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