Would you like to taste typical Sicilian products directly at the farm? Are you curious about the food-processing plant, how we process fruits and vegetables? Would you like to participate in cooking class led by our local chef and learn some authentic Sicilian recipes? Would you like to join us for a lunch or / and dinner? Are you interested in knowing how to grow, pick and process olives, oranges, mandarins and prickly pear cactus? Come to Sicily and take part in our fantastic rural events organized for small groups and experience a slice of the farm life! On this page you can find all information related to our events. Clicking on the button “Book now” you can fill the form for participation. The programs are in English, Italian, Spanish and/or Hungarian language. We require a 50% deposit to confirm your booking. This amount in case of an emergency can be refunded.
On this page you can find all information related to our events. Clicking on the button “Book now” you can fill the form for participation. The programs are in English, Italian, Spanish and/or Hungarian language. We require a 50% deposit to confirm your booking. This amount in case of an emergency can be refunded.
Sicilian Cooking Class
When: during the year
Duration: 5-6 hours
Menu: cook together 2-3 typical Sicilian dishes, such as tagliatelle with lamb ragù, the famous rice ball “arancina”, the typical Palermo pizza “sfincione”, or the delicious Sicilian “cannoli”; all based on traditional recipes. Before the class, a list of typical Sicilian foods will be provided for you to choose the menu from.
Number of participants: minimum 6 people
Language: English, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian
Cost: 50 euro / person
Example Program:
- • Arrival in the morning at Contradacoste, an organic farm in the heart of rural Sicily, where our local Sicilian chef Gioacchino welcomes you at the food-processing plant.
- • Introduction to the culture of Sicilian cuisine.
- • Hands-on cooking: prepare the full menu chosen in advance.
- • During the class, you'll learn the techniques for preparing authentic Sicilian recipes.
- • A small break includes tasting artisanal products from Contradacoste and a walk among the olive trees, offering insights into rural Sicilian life.
- • This course is for anyone with a passion for cooking healthy, authentic, slow food and requires no prior experience.
- • At the end, we enjoy the dishes we've prepared and have lunch together.
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Orange Harvest and Marmalade Making
When: December, January, February
Duration: 6-8 hours (full day program)
Number of participants: minimum 8 persons
Language: English, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian
Cost: 50 euro / person
Example Program:
- • Arrival in the morning in the organic orange grove where Gioacchino accompanies us and presents the varieties of oranges, their characteristics, sharing professional information on the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of this precious organic fruit.
- • During the presentation, we taste the delicious and fragrant varieties of oranges.
- • After the presentation, we start the harvest, picking the necessary quantity of fruit for making marmalade.
- • Around midday, we go to the farm where we taste the artisanal products of Contradacoste.
- • After the product tasting, we begin the marmalade-making process in our food processing plant.
- • While the marmalade is cooking, we lunch together.
- • Once the marmalade is ready, we jar it together.
- • At the end of the experience, each participant can take home their handmade marmalade, with a personalized label.
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Mandarin Harvest and Marmalade Making
When: December, January, February
Duration: 6-8 hours (full day program)
Number of participants: minimum 8 persons
Language: English, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian
Cost: 50 euro / person
Example Program:
- • Arrival in the morning in the organic mandarin grove where Gioacchino accompanies us and presents the varieties of mandarins, their characteristics, sharing professional information on the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of this precious organic fruit.
- • During the presentation, we taste the delicious and fragrant varieties of mandarins.
- • After the presentation, we start the harvest, picking the necessary quantity of fruit for making marmalade.
- • Around midday, we go to the farm where we taste the artisanal products of Contradacoste.
- • After the product tasting, we begin the marmalade-making process in our food processing plant.
- • While the marmalade is cooking, we lunch together.
- • Once the marmalade is ready, we jar it together.
- • At the end of the experience, each participant can take home their handmade marmalade, with a personalized label.
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Artichoke Harvest and Artichoke Heart Cream Making
When: March, April
Duration: 6-8 hours (full day program)
Number of participants: minimum 8 persons
Language: English, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian
Cost: 50 euro / person
Example Program:
- • Arrival in the morning in the artichoke grove where Gioacchino accompanies us and presents the artichokes, their characteristics, sharing professional information on the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of this typical vegetable.
- • During the presentation, we taste the artichokes.
- • After the presentation, we start the harvest, picking the necessary quantity for making artichoke heart cream.
- • Around midday, we go to the farm where we taste the artisanal products of Contradacoste.
- • After the product tasting, we begin processing the artichokes in our food processing plant.
- • Then, we lunch together.
- • Once the cream is ready, we jar it together.
- • At the end of the experience, each participant can take home their handmade cream, with a personalized label.
Book now
Prickly Pear Cactus Harvest and Marmalade Making
When: September, October
Duration: 6-8 hours (full day program)
Number of participants: minimum 8 persons
Language: English, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian
Cost: 50 euro / person
Example Program:
- • Arrival in the morning in the prickly pear grove where Gioacchino accompanies us and presents the varieties of prickly pears, their characteristics, sharing professional information on the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of this typical cactus fruit.
- • During the presentation, we taste the delicious varieties of prickly pears.
- • After the presentation, we start the harvest, picking the necessary quantity of fruit for making marmalade.
- • We then go to a place where we demonstrate how to remove the thorns from the fruit.
- • Around midday, we go to the farm where we taste the artisanal products of Contradacoste.
- • After the product tasting, we begin processing the prickly pears in our food processing plant.
- • While the marmalade is cooking, we lunch together.
- • Once the marmalade is ready, we jar it together.
- • At the end of the experience, each participant can take home their handmade marmalade, with a personalized label.
Book now
Olive Harvest
When: October, November
Duration: 6-8 hours (full day program)
Number of participants: minimum 8 persons
Language: English, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian
Cost: 50 euro / person
Example Program:
- • Arrival in the morning in the olive grove where Gioacchino accompanies us and presents the varieties of olives, their characteristics, sharing professional information on the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of olives.
- • After the presentation, we start the harvest.
- • We take a break to taste the artisanal products of Contradacoste.
- • Around 13.00-14.00, we lunch together.
- • In the afternoon, we take the harvested olives to the olive oil mill, where we demonstrate the process of transforming olives into extra virgin olive oil.
- • End of experience.
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Wild Edible Herbs Harvest and Cooking Traditional Recipes
When: January, February, March
Duration: 6-8 hours (full day program)
Number of participants: minimum 8 persons
Language: English, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian
Cost: 50 euro / person
Example Program:
- • Arrival in the morning at the farm Contradacoste, an organic farm in the heart of rural Sicily, where Gioacchino accompanies us and presents the varieties of edible wild herbs, sharing professional information on harvesting and processing.
- • After the presentation, we proceed with searching and picking edible plants.
- • We take a break to taste the artisanal products of Contradacoste.
- • Afterwards, we prepare traditional dishes using the collected herbs.
- • Then we lunch together.
- • End of experience.
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Product Tasting and Farm Visit
When: during the year
Duration: 1-2 hours
Number of participants: minimum 4 persons
Language: English, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian
Cost: 50 euro / person
Example Program:
- • Arrival at the farm Contradacoste, an organic farm in the heart of rural Sicily, where Gioacchino accompanies us for a walk among the olive trees, sharing stories about rural life, immersed in a breath-taking landscape.
- • We then visit the food processing plant where a short presentation is given on fruit and vegetable processing.
- • Afterwards, we taste the artisanal products of Contradacoste.
- • End of experience.
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How to reach us
Our farm is situated in Castronovo di Sicilia (PA), halfway between Palermo and Agrigento, on the provincial road SP.78.It is located 5 km from Lercara Friddi (PA).By car it takes approximately 1.5 hours from Palermo, 1 hour from Agrigento and 2.5 hours from Catania. We suggest you to follow these itineraries:
By train from Palermo Centrale the nearest train station is Roccapalumba-Alia, or from the direction of Agrigento Centrale is Cammarata train station. On request we offer transport service from the nearest stations (the transport cost is not included in the cost of the experience).
