Day 1
Rome Airport > Rome
Private vehicle and Italian speaking driver disposal: transfer-in only
Welcome to Rome! Upon arrival at Fiumicino Airport (FCO | Your Arrival by TBA ) please proceed through Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Then meet your driver and transfer to Rome. The balance of the day is at leisure.
Day 2
Half Day Rome Tour
English Speaking Guide Disposal: half day
Meeting Point: to be advised
Included Transfer: from the Vatican to the Colosseum
Skip the line tickets: Vatican and Colosseum
This 5-hour tour tackles both of Rome's must-see sites. Explore the vast collections of art on the way to the magnificent Sistine Chapel with skip-the-line entrance to the Vatican Museums. From the Sistine Chapel, explore the expanse of St. Peter's Square with spectacular views of St. Peter's Basilica before being driven across the city to the ancient world's most iconic amphitheater. Enjoying skip-the-line entrance to the Colosseum, the knowledge of an expert guide will accompany this captivating experience that finishes with a stunning view over the Roman Forum.
The balance of the day is at leisure.
Day 3
Rome > Pompeii > Sorrento
Private vehicle and English Speaking driver disposal: full day
English speaking guide to visit Pompeii up to 2 hours
Skip the line ticket: Pompeii
Today departure for Pompeii, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvio in 79 b.c. and buried under 4 to 6 meters of ash and stones. Before visiting the excavations, enjoy a short visit to a coral and cameo factory.
Later this afternoon proceed to Sorrento, a charming town of the Sorrentine Peninsula famous for the cultivation of Oranges, Lemons and Olives trees.
Day 4
Full Day Amalfi Coast
Private vehicle and English speaking driver disposal for full day
Independent visits
Our private tour of the Amalfi Coast is hands down one of the very best tours you can take during your trip to Italy. The route offers wonderful views of steep cliffs, natural bays and picturesque towns. The tour includes various locations along the coast and will give you the opportunity to visit the cosy centre of Positano, its typical alleys full of exclusive boutiques, walking around or soaking a coffee together with international jet set persons, the history of Amalfi, the ancient Maritime Republic, and Ravello, the city of Music where Wagner composed the last part of its "Parsifal" and here found in Villa Rufolo the "lost garden". Back to your hotel and evening at leisure.
Day 5
Sorrento > Capri Boat Tour > Sorrento
Transfer from Sorrento Hotel to Sorrento Port & viceversa;
Private Boat available up to 6 hours - Snacks on board.
Blue Grotto is not included
This experience offers the opportunity to visit Capri - also called the "blue" island - and its wonders such as its stunning coastline, its breath-taking cliffs and its scenic spots. With our boat excursion , you’ll enjoy the unexpected beauty of hidden spots by a cruise around the coastline, you'll have the opportunity to visit the famous Blue Grotto (not included), explore the city center and admire the famous Piazzetta and Augustus’ Gardens. Capri is the pearl of the Campanian archipelago and even Augustus and Tiberius chose it as a refuge. Don’t miss the chance to swim in its outstanding cobalt blue waters!
PLEASE NOTE:
The stop to the Blue Grotto is not included in the itinerary of this tour due to the long waiting time. All the guests interested to visit the Blue Grotto can do it during the free time on the island. In case of high tide- sea the Blu Grotto visit could be not guaranteed.
We then return to Sorrento
Day 6
Sorrento > Naples Airport > Independent Flight to Palermo airport > Town
Private vehicle and Italian speaking driver disposal: transfer-in only
Today transfer to Capodichino Napoli Airport (NAP | Your Departure by TBA) on time for your departure flight to Sicily>Palermo.
Upon arrival meet the driver and transfer in town. The balance of the time is at leisure.
Day 7
Monreale and Palermo Street Food AM
English Speaking Guide Included for half day from h 9am
Taxi Fee to/from Monreale: included (round service)
Today meet the guide and reach Monreale by taxi in order to visit the Dome (admission fee included), a wonderful example of the Arab-Norman art and architecture. Founded in 1174 by William II, the Dome represents scenes from the Old and New Testaments all in golden mosaics.
We then back to Palermo by taxi to start our Street Food Walking Tour!
A recent ranking, compiled by the American network Virtual Tourist, placed Palermo in 5th place among the best producers of “street food” in the world. To survive your street food experience in Palermo you need: very-very light breakfasts, no-diet-no-calories restrictions today, comfy shoes, a couple of sentences or gestures in Sicilian language and a veteran belly.
We start the tour admiring the Massimo Theatre-Palermo Opera House (external view), then we explore a suggestive and lively open-air market, a place with strong Arab influences, resembling a souk, with picturesque stands of fresh fish, cheeses, fruits and vegetables. During the tour Palermo Street Food Tour Mattutino - Streatywe will have the opportunity to observe local people in their daily activities and to savor foods that a real Sicilian people love to eat! Tasting of typical street food is included. The walking tour through the ancient center of Palermo is around 3-4 hours, and we will visit several monuments including Piazza Pretoria, the Four Corners and a short visit to the Cathedral.
The balance of the day is at leisure.
Day 8
Marsala Winery, Lunch and Erice
Private Vehicle and English Speaking Driver Disposal: full day from h 8.30am
Today meet the driver at hotel. Then we travel to Marsala region along the Salt Way Road. While travelling we will be fascinated by this unusual landscape: panels of mirror-like water, held by thin strips of earth and white windmills. In Summer now as then in some areas between Trapani and Marsala it is possible to admire piles of salt just harvested.
We then visit a local marsala Wine producers
Lunch in a local Olive Oil Farmhouse based on local products and wine.
This afternoon departure for Erice, a wonderfully preserved Mediaeval town offering the most breathtaking views and a palpable sense of history. Wander through its ancient streets and visit some of the famous homemade pastry shops world-famous for marzipan candies and other delicacies like almond and pistachio pastries.
Almond marzipan probably came to Sicily from Spain, where the Arabs may have introduced it during the Middle Ages. Whether they also brought it to Sicily, which was home to several emirates before 1071, is a matter of debate. However, there is no doubt that it was the Arabs who introduced sugar cane in both Sicily and Spain, and without this key ingredient marzipan could not exist.
Then we drive back to Palermo.
Day 9
Palermo > Valley of the Temples > Siracusa
Private Vehicle and English Speaking Driver Disposal: full day from h 8:30am
Today we discover Agrigento's celebrated Valley of the Temples, the largest and best preserved temple ruins outside of mainland Greece. Guided tour this magnificent archaeological park, built between 430 and 510 B.C. and majestically positioned on rocky crests south of modern day Agrigento.
This afternoon we then continue onto Siracusa.
Day 10
Siracusa Half Day (Ortigia and Archaeological Park)
Today is dedicated to Siracusa. Our first stop today is the visit to the Archaeological area of the Neapolis and get a glimpse of Siracusa as it was in ancient times with its Greek theater, the remains of Roman Amphitheater, and the "Ear of Dionysius," an awe-inspiring artificial limestone cave renowned for its outstanding acoustics. Then onto the "Old City-Città Vecchia”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located on the island of Ortigia. The balance of the day is at leisure.
Day 11
Siracusa > Noto, Ragusa Ibla and Aztec Chocolate tastings in Modica > Taormina
Private Vehicle and English Speaking Driver Disposal: full day from h 8:30am
Today departure from Siracusa in direction of Noto. In the Arab period the town was the capital of one of the three districts of Sicily (the Val di Noto) and once defeated by the Christians, Noto became a rich Norman city. Unfortunately, it was totally destroyed by the 1693 Sicilian earthquake and rebuilt in a new position nearer to the Ionian Sea. But the new Noto is a masterpiece of Sicilian Baroque! Most of the buildings, including churches and noble palaces, follow one another along the main street and are characterized by the honey tonality of tufa stone.
Later onto Ragusa Ibla. Our Team will offer you time at disposal to keep the feeling with this section of the town giving you direction to explore independently the old part of the city and an undisputed reality of Baroque art. Here you can admire numerous eighteenth-century churches and buildings and the Gardens. Soon after, you will discover another jewel of the Sicilian Gastronomy: the local Chocolate in Modica. This particular chocolate is made with a very old recipe, the one coming from the Aztecs. If you are wondering what the Aztecs have to do with Sicily, think about the Spanish conquistadors in South America and you will see that the same Spanish have dominated this island for a couple of centuries.
Later we continue to Taormina.
Day 12
Etna Volcano and lunch in a winery
Private Vehicle and English Speaking Driver Disposal: full day from h 8.30am
Begin the day with a visit to the lava-crusted slopes of Mt. Etna, which dominates the scenery and is the most active volcano in Europe! Ascend via cable car and jeep to reach the altitude of 9,000 feet; step carefully on the varied layers of lava which have solidified over the centuries. Learn about Etna's impact on the surrounding area and its unique geology.
Lunch in a winery with wine tastings before driving back to Taormina
Day 13
Relax in Taormina
Time is at leisure: take a walk on the main Corso Umberto, followed by free time to enjoy the city. Visit the massive Greek Roman Theater, from where you can admire the remarkable panoramas of the city and countryside
Day 14
Departure from Catania airport
Today meet the driver and transfer to Catania airport.
Arrivederci Italia!
