A Sicilian cooking journey through Mercato del Capo 

In Palermo, cooking begins at the market. It starts with the sound of vendors calling from their stalls, the scent of fresh herbs and citrus, and the daily ritual of choosing ingredients at their very best. 

Meet your host beneath Porta Carini and enter Mercato del Capo, one of the city’s most atmospheric food markets. Walk among displays of vegetables, fruit, spices, cheeses and the morning’s catch while meeting trusted vendors and learning how Palermitans shop, season by season. Together, select the ingredients that will shape the day’s menu. 

Continue to a private residence in the heart of Palermo, where the market’s freshest ingredients find their way into the kitchen. Roll up your sleeves and prepare a traditional Sicilian meal using approachable techniques, family recipes, and plenty of conversation. Depending on the season, you may make fresh pasta, caponata, stuffed vegetables, fish dishes, arancine or a classic local dessert. 

The experience ends gathered around the table, enjoying the dishes prepared together with Sicilian wine. It is part market discovery, part cooking class, and part shared lunch. Partake in a warm, hands-on introduction to the ingredients and rituals that lie at the heart of Palermo’s cuisine. 

Why You’ll Love It 

A guided visit to the vibrant Mercato del Capo
Personal encounters with trusted market vendors
A hands-on cooking class in a private residence
A convivial lunch featuring the dishes prepared together 

Experience Details 

Meeting Point: Porta Carini, entrance to Mercato del Capo
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Finish Time: Approximately 3:00 PM
Duration: Approximately 5 hours
What’s Included: Guided market visit, ingredient shopping, cooking class, lunch, local wine, water, soft drinks and coffee
Availability: Tuesday through Saturday. Not Available on Sundays and Mondays 

Perfect For 

Food lovers, enthusiastic home cooks, families with older children and curious travelers who enjoy learning by doing. Ideal for guests who want to understand not only how Sicilian dishes are prepared, but how ingredients are selected and woven into everyday life. 

Insider Tip
The menu changes with the market and the season, which is part of the experience. Comfortable shoes and a genuine appetite are strongly recommended.

Children aged 4 to 17 years benefit from a 50% discount on the applicable adult rate
Children aged 0–3 years participate free of charge unless otherwise specified.

Minors must always be accompanied by an adult.

→ Please inform us of any dietary preferences, intolerances, or allergies.

If your group is smaller or larger than the size indicated on the website, don’t worry: contact us for a private quote.

Cancellations made up to 72 hours before the experience are eligible for a full refund. For cancellations made less than 72 hours before the scheduled experience, no refund will be provided.