Southern Italy & Sicily

Day Stop

• Palermo, PA, Italy

Hotel(s)

NH Palermo, Palermo

Meal(s)

Dinner

Your Italian sojourn opens in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Discover the city’s vibrant culture as you take in its gritty, unshakable spirit and captivating energy. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner featuring authentic Sicilian cuisine.

Day Stops

• Palermo, PA, Italy
• 90046 Monreale, PA, Italy

Hotel(s)

NH Palermo, Palermo

Meal(s)

Breakfast

Begin the day with an extensive walking tour of Palermo’s old town. On foot, uncover cobblestoned piazzas and ornate buildings, many worn by time and conflict. Visit hilltop Monreale (UNESCO), ascending 92 steps to its 12th-century cathedral. Tour its majestic Byzantine mosaics and explore the cathedral’s cloisters. Take in the serene atmosphere of the monastic complex before returning to Palermo for an evening at leisure. Today breakfast will be included.

Day Stops

• Palermo, PA, Italy
• 90015 Cefalù, PA, Italy
• 92100 Agrigento, AG, Italy

Experience

Farm-to-table lunch at a family-owned farmhouse

Hotel(s)

Baia di Ulisse, Agrigento

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, journey to a family-owned farmhouse, picturesquely set in the hills surrounding Palermo. Meet the owners and discover what a typical day on a Sicilian farm is like. Sit back and tuck into a hearty farm-to-table lunch, made with family recipes. Relax aboard your bus as you travel over rolling hills and peaceful farmland to Sicily’s southern coast for a 2-night stay in the outskirts of Agrigento. Today breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included.

Day Stop

• 92100 Agrigento, AG, Italy

Experience

Enjoy time at leisure at your hotel, where you can take in the views from its panoramic terrace and walk along the beach -OR- venture into Agrigento’s old town for a stroll through its historic center and free time to explore.

Hotel(s)

Baia di Ulisse, Agrigento

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, it’s your choice! Enjoy time at leisure at your hotel, where you can take in the views from its panoramic terrace and walk along the beach -OR- venture into Agrigento’s old town for a stroll through its historic center and free time to explore. This afternoon, step back 25 centuries and delve into ancient Greek history with a visit of the stunning Valley of the Temples (UNESCO), one of the world’s most esteemed archeological sites. Get an up-close view of the temples of Juno, Concordia, and Hercules during an extensive walking tour of this ancient acropolis. Then, pause for dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.

Day Stops

• 92100 Agrigento, AG, Italy
• 94015 Piazza Armerina EN, Italy
• 98035 Naxos, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy

Hotel(s)

Una Hotel Naxos Beach Sicilia, Giardini Naxos or Hellenia Yachting Hotel, Giardini Naxos

Meal(s)

Breakfast

Venture deep into Sicily’s countryside to Piazza Armerina, home of the ancient Villa Romana del Casale (UNESCO). Explore the site with an expert insider for a locally guided tour of its impressive Roman mosaics. In the afternoon, journey east to Sicily’s Ionian Coast for your 2-night stay in Giardini Naxos. This evening, perhaps you’ll join an optional dinner with music, where traditional Sicilian melodies fill the air.

Day Stops

• 98035 Naxos, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• 98039 Taormina, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy

Hotel(s)

Una Hotel Naxos Beach Sicilia, Giardini Naxos or Hellenia Yachting Hotel, Giardini Naxos

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Dinner

This morning explore beautiful Taormina, home to ancient relics, rocky hills, and charming gardens. With an expert local guide, you’ll stroll the lively pedestrianized main street and climb to the city’s well-preserved Greek theatre. The afternoon is yours to relax in Giardini Naxos – the “garden of Sicily” – or opt to see Sicily’s wilder side on an off-road adventure to Mount Etna. During this optional tour, your vehicle climbs along the sides of Europe’s largest active volcano while you take in views of its lava formations and basalt rocks.

Day Stops

• 98035 Naxos, Metropolitan City of Messina, Italy
• 89018 Villa San Giovanni, Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, Italy
• 75100 Matera, Province of Matera, Italy

Experience

Tour a vineyard and cellar located in the badlands of Basilicata, Matera's region.

Hotel(s)

UNAHOTELS MH Matera Hotel, Matera

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Dinner

Take a short and scenic ferry ride across the narrow Strait of Messina, separating Sicily from Italy’s mainland. During your full day bus transfer, pass through the unspoiled region of Calabria and onto the Basilicata region. Wander through the twisting vines of a local winery before touring the cellar for a tasting. Linger over regional cuisine at dinner in the winery’s agriturismo restaurant.

Day Stop

• 75100 Matera, Province of Matera, Italy

Hotel(s)

UNAHOTELS MH Matera Hotel, Matera

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Dinner

Explore the Sassi di Matera (UNESCO), an ancient settlement of carved cave dwellings. A local guide shares the history and explains why film producers are seeking out this unique landscape. The afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps you’ll join an optional tour to Alberobello (UNESCO) in the nearby region of Puglia. Here, marvel at the town’s whimsical trulli homes, known for their distinct, cone-shaped roofs.

Day Stops

• 75100 Matera, Province of Matera, Italy
• 80067 Sorrento, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy

Experience

Savor freshly made mozzarella cheese during a visit to a buffalo dairy farm.

Hotel(s)

Hotel Michelangelo, Sorrento

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Lunch

Stop at a sustainable buffalo dairy farm* for a taste of freshly made mozzarella and a peek into the history of this iconic cheese. After lunch at the farm, transfer to the Sorrentine Peninsula and settle in for a 2-night stay.** During a walking tour, discover the charms of Sorrento and learn about the local tradition of wood marquetry.

*The mozzarella production takes place at nighttime, ending prior to your visit. Therefore, travelers will not see the production in process.

Day Stops

• 80067 Sorrento, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy
• 84017 Positano, SA, Italy

Experience

Take in the sights and colors of the Mediterranean Sea as you sail*** along the initial stretch of the breathtaking Amalfi Coast (UNESCO).

Hotel(s)

Hotel Michelangelo, Sorrento

Meal(s)

Breakfast

This morning, take in the sights and colors of the Mediterranean Sea as you sail*** along the initial stretch of the breathtaking Amalfi Coast (UNESCO). Gaze out over the deep blue hues of the sea paired with the bright citrus fruits lining the hillsides. Pause in Positano with its pastel-colored houses and pebbly beaches. Spend time in this legendary locale browsing the posh boutiques or resting along the beach, before returning to Sorrento for an afternoon at leisure.

***The ferry to Positano is subject to sea and weather conditions and operates between April 1 and October 31, yearly. In case of adverse sea conditions or if travelling to Sorrento between November 1 and March 31, the boat ride will be replaced by a bus transfer to Positano. Travelers prone to seasickness should take proper precautions.

Day Stops

• 80067 Sorrento, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy
• Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

Experience

Soak in the history of this 2,000-year-old Roman town at your own pace by picking between a leisurely walking tour of Pompeii’s essential sights -OR- a faster paced walk covering more off-the-beaten-path gems.

Hotel(s)

Radisson Blu GHR, Rome

Meal(s)

Breakfast, Dinner

Journey north to Rome. En route, experience the excavated ruins of Pompeii (UNESCO). Here, it’s your choice! Soak in the history of this 2,000-year-old Roman town at your own pace by picking between a leisurely walking tour of Pompeii’s essential sights -OR- a faster paced walk covering more off-the-beaten-path gems. Step into another time as you explore the preserved buildings and imagine life in the 1st century. An afternoon-long transfer leads to Rome, where you arrive in the early evening. Celebrate the end of your journey with a delightful farewell dinner.

Day Stop

• Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

Meal(s)

Breakfast

Your tour comes to a close today.