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Palermo Market Excursion: A Multicultural Cooking Experience at Casa Di Cilla
5.0
355 Ratings
Palermo
Embark on a multicultural cooking adventure at Casa Di Cilla in Palermo Market. Explore the vibrant market alleys, buy fresh ingredients, and learn to prepare delicious dishes in a welcoming kitchen.
Embark on a multicultural cooking adventure at Casa Di Cilla in Palermo Market. Explore the vibrant market alleys, buy fresh ingredients, and learn to prepare delicious dishes in a welcoming kitchen.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Via Dante, 54 - The experience will commence early in the morning at “Porta Carini,” the entrance to the renowned Capo market. Participants will explore the bustling market alleys, brimming with goods, to purchase ingredients for the chosen menu. The vibrant stalls, filled with colors and sounds, evoke the atmosphere of a souk in a Muslim city….
- Via Dante, 54 - The experience will commence early in the morning at “Porta Carini,” the entrance to the renowned Capo market. Participants will explore the bustling market alleys, brimming with goods, to purchase ingredients for the chosen menu. The vibrant stalls, filled with colors and sounds, evoke the atmosphere of a souk in a Muslim city. Visiting a Palermo market offers a multicultural experience, showcasing the diverse and cosmopolitan culture of Palermo. After shopping, the journey continues at the host’s home, just minutes from Piazza Politeama, where the culinary adventure unfolds. Under expert guidance, the kitchen becomes the stage for culinary creations. Sicilian cuisine, celebrated for its creativity and visual appeal, is deeply intertwined with the island’s historical, cultural, and religious heritage. From appetizers to desserts, the host will share the origins and stories of each dish, fostering cultural exchange and dialogue.
What's Included
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- Lunch included
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- Lunch included
Meal Options
- pasta first
- typical Sicilian
- second course of fish or meat
- cannolo or typical Sicilian dessert
- pasta first
- typical Sicilian
- second course of fish or meat
- cannolo or typical Sicilian dessert
Additional Information
Our journey will commence early in the day at the ‘Porta Carini’ gateway into the city’s renowned Cape market. We’ll traverse the market’s bustling aisles filled with goods, purchasing what’s needed to prepare the menu we’ve decided upon. The vibrant stalls, the spectrum of hues and buzzing crowd might give you the sense of being in a marketplace in any…
Our journey will commence early in the day at the ‘Porta Carini’ gateway into the city’s renowned Cape market. We’ll traverse the market’s bustling aisles filled with goods, purchasing what’s needed to prepare the menu we’ve decided upon. The vibrant stalls, the spectrum of hues and buzzing crowd might give you the sense of being in a marketplace in any Islamic city. A visit to a Palermo market is indeed an exploration of diverse cultures in itself, mirroring the multifaceted and cosmopolitan ethos of the area. After securing our ingredients, we’ll head for my home, located a short distance from Piazza Politeama. Here, the journey will progress as we begin cooking under my guidance, my kitchen transforming into the stage for your culinary masterpieces.
Location
Via Volturno, 78
Via Volturno
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(355 Ratings)
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Voyager25754920085
Sep 13, 2025
Best Cooking Class Ever - Start off by saying that this was our favorite cooking class ever. Marco is clear and personable throughout the market and kitchen experience. He allowed us to select what we were to make based on our desires. The market is a wonder, with different ingredients around every corner. He gave suggestions as how to pick the freshest and best ingredients and which to avoid. His interaction with the vendors was something to behold. His apartment is set up to keep everyone involved in every step of the process. We cooked so many dishes, and they were all great. We have taken many cooking classes in our travels, four of which have been in Italy. This was clearly the best. Thank you so much Marco, this was the best part of our vacation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jojojg
Sep 10, 2025
Fun and informative cooking class. - Chef Marco was an entertaining teacher. Chef Marco is personable, warm and knowledgeable. He started by giving tips about the market, the food and the people as he picked the ingredients for our menu.
He interacted with each of us on a personal level, sharing his experience and his knowledge.
His home was the oerfect setting for the class. It was spacious snd well appointed. He explained each step of the cooking process, and he ensured that everyone got equal attention. The food we prepared under his close guidance was delicious and we all felt good about our accomplishment. I will recommend his class to all my friends. In fact, I have slready done so. What a great way to learn Sicilian cooking! I would do it again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jradcliffe27
Aug 31, 2025
Fantastico! - What an incredible day my husband, daughter and I had with Chef Marco! We met him at Capo market, determined the menu together on the spot and then shopped for the ingredients. We walked back to his spacious apartment and started cooking! Our final meal included: pappardelle pasta with pesto and tomatoes, swordfish pie, caponata and chocolate chip cannolis - all from scratch of course :) The final meal was incredible, one I'll dream about for years. Chef Marco has a great sense of humor and was eager to share his passion of cooking with us, we had so much fun! This was definitely a highlight of our 10-day visit to beautiful Sicily!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kevinkq8071gl
Aug 27, 2025
A great day learning under a gracious chef - Thouroughly enjoyed the day with Marco. A gracious chef, host and tutor. After shopping in the market we were able to cook 3 beautiful dishes. Marco was generous with teaching us his cooking techniques. After preparing the food we enjoyed it together in his dining room where everything was presented beautifully. Marco is a lovely and humourous host. I was so pleased to share this experience with my daughter and highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maudp215
Aug 19, 2025
Great time! - Absolutely awesome! One of the best moments of our stay in Palermo. We searched the market for the best products, then prepared fresh pasta, arancinis and canollies.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Martin_k
Aug 6, 2025
Perfect way to enjoy a cooking experience in Palermo! - Excellent cooking experience! We had s lot of fun, learned something, enjoyed the market visit, the cooking, the food and most of all the very friendly way of our chef Marco and really felt it was a perfect experience!
Review provided by Viator
Philipp384
Jul 28, 2025
An unforgettable Sicilian cooking experience with Chef Marco at Casa di Cilla - Our cooking class with Marco at Casa di Cilla was absolutely the highlight of our week in Sicily. We began the day at Palermo’s vibrant Capo market, where Marco expertly guided us through the colorful stalls like a local, selecting the freshest ingredients for our menu.
Back at Marco’s immaculate and charming kitchen just minutes from the market, we rolled up our sleeves and got hands‑on. Under his expert, patient, and humorous instruction, we made swordfish rolls with a North African‑inspired touch (mint, raisins, citrus) as well as pistachio pesto ravioli—with fresh pasta from scratch—and a deeply flavorful aubergine caponata. For dessert, we prepared cassatelle—sweet fried ricotta‑filled pastries typical of western Sicily—a perfect finish to the meal.
Marco made the kitchen feel welcoming, like cooking with a friend. He made the class both fun and informative, and deeply authentic. It was the best food we ate in Sicily, also! If you’re looking for an immersive, delicious, and culturally rich culinary experience in Palermo, this class with Chef Marco at Casa di Cilla is not to be missed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nealymum
Jul 20, 2025
An experience to remember - This experience made my son Joe’s holiday in Sicily. He is 19 years old and has just finished his third year at catering college. I can’t thank Marco enough for the wonderful life long memory he has given to Joe.
Everything was organised very well, from booking to communication and meeting up. I was a bit apprehensive as Joe was in a city and travelled from our hotel alone as we had chosen a sailing experience but Marco answered Joe’s messages and ensured he got to the right place.
When Joe came back from the cookery class he was ecstatic and we loved hearing all about his day. From shopping for the food at the local markets to cooking in Marco’s beautiful Sicilian kitchen and then enjoying the fruits of his labour at Marco’s dining table with wine and the other guests. It was just wonderful.
Marco is an extremely knowledgeable cook and supported Joe really well. They made tapenade, cacio e pepe, pasta vongole, swordfish and cannoli. Marco was aided in the kitchen by Michael who Joe said was really friendly and helpful.
Thank you for giving my son a truly memorable experience- I wish I’d done it myself now!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brianna_b
Jul 17, 2025
Best Cooking Class - Marco was the best host/chef. He made cooking fun and exciting. One of the highlights of our trip! Would not hesitate to book this class during your stay.
Review provided by Viator
4noele
Jul 15, 2025
Top Palermo Experience with Chef Marco - Wow, what an incredible experience! Marco is an absolute joy and incredible Chef. We had such a great time with every aspect of the experience - the market tour, the cooking, and the meal. The food was delicious and our favorite meal in Palermo. Looking forward to another visit with Casa Di Cilla and Marco on my next trip to Sicily!
Review provided by Tripadvisor