Our Host & Founder, Anitya Hagan
Anitya Hagan enjoys sharing her passion for Italy with others. She has designed an authentic experience that includes a variety of her favorite Sicilian cultural experiences in one week. Working in the marketing field for a specialty hospital, followed by selling pharmaceuticals, Anitya has coordinated events to entertain for over half of her life. Now, mix that skill with passion, a desire to please people, and the ability to share her love for Italy. Just imagine how fun these trips are! “My goal is to make guests feel at home in our beautiful villa, have fun exploring some of the islands most historical towns, and hope they leave with a bit of Sicily in their hearts.”
Anitya has been to Italy, specifically Sicily, time and time again to vacation, and attend immersion language school at The Italian Academy in Syracuse. During these visits, she visited the nearby towns and attractions numerous times, meanwhile building relationships to perfect the tours. She now considers Ortigia her second home. Healthy eating is something Italians practice daily. The first time she went to Sicily, she felt she hadn’t eaten a preservative the entire time until she reached the airport. Her vision to combine this “Farm-to-Table” cooking experience with wellness, goes hand in hand to provide guests to take part in true cultural immersion.
Anitya is an Honor Guard in The National Institute of the Royal Tombs of the Pantheon, a Dame in The Group of Savoia, and a board member for the Italian Cultural Institute of Louisville.
Our Activity Leaders
Our Chef, Amalia & Pastry Chef Donatella
Amalia, our head chef is from a Sicilian family that has maintained their culture on the island for several generations. With Amalia’s true Sicilian roots, she is the ideal person to share authentic recipes with you to make home for your family and friends. In Amalia’s free time, she hosts guests in her home to provide them with a true Italian cultural experience and helps them with their language and cooking skills. Amalia brings big energy and enthusiasm for sharing her delicious recipes, and a passion for making you feel at home in her beautiful country.
Donatella, our pastry chef is also a part of a multi generational Sicilian family, raised in a big family in a small town outside of Modica. Donatella joined our team for the first time in 2019 and helps Amalia in the kitchen as well as in charge of the dessert and pastry portion of the menu and lessons. Donatella speaks fluent Sicilian, Italian, English and Mandarin and teaches English language lessons. Donatella is an amazingly kind person and is thrilled to welcome and share her beautiful island with guests.
