Ray Winstone's Sicily

Eureka! Ray and the weapons of war.     

Syracuse is one of the most beautiful cities on the island, and the place where Archimedes first shouted "Eureka!" as he took one of the most important baths in history. Ray and friends try out some of the Greek hero's war machines, meet a woman who declares her love for Ray in a poem and make their escape via a puppet theatre, a cheese shop and arguably the best restaurant of the entire tour. Quite a bit later the next day - they travel to a World War II battleground and hear how Montgomery, Patton and a Chicago gangster teamed up to help win the war.

More wine, salty stories and annoying the neighbours.                                    

Temples dominate the city of Agrigento. Ray and his pals brave the heat to hear about Zeus, his wife, and a marital row that led to the creation of the Milky Way. On their way to the ancient port of Masala they discover the fishing village of Sciacca and its mouth-watering secret. Marsala is known for wine - the gang take a tour of one of the island's biggest winemakers. Then it's down the coast to Lo Stagnone, where salt has been manufactured for more than three thousand years and where Dionysus annoyed the neighbours with some parties so wild that the locals are still talking about them today.

Ray picks up a shotgun, throws a party and ends his grand tour in Cianciana. 

Far away from the tourist trail, our heroes experience the warmth of true Sicilian hospitality – from shepherds, bar owners and barbers right up to the Mayor. Bruno tries to milk a goat, and everyone tastes some cheese. Ray stars as a clay pigeon shooter and Matt does not. The boys meet an artist in an amphitheatre built above one of the most spectacular views in the world, let alone the island. Then it's all back to Ray's place - Bruno cooks a barbecue, the band begins to play, and friends and family gather to answer the question, ‘what makes Sicily special?'.