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Insider's Italy
A culinary and cultural deep-dive with Chris & Natalie McDade
October 6 - 14, 2023
One exclusive departure — reserve your spot!
9 Days, 8 Nights
The very best of Rome and Sicily from Taormina and Mt Etna to Siracusa and Palermo
Price from
$13,000
per person based on double occupancy; includes internal flight from Rome to Sicily
Questions? Text or call us
+1 (855) 219-8018
You’re on the volcanic slopes of ancient Mt Etna, sipping the finest Carricante and Nerello Mascalese wines alongside a winemaker sharing the secrets of her craft. Yesterday, a shepherd demonstrated the centuries-old traditions of Sicilan cheesemaking. Tomorrow, you’re sailing the sparkling waters of the Ionian Sea, pausing for lunch in a quiet fishing village to explore ancient Greek temples. You’ve sampled Rome’s finest street foods and rolled homemade maccarruni under the benevolent eye of a Sicilian nonna (grandmother) kneading flour into a supple pasta dough. This is Rome and Sicily as few others can experience—a rare inroad to the culinary and cultural secrets of Italy.
With us are Chris and Natalie McDade. He’s the chef and culinary force behind Brooklyn’s Popina and Gus’s Chop House, and author of The Magic of Tinned Fish, one of The New York Times’ Best Cookbooks of 2021. She’s a sommelier and major wine travel enthusiast who’s selected wines at some of New York’s top restaurants including Craft, Vallata, Gotham Bar & Grill and Babbo. Together, the husband and wife duo are ready to share their personal passion for Italy, their love for heirloom ingredients and innovative winemaking in two of Italy’s most delicious destinations.
If you like your food and culture layered over thousands of years of history, this trip is for you. From the buzz of Rome’s markets to starlit nights in the shadow of Mt Etna, serene al fresco picnics to glamorous Belle Epoque palace dinners, we’ll explore Rome and Sicily from every angle, tasting everything as we go.

Go Deeper
With local winemakers, artists and chefs in the heart of Rome and the backroads of Sicily
Discover
Ancient Greek ruins, medieval villages, a starlit night under the gaze of Mt Etna
Savor
World-class wines, delicate pastas and the freshest seafood — and we’ll try it all!
Luxuriate
In the finest accommodations — palatial hotels and noble rural villas, all perfectly located
3 Reasons to Travel with Chris & Natalie McDade
Chris & Natalie McDade share many things: a home, a son, and an eternal love for Italian food and wine. Chris is the author of The Magic of Tinned Fish, and he creates plates of pasta so tasty they earned his Brooklyn restaurant Popina a spot on Bon Appétit’s NYC 100 list and Gus's Chop House on Time Out's Best New Restaurants of 2022. Natalie is a sommelier with a pedigree earned at Valatta, Temple Court and Craft — some of New York’s finest restaurants. Together, they’ll wine and dine us through Sicily and Rome.

Insider Access
Rome’s quinto quarto (fifth quarter) meats. The best restaurants hidden in plain sight. Wine tastings with one of Sicily’s most prominent winemakers. Chris and Natalie know their way around. Travel easy, we’re in good hands.
Amano l'Italia
Chris and Natalie hold a deep love and knowledge of Italian cuisine. They kickstarted their careers in some of NYC’s famed Italian restaurants (Maialino for Chris; Babbo for Natalie). Their first international trip as a couple was to Italy. It’s a place, and a culture, that fills them with joy.
Inspiration to Us All
Girl meets boy, boy cooks for girl, and girl selects the perfect wine pairing to complement the dish. Chris and Natalie's story is charming, and one straight from an Italian fairy tale.
Your Experience

“Italy was the spark for both of us. After Italy, we never stopped traveling.”
Rome, Taormina, Siracusa, Palermo



“It's not just Italian people I fell in love with. I fell in love with their relationship to food and wine.”
Where We Sleep

Beautifully curated accommodations—we’ll relax under the gaze of a volcano in Sicily, and feel like we’re part of the vibrant story of Rome
Anantara Palazzo Naiadi
RomeMore than 2,000 years of Roman history are here in one gorgeous space. Ancient ruins of the baths of Diocletian are visible beneath the property's glass floors, and there’s no more quintessentially Roman setting than the hushed, soaring lobby. The hotel has every comfort you'd expect, and some that are wonderfully unexpected (like sunset cocktails at the poolside rooftop bar).

Monaci delle Terre Nere
Zafferana EtneaThis exquisite boutique hotel is perched high on the eastern skirts of Mt Etna, forged out of an old palmento (wine estate) lovingly restored to traditional splendor, down to its chestnut flooring and lava-stone walls. The property boasts its own 15-acre winery, and its in-house restaurant draws heavily from the gardens. This is rustic living at its finest.

Baglio Occhipinti
VittoriaThis ancient, family-run baglio (fortified farm) is centered around a gracious manor house and 300-year-old citrus groves. It's a perfect home base to explore Siracusa and beyond. Meals are prepared over open flame in the enormous scullery fireplace, and culinary-minded guests are welcome to roll up their sleeves and join in the fun.

Villa Igiea
PalermoThis immaculately restored palazzo is a fever dream of turrets, colonnades and classical statues, spilling out onto terraces overlooking the sparkling Tyrrhenian sea. For more than a century the Belle Epoque property has attracted A-List celebrities; today, after a top-to-bottom remodel by renowned interior designer Olga Polizzi, there’s nowhere grander on the entire island.

People Love MO/AD’s Italy
Everything was done superbly.
I was blown away by how flawlessly Modern Adventure fulfilled and exceeded my expectations.
I loved the warmth, sincerity and caring of the Modern Adventure team.
Book Rome & Sicily with Chris & Natalie McDade
Questions?
That’s OK, we have answers. Read our FAQs below. Or text or call us at +1 (855) 219-8018 to speak with a Modern Adventure Trip Specialist.
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What does the price include?
Eight nights at unique four- and five-star accommodations; internal flight from Rome to Sicily; private travel for all day trips and excursions; departure airport transfer; private tours with local guides and cultural experts; exclusive VIP access and tastings; guided activities, adventures and expeditions; entrance fees; daily breakfasts, most lunches and dinners; local beverages with meals.
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What does the price not include?
International roundtrip airfare; travel insurance; transportation to the trip’s starting point; activities not included in the trip itinerary; hotel incidentals including room service, laundry service and hotel bar tabs; food and beverages not included in itinerary; gratuity for tour leader.
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Where does this trip start and end?
Our adventure begins in Rome, Italy, at the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Hotel. The closest airport is Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO). We recommend arriving one day early to ensure you’re at our starting point on time. On our last day, the closest airport is Palermo’s Falcone-Borsellino (PMO) airport. Your flight should be scheduled to depart at 12pm or later from PMO airport.
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What travel documents are needed?
US citizens are not required to have a visa for stays in Italy of under 90 days. Just bring a valid US passport. For citizens of other countries, please check with the Italian embassy or consulate for information and requirements.
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Do I need to pay a solo traveler supplement?
For solo travelers, there is a $2,000 single-supplement fee paid at the time of booking to secure a private room. These spots are extremely limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Who is going on this trip?
Our adventures typically have between 10 and 20 guests, and our Modern Adventure Team. Our experiences are fun and inclusive and you can expect to be joined by a diverse group in terms of age, background and interests—including solo travelers, couples and friends traveling together. This adventure is for travelers age 18 and above.
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Who is leading this trip?
This trip is led by an expert Modern Adventure trip leader. They’re an experienced travel guide, a representative of Modern Adventure and your go-to person for questions or concerns on the trip. We’ll be joined throughout our adventure by local, expert guides who are deeply knowledgeable with respect to local cultures, customs and history and are passionate about sharing that with us.
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Do I need travel insurance?
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance allows you to seek reimbursement for your trip costs; if your trip plans change for unforeseeable reasons, or if you need to get medical help, emergency transport, and for theft, loss or damage of items while traveling. For best coverage, always insure the full trip cost within two weeks of your initial trip deposit and note that most ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ policies must be purchased on the date of your initial deposit.
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What is the cancellation policy?
You may cancel on or before June 8, 2023 and receive a full refund minus a $500 per-person service fee. If you cancel on or after June 9, 2023 there is a 50% cancellation fee. On or after August 7, 2023 there is a 100% cancellation fee. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as we are not able to make exceptions to this policy in cases of family/medical emergency or cases of the trip being canceled (see our Terms and Conditions for full details).