nights in Catanzaro Lido, 3 nights in Tropea, 3 nights in Siracusa)
- All planned excursions & classes, including visits to artisanal producers and a hands-on cooking class.
- Meals included: daily breakfasts at our accommodations and most lunches & dinners. We curate each menu to focus on traditional regional specialties, accompanied by local wines.
- Experienced tour leaders and local guides
- Private motorcoach transportation throughout the tour
- Airport transfers on specified arrival/departure days/times. We include one group transfer for your arrival and departure at specified times. Any additional transfer will be at your own cost.
- Pre-tour virtual meetings and planning materials.
Not included:
- Airfare
- Gratuity for driver and Curata Travel tour leaders, at your discretion
- Any spending during free time, personal purchases, extraneous hotel charges (minibar, laundry service, etc.) and any alcoholic beverages not included with meals.
Each member of the tour will be responsible for booking their own international flights. Flights are not included in the tour cost. One group transfer will be provided based on the times below. Any additional private transfers would be at your own cost.
You will be picked up at the Lamezia Terme (SUF) airport on April 17 at 1:00p.m., then dropped off at the Catania (CTA) airport on April 26 by 9:30a.m.
We strongly recommend waiting to book non-refundable flights until your tour has been officially confirmed (at least 90 days prior to departure). While tour cancellations are uncommon, they can happen if minimum enrollment isn’t met.
If you prefer to book flights earlier, we recommend choosing refundable tickets or travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.
To ensure a high-quality, fully supported experience for all participants, our tours require a minimum number of confirmed guests before departure. Most of our tours operate with ~20 travelers; however, we must confirm a minimum of 12 guests before a tour is guaranteed to depart.
We typically make a final decision at least 90 days before departure. If the minimum number is not met by that date, we will notify all registrants and offer options including:
✔ transferring to a future departure date
✔ applying deposit toward another tour
✔ a full refund
Important: We strongly recommend that you do not purchase non-refundable flights until your tour departure is confirmed.
Our tours are designed for curious, engaged travelers who enjoy being out and about each day. While we don’t run “athletic” trips, our itineraries are active and require a good level of everyday mobility and stamina.
Most days include extended sightseeing, walking through historic centers, standing during guided visits, and getting on and off our touring vehicle multiple times.
You’ll likely enjoy this tour if the statements below feel comfortable and realistic for you:
✅ I can stand for up to an hour at a time
Guided visits at museums, historic sites, wineries, markets, and food producers often involve periods of standing. Seating is not always available.
✅ I can comfortably walk several miles over the course of a day
Daily sightseeing can add up to 8,000–12,000 steps. Walks are typically broken up throughout the day, but may include:
- Uneven cobblestones
- Hills or gradual inclines
- Rural paths at farms, vineyards, or countryside estates
You don’t need to be fast — but you should feel comfortable walking at a relaxed, steady pace with the group.
✅ I can get on and off a motorcoach without assistance
Our tours use comfortable touring vehicles, but they do require stepping up and down multiple times per day. Step heights vary by vehicle and location, and lifts are not available.
✅ I can manage stairs
Many historic buildings, small hotels, wineries, and family-run establishments do not have elevators, or may have only a few steps here and there. Even in hotels with elevators, some areas may still require stairs.
✅ I can handle my own luggage when needed
While assistance is often available, porterage is not guaranteed at every property. Guests should be able to:
- Roll or carry luggage short distances
We strongly recommend packing light and using manageable luggage.
✅ I have the stamina for a full, multi-day itinerary
Our tours are immersive and full of experiences from morning into the evening. Travel days, hotel changes, and full sightseeing schedules can be tiring — in a good way! Guests should feel comfortable keeping up with a busy but rewarding pace.
A few items of note for some of the destinations and the trip as a whole to help set expectations and better prepare you for the trip. Some of the expectations are outlined in our Traveler Guidebook and the Terms & Conditions form that you will use to register (see specifically the Traveler Code and Traveler Expectations sections), but to reiterate some as they specifically relate to this Sicily & Calabria itinerary.
Cusine - As hopefully most of you know, our tours focus heavily on the culinary specialities of each region and town we visit. So when we arrange a lunch/dinner or culinary experience, we are working with those restaurants to plan menus in advance that highlight the seasonal produce, and dishes that reflect the region we’re in. As this tour has stops on the island of Sicily and the Calabrian coast, you can expect seafood to be highlighted, for example. We will be collecting some of this information at a later date from you, but if there are food allergies we need to be aware of, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them. If there are entire categories of food that you just don’t eat (and are not willing to try), this might not be the tour for you!
Terrain: As you'll find throughout Italy, walkways are often made up of cobblestones and limestone paving. Good walking shoes, being sure on your feet, and staying alert are all key to getting around!
Excursions: With all of our excursions, you are not forced to participate if something like this is not your ’thing.’ You always have the option to stay behind and enjoy some free time on your own (please note, as mentioned in the Terms & Conditions, there is no compensation or refund for any portion of the tour or excursion you do not participate in).
Gallery
Check out some highlights of Calabria & Sicily!