Southern Italy & Sicily
Southern Italy & Sicily
$3,119.00
From $3,119* pp | 11 Days • 16 Meals *Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy.
Discover Sicily, a melting pot where Moorish and Norman influences intertwine in the architecture, and Greek and Roman ruins stand guard on the hillsides and valleys.
- Tour a vineyard, sample the wine, and dine at its agriturismo restaurant.
- Be amazed by the Greek Theatre in Taormina.
- Travel to “Sassi di Matera,” an ancient town known for its cave dwellings.
- In mystical Alberobello, marvel at some of the most unusually built homes—known astrulli.
Walk in the Footsteps of Sicilian History
This journey will take you through a crossroads of civilizations in Sicily and on to the spectacular coastlines of Southern Italy. Begin in Sicily. Uncover its Moorish and Norman influences that intertwine with Greek and Roman ruins standing guard over the landscape. Explore Agrigento’s ancient Valley of the Temples. Travel to the historic hilltop town of Taormina. Continue on to fascinating Southern Italy. Make a stop at a local winery for an agriturismo experience complete with wine tasting and a dinner featuring regional specialities. Explore the ancient town of “Sassi di Matera,” known for its cave dwellings. Spend time in the mystical town of Alberobello with its unusual cone-shaped roofed homes known as “trulli.” Discover spectacular Mt. Etna Volcano National Park. Explore the stunning Amalfi Coast and Sorrento. In evocative Pompeii, walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans who perished in the foothills of Mount Vesuvius.
INCLUSIONS
Accommodation
Meals as per itinerary
Tour guide
Activities as stated
Please note: Accommodation is subject to change.
EXCLUSIONS
Flights
Meals not indicated on the itinerary
Drinks
Optional activities
Visas
Comprehensive travel insurance
Items of a personal nature – laundry, telephone, room service
Tips and gratuities
Itinerary
Day 1. Palermo, Sicily – Tour Begins
Join us in exploring the hidden treasures of Southern Italy and Sicily. Enjoy breathtaking scenery, historic cities, centuries-old hilltop villages and wonderful cuisine. Your tour opens in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner featuring traditional Sicilian cuisine.
Dinner High 26° Low 21° Grand Hotel Federico Ii
A cultural tour of Palermo features the lovely squares of Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria and Piazza Bellini. Note the exotic mixture of Moorish, Norman and Spanish Baroque styles that make this city special. View the Palace of the Normans, La Martorana church, and the cathedral which houses the Imperial Crown of Constance of Aragon. In the nearby town of Monreale, visit the 12th-century cathedral with its dazzling interior of multicoloured marbles, paintings, mosaics and cloisters. The remainder of your day is at leisure to relax or perhaps visit the city’s museums and shops.
Breakfast High 26° Low 21° Grand Hotel Federico Ii
Day 3. Palermo – Agrigento – Giardini Naxos
Ease your way into the local culture as your Tour Manager offers up a few key phrases of the native language before travelling through the countryside with rolling hills and working farms towards the town of Agrigento. Upon arrival, explore the stunning Valley of the Temples, one of the most important archaeological sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. From ancient times to the present day, the Valley of the Temples’ ruins, landscape and colours have inspired poets, writers and painters. Here you get an up-close view of the temples of Juno, Concordia, Hercules and Jupiter. Continue on to Giardini Naxos, the “garden of Sicily,” for your 3-night stay.
Breakfast & Dinner High 24° Low 14° Hellenia Yachting Hotel
Day 4. Giardini Naxos – Taormina – Giardini Naxos
This morning, travel to beautiful Taormina, known for its charming atmosphere, significant monuments and flowering gardens. Join a local guide for a tour introducing you to the city. You will see Corso Umberto and the bountiful public gardens and visit the Greek Theatre. Enjoy some free time to independently explore this delightful town.
Breakfast High 24° Low 14° Hellenia Yachting Hotel
Journey to vibrant Catania. The choice is yours! You may join a local guide to visit the cathedral and view the main sights of this historic and Baroque city (UNESCO). Witness the daily spectacle of bartering for fresh fish and produce when you visit the local market. Or, perhaps you would prefer to visit the Museo dello Sbarco (Allied Landing Museum). This fascinating museum is dedicated to the Allied landing on the southern coast of Sicily in 1943. Later, everyone comes together to discover the impressive Mt. Etna Volcano National Park with a local expert and take in the spectacular landscapes sculpted by nature. Return to Giardini Naxos.
Breakfast High 26° Low 15° Diana Mazza
Day 6. Giardini Naxos – Matera
Travel to Messina where you will take a short ferry ride to Villa San Giovanni on Italy’s mainland. Travel through the beautiful and unspoiled region of Calabria and into the Basilicata region. This afternoon you’ll visit one of the area’s local wineries for a wine tasting and informative walk through the cellars and vineyards. Linger over a delicious regional dinner in the winery’s own “agriturismo” restaurant.
Breakfast & Dinner High 22° Low 13° Hotel Del Campo
Day 7. Matera – Alberobello – Matera
Today, explore the “Sassi di Matera,” an ancient settlement of carved cave dwellings. A local guide will help you learn the history of this site and why it has recently caught the eye of many film producers. Afterward, stop at a local shop for a chance to sample some regional produce. Enjoy some free time in Matera to browse the shops or taste the local cuisine before heading to the mystical town of Alberobello. See some of the most unusually built homes (UNESCO)—known as trulli—that have cone-shaped roofs. Surprisingly, no mortar is used to hold the stones together. Return to your hotel for dinner.
Today, travel towardss Campania and the Bay of Naples, one of the most breathtaking areas of Italy. Make a stop in Salerno to explore the historical city centre at leisure. Take a moment to gaze at its impressive cathedral, considered to be the most beautiful medieval church in Italy. Arrive at the Sorrento Peninsula in the late afternoon. Sit back and take in the views of this magical place.
Breakfast & Dinner High 23° Low 13° Crowne Plaza Stabiae sorrento Coast
Day 9. Sorrento – Amalfi Coast Drive – Amalfi – Minori – Sorrento Peninsula
Take time to discover the lovely seaside resort town of Sorrento on your own. Then, begin your adventure experiencing the breathtaking Amalfi Coast. Make a special stop in the charming town of Amalfi where you will have time to explore. Then it’s off to Minori where you have the opportunity to sample some of the local specialities at a family-owned limoncello factory. You’ll also enjoy a typical Italian afternoon break at a local café and pastry shop. Your evening is at leisure.
Breakfast High 23° Low 13° Crowne Plaza Stabiae sorrento Coast
Day 10. Sorrento Peninsula – Pompeii – Rome
Drive along the Bay of Naples and experience the excavated ruins of Pompeii at the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. Soak in the history of the preserved original buildings of a typical Roman town 2,000 years ago. A local guide will provide an in-depth view of this remarkable archaeological site. Later, travel to Rome where you will spend your last evening. Celebrate the end of your journey with a farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant.
Breakfast & Dinner High 23° Low 13° Donna Laura Palace Hotel
Day 11. Rome – Tour Ends
- Travel Tips
- Tour Activity Level
- 2017 Dates and Prices
- 2018 Dates and Prices
- 2019 Dates and Prices
- Contact Us
- Italy is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
- Elevation on this tour will not exceed 6,300 feet (Etna).
- The currency in Italy is the Euro.
- Voltage in Italy is 220V.
- Why not consider a pre and post tour extension. Start and end your holiday rested.
This tour includes moderate physical activity. The itinerary blends some longer days with shorter days and more leisure time. Walking tours, as well as walking slightly longer distances, upstairs or on uneven walking surfaces should be expected
Jul 14, 2017 – Jul 24, 2017 $3,539
Aug 22, 2017 – Sep 1, 2017 $3,539
Sep 5, 2017 – Sep 15, 2017 $3,609
Sep 8, 2017 – Sep 18, 2017 SOLD OUT
Sep 12, 2017 – Sep 22, 2017 $3,609
Sep 15, 2017 – Sep 25, 2017 SOLD OUT
Sep 22, 2017 – Oct 2, 2017 $3,609
Sep 29, 2017 – Oct 9, 2017 SOLD OUT
Oct 6, 2017 – Oct 16, 2017 $3,609
Oct 13, 2017 – Oct 23, 2017 $3,609
Oct 17, 2017 – Oct 27, 2017 SOLD OUT
Oct 20, 2017 – Oct 30, 2017 $3,539
Oct 27, 2017 – Nov 6, 2017 $3,539
Nov 3, 2017 – Nov 13, 2017 $3,399
Nov 10, 2017 – Nov 20, 2017 $3,399
Dec 5, 2017 – Dec 15, 2017 $3,119
Jan 26, 2018 – Feb 5, 2018 $3,119
Feb 23, 2018 – Mar 5, 2018 $3,119
Mar 9, 2018 – Mar 19, 2018 SOLD OUT
Mar 16, 2018 – Mar 26, 2018 SOLD OUT
Apr 6, 2018 – Apr 16, 2018 SOLD OUT
Apr 10, 2018 – Apr 20, 2018 $3,469
Apr 13, 2018 – Apr 23, 2018 $3,469
Apr 20, 2018 – Apr 30, 2018 $3,539
Apr 27, 2018 – May 7, 2018 $3,539
May 9, 2018 – May 19, 2018 $3,599
May 16, 2018 – May 26, 2018 $3,599
May 23, 2018 – Jun 2, 2018 $3,599
Jun 13, 2018 – Jun 23, 2018 SOLD OUT
Jul 11, 2018 – Jul 21, 2018 $3,599
Aug 29, 2018 – Sep 8, 2018 $3,669
Sep 5, 2018 – Sep 15, 2018 $3,669
Sep 11, 2018 – Sep 21, 2018 $3,669
Sep 12, 2018 – Sep 22, 2018 $3,669
Sep 19, 2018 – Sep 29, 2018 $3,669
Sep 25, 2018 – Oct 5, 2018 $3,669
Sep 26, 2018 – Oct 6, 2018 $3,669
Oct 3, 2018 – Oct 13, 2018 $3,669
Oct 10, 2018 – Oct 20, 2018 $3,669
Oct 17, 2018 – Oct 27, 2018 $3,599
Oct 24, 2018 – Nov 3, 2018 $3,599
Nov 6, 2018 – Nov 16, 2018 $3,469
Nov 7, 2018 – Nov 17, 2018 $3,469
Dec 5, 2018 – Dec 15, 2018 $3,119
Jan 23, 2019 – Feb 5, 2019 $3,119
Feb 20, 2019 – Mar 2, 2019 $3,189
Mar 13, 2019 – Mar 23, 2019 $3,329
Mar 20, 2019 – Mar 30, 2019 $3,399
Mar 27, 2019 – Apr 6, 2019 $3,399
Apr 2, 2019 – Apr 12, 2019 $3,529
Apr 3, 2019 – Apr 13, 2019 SOLD OUT
Apr 24, 2019 – May 4, 2019 $3,559