Frequently Asked Questions

The Vegan Street Food Tour begins at 12:30 p.m. and lasts approximately three hours. It includes exploring Ortigia’s ancient history, viewing many of the island’s most iconic sites and ruins, stories of the dark and mysterious Greek mythology, and the area’s little-known vegan past. The traditional Sicilian street food includes two savory & two sweet options. The four food stops are spread throughout the island and satisfy any appetite! Tonia also provides water, hand wipes, a rubbish bag, and salt. You never know what she might pull out of her bag. Your guide is a cross between a soccer mom and a pack mule! Tonia is also your official “better than novice but not quite professional” photographer for the duration of the tour. The tour group will meet in Piazza Pancali near the Corso Umberto bridge at the large Ortigia map. Tickets are 65€ each.

Tonia welcomes all solo travelers and there are no single supplement fees for this tour.All food is lactose-free and dairy-free.Gluten-free options are available upon request.

The Vegan Happy Hour Tour begins at 6 p.m. and lasts 1½ hours. This aperitivo includes pairing three sublime locally-produced organic Sicilian wines with Modica’s handcrafted decadent cold-pressed chocolate. The next stop combines exquisitely crafted housemade vegan cheeses shared with cocktails curated by a master mixologist at Ortigia’s vegan hotspot, MOON. The tour ends at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tonia suggests that you experience a meal at MOON when the tour has finished, so please inform her in advance. She will happily book a table for your dinner party. The tour group will meet inside Sabadì – Bottega e Cantina located in the Piazza Duomo. The Happy Hour Tour is unavailable on Tuesdays. Tickets are 75€ each.

All food & drinks are lactose-free and dairy-free. 🌾 Gluten-free options are available upon request. 

The Vegan Wine & Chocolate Pairing begins at 6 p.m. and lasts 45 minutes. This short but delightful pairing of locally produced, organic wine and exquisitely handcrafted Sicilian chocolate is a match made in heaven. Chiara or Ramona will describe the superb combination of flavors, suggest pairings, and explain how the chocolate is created. These sweets are guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds, and the chocolate samples are unlimited! Chocolate and wine are both available to be purchased and make excellent gifts. The tour group will meet inside Sabadì – Bottega e Cantina in the Piazza Duomo. The tickets are 35€ each.

All chocolates are gluten-free, lactose-free, and dairy-free. 🍷 The wine is vegan, organic & gluten-free. 

The Vegan Cooking Masterclass begins at 9:30 a.m. and lasts two hours. This is an extraordinary opportunity to create plant-based cuisine in Ortigia’s hottest vegan kitchen. The collaboration between Tonia and MOON provides a hands-on experience to master the art of creating Sicilian vegan cannoli or signature nut-based & lactose-free cheeses. The tour group will meet at MOON (Move Ortigia Out of Normality). The class is available on Tuesdays only, and tickets are 175€ each.

Both options are lactose-free and dairy-free. Gluten-free options are available upon request.

Bring a healthy appetite, a happy attitude, and a fully charged phone for photos. Three tours include the opportunity to purchase Sicilian chocolate and locally produced vermouth wines, so come prepared to shop using your favorite form of payment.

Your tour guide, Tonia, is an American expat who has lived and traveled throughout Europe since 2018. American English will be spoken. 

We have read many times about the elusive free parking spaces in Ortigia – if you see a space outlined in white paint, it is free, so grab it! However, we have never found free parking on the island!

To help make your experience as enjoyable as possible, and so you can arrive on time without rushing; there are two nearby parking lots that we suggest:

Parcheggio Molo Sant’Antonio, Via del Porto Grande. The large lot is located just before you reach the island of Ortigia and also accesses the beautiful port. 

Talete Parking, Lungomare di Levante Elio Vittorini, is located on the island of Ortigia. The parking lot is sometimes unavailable to tourists.

You should download the EasyPark app on your mobile phone before arriving in either parking lot. It allows you to choose your parking lot, extend your parking time, and pay from your phone.

Of course, if you are staying in Ortigia, you have already found a place to park, and anywhere on the island is a short walk to one of our three meeting spots at Piazza Pancali, Sabadì Bottega & Cantina, or MOON.

No way! Tonia understands that you may have food allergies that make eating some animal products or wheat proteins very unpleasant. 🧀💩 You may be “vegan for the day” out of love and respect for a friend or family member who is vegan. 💚 Maybe you were interested because our ticket prices may be a bit less expensive than other tours.💰Or you may be joining her because she welcomes solo travelers and does not charge a supplemental fee or require a two-ticket minimum purchase. 🎟 Tonia doesn’t care why, she is just happy to meet you and to share her love for this gorgeous little island and its delicious vegan food with you. Here’s the deal. Tonia will not try to convince you to be a vegan or shame you for your life choices. And no sad animal stories are included in the tour. We promise! 😇 We are together to have fun and eat some amazing plant-based food. All she asks is that you agree to eat 100% vegan while on the tour, no vegan jokes please (she’s been vegan for 17 years and has heard them all, several times)🤣, and she will crown you, “vegan for the day.” 🌱😂 Just kidding! Those crowns are too bulky to fit in her handbag! 👑

Tonia meets and welcomes people from all over the world and loves to chat and learn more about them! She also respects that we all have different cultures and customs. She finds politics, religion, and football/soccer can be divisive so will never begin a conversation about those topics. However, if you are interested in knowing her opinion on virtually any subject, she is happy to share and is very hard to offend! She is also a big fan of hugging so if you see her coming at you with her arms open wide, don’t be surprised! But, seriously, the world isn’t perfect but you have permission to put those concerns on hold and just have an amazing vacation!