Best of Southern Italy & Sicily Tour

Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby after breakfast and lead you toward the city of Naples, stopping first to discover the opulent design of the Caserta Royal Palace. The elaborate palatial complex was inspired by Versailles in France with an extravagant aesthetic, adorning 1,200 rooms and a breathtaking garden that was constructed in the 18th century.

Your guide will lead you on a private tour of the serene grounds with the sounds of the fountains that will offer a soothing soundtrack of splashing falls and trickling droplets of water. You will continue to the remarkable city of Naples. The National Archeological Museum of Naples has overtaken the former 17th-century cavalry barracks and displays ancient treasures that date back to Ancient Egypt, showcasing the secrets of Pompeii. Your guide will lead you through the fabulous collections and will offer historical and artistic context to the captivating artifacts, including the giant Farnese Hercules.

The soothing aroma of orange and lemon citrus will drift through the streets of Sorrento in the morning, overtaking the fragrant sea breeze. You will travel around the Bay of Naples to reach the captivating and excavated city of Pompeii, which was buried under nearly 20 feet of pumice and ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

The peak of the active volcano continues to loom over the city in the distance and is visible from the top row of the Large Theater. The stadium seating could hold up to 5,000 spectators and remains in use during the summer for shows that are connected to the Son et Lumière festival. 

In Herculaneum, you will find the preservation of the city and a marvelous fresco that retains its vibrant color, depicting the hero Hercules on Olympus with Juno and Minerva in addition to an image of Hercules as he fights an Etruscan deity.

You will venture out of the charming, seaside setting of Sorrento for a day of exploring the fabulous history and gorgeous scenery of the legendary Amalfi Coast with your private driver. The 25-mile roadway hugs the shoreline and overlooks the sapphire splendor of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The luxuries of the past shimmer in the main piazza where small cafes set out tables and chairs in view of the 62 steps that lead to the cathedral’s antique portico. 

In the afternoon, you will return to Sorrento for a private cooking class that will offer secret insight into the pleasures of making traditional Margherita pizza. You will indulge in delicious flavors of local wine as your private chef introduces you to the fresh, seasonal ingredients that are used to craft the savory sauce before sampling the creamy texture and milky flavor of buffalo mozzarella, which will deliciously top your fresh dough.

In the morning, you will have a private transfer to the Naples Airport for a scenic helicopter flight over the Tyrrhenian Sea that will have you land on the legendary island of Capri, which is known for its beauty that has enchanted the likes of Roman emperors and Hollywood starlets alike. The bordering cliffs of the island reach upwards of 200 feet above sea level and offer dramatic views beneath the looming summit of Mount Solaro at 1,929 feet above sea level. 

While on Capri, the island will be yours to discover at your preferred pace. You can stroll up the ancient 500 steps that were carved by the Phoenicians, visit the town of Anacapri to view the majolica-tiled floor of the church that depicts the story of Adam and Eve, or wander along the cobbled lanes of Capri Town between the boutique shops and restaurants that fill with the aromas of fresh espresso. 

You will venture by private transfer to the fascinating city of Matera in the morning, where you will uncover the hidden jewel of the Basilicata region. The preserved medieval architecture crowns the plateau of the gorge and shines with golden hues from the local, quarried stone. You will traverse the remarkable sassi for which the city has become famous, and you will follow your guide through the cave-dwellings that were used by locals as recently as the 1960s.

You will continue to the region of Puglia and the fairytale structures of Alberobello known as Trulli. White cylindrical homes support conical rooftops that resemble the homes of ferries as they shimmer in the sunlight, they are responsible for the storybook ambiance of Puglia. The design dates back to the 18th century and provides a unique aesthetic to the landscape with the charismatic roofs that rise above the cobbled lanes amid the waving palm trees. 

Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and be eager to introduce you to the magnificent history of the Salentine peninsula, beginning in Lecce. The Baroque architecture will capture your imagination as a distinct characteristic of the Southern city that is embodied in the decorative gargoyles, columns, and gremlins that peer down on you from the surrounding structures. You will explore the beauty of the city that is symbolized in the Basilica di Santa Croce. 

You will continue to the seaside town of Otranto, where the calm turquoise water of the Adriatic Sea laps against colorful fishing boats and the whitewashed walkways of the marina. You can take your time, strolling along the stone walkways around the defensive walls of the Aragonese Castle or admiring the rose window of the majestic cathedral. The fascinating architecture of the religious center contains 700 square feet of mosaics, featuring the Tree of Life. 

You will arrive by private transfer to the collected villages that create the greater town of Maratea, which is scattered across the tranquil, rugged coastline of Basilicata and overlooks the sapphire waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The luscious vegetation will fill the air with the aromas of blossoming flowers and sea spray with tiered gardens that accentuate the soft-spoken beauty of art nouveau architecture. The statue of Christ the Redeemer crowns the dramatic summit of Monte San Biagio at 2,044 feet above sea level. You can venture into the Grotto delle Meraviglie, which is the Cave of Wonders, to view the impressive highway of caverns that are decorated with dripping stalactites and soaring stalagmites that have formed naturally over time.

You will arrive in Taormina by private transfer and settle into the comforts of your luxury hotel in the chic and elegant resort town that overlooks the Ionian Sea. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and lead you on a marvelous private tour of the town’s fascinating history that will take you through the charming cafes, aromatic gelateria, and past the funicular, before reaching the exceptional Greek Theater. The ancient landmark was first constructed in the 2nd century BC with a diameter that reaches over 357 feet long. The top row will provide you with a gorgeous panoramic view of the coastline to the interior island landscape with the captivating peak of Mount Etna that rises in the distance at 10,991 feet above sea level. 

After breakfast, your guide will meet you in Taormina and escort you to the foothills of Mt. Etna for an exceptional wine tour that will have you visiting a variety of wineries that thrive in the volcanic mineral-rich soil. The lush rows of vines sprawl across the landscape in view of the barren craters of the upper peaks. You will begin your wine tour at a family-owned estate, where the aroma of arid soil blends with the sweet scent of the plumping grapes.

The greater, protected area of Parco dell’Etna encompasses 228 square miles that are decorated with lunar desert and infertile, black lava fields, soaring beech trees, and the delicate vineyards that produce wines that are protected by the DOC status, Denominazione di Origine Controllate. After a private tour of the grounds and a visit to the cellar, your guide will pour you a sample of a red wine.

The combination of ancient and contemporary history will captivate you as the aromas of citrus orchards from the outskirts of town blend with fragrant espresso that emanates from the cafe tables in the impressive piazzas. Your guide will lead you on a private tour of the remarkable city with foundations that date back to the 8th century BC. You will reach the ruins of the Greek Theater inside the archeological park.

Your guide will provide historical and architectural context along the stages as you step over a setting that once staged new works of Sophocles and Euripides. In the heart of the city, you will find the 17th-century Duomo that was built on the foundations of a 5th-century BC Greek temple. An elaborate statue of Mary crowns the rooftop as a welcoming sign to Greek sailors who are returning from the sea.

In the morning, your private transfer will meet you in your hotel lobby and escort you to the excavated Greek site known as the Valley of the Temples. The stunning ruins rise from the landscape. The archeological site dates back to the 6th century BC with the prestige of the former city that is captured in the elegance and powerful design of the standing Temple of Concordia. 

After discovering the grandeur of the ruins, you will continue with your private driver to Sicily’s vibrant capital city of Palermo for dinner at a celebrated Michelin-starred restaurant that is known for combining the spirit of Italian cooking with dramatic refinement. The aroma of local, fresh ingredients will fill the dining area as you indulge in dishes like risotto with wild fennel or sliced beef steak with a sea urchin emulsion.

You will also be greeted by the aromas of herbs, oranges, and pomegranates before your guide shows you the dynamic life of Palermo on a private tour that will take you through the marketplace around Piazza San Domenico and into the majesty of the 9th-century Normal Palace. The architecture combines Arab and Norman aesthetic with embellishments of 17th-century arcades and rounded arches that encircle the courtyard.

Regal mosaics that depict hunting scenes sweep across the walls of the Sala di Ruggiero before you reach the impressive opulence of the Cappella Palatina. The natural light will pour through the windows, causing the Byzantine mosaics that were crafted between the 12th and 14th centuries to shimmer beneath the textured, Arabic ceiling. A royal throne stands on the marble platform with views of the artwork that depict themes from the Old and New Testaments. 

The vibrancy of the city will return with the various markets as they set up around the hidden streets to reveal centuries of tradition that is found in the unpretentious cuisine on display in their dishes such as a spongy pizza that is topped with tomato sauce, onions, and caciocavallo cheese, known as sfincione. Your private transfer will greet you at your hotel after breakfast and escort you to Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport for your flight home.