Un beau voyage!
La Sicile est merveilleuse. Les édifices religieux sont splendides à Palerme, à Cefalu.
La vallée des temples est un émerveillement. Le site de l’Etna est remarquable.
Gary P
21/06/2023
Verificata
Food, Wine, and Culture Experience of a lifetime
Touring With Sicily by Experts – A Pleasure Throughout
In May of 2023 we spent three weeks traveling through Sicily on a tour organized by Sicily By Experts, a tour company operated by Angela Macaluso.
As we planned the trip, Angela carefully listened to our needs, interests, and desires for places we definitely wanted to see and places and things that were of limited or little interest to us in Sicily. She then developed a schedule of experiences that were very well focused on our interests and needs.
We are particularly interested in food, cooking, and wine to accompany good food. Angela arranged several marketing and cooking experiences that were insightful and that illuminated the various strands of Sicily’s food culture rooted in so many cultures over the ages. She also arranged for visits to several wine estates and wineries.
We had an excellent tour throughout. The hotels Angela booked for us were all first rate, neat, clean and well located for the exploring we like to do in the historical centers of cities. All had helpful staff who, in several instances made useful recommendations.
The drivers she arranged for our various outings and transfers as well as the equipment for those trips were first rate. The drivers were friendly and for the most part spoke excellent English, which was helpful for us as our Italian is very weak, and our Sicilian dialect nonexistent.
The tour guides for various outings were all knowledgeable, helpful, and flexible as to making field adjustments for various outings when we decided that some change would make a particular excursion more enjoyable for us.
Each day Angela checked in to make sure things were working as planned and to let us know details of the arrangements for the next day’s activities. On several excursions she accompanied us herself. Having her as a guide on those days was especially enjoyable.
Finally, the definite high point of our whole stay in Sicily was meeting members of Angela’s extended family in a “Cooking With Grandmother” food preparation experience and meal that was the unforgettable culmination of our trip.
We recommend Angela’s services to anyone looking to have a well curated, custom-fitted tour of Sicily.
Our trip was smooth and a good value for the price charged. We definitely recommend Angela and her services for anyone wanting to get the most out of time spent in Sicily or, for that matter, anywhere else in Italy or the world that she plans tours.
Gary & Jean Pokorny, El Cerrito, California, USA
ChristieDimke
07/06/2023
Verificata
Trip if a lifetime to Italy with friends
Angela organized the trip of a lifetime for me and my group of friends (6 total). She understood our bucket list wishes and made those happen for us. From winery visits and meals, beautiful trekking scenery excursions to local culture and in -home cooking experiences. We experienced beautiful hotels and amazing food. Angela made sure we got a taste of life in Italy. We felt immersed and like we got the best of Italy. We were very impressed with attention to details and her checking in with us to make sure everything was good. I highly recommend Angela.
anne l
23/04/2023
Verificata
Fantastic tour of Sicily with Angela
This was an amazing experience from start to finish. Angela helped to curate a delightful 6 day tour of Sicily for our group of 8. Based in Cefalu for 4 days we experienced Palermo, Agrigento, Arigona and Patti for intimate cooking instruction, temple and winery tours and personalized attention. Angela is tremendously knowledgeable about the island and found the perfect places for us to visit to give us a true taste of Sicilian life.
We then headed to Taormina for a few days to tour Siracusa, Mt Etna and more wineries. Angela’s connections with local guides, drivers and restaurants were always top notch, friendly and helpful and made this a most memorable trip. You truly feel like part of Angela’s family and we would not hesitate to work with her in the future. Highly recommend!
Lafmac
18/04/2023
Verificata
Experience of a Lifetime
This was a once in a lifetime custom tour! It was a full seven days in Sicily that was expertly guided by Angela. Starting in a beautiful villa in Cefalu with a home cooked meal our first night. We went on to explore Cefalu, Palermo, Agrigento, Taormina, Siracusa, Mt. Etna, wineries, cooking class we did it all and it was wonderful. Every detail was impeccable. But there is another piece to this review. One goal of this trip was to locate the the final resting place of my biological father and sister. Through Angela’s determination not only did I find what I was looking for, we were able to locate other relatives who have made me part of their family, forever. Our experience was everything we wanted and so much more because of Angela. Can’t wait for the next adventure. Grazie Angela, dal profondo del mio cuore. Per sempre grato.
Alychloe
31/03/2023
Verificata
Simply amazing!!
Honest review of Angela and her team at Italy by Experts…
I’d like to tell everyone how horrible they are to work with so I can have access to all of her future FAMs but I’d be lying. I spent 14 days on a FAM with Angela and everything was simply amazing! Our hotels/villas, tours, immersive experiences, site inspections and private drivers were excellent. I was a bit hesitant to go to a country I’d never been to before, with people I didn’t know and with a host I’d just met. I can honestly say it was the most magnificent and memorable experience. I got to watch Angela and her team pivot as small issues popped up. She handled all the details with ease and most wouldn’t have even known there was an issue. For example, there was a marathon in Milan and vehicles couldn’t get to our hotel past 7a. She had our luggage picked up by 6:45a, gave us time to finish getting ready for the day, eat breakfast and then had our transportation pick us up a few blocks from the hotel. I know this took a lot of organization but Angela didn’t skip a beat. I’m already plotting my return trip with a small group and can’t wait for her to host another FAM. I know without a doubt that every client I send to Italy by Experts will leave Italy as family and will be in the best hands. I almost hate giving this glowing of a review as I’d like to keep this hidden gem all to myself!
P.S. Angela knows how and where to take all the great pics 🤩
joceper
18/12/2022
Verificata
Ile a visiter absolument!
La Sicile est une île formidable à visiter
Palerme, la capitale n offre des endroits magnifiques à voir comme la chapelle palatine ( on est éblouit par tant de beauté ( mosaiques dorées et plafonds peints à la “Michel ANGE “) et superbe cahédrale. La vallée des Temples au Sud de l’ile est à voir. l’Etna est majestueux, on le voit à 50 kms à la ronde! J’y retournerai pour compléter des visites.
Larry R
06/07/2022
Verificata
Sicily as we always wanted to see it
Angela Macaluso was a wonderful expert who planned our trip and to met our individual interests. She patiently offered us options to see the amazing history, food, wine, and people of Sicily. Our four couple tour was a truly amazing, enjoyable, and memorable experience. As a native Sicilian, Angela presented the magic of Sicily in so many fun ways. We experienced the variety of Sicilian wines and cuisines with local expert tour guides who made the history of Sicily come alive. She also gave us the opportunity to interact with local Sicilians to further burnish our memories of this fantastic island. We will definitely call Angela the next time we want to see other regions of Italy!
Cynthia I
04/07/2022
Verificata
Treasures of Sicily
Angela gave us a heartfelt and glorious vacation in and through Sicily. A group of 8 long-time friends had begun working with Angela before the pandemic hit in 2020. We had selected her because she is a Sicilian native who suggested and revised (according to our specifications) a 12-day tour of the island. When Covid closed down travel, she refunded all our money and so we rebooked with her in 2022 when traveling was again possible. The trip was a gastronomic delight: beginning with the very first meal in our astonishing seaside villa, when a gourmet chef cooked for all of us – including two vegetarians. Magnifico! Each day we toured city, countryside or ancient ruins, eating at restaurants, wineries and mountain villages. We were even treated to a family style meal with her parents in the 2000-year-old village of Polizzi Generosa. Autentico! We traveled in ten person vans driven by interesting and friendly locals; we stayed in excellent hotels with views of Mt. Etna and the sea, and ate, ate, ate. Some of our group wanted to visit wineries and taste local wines, some of us wanted fewer tours. Angela was able to arrange tastings and lunches that satisfied all of us – no kidding. I had injured my foot two days before traveling; Angela helped me find and purchase crutches, find and use electric wheelchairs (e.g., at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agrigento) and modify walking tours to accommodate my injury while still allowing for a full visit by others in our group.
I cannot overstate my admiration and gratitude for Angela as a topnotch travel agent and tour guide, and lovely, warm human being.
Cynthia I.
Mitch L.
19/06/2022
Verificata
Amazing Insider’s View of Sicily
Angela of Sicily by Experts planned, arranged, and led a private 12-day tour for our group of eight. It was an amazing and unforgettable trip, and afforded us an insider’s view of the history, culture, cuisine, and wines of Sicily. The trip was so memorable because of the outstanding accommodations, transportation, and daily itineraries all impeccably arranged by Angela. Angela was responsive to our needs, warm and caring always. Angela and Sicily by Experts will undoubtedly ensure you will have the most memorable experiences on your visit to Sicily.
Ciao, Angela! It has been a month since we returned from our Mediterranean Cruise. Of the 8 cities that we visited in Italy, Spain, France, and Monaco, I have to say that our family’s favorite was Sicily! All the Thanks go to you!!! Thank you for recommending such wonderful sites to see during the limited time we had to spend on Sicily! Your recommendations were a huge hit with not only Rob & myself, but our teenagers, Brandon & Brittany, and the rest of my family! I could tell that the kids’ eyes and ears perked up when we stopped at the place that explained the production of honey in Italian, and they were eager for your interpretation into English. We all enjoyed tasting the varieties of honey, as well as the different yummy Olive Oils that they made. The villages we went through to get to the crater on Mt. Edna were neat to see as well! Seeing the recent lava that once flowed from the volcano was as interesting as the beautiful view from the crater! And, I have to say we were the luckiest travelers that day to get the opportunity to tour the house where The Godfather movies were made! I believe having our picture taken on the balcony where Al Pacino once stood was a crowd favorite! As if that weren’t enough to pack into our few hours on Sicily, riding the sky lift up to the quaint & picturesque town of Taormina was a real treat; not to mention the yummy Gelato! Not only were the sites fabulous, but the history, knowledge, and culture of the island that you shared with us were fascinating! We enjoyed YOU as much as we enjoyed seeing Sicily! I believe you are now an honorary part of our family! Thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful time in Sicily… I hope to be able to visit again one day! Also, I must thank you for the Apron of The Godfather! I totally LOVE it! What a sweet and unexpected gift! I have it hanging in my kitchen, where I see it many times a day to remind me of the fabulous time we had with you in Sicily! Hugs to you from Texas, USA! Jana, Rob, Brandon & Brittany Windsor (part of the Harry Hlavaty family)
Mautner Family
My sweet Angela,
My entire family remembers the wonderful tour of Sicily that you gave us! Our time on Sicily remains, to this day, a HUGE highlight of our vacation!
We finished our honey and flavored olive oil that we purchased from the nice little store you took us to, and we will forever remember the special tour of the Godfather House and the chance to meet the Baron!
Not to mention the beautiful town of Taormina, and the delicious gelato!
I will definitely recommend your services to anyone who I know is going to visit Italy! And, you never know…maybe we will get to return to Sicily again someday! I know I would love that!
Wishing you all the best!
Balcony of Godfather House
Dear Angela, We have been home for five whole weeks now, and our wonderful holiday seems so long ago. Life at home has overtaken our good intentions, so the attached photographs are rather late. They are not spectacular, but for us they are lovely mementoes. We really enjoyed Sicily. So much to see and we particularly appreciated visiting with your parents for a great local touch. Please thank them for their hospitality and send them our best regards. We were delighted to have Sebastiano accompany (lead!) us on our journey, so next time you are in contact with him, would you please pass on our thanks and good wishes. Lovely to meet you and to spend some time with you - we can report that there have been no shark deaths since we have been home, so a visit to Australia is quite safe! And summer is coming. Best regards and thanks, Greg and Jan Australia
Jon Allen
Hi Angela, Gary and I want to thank you so much for planning and 'taking' us on such a great trip!! We really enjoyed it so much, and had a lot of fun spending time with you and Micheala! And your parents too!! I truly hope that you come to NY and we can plan the cooking classes..or anything else! I also want to know how you are feeling? Have you gone for further testing? I hope you're feeling better..if you can, please let me know what the doctor says. Regards to Micheala and your parents!! Thanks again for everything!! Lori
Lori and Gary
Dear Angela; Thank you and your husband and parents again for a truly exceptional and wonderful experience. I came home with a very strong affection for Sicily and your family. We hope to come back soon to see what we missed. I've been married to Janet for almost 40 years. When we first were married, I used to read aloud to her. Somehow as life went on, we got out of that habit. In Sicily, we rediscovered it and I've been reading Montalbano mysteries to Jan every night to help her get to sleep. Some day I want to see the sea from Montalbano's veranda. Four days in Sicily. We had a private guide and driver for Jan and me and our friends the Wells, Angela Macalusa, and her company Fransicile. I cannot say enough about Angela's expert guidance and the great enjoyment we had of her company and that of her husband and family. Anyone seeking a private tour of any and all parts of Sicily should email Angela at isdepa@tiscal.it or angela@fransicile.it. The website is www.fransicile.it. She also guides private tours of the Amalfi Coast. We are already planning to return to Sicily for her to guide us to the other half of Sicily we did not see. I want to take her "Montalbano Tour," of Ragusa and surrounding areas, including Agrigento, which are the locations where the Italian TV series based on the Camileri mysteries are filmed. She can get me into Montalbano's house in fictional Marinella. The Inspector's HQ is fictional Vigata, which is Ragusa. His fictional Montelusa is Agrigento. I recommend anyone who is interested in Sicily to read Camileri first before visiting. One learns the meaning of what one sees, as well as a wonderful guide to the exceptional gastronomy of Sicily. Angela is an expert on all these things and we were so very fortunate to have her guidance. She helped me get my baggage sorted out at the airport in Catania for our flight to Malta, even talking the officials into letting me jump the security line. Wasn't sure the looks we got were daggers or folks wondering just who the hell we were to pull such a stunt. Angela took very good care of us indeed.
Frank Family
Hello Angela! Thanks again for the wonderful day, trip to the Valley of the Temples, dinner at the Chamber of Commerce overlooking the Valley, and everything else we did. You were truly amazing. I would like to post an entry on your website. (I would also like to have everyone who was on our trip to do the same, and I hope they will.) Where on the website do I go to post an entry? (I see where the comments are posted, but not where to add comments.) Also, there are a few photos which I am asking the person who was taking most of the pictures to send to you. I think he will follow up soon. Good luck with everything. Thanks again for all of your help! Regards, Mike
Morley Group
Hi Angela. On behalf of all my colleagues, I would like to thank you once more for the good time you prepared for us during our holiday in Sicily. Everyone was satisfied with the well planned itinerary. As agreed, I am attaching herewith the photos we took at Polizzi Generosa, particularly those with the major. Feel free to edit the same photos as necessary, so as to fit your requirements. NB – I have also included a photo of yourself, taken while explaining to us the history of this picturesque town. Thanks & Best Regards Ray Aquilina on behalf of the Bank of Valletta – Recoveries Department group MALTA