Devour 'Sicily in Spring' with Hidden Italy

'If it's nice on the lips, it goes straight to the hips'. Leave this old idiom at home and indulge, there is a way to enjoy the gastronomic delights of Italy without putting on a pound. Hidden Italy's 14-day guided 'Sicily in Spring' walking tour departs from 15 to 28 May 2009 and explores Italy's most spectacular island on foot.

As food should be a highlight on any visit to Italy, the focus of the trip is to walk up a healthy appetite and then eat to your heart's content. Does it get any better? Enjoy the freshest, regional produce at Sicily's most unique dining locations including an ex-Benedictine monastery, a palace, an island boat and glamorous city restaurants.

The all inclusive tour takes up to 14 people. The price includes 4-star accommodation every night; most meals and wine; daily baggage, land and sea transfers; admissions; guided, gentle walks covering up to 10km every second day; information on where to go in free time; and a full-time professional tour guide.

"Hidden Italy tours are unique because we take small groups off the beaten track and give them a genuine insight into local life - we meet the fishermen and produce farmers, visit a Sicilian family for a feast, and learn to cook in traditional ways" said Simon Tancred, Director of Hidden Italy.

"Spring is the ideal time to visit when the wildflowers are in abundance, there are no crowds, and the climate is perfect for exploring Sicily's rich heritage, cathedrals and art galleries on foot." he added.

The tour moves from the buzzing capital of Palermo, over the green and mountainous interior, to pristine islands in the Mediterranean and ends at volcanic Mount Etna.

Simon Tancred has lived in and out of Italy for 25 years and shares his passion and knowledge by leading two guided tours of Italy each year, to Sicily in May and Venice and the Lakes in September. Hidden Italy also offers eight self-guided tours to other Italian regions, and is an Australian-based boutique Italian walking tour specialist.

"Sicily in Spring" Highlights

* Palermo - 2 days at this exotic city, visit the Norman mosaics, graze on market delicacies such as medieval fast food 'panelle', fried strips of chickpea flour, and dine at Osteria Paradiso, the finest, traditional trattoria

* Gangi - 4 days in central Sicily, walk through rolling green hills and enjoy lunch at a medieval castle

* Aeolian Islands - 4 days exploring an archipelago of picturesque islands including the old town of Lipari, spend two days on a private, converted fishing boat and enjoy fresh seafood

* Taormina and Mount Etna - 3 days in Sicily's most picturesque town, visit the famous Greek theatre, walk through forest on the slopes of Mount Etna, taste olives from a 1000 year old tree with a picnic lunch at a vineyard

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and is the southern most region of Italy.

For more information and bookings go to Hiddenitaly.com.au.