What Sicilian dishes will I make in the cooking class?

Gabriele teaches you to prepare arancine (rice balls), caponata (eggplant dish), and almond cake using fresh ingredients picked that day from the farm. You eat what you cook at the end of the two-hour class and take home a farm apron.

What will I learn about olive oil during the tour?

You visit the olive groves to see the trees, walk through the farm's oil mill to watch how olives are pressed, and taste different oils made from varieties like Nocellara and Biancolilla. The tour takes about one hour and shows you why this farm's oil tastes the way it does.

Who can join the motorboat trip, and what do you get?

The boat needs at least four people and takes a maximum of eight for the five-hour journey along the coast. Lunch and drinks are served on board while you see beautiful scenery and visit quiet parts of the coastline.

How can I stay active during my stay?

You can walk freely through the estate's olive groves and gardens, use the swimming pool, rent mountain bikes to ride through the hills, or take the motorboat trip along the coast. The farm is also near unspoiled beaches, you can visit with a packed lunch from the kitchen.

Farm, Food, and the Soul of Sicily

3 Nights 4 Days Italy Coastal LivingMandranova

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Key Highlights

Olive Grove Tour and Tasting

The olive oil tasting Sicily experience starts with a walk through the grove, continues into the mill, and ends with a guided tasting of the farm's own extra virgin oils. You get to learn how the olives are harvested, how the oil is cold-pressed, and what makes each variety different from the next. It is a simple but interesting experience that gives you a real appreciation for something most people use every day. The tour is priced at 20 euros per person, lasts around one hour, and is one of the most enjoyable activities on the estate.

Cooking Classes

The Sicily cooking class is led by family member Gabriele and runs from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You will learn to make classic Sicilian dishes like arancine, caponata, and almond cake using fresh ingredients straight from the farm. Lunch is included at the end of the session, and a Mandranova apron is yours to take home. The class is priced at 110 euros per person and is available upon request for groups of two to ten people.

A Day at the Beach

The coastline near Mandranova has some of the most unspoiled beaches in all of Sicily, and they are just a short drive from the estate. You can get there by car or by boat, and the farm team will pack a picnic to make it a full day out. The water is clear, the beaches are quiet, and a day there feels like a very natural part of any stay in this part of Sicily.

Boat Trip Along the Coast

A motorboat trip along the coast around Licata is a great way to see this stretch of agriturismo Sicily from the water. The trip runs from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM with lunch and drinks on board, and the scenery along the way is beautiful. Whether you're seeking adventure or simply wish to unwind under the Mediterranean sun, this experience offers the perfect blend of both.

Sports and Activities

There is plenty of open space around Mandranova for anyone who wants to stay active. Mountain bikes are available for 25 euros per day or 15 euros for a half day, and the routes through the hills and toward the coast are well worth it. An early morning jog through the olive groves or a long afternoon walk across the estate are both great ways to spend time on the grounds. For more options if you like to keep moving on your travels, browse our Adrenaline Adventures escapes.

More about this escape

Mandranova is a working farm and guesthouse that has been in the same family for generations. The estate is surrounded by olive groves and Mediterranean gardens, and the pace of life here is calm and unhurried. Guests can join olive oil tours, cooking classes, and boat trips, or simply spend time at the pool and explore the grounds. Every meal at the on-site restaurant is made using ingredients grown and produced right on the farm. The atmosphere throughout is warm, personal, and nothing like a standard hotel. If this kind of working farm pace appeals to you, A Luxury Farm Stay in the Suffolk Countryside offers a similar feel in the English countryside.

The Feeling

NOURISHED

Warm hospitality. A family-run farm stay where the best parts of Sicily are grown, cooked and shared.

Ideal For

Food Lovers

Farm-grown ingredients and authentic Sicilian cooking.

Slow Travel

Quiet countryside and days without a rush.

Couples & Family

Warm hospitality and intimate rural surroundings.

Culture Seekers

Experience the traditions and rhythms of a working Sicilian farm.

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to the Farm

After checking in, a slow walk through the olive groves and gardens is a good way to get a feel for the estate. As the afternoon moves toward evening, the terrace is the right place to be with a drink in hand and the grove stretching out ahead. Dinner at the restaurant that night, made from the farm's own ingredients and family recipes, is a warm and easy start to the stay.

Meals: Dinner at the farm restaurant

Activities: Estate walk, terrace drinks at sunset

Day 2: Olives, Cooking, and the Pool

Breakfast at the farm starts the morning before heading out for the olive oil tasting Sicily experience, going from the grove to the mill and ending with a tasting of the estate's own oils. A buffet lunch follows, and then the Sicily cooking class with Gabriele fills the afternoon with classic Sicilian dishes made from fresh garden ingredients. The evening winds down by the pool or on the terrace with a glass of local wine.

Meals: Breakfast, buffet lunch, dinner at the farm restaurant

Activities: Olive grove tour and tasting, cooking class

Day 3: Fresh Air and the Sea

The morning is free for a bike ride or a walk before the day gets going. A picnic from the farm team and a few hours at one of the nearby beaches make the afternoon a very easy and enjoyable one. Dinner back at the estate is a satisfying close to a day spent mostly outside.

Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch at the beach, dinner at the farm restaurant

Activities: Cycling or walking, beach visit with farm picnic

Day 4: One Last Morning at Mandranova

Breakfast at the farm starts the final day before the motorboat trip heads out along the coast around Licata, with lunch and drinks on board and great scenery throughout. Back at the estate in the afternoon, a quiet walk through the groves or a last hour by the pool is a calm way to wrap up before checking out. Mandranova is a hard place to leave, and most people are already thinking about coming back before they have packed their bags.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch on board the boat

Activities: Motorboat trip along the Licata coast, pool, farewell walk through the olive groves

Want to customize this itinerary?

This is a sample escape by Mandranova. Tailor it to your travel dates, group size, and preferences.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What's Included

Accommodation & Meals

3 nights accommodation at Mandranova Farm in the selected room category

Breakfast at the farm each morning

Lunch at the farm restaurant

Dinner at the farm restaurant using farm-grown and produced ingredients

Welcome drink on arrival

Included Activities

Guided walk through olive groves and Mediterranean gardens

Sunset drinks on the terrace

Access to the farm's outdoor swimming pool

Free walking trails throughout the estate

Beach access and picnic preparation from the farm team

Not Included

Optional Activities with Additional Cost

Olive grove tour and oil tasting

Sicily cooking class with Gabriele

Motorboat trip along the Licata coast

Mountain bike rental

Personal Expenses

Alcoholic beverages beyond the welcome drink

Personal purchases and souvenirs

Tips and gratuities for staff and guides

Transportation & Insurance

Flights to and from Sicily

Airport or station transfers to the farm

Travel insurance coverage

Car rental for independent travel

Professional photography permits

Good to Know

Reserving Special Activities

The olive tour, cooking class, and boat trip fill up quickly, so book them as soon as you make your room reservation. Request them when you check in at the farm.

Packing Essentials

Wear sturdy walking shoes with good traction for exploring the olive groves and farm paths. Bring lightweight, breathable clothes, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Pack swimwear and a light jacket for evenings since it can cool down after sunset.

Food Allergies and Dietary Needs

Every meal comes from the farm's own production and gardens. Tell the restaurant team about any allergies or dietary restrictions at check-in so the kitchen can prepare alternative dishes for you.

Getting to Nearby Beaches

The closest beaches are just a short drive away. The farm team will pack a picnic lunch for you if you want to spend the day at the coast. Alternatively, you can take the motorboat trip, which includes lunch and drinks on board.

Best Time to Visit

Optimal periods to experience Farm, Food, and the Soul of Sicily at its finest, based on weather conditions and overall visitor experience.

April - May

About your stay

Mandranova

Palma di Montechiaro, Italy

Mandranova Farm is a family-run estate on the southern coast of Sicily, and it feels more like a home than a hotel. The farm makes its own extra virgin olive oil, grows its own ingredients, and shares its kitchen with guests who want to learn real Sicilian cooking. Warm hospitality, great food, and open countryside make this one of the most wholesome places to stay on the island.

Your Accommodation

Mandranova has 14 rooms and a private villa spread across several buildings on the estate. Old family furniture, stone walls, antique lounges, tapestries, and open fireplaces give the farmhouse a warmth that feels real and lived-in. Classic rooms are comfortable and well set up, with windows looking out over the garden, the olive grove, or the rooftops. Superior rooms offer more space and personality, with options like Cerasuola with stone walls and grove views, Biancolilla with a clean and modern feel, and Arancio with a four-poster bed and a garden-facing living room. The first-floor suite has a private terrace, a generous living area, and a mix of old and new design that makes it a very special place to stay. Sitting on the terrace in the evening with the olive grove in front of you is one of those simple moments that stays with guests long after they have left.

Amenities & Services

Swimming Pool

Restaurant

Garden

Beach Access

Nature Walks

Cooking Classes

Bicycle Rental

Adventure Sports

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FAQs

Farm, Food, and the Soul of Sicily

3 Nights 4 Days Italy Coastal LivingMandranova

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