Savoring Palermo: In The Markets and Beyond

we LOVED walking around with Francessa for a tour through the markets. we ate so many delicious things we wouldn’t have been able to find without her. the trip was planned so well, pacing out many things to eat with lots to learn. very highly recommend!!

our third culinary backstreets tour (after doing two amazing tours in queens, ny). the palermo version did not disappoint! our guide, francesca, was an incredible host — warm, responsive to our interests, full of knowledge. this tour is such a special opportunity to visit an authentic palermo we would not have gotten to experience otherwise. we felt lucky to sit at the tables, to gather at the stalls and to visit the shops of some extremely special local businesses.

Did my first Culinary Backstreets tour several years ago in Istanbul. Will book one whenever they are available. I booked 2 tours for Palermo and enjoyed both. Enjoyed the behind the scenes (sugar mold making - bakery ovens) that were included and also always seem to meet other interesting travelers.

Excellent tour through the markets and neighbourhoods. Our guide was knowledgeable and interesting and the food was tasty and diverse.

What a wonderful way to explore Palermo - food, markets and a few other gems hidden in backstreets. We enjoyed one place so much that we returned the next day for lunch. Francesca is a wonderful and engaging tour guide /host. She takes time to explain and to answer questions. She added a stop at a small, local trattoria near the end of our tour because she was concerned that we were still hungry… we weren’t brave enough to try some of the local delicacies that use animal’s organs :-) Touring with Francesca was a fantastic non-touristy introduction to Palermo.

Francesca was a wonderful guide. Everything you would want….friendly, knowledgable, and willing to take the time to answer group’s questions.

This was a perfect food tour. The first I’ve done with culinary backstreet tours and I could not recommend enough. Enrica, our tour guide, was amazing. She took us to her personal butcher and fishmonger. She also took us one of the last 3 puppet makers in Palermo, which was a truly amazing experience. We ate food that we definitely would not have tried and everything was delicious. Also extreme knowledgable about Sicilian history, which was so interesting. The whole tour was fabulous.

The tour was excellent. One of the best walking tours and street food we ever had. Francesca. Our guide did not miss a beat. I felt that I was with family.

As with all CB tours (we have taken multiple) this was picture perfect. The guide was knowledgeable and warm, the stops were those we could not have known or found on our own, and the logistics were well thought out.

A terrific food tour... well above the average! Francesca took us to a number of locations, each one showcasing typically Sicilian (and Palermo) foods... places we would never have found ourselves. Each tasting was superb. In addition, we learnt a lot of history of Palermo. Another highlight was a visit to the Marionette maker, showing us how the puppets are made and even entertaining us with a short duel between the puppets! This wad a great tour and Francesca maade the whole city come alive with her knowledge and interest in making the tour enjoyable for all of us.