Southern Italy & Sicily

The hidden treasures of Southern Italy and Sicily are yours to explore, for it’s here you’ll find breathtaking scenery, historic cities, centuries-old hilltop villages and iconic cuisine.
Hotel Name: NH Palermo

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.
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Palermo
Palermo is the regional capital of Sicily with nearly a million inhabitants. The history of the city’s many rulers is on full display through the architecture of the monumental palaces, theaters and churches. Arabs, Normans and Spanish have all called the city home and left their mark on the people, their culture and food. The city is full of vibrant markets, lively eateries and bustling piazzas just waiting to be explored.

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.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Baia di Ulisse

Visit Area: Monreale
Monreale is famous for its Norman Cathedral that is covered with nearly 70,000 square feet of gold-leaf mosaics. The church was built in the 12th century by the Norman King William II. The mosaics depict stories of the Old Testament and the life stories of Saints Peter and Paul. The church is a national monument and highlight of any trip to Sicily.

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.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Agrigento
Agrigento is a provincial capital on the southern coast of Sicily. The city is famous as a tourist destination because of the Greek archeological park called the Valley of the Temples. The Valley of the Temples is home to seven Greek temples that date back to the Golden Age of Magna Grecia, when Greek city-states dominated Sicily and Southern Italy. The site, known as Akragas in ancient Greek, was added to the UNESCO Heritage list in 1997 because of the ancient Greek temples’ high state of preservation.

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.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Una Hotel Naxos Beach Sicilia

Visit Area: Valley of the Temples
The Valley of the Temples is a Greek archeological site located on the outskirts of the Sicilian city of Agrigento. The site, known as Akragas in ancient Greek, was added to the UNESCO Heritage list in 1997 because of the Ancient Greek Temples’ high quality state of preservation. The most famous of the temples is the so-called Temple of Concordia which was utilized as a church during the medieval ages. In total the site has seven temples and covers an area of over 3000 acres.

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.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Piazza Armerina

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.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: UNAHOTELS MH Matera Hotel

Visit Area: Giardini Naxos
Giardini Naxos was the site of the first Greek settlement in the 8th century BC. After experiencing a heyday as a center of citrus production, the economy has transformed and is focused on tourism today. The city’s crescent-shaped port sits below Monte Tauro and the beautiful garden city of Taormina. The surrounding area is home to several large beachfront hotels that overlook the Ionian Sea.

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.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Taormina
Set on the top of Monte Tauro is the beautiful garden city of Taormina. The city’s mix of historic monuments trace its history from the time of the Greeks to Romans, to Arabs and beyond. The most impressive monument is the Greco-Roman theatre that overlooks the crescent-shaped port of Giardini Naxos and Mt. Etna in the distance. The town also has many lovely designer shops and a plethora of restaurants offering authentic Sicilian cuisine.

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.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Hotel Michelangelo

Visit Area: Strait of Messina

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.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Admittance: Winery Tour & Tasting

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.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Massimo D'Azeglio Hotel

Visit Area: Matera
Matera is a community in southern Italy that is home to the unique Sassi of Matera. The Sassi of Matera are a unique urban structure of cave dwellings that are carved out of the local tufa stone ravines. The community of stone dwellings were inhabited by nearly 15,000 people until the 1950s when the Italian government forced everyone to leave for hygienic purposes. Today, the Sassi are being rehabbed into modern homes, hotels and tourist attractions. The site is also home to a number of ancient stone churches.

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.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Sorrento
The north side of the Sorrento peninsula is the Sorrento Coast, named after the largest city and tourist center, Sorrento. The Sorrento Coast is home to panoramic views of shear cliffs, small rocky beaches and terraced gardens of olive and lemon trees. The town of Sorrento is a tourist’s delight, complete with excellent shopping, quaint cafes and elegant restaurants.

Your tour comes to a close today.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Positano
Ferry past tumbling cliffs and pastel-colored houses on your way to Positano, where you’ll enjoy a free afternoon in this resort town. Perhaps you spend time browsing the posh boutiques, or taking a moment to relax and rest along the beach.