The beginnings of La Nouvelle Cuisine (French: the new cuisine) are likened to the Impressionists, abandoning mythical themes, and painting directly from nature. La Nouvelle Cuisine focused on the quality of the food itself. Marchesi was in tune with this idea, and at the same time, knew he'd found true artistry in the Troisgros brothers in Dijon, when he went to work with them in the late sixties.

We continue on our tour of the Villa Torlonia grounds. Anna shows us the mansion where Mussolini lived from 1925 to 1943.

You won't want to miss the authentic and lively fish market in Catania, nor Brucoli, a fishing village nearby, with its grottoes and castle.

What Gualtiero Marchesi learned from the Troisgros brothers in Roanne, was, above all, the importance of simplicity.

By way of Aci Castello, another town dedicated to the mythological Acis, we finally reach Catania, the second largest city in Sicily.

Anna and Marika take us to Rome's Villa Torlonia. There's an old Swiss chalet type of house there with as its theme, owls and bats!

Gualtiero Marchesi had the opportunity to witness the beginnings of "nouvelle cuisine" in France before it arrived in Italy. The Troisgros family, with whom he worked, were famed for their innovative cooking. Their restaurant was in an area with no gastronomic legacy, and they had to rely on their skill, rather than on characteristic local ingredients.

More about Aci Trezza and the Cyclops sea stacks, and their roles in legend and tradition.

Alberto Capatti talks about his first culinary experiences as an Italian in France, not knowing how to choose wine, etc. Gualtiero Marchesi talks about how he sought to take the elements he admired in French cuisine and apply them to his own style of cooking in Italy.

Acireale and Aci Trezza are two small towns in Sicily that get their names from Greek mythology, and they in fact look out on the Islands of the Cyclops, so this area, besides being incredibly beautiful, also has an important and very ancient place in history and myth.

Near Mount Etna is the river Alcantara, with its unique bed and walls that create a marvelous natural landscape. It's also a choice spot for extreme sports like hydrospeed, kayaking and rafting.

Alberto Capatti shares his memories of the grand restaurants of Paris in the sixties. Velvet curtains, low lighting, fires in the fireplaces, ten kinds of cheese — a far cry from what would become known as "nouvelle cuisine."

From the deep blue sea to the high, volcanic Mount Etna, there is still much to discover in Sicily.

There's a beautiful tiny island near Taormina, with its ancient castle, and some unique fauna.

Gualtiero Marchesi talks about his experiences in Paris, learning from the chefs there. Actually, he already knew much of what was taught to him, because he'd had chefs in his family who were well-versed in both every day and fancy fare. He, on the other hand, was looking for something new and different.