Day 1: Overnight Flight
Join us in exploring the hidden treasures of southern Italy and Sicily. Enjoy breathtaking scenery, historic cities, centuries old hilltop villages and wonderful cuisine. Day 2: Palermo, Sicily - Tour Begins Your tour begins in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner featuring traditional Sicilian cuisine. Today dinner will be included. Day 3: Palermo - Monreale - Palermo A Palermo cultural tour 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. Also see 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 multicolored marbles, paintings, mosaics and cloisters. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure to visit some of the city’s great museums and shops. Today breakfast will be included. Day 4: Palermo - Agrigento After a short lesson on the local language, travel through the beautiful countryside with rolling hills and working farms towards the town of Agrigento. Upon arrival, visit the stunning Valley of the Temples, one of the most important archeological 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 colors have inspired poets, writers and painters. Here you get an up-close view of the temples of Juno, Concordia, Hercules and Jupiter. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. Day 5: Agrigento - Catania - Mt. Etna - Giardini Naxos Depart Agrigento and travel across Sicily, with its spectacular landscapes and picturesque towns. Arrive in vibrant Catania where a local guide will share its history. Visit the cathedral and view the main sites of this historic and baroque city. Witness the daily spectacle of bartering for fresh fish and produce when you visit the local market. Later, visit Mt. Etna Volcano National Park to see the spectacular landscapes sculpted by nature. Arrive in Giardini Naxos, the “garden of Sicily.” Today breakfast and dinner will be included. Day 6: Giardini Naxos - Taormina - Giardini Naxos This morning you visit beautiful Taormina, known for its charming atmosphere, significant monuments and flowering gardens. Enjoy viewing the Greek Amphitheater, Corso Umberto and the bountiful Public Gardens. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to further explore this delightful town. Today breakfast will be included. Day 7: Giardini Naxos - Basilicata 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, arriving this afternoon in the seaside town of Scanzano Jonico. Late afternoon you’ll visit one of the area’s local wineries for a wine tasting and informative visit through the cellars and vineyards. Linger over a delicious regional dinner in the winery’s own “agriturismo” restaurant. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. Day 8: Basilicata - Taranto - Alberobello - Basilicata Today, venture into the region of Apulia. Begin your day with a drive towards Taranto, one of Italy’s most important port cities. Your visit to this southern town will include a special tour of the Aragonese Castle, dating back to the 15th century and belonging today to the Italian Marines. Then it’s off to the mystical town of Alberobello where you will see some of the most unusually built homes, known as “trulli,” with cone-shaped roofs and no mortar to hold the stones together. Return to Basilicata for a special Italian evening! Tonight’s dinner will include a pasta-making demonstration and an extensive dinner with all the local favorites and an entertaining performance of traditional music. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. Day 9: Basilicata - Matera - Amalfi Coast Travel to the Amalfi Coast, one of the most breathtaking areas of Italy. Visit a local cheese producer to learn the secrets of making mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. Then stop at the “Sassi di Matera,” an ancient town known for its cave dwellings, both modern and ancient. A local guide will help you learn the history of this site and why it has recently caught the eye of many film producers. Arrive at the Amalfi Coast in the late afternoon and take in the views of this magical place. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. Day 10: Amalfi Coast - Sorrento - Amalfi Coast Begin your day exploring the popular seaside resort town of Sorrento. Visit local artisans and watch them demonstrate the art of inlaid wood making. This afternoon take time to explore this lovely town on your own. You may choose to sign up for an optional tour exploring the Amalfi Coast by boat. Today breakfast will be included. Day 11: Amalfi Coast - Pompeii - Rome Travel towards 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 archeological sight. Later, travel to Rome where you will spend your last evening. Tonight, celebrate the end of your journey with a farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. Day 12: Rome Your tour ends today, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful vacation. Today breakfast will be included. Notes: Prices are based on double occupancy land only, prices vary on departure dates. 
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