Alternative Sicily DMC

05/09/2026

At the start of spring, I had the pleasure of popping around to "Firriato Cavanera Etnea Resort" to say hello to my friend and the resort’s manager, We hadn’t seen each other for many years, but our friendship has endured.
I remember the delicious dinner at Cavanera’s ‘La Riserva Bistrot’, accompanied, of course, by excellent Firriato Cavanera wines and explanations from the highly knowledgeable sommelier Roberto Raciti.
The Cavanera Etnea Wine Resort is well worth a stay, whether for small groups or incentive trips...

31/08/2026

Alternative Sicily & Friends:
Roberto is one of the first people we met when we started our work experience in tourism in Sicily. It was 2005 when my wife, Helga, and I ran into Roberto, for the first time, at the foot of Etna to explore 'his' volcano and we've been inseparable from him since. Roberto is everything to us: a fantastic nature guide, a dear friend, a problem solver when we have an emergency, a group leader, a driver, a psychologist. His helpfulness and kindness are boundless! Talking about him we cannot forget his wife Mariella and their two wonderful children. So, Roberto and Mariella: thank You! We still have so many projects in the pipeline, stay tuned.

01/04/2026

Today, I introduce you to my collection of Sicilian puppets. I can't say I have a large one, nor is it particularly valuable, but I'm proud of it because my passion for experiencing Sicily and getting to know it better has also translated into this precious collection.
I find the tradition of the puppet theater, which has existed for two centuries, stunning! It was used to tell stories and entertain people, before TV or cinema existed. Furthermore, the craftsmanship in the creation of Sicilian puppets is so wonderful. I appreciate every handcrafted work, and the master puppeteers are a prime example of this. Each puppet has its own workmanship, its own history, and its own unique characteristics.

We, at Alternative Sicily, recommend that each of our groups visit and enjoy a performance at one of the puppet theaters in Sicily during their stay 💛

17/03/2026

I wanted to write a post about one of our most loyal partner and friend, a real pillar of Alternative Sicily: Luigi Mangano, a wonderful person who has been by our side since the beginning. Luigi is our official provider for nature coffee breaks around Sicily. His limoncello workshop formula, which we have offered together to our customers for over 10 years, is also always a great success.
And Luigi wouldn't be Luigi without the help of his wife Sabine and the love for their children. Based at their farmhouse Baglio Sanpietro in Nicosia where, in the winter, we often find refuge at with my wife and daughter, to enjoy the warmth and friendship of Luigi and Sabine and their lovely two children. Baglio San Pietro, a magical place; Luigi, a magical man. Thank you, Luigi, and Sabine, for the past and for the future to come!

17/02/2026

Alternative Sicily X Special Events

Today we introduce you to a very special partner of us: the Bella Epoque dance group. Wearing original and handmade costumes they recall the 19th century atmosphere and it is such a special entertainment before and during gala dinners or MICE events.

We love to have them at our special events but it also happens to come accross each others during institutional circumstances like the awarding evening of Palladino d'Oro sports Film Festival, in Palermo, where Hartwig had been invited.

15/01/2026

Sunrise on Etna 🌅
The alarm is set at 3.30 for a shot of hot coffee and a croissant before jumping in 4x4 cars towards the Etna. A headlamp each and the walk starts, in the dark, along the way to the panoramic point. Then the magnificent spectacle of the dawn starts and we are stunned.
Still amazed by this view, the experience continues with a rich morning buffet right in front of the sun and the Mediterranean Sea 🌊

08/01/2026

Alternative Sicily X Food and Wine Tours series

Today we introduce you to two neighbouring winehouses and Moganazzi which welcomed one of our incentive group in September 2024.
Nestled in the Alcantara Valley, on the north of the Etna, these two small yet unique, family-run winehouses combine their passion for tradition and winemaking and offer an enticing wine tasting lunch experience after a sporty and energetic morning in the Etna 🍷🍇🍝

11/04/2025

On 26th and 27th March we have joined the iWINETC ‘International Wine Tourism Conference’ held in the magic little village of Mikulov, in south Moravia.
Such great and motivating days of conference dedicated to wine tourism with speakers from all over the world and B2B workshops with worldwide buyers to show our unique services in Sicily for wine and food tours. We are so happy to understand that Sicily is (as always) very much appreciated for its great potential and natural beauty. Also, why nobody told us before how delicious are Czech wines? 🍇

01/09/2023