by Ken Shapiro
Last updated: 5:00 PM ET, Mon May 25, 2026
This article
originally appeared in the May issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe
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Sicily surged back
into the spotlight after San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel,
appeared in season two of HBO’s hit show "The White Lotus." But the
island’s appeal extends far beyond its on-screen moment. Sicily’s rich history
— shaped by Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans, as well as its association with
the Mafia’s origins — contrasts with its modern, jet-set appeal that’s now
drawing renewed attention.
For more than 80
years, Perillo Tours — along with its custom arm, Perillo Custom Vacations —
has built a reputation as a go-to operator for Italy. During a recent press
trip, I was interested to see how that legacy translates into a more tailored
Sicilian experience.
My tour was a
variation of the Sparkles of Sicily itinerary offered by Perillo Custom
Vacations (formerly ItalyVacations), which provides fully customizable
itineraries to Italy for independent travelers. Perillo Custom Vacations
specializes in designing personalized travel experiences tailored to a variety
of trip lengths and budgets. Travelers can choose from suggested itineraries or
work with a destination expert to build a trip from scratch. Bookable services
include flights, rail, car rentals, chauffeur services and a portfolio of
contracted hotels, villas, tours and experiences.
One stop on Perillo Custom Vacations’ Sicily itinerary is the 12th-century Palermo Cathedral. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Kenneth Shapiro)
Touring Palermo
The tour started
in Sicily’s main city, Palermo, where we stayed at the historic Grand Hotel
Wagner, which was built in the early 20th century. Throughout its colorful
history, the hotel has served as an Allied air raid shelter during World War II
and as the costume house for the nearby Teatro Massimo.
Our group explored
on foot and via vintage tuk-tuks as part of Perillo Custom Vacations’ Private
Tour – Palermo Highlights by Ape Calessino. Stops included Palermo Cathedral,
Teatro Massimo (featured in the film "The Godfather Part III") and the
Monastery of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Travel advisors should suggest that
clients check out the city views from the top of the monastery, as well as try
the exceptional cannoli from the building’s pastry shop (a business once
operated by nuns). We also explored the restaurants and lively nightlife around
the piazzas in the Centro Storico (Old Town).
From Palermo, we
took a day trip to nearby Erice and Marsala. Erice, a medieval town located on
a mountaintop, provided unbeatable views of the Mediterranean coastline. In
Marsala, we enjoyed a tasting at local winery Curatolo Arini, where we were
joined by one of the owners, who shared stories of her family and her life
growing up at the estate.
Throughout our
tour, Perillo excelled at curating moments that brought local history to life
through the stories of longtime Sicilian residents. This continued the
following day when we met chef Antonio of Domus Kitchen at the 1,000-year-old,
open-air Mercato di Ballaro in Palermo. Chef Antonio shared endless stories of
his life in Sicily and working at restaurants around the world. After shopping
with him at the market, we took our purchases back to his house, where we met
his family and he helped us prepare an authentic Sicilian meal.
Palermo’s Teatro Massimo — the largest opera house in Italy — was featured in the film "The Godfather Part III." (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Kenneth Shapiro)
Visiting Taormina
and Mount Etna
After several days
immersed in Palermo’s history and street life, the journey shifted along
Sicily’s coast as we drove to Taormina, stopping along the way for lunch and a
tour of the seaside town of Cefalu.
The main historic
attraction in Taormina is the well-preserved ruin of an ancient Greek theater.
While our tour guide shared the history of the site, it was hard not to get
distracted by the views of the coastline, the town’s lights at sunset and the
soft glow from the top of nearby volcanic Mount Etna.
We stayed at the
modern NH Collection Taormina, where — beyond its comfortable rooms, many of
which feature ocean or Mount Etna views — the hotel’s location is the star.
Taormina’s historic center is pedestrian-only, but the property sits just
outside the walking-only zone, making it close to shopping and restaurants
while still convenient for transportation and motor tours.
The mountaintop medieval town of Erice provides astonishing views of the Mediterranean coastline. (Photo Credit: Northstar Travel Group/Kenneth Shapiro)
No Sicily
itinerary is complete without a visit to Mount Etna. Our group signed up for
Perillo Custom Vacations’ Private Tour – Scenic Etna Drive With Lunch (an
excursion from Taormina). Joined by local experts, we toured the mountain and
stopped along the way to check out past lava flows, descend into lava tunnels
and even visit a ski resort (open in winter).
During dinner on
our final night — after a cocktail in the bar at the Four Seasons, an important
setting in "The White Lotus" — our group reflected on the highlights
of our visit. Unlike some trips, our thoughts were not only about the amazing sights
we saw, but also about the unforgettable people who shared their stories with
us.
It’s one thing to
visit a destination’s attractions, but Perillo Custom Vacations reminded us
that meeting local residents and discovering what they love about their home is
the true joy of travel.
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