Those who have always dreamt of Sicily and already know what they want to see.
Read more about what they say about me and let me take you by the hand on this adventure!
Source: immersiveitaly.com
Source: Food and Wine Magazine
We will read your message and understand your preferences and expectations.
We will get back to you and, during the interview, we will craft your trip to Sicily, tailore-made for you: together we will decide on the stops, visits, and experiences that best suit your tastes, schedule, and budget.
Upon your arrival in Italy we will provide you with all the assistance you need to enjoy the experiences you have requested and, if you have selected it, we will be at your service from the moment you arrive at the airport, with our fleet of luxury Mercedes vehicles ready and waiting for you.
Those who have already been on one of our holidays know that what we have to offer is priceless and exceeds all expectations without fail… and that is why it is appreciated by all our customers.
Brittany Carlisi's dynamic tours of Italy are the best way to experience Italian wine, food, and culture in a true hospitality professional fashion. Her years of working in the US with Italian wine plus living while giving personally guided tours in Sicily and Rome for years magically create the perfect journey into the past and present of Italy - you won't want it to end. There's so much to see, taste and experience through all that Brittany puts together. Her tours are the way to visit Italy!
Restaurateur, Sommelier, Author, and James Beard Award Winner
If you want a stellar food and wine-focused tour, contact Brittany Carlisi.
Food & Beverage Author and Culinary guide
Having been lucky enough to travel around the world and throughout Italy, I would be hard-pressed to find a more passionate, dynamic, fun & talented person than Brittany Carlisi. Her knowledge and contacts on Mount Etna helped make Sip Trip, my travel documentary, complete. From granita to wine, Brittany KNOWS who to meet and where to eat!
Sommelier & Host of Sip Trip
I’ve worked with Brittany Carlisi for over a decade in the Italian wine business, both in events and sales. Brittany is an expert in Italian food, wine, and culture. She is the go-to person for an authentic, immersive experience regarding all things Italy, with an emphasis on Mount Etna. Brittany is a natural and charismatic host that uses her passion for creating a fun and educational environment for her guests.
American restaurateur, winemaker, author, television personality and musician
We have engaged the services of Brittany Carlisi on several occasions over the past years to conduct and manage the food, beverage, and entertainment elements for several bespoke Sicily and Stromboli Volcano cruises on Riana Yacht. On each occasion, Brittany curated extraordinary wine, food, and cultural events on board as guests sailed the beautiful Sicilian waters.
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Investor, Aviator, and Commodore - at PMYC
We contacted Contessa Consulting to help organize visits to a few wine producers on Mt Etna. They planned a beautiful day for us visiting two wineries, both of which met the profile of producers we were interested in visiting, including delicious wine tastings and food! Cristian was incredibly communicative and easy to work with to meet our needs. One of our favorite days during our trip to Sicily!
Client Testimonial
We contacted Contessa Consulting to help organize visits to a few wine producers on Mt Etna. They planned a beautiful day for us visiting two wineries, both of which met the profile of producers we were interested in visiting, including delicious wine tastings and food! Cristian was incredibly communicative and easy to work with to meet our needs. One of our favorite days during our trip to Sicily!
Client Testimonial - Los Angeles
Brittany planned an incredible day on Etna! She is connected to some of the best purveyors on the island, all of whom treated us like we were old friends. From exploring lava tunnels to eating ourselves silly at a pistachio farm in Bronte to learning how to make granita from a master, the day Brittany planned us on Etna was without a doubt one of the best days of our trip!
Client Testimonial - California
Brittany and Cristian put together a wonderful itinerary that felt like it was planned by a best friend, completely tailored to all my interests. We ate well, took in Mt Etna’s beautiful views, and learned so much about local life in Sicily. Unlike other tours that feel impersonal and run according to the convenience of the tour company, my experience with Contessa Consulting was the complete opposite. Their tours are personal and one-of-a-kind, often taking place in people’s kitchens and living rooms. I highly recommend Contessa Consulting for a unique and off-the-beaten-track adventure in Sicily.
Client Testimonial - California
Many thanks to Brittany and her team. Our family had the most wonderful and memorable experience in Sicily. The communication was perfect and every detail was accounted for. Our 2 days were tailored made for us and took into account our dietary and physical limitations. The experiences were as authentically Sicilian as one could hope for in a 2 day period. Everyone was so open about their life in Sicily which gave another pleasing dimension. If you are thinking of a holiday to Sicily, I highly recommend you get in touch with Brittany.
Client Testimonial - Australia
The last two days have been incredible, definitely every day has been better than any other day in my life. But each day had a certain connection with each other. Yesterday was the best, as well as today. Both were like a symphonic work, where you programmed the wine to harmonize with every element: the people, the environment, the wine itself, everything. Also, today's excursion was mind blowing and helped make everything even more special.
Client Testimonial - Los Angeles
Brittany created such a beautiful day for us that gave us more connection with Sicily and what is produced/grown and made there than any other day of our trip. She was super communicative and booked us with so many great experiences even though we had only given her a few days' notice! I’d highly recommend her services whether you want to plan a whole trip with activities spread throughout or you’d like a window into the very authentic Sicily for a day or two. I loved that the activities we ended up doing didn’t feel touristy at all and felt incredibly genuine and special.
Client Testimonial – Maryland
Brittany has the knowledge and network of contacts to make your trip great. But what made her special for us was her ability – and willingness – to work with us tirelessly to be sure that we got exactly the trip we wanted and for a very fair price. Look no further!
Client Testimonial – Oregon
If you’re looking for the best guide to everything vinicultural, oenological, and gastronomical in the environs of Mount Etna, then you must look up the fabulous Ms. Brittany Carlisi. Steeped in the wine business in both Italy and the US for many years, Brittany finally decided to settle back in Sicily, the land of her family heritage. Through the personal relationships she has developed with all the key players in Mount Etna’s resurgent wine industry, she can get her clients in the door to many properties and fantastic small producers that would otherwise not be accessible to the casual visitor.
Client Testimonial - San Francisco
Wine Dinner at Cave Ox
Bronte Pisstacchio DOP Farm
Salumeria Visit
Wine dinner in Randazzo
Such little treasures are to be enjoyed and savored and will leave great memories and delightful sensations on the palate and in the heart.
Taste fine wines from local wineries, attend exclusive cookery classes to learn the secrets of this land’s traditional recipes, and be overwhelmed by the authentic flavors of arancini, pasta alla Norma, Sicilian cannoli, and the tastiest granita you’ve ever had.
Some of the Cooking Lessons you can take with us include:
Let your palate enjoy every nuance of flavor that Sicily’s many varied vineyards offer.
Fill your goblet with red wonder, white awe, and sparkling cheer.
Every sip, as well as every bite, will be a journey into the heart and soul of Sicily’s age-old culture.
Your wish is our command: just ask, and we will take you on an exploration of the natural, historical, and architectural wonders of this land: you will get to discover the captivating Baroque cities of Noto and Modica, and contemplate majestic Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe…
But fear not: Etna is considered a safe volcano, as its characteristic is that it has a very slow and therefore easily controllable eruption that rarely reaches great distances from the volcano’s crater. Therefore, if you dream of visiting an active volcano, you can do so here in total safety!
Some of the activities we offer related to the volcano also include:
Winery Visit on Mount Etna
Etna Crater Tour with volcanologist
E-bike Tour on Mount Etna
ATV's Excursion: thrills & views
Here is just a taste of the wonders that are awaiting you in Sicily:
Palermo
Trapani
Etna
Lipari
Salina Cruise
Olive Oil Tasting
Wine Tasting
You will thus realize that there isn’t just one way to visit and discover Sicily and its most famous locations: Palermo, Trapani, Modica, Noto, Lipari and the Aeolian Islands, Marzamemi, Salina, and many other characteristic places you’ve probably never even heard of.
You can cruise on crystal-clear waters, discover hidden caves, or enjoy a refreshing dip in secluded and picturesque coves, while surrounded by nature that is often still untouched.
Or you can stay on board sipping good wine, and enjoying some delicious treats while being charmed by the slow rocking of the waters and a unique view of Sicily: the island seen through the eyes of its sea.
Don’t miss the unique opportunity to live this authentic and unforgettable experience.
Answer the questions in our quiz by telling us a little more about yourself and describing the type of trip you would like to make.
The information you provide us with will be used to provide you with a personalized package tailored to your requests.
I look forward to meeting you face-to-face,
Spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October) are the best periods to visit Sicily, due to the mild climate and lower tourist affluence.
August is not recommended due to excessive heat, while the winter period is especially popular for hiking Mount Etna and visiting art cities.
No, it is not necessary to know Italian.
Our tours are designed specifically for an international audience and are, therefore, led by bilingual staff who speak fluent English and are accustomed to meeting the needs of an international visitor.
Our packages are fully customizable to the needs and tastes of visitors. Our team will help you choose the experiences to be had on-site.
The tours can, therefore, be enriched with visits to classic destinations present on the island such as Palermo, excursions to the volcano Etna and the Valley of the Temples, or carefully selected places among small local enterprises and wineries that offer exclusive food and excellent wine little known to mass tourism, or again there is the possibility of joining exciting tours aboard luxury yachts and catamarans, to take a look at the island from the sea.
Contact us to find out about all the experiences we can offer you.
Yes, we recommend that you let us know, at the time of booking, any needs related to any special diet (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) or the presence of food intolerances, so that on-site food and wine experiences can be planned to the fullest and with the full support of local partners.
We recommend that you bring light, comfortable clothing for the months between April and October, with a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings. For winter, it is helpful to have warm, layered clothing.
Yes, Sicily is an ideal destination for discovering different types of wine.
Our full experience tours include visits to local vineyards and exclusive tastings in wineries.
Our Brittany is an experienced sommelier and, over the years, has traveled the length and breadth of Sicily in search of small winemaking businesses producing valuable labels mostly unknown to the masses.
Today she can promote these establishments, personally accompanying visitors to an exclusive taste experience.
Read articles about Brittany!
The duration of our all-inclusive tours is up to you, as our trips are fully customizable in these terms as well.
On average, an all-inclusive trip to Sicily can start from a few days or go as long as two or more weeks on the island.
Yes, your stay in Sicily will be perfectly safe. Our organization takes care of everything and our partners are also ready and prepared for any unforeseen events.
Sicily is a hospitable land. Don't let a few misconceptions spoil your expectations and your experience on the island.
Etna is the largest volcano in Europe and among the most active in the world.
However, this does not make it dangerous for hikers who have an experienced guide to accompany them.
Excursions to the volcano may include a visit to the main crater during periods when there is no ongoing magmatic activity, but may also include a safe visit to secondary craters.
These can also be visited during periods when the volcano is active, providing exceptional displays of moving lava.
No, our full-experience tours, as well as individual experiences in the area, include all the activities you can experience in Sicily.
Air travel and accommodation are services that we do not offer because they are the prerogative of other tourist providers.
Thank you so much for organizing such a wonderful experience for us on Friday. The tours will forever be a cherished memory for me and my family. Everything has been beautiful on this island but the day we spent around Etna was truly something special.
Client Testimonial - New York
Thank you for the amazing experience we had the best time, everything we had wished for and tried so many great wines. Cave ox was amazing too, we rolled out of the restaurant. No Fennell haha! Stay in touch and will make sure to reco you to others coming to Sicily 🍷
Client Testimonial - Australia
Thanks for the great Etna tours; Wineries were both very welcoming and had good pours to taste, Mt. Etna tour was also very good. A very nice day spent! Thanks for putting together such a great itinerary.
Client Testimonial - California
I wanted to say how fantastic yesterday was. All parts of the experience were unique. Luca was an excellent guide on Etna. Emmanuele and his staff took great care of us with amazing food and wine. And lastly, our time with Alice was unique; we spent several hours just chatting about wine and tasting. Not to mention Patrick was a pleasure to ride with and gave us a native’s perspective on various topics about the island. Thank you for setting this all up on short notice!
Client Testimonial - Los Angeles
Brittany planned an absolutely magical trip for me around Mt. Etna! I wasn’t super familiar with the area but had a general idea of the kinds of things I wanted to do and see. After a quick conversation about my interests, she suggested several activities that were a perfect fit and planned a few days in this special place that I’ll never forget! Brittany is connected with seemingly everyone around Etna, and we were welcomed warmly and treated like family everywhere we went.
Client Testimonial - Boston
One plus with Brittany Carlisi is that she customizes the tour for you and works within your budget. She made herself available while I was in Sicily, which is a huge plus, and she contacted me during my trip to make sure that I was enjoying myself and that everything was going well. I highly recommend working with Brittany if you’d like an unforgettable time in Sicily.
Client Testimonial - Los Angeles