Workshops
Themed and guest-led culinary experiences
WHEN
May 25–30, 2026
PRICE
Single Room: €12,500 Double Room: €9,100 per person
info
Costs include
Three nights at a five-star hotel in Palermo and two nights at Regaleali’s Case Grandi. All outlined activities and meals.
Meals
Three dinners, one aperitivo, three lunches at exclusive Villas, and one cooking class followed by lunch at Anna Tasca Lanza. All meals include wine.
Transportation
Transportation to and from all activities during the program is included. On the final day, transfer from Regaleali to Palermo airport or city center is provided. Transportation to the hotel at the start of the program must be organized independently.
Il Gattopardo: A Journey Through Aristocratic Sicily
Step into the lavish world of Il Gattopardo, the iconic novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, through a five-night cultural and culinary immersion hosted by Fabrizia Lanza. Il Gattopardo (The Leopard), written by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, is considered one of the most important Italian novels of the 20th century. Published posthumously in 1958, the novel became an immediate literary sensation and was later immortalized by Luchino Visconti’s lavish 1963 film adaptation starring Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon, and Claudia Cardinale and again revisited through Netflix’s 2025 series.
This exclusive workshop offers a rare opportunity to explore the grandeur of Sicilian aristocracy and step back in time to discover the palatial homes, noble table traditions, and the landscapes that inspired this Italian classic. This is not merely just a retreat, it is a behind-the-scenes passage into the heart of Sicilian identity.
This workshop is designed for lovers of literature, gastronomy, and Italian history. Those who yearn not only to observe, but to enter the world of Il Gattopardo, to eat at its table, to walk through its pages, and to touch its enduring elegance.
Fabrizia Lanza
Your host for this workshop will be Fabrizia Lanza, culinary anthropologist, writer, and director of the Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School. Born into one of Sicily’s most storied noble families, Fabrizia is not only a bearer of the island’s gastronomic heritage but also a distant cousin of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. Her deep familial roots lend the workshop a unique intimacy. Fabrizia brings a scholar’s insight and a host’s warmth, guiding guests beyond the aesthetic pleasures of aristocratic Sicily into its cultural and culinary soul. Her guidance ensures that every villa visit, every meal, every glass of Tasca wine is layered with story, significance, and a quiet sense of legacy.
Program
Begin in Palermo, a city layered with beauty and decay, and settle into a five-star residence that echoes the grandeur of once-upon-a-time in Sicily. Over three days, you will visit three historic villas, each intricately tied to Il Gattopardo‘s narrative:
- Palazzo Lanza Tomasi, home of the Duchess of Palma, Nicoletta Polo Lanza Tomasi, is perched along Palermo’s seafront. Once the home of author Lampedusa himself, this 18th-century palace invites you into the very study where he penned his masterpiece. Over lunch with the Duchess, literature turns intimate.
- Villa Tasca, enveloped in four hectares of romantic gardens, evokes the very rhythm of 19th-century leisure. This estate has played host to Richard Wagner and Jackie Kennedy and is said to have inspired the setting for the ball in both the book and Visconti’s film. Strolling through its salons, you’ll feel the quiet gravity of old-world splendor and dine on delicious creations made by a chef consultant for the Netflix series.
- Villa Valguarnera in Bagheria, among Sicily’s most architecturally theatrical villas, was built for a princess and steeped in intellectual mysticism. It stands as a metaphor for Gattopardo’s decadent charm, its grand, crescent staircase and frescoed vaults a vivid evocation of the Salina family’s vanishing world.
Following these aristocratic immersions, you will transfer inland to Regaleali, the Tasca d’Almerita family’s historic estate at the heart of Sicily, where the golden wheat fields and vineyards roll like time itself.
At Case Grandi and Anna Tasca Lanza’s Case Vecchie, culinary traditions come alive. Here, you’ll cook under the guidance of Fabrizia Lanza, dishes that echo the noble flavors of book, film, and series. Evenings at Regaleali are slow and sensual. Enjoy nature at its finest: wheatfields, olive trees, and al-fresco dining. It all culminates in a Gala Dinner, a table dressed in linen, candlelight, and elegant recipes that dance with stories.
The whole experience, from the accommodations (food, the beautiful location) to all the people we encountered was top notch. The kitchen crew was awesome in every way! I will definitely recommend to friends. David was great, enjoyed his casual style and expertise.
J.N.
David Tanis Workshop
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and thought the standard of the course was exceptional. I have taken other cooking classes in other countries, and this course was by far more authentic, serious, in-depth and has inspired me.
J.S.
David Tanis Workshop
Everything about the week was worth the effort to get there and the planning was well worth it. It was a week of gourmet eating. The participants were all enthusiastic about being there and that helped make the overall "experience".
S.M
David Tanis Workshop
I loved everything, beyond beautiful surroundings, fabulous food, wonderful instruction and opportunity to learn about Sicilian cooking, as well as the knowledgeable and very helpful staff. The flowing wine and other guests, who just happened to be amazing also added to my exceptional experience!
B.W
Tomato Paste Workshop
We've been telling everybody what great experience we've had at Case Vecchie: breadmaking, Sicilian cooking lessons, daily walks to the winery, visit to the flour mill and ricotta maker and the sheep, your beautiful grounds filled with fruit trees and vegetable gardens and the chicken coop.
Y.W.
Breadcamp
My stay at Casa Vecchie absolutely confirmed for me that my future is in food, I cannot thank them enough for solidifying that for me. My stay at Casa Vecchie absolutely confirmed for me that my future is in food, I cannot thank them enough for solidifying that for me.
J.C.
Pasta Workshop
That was such a great experience and it was so much fun to be with all of you during the week. Please extend my thanks to the entire team who made things so fantastic. I can't wait to get started in my own kitchen!
C.H.
Pasta Workshop
That was such a great experience and it was so much fun to be with all of you during the week. Please extend my thanks to the entire team who made things so fantastic. I can't wait to get started in my own kitchen!
C.H.
Pasta Workshop
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