Mainly 2–3-night stays in each location. Comfortable travel days with numerous stops. Requires 1-3 miles of walking per day that might involve some uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones and stairs.
Ciao Roma, the 'Eternal City', is yours to explore on your own before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception this evening. Enjoy an orientation drive – a perfect introduction to this beautiful city, the center of which has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its ruins, imposing monuments, statues and fountains.
From Rome, journey south to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii. Your Local Specialist will take you on a walking tour of the excavations buried for centuries under a layer of volcanic ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted. See such sites as the Gymnasium, the Temple of Apollo and the impressive Basilica before continuing to your hotel in Sorrento.
Take a ferry to Capri, the isle of sirens according to Greek mythology. You’ll ascend to Capri town by funicular railway and see the famous Piazzetta during your guided walking tour with a Local Specialist. Spend some free time people-watching at one of the local cafés before returning to the mainland where you can enjoy free time in Sorrento or perhaps choose to visit the famed town of Positano. Let the day's delightful discoveries sink in as you relax at dinner this evening.
Drive south via Salerno and through Calabria, crossing the straits of Messina to Sicily and the beachside resort town of Giardini Naxos below Taormina. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Your Local Specialist will take you on a walking tour of Taormina on the slopes of Monte Tauro, overlooking the sea. Visit the Greek theater and see the terraced botanical gardens. Then, stroll along the elegant Corso Umberto with a gelsi gelato and on to the Piazza for splendid panoramic views across the bay. Later, there's free time for shopping for souvenirs and handmade ceramics on the Corso.
Enjoy a full day to do as you please in this beautiful resort town. Shop, relax, see the sights of your choice, or consider an Optional Experience. Whatever you decide, your Travel Director will be on hand to help you get the most out of your day. Tonight, Connect With Locals during a Be My Guest experience hosted at a beautiful family owned Sicilian lemon farm overlooking Mount Etna.
Enjoy views of Enna on the way to Agrigento, where your Local Specialist will take you to the Valley of the Temples - the finest Greek sanctuary in Sicily. See the splendid Temple of Concord and the Temple of Juno overlooking the sea.
Discover hidden Palermo as you join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, and learn about the civil anti-mafia movement. Travel to Erice and discover this famous hilltop medieval town in western Sicily with its cobbled streets, Norman castles and stunning views of the sea, salt pans and wooded hillsides. Perhaps take a walk to the ruins of Venus Castle with its Balio Gardens.
Travel to Monreale for views of La Conca d'Oro and explore the magnificent 12th century Norman Cathedral. Later, join your companions and celebrate your journey with a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant.
Say arrivederci to Sicily and your newfound friends at the end of a memorable holiday.
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Sorrento Countryside and Farmhouse Meal (Available on Day 2)Join us at a traditional farm in the Sorrento countryside, where you'll visit the lemon groves, olive oil mill and see first-hand how mozzarella is made. Afterwards, enjoy the authentic flavors of home-produced cold cuts, marinated vegetables, fresh olives and more - all washed down with the local wine. The atmosphere is informal, as the family are welcoming you into their home.
Adult Price: €59 Dinner Neapolitan Style (Available on Day 2)Join us for an evening of Neapolitan specialties at one of our favorite family-run restaurants. Savor local dishes all served up with the famous Neapolitan hospitality and zest for life.
Adult Price: €74 Discover The Isle Of Capri (Available on Day 3)Experience the spectacular cliffs and famous turquoise waters of Capri during a relaxing cruise to the most beautiful part of the island, the southern side. View the beautiful grottoes and unique coastline before ascending to Capri town. This optional experience is weather dependent and may be replaced by a minibus tour of the Island with a visit to Anacapri and either the Villa San Michele or the Anacapri chairlift.
Adult Price: €52 Amalfi Coast and Positano (Available on Day 3)Come with us for a drive along the famous Amalfi Coast. You’ll have a chance to visit the exclusive artists’ paradise of Positano, which is magnificently positioned on the Mediterranean coast.
Adult Price: €66 Mt Etna, Savoca and The Godfather (Available on Day 5)Discover rustic village life with your Local Specialist as we visit Savoca, the Sicilian setting for 'The Godfather'. Enjoy the stunning views before a visit to Vitelli's bar, featured in the film and famous for 'granita di limone'. Later, you’ll journey up Mt Etna, one of the most intriguing volcanoes in the world. (Footwear such as trainers or boots advised)
Adult Price: €61 Dinner in Castelmola (Available on Day 5)Climb by minibus to the heights of Castelmola, above Taormina, to enjoy a tasty Sicilian Dinner with local wine in a characteristic restaurant with some of the best views of this magical part of the island. Then enjoy a tasty Sicilian Dinner with wine.
Adult Price: €90 Sicilian Dinner and Entertainment (Available on Day 5)Join us for a fantastic Sicilian evening where we’ll enjoy a dinner of Southern Italian specialties with musical entertainment.
Adult Price: €80 Syracuse - The Wonder of Ancient Sicily (Available on Day 6)With your Local Specialist, you’ll visit the most fascinating town in Sicily, once the capital of Magna Graecia, including the beautiful island of Ortygia. Entrance to the archaeological site of Syracuse is included.
Adult Price: €64 Sferracavallo with Dinner (Available on Day 8)Join us for a drive to the coast of Sicily, where we’ll arrive at the quaint fishing village of Sferracavallo. You’ll have the chance to sample a delicious feast of local Palermo specialties, accompanied by wine and soft drinks.
Adult Price: €69 A Visit to Cefalù (Available on Day 9)Take a drive along the blue coastal highway to the quaint medieval village of Cefalù. You'll have the chance to stroll from the long golden beaches into the winding Arab streets with your Local Specialist.
Adult Price: €40 Colors and Traditions of Palermo (Available on Day 9)A panoramic drive through verdant forest with spectacular views over the city of Palermo brings us to the summit of Mt. Pellegrino. Here we visit the grotto of Santa Rosalia, Palermo's patron saint. Later, with a Local Specialist, we explore and sample Palermitano street food at one of the most famous and colorful markets with its stalls of olives and spices. A wonderful opportunity to enjoy picturesque Sicilian everyday life.
Adult Price: €33 Hidden Palermo and Local Colorful Market (Available on Day 9)Your local specialist will take you for a stroll through the heart of Palermo with some hidden gems. This discovery will take you to the most exciting local market where you will taste some of the Palermitano street food.