Wonders of Rome, Sicily & The Amalfi Coast Tour

In the morning the flower stands that populate the corners of Rome open their stalls to flourishing petals that fill the streets with a fragrant aroma. Cafes set out tables along the cobblestone streets and are shaded by large umbrellas. The church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva stands on a base of a Roman temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva. Your guide will escort you through the artistry of the cityscape, from the old churches to the remarkable museums situated in Baroque palaces. St. Peter’s Church towers above St. Peter’s Square as the original structure was erected in the 4th-century and rebuilt in its current arrangement in the 15th-century.

Inside the church, your guide will point out Michelangelo’s Pieta, which depicts the Virgin Mary carrying Jesus’ body. Michelangelo carved the figures from a single slab of marble, and the emotional display glows against the backdrop of marble walls. Enter into the Vatican Museum for a look at the marvelous artistry the Church has patronized and collected over more than 1,500 years. In the Raphael Rooms, uncover the gorgeous works of the Renaissance master Raphael, who composed the celebrated 16th-century work, School of Athens, that depicts Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle locked in debate. Your guide will point out the hiding figure of Raphael in the right corner.

After breakfast, leave the bustling streets of Rome as the gilded dome of St. Peter’s Basilica glints in the skyline before it fades behind the horizon. Venture south to the Bay of Naples and stop at the entrance of the preserved ancient city of Pompeii. The scent of citrus emanates from the lemon groves that grow around the region as your guide takes you on a marvelous tour along the cobblestone streets of the ruins. Start in the Antiquarium, the antique museum with galleries dedicated to the artifacts discovered during excavation. The particular items on display were too fragile or weathered to be moved to other locations as the scent of terracotta and clay fills the exhibit.

Behind a glass case, find a plaster cast shaped by the perfect molds of the ashen bodies left behind after the eruption of Vesuvius. The casts bring the final moments of Pompeii into reality as the summit of the active volcano continues to loom proudly above the opposite banks of the Bay of Naples, visible from most streets of the city. At the House of Menander, your guide will point out the remains of a wealthy merchant’s home. The Corinthian capitals flank the entrance to provide the owner’s high status immediately. The interior rooms contain images from Homer’s Iliad as you glean an inkling of intimate knowledge of the home’s owner by the décor of the remaining rooms.

The seaside town of Sorrento overlooks the Bay of Naples with a relaxed air that is accentuated by the layers of maritime history. Palaces dating back to the 13th-century contain elements of Arab and Byzantine architectural embellishments.  Make your way to the Marina Grande after breakfast and board the ferry for the island of Capri. Your anchor is lifted and drift away from the lingering colorful fishing boats moored in the rocky harbor. The island of Capri stands only three miles off the mainland shores of Italy but more than 20 miles from the marina at Sorrento.

The island comes into view with limestone cliffs that rise upwards of 200 feet above the sea. A collection of karsts moves away from the shoreline in view of the main town of Capri. Disembark your ferry and take the funicular to the cobbled main streets of town. The lingering scent of fresh grilled seafood and lemon juice drifts through the streets, eventually overtaken by the herbaceous aroma of the natural forests that drape the hillsides. The breeze carries the refreshing aroma of the sea upwards from the coastline.

Boats decorate the water near the boulders along the shore with locals and visitors alike eager to relax on the Mediterranean and enjoy the impressive spectacles of the sapphire sea and towering limestone cliffs. Make your way to Certosa di San Giacomo, a monastery founded in the 14th-century that now houses a school, library, and museum filled with 17th-century paintings. Inside the two cloisters, witness the faded sense of glory that once overtook the galleries.

The Amalfi Coast is a famous stretch of landscape that reaches 25 miles in length, with beautiful roads that hug the rocky outcrops overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The island of Capri rises along the horizon, its steep cliffs distant imitations of the Amalfi scenery. Verdant forest overtakes the hilltops as the cliffs plunge into the water. After breakfast, take the time to enjoy the serene setting of the town of Amalfi located at the heart of the coastline. The cathedral harkens back to the cities prevailing days of the 13th-century when the maritime power often traded with the Byzantine Empire situated in Constantinople.

The bronze doors were cast in the capital of Byzantium before being brought to the Amalfi Cathedral. More than 60 steps lead to the entrance arcade to create an air of ascendancy for all who enter the hallowed ground. Enjoy the scenic drive to the most westerly town of the coast of Positano. The scent of lemon trees fills the terraced streets as a small, pebbled beach wraps against the boulders at the base of the hillside. Peach and pink homes ascend the knolls as you meet with a local purveyor of the famous Italian liqueur of Limoncello and learn the art of making the traditional digestif.

The store’s main room showcases the different types of liqueur you can make from the simple base recipe of Limoncello, from an orange liqueur to a coffee and cream after dinner drink. The method is relatively simple as your instructor uses pure alcohol, sugar, lemon rinds, and the process of time to let the ingredients marinate for up to 40 days. After you make your own concoction, your will sample the private supply of your teacher. When she opens the bottle the room will fill with the zesty scent of fresh lemons.

Fishing boats venture out to sea before sunrise and leave the small marina of Amalfi behind. When the boats return in the early morning, fresh seafood fills the nets. The fishermen venture to the local morning market to showcase their goods to the public. After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to Naples for a day among the museums and palaces of the former capital of the Bourbon Kingdom. Chic pizzerias line the promenade of the refurbished harbor.

The 14th-century Monastery of Santa Chiara contains a cloister that resembles a seaside park more than a retreat for introspection. Majolica tiles made in the workshops atop the Neapolitan hill of Capodimonte provide vivid hues and design to the more than 66 columns that support the arcade. In the National Archeological Museu, enjoy an immense collection of the world’s antiquity, which includes exhibits from excavations of Pompeii, art treasures from the kings of Naples, and Farnese collections from Rome. The ground floor resembles an elegant villa with galleries dedicated to marble sculptures.

A magnificent Farnese statue of Hercules stands over 10 feet tall and watches down over the gallery from its perch. The statue was originally crafted in the 3rd-century AD, modeled after the original from the 4th-century BC. However, the work that grabs your eye is the more than 20-foot long mosaic of Alexander’s Battle, which was uncovered in a private home in Pompeii and maintains its vibrant colors and lifelike depictions of the renowned warrior-king. At lunch, your guide will lead you to a celebrated pizzeria, not only to taste the famous cuisine said to have originated in Naples but to learn how to make the perfect pizza.

In the morning, venture onto the quiet streets of Amalfi and stroll along the narrow lanes that weave back and forth from the main road. The scent of fresh brioche emanates from the bakeries that provide their goods to the corner cafes in the small piazzas. The day is yours to enjoy Amalfi and the coast as you desire. You could spread a towel on a lounge chair along the beach and enjoy the sunshine or make your way inland to the Greek ruins at Paestum. For a unique view of the Amalfi Coast, you could visit the Valle delle Ferriere as the narrow stairwell leads to the trail winds along old foundry ruins.

Mills that once powered Amalfi’s renowned papermaking industry continue to pepper the hillsides. You can hear the waterfall splash against the pool before you find it as the trees open to a natural pond with the small falls crashing against the boulders. Vines dangle down from the cliff top as the moss glows emerald along the limestone wall. The water rushes away from the pool and into a small stream that once flowed to the paper mills. You will feel as though you’ve stepped out of the Italian countryside and into the Alps with the lush greenery and refreshing air. The trail ends in the medieval village of Pontone where you can relax with a rejuvenating espresso or relax with a glass of wine.

In the morning, visitors make their way to the water’s edge to relax in the warmth of the drifting sun and enjoy the sparkling sapphire hue of the Mediterranean Sea. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel ready to lead you across southern Italy to the heel of the geographical boot. The town of Trani is often referred to as the “Pearl of Puglia,” celebrated for its relaxed ambiance and sun-drenched buildings. Palm trees shade the walkways along the Adriatic Sea as the seawalls open up to views of the water that provide a casual charm. Wandering the cobblestone streets provides the perfect day in town.

The Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino dominates the seaside promenade at the water’s edge. The 12th-century façade stands pale against the glowing water of the Adriatic as the Romanesque style includes an elongated exterior adorned with a central rose window. The interior contains tall carved stone figures that support the magnificent columns. Up the shore is the Castello Svevo, a 13th-century castle erected during the reign of Emperor Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire. The limestone streets lead you around the old-world architecture and inviting atmosphere of the seaside town before you continue onward to Alberobello.

In the morning, the true beauty of Alberobello comes into focus as the whitewashed homes glint in the spreading sunlight. The herbaceous aroma of fresh olive trees and vineyards sweep in with the breeze from the outskirts of town. After breakfast, your guide will lead you on a remarkable tour of the mythical structures. The quiet streets undulate with the hills of the region as the white homes with conical stone roofs are known collectively as trulli. Locals build the homes out of limestone, with dome roofs that morph upwards into a spire. The pointed symbols at the top of the roof have a different significance depending on who has built the structure.

For some, the symbol may be religious and for others, the symbol could be superstitious. There are nearly 1,500 trulli in town, which creates a unique snowy effect along the landscape. Your guide will lead you along the neighborhood of Aia Piccola, where friendly old men play dominoes outside of the charming cafes with the quiet narrow lanes to view the unique edifices. The period furniture inside the home of Trullo Sovrano turns the small structure into a lavish space. With the afternoon free, venture out into the vineyards near town to visit a local winery to craft delicious white wines that exude the aromas of citrus and limestone.

Today your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and lead you away from the speckled white hills of Alberobello and the conical roofs of the trulli. Make your way southwest towards the Strait of Messina with a stop in the remarkable town of Matera in the region of Basilicata. When the town comes into view,  spot the medieval structures along the hilltop that overlook the ravine. The closer you get to the town, the more you notice the cave mouths that are carved into the hills beneath.

The region contains 9,000 years of continuous human habitation with layers of history that culminate in the gray facades of the medieval district of Old Town. Locals inhabited the caves beneath the town as recently as the 1950s. For in immersive understanding of the town and its Sassi (cave dwellings), visit the Casa Noha as films project onto the walls to tell of the unflinching past and present of Matera located across the rooms of a 16th-century home.

You will walk the cobblestone paths past the castle and cathedral before you enter the cave dwellings. The stone keeps the air cool and protects the dwellings from the heat of the sun. What were once derelict homes of a forgotten southern town now contain vibrant shops and restaurants. One shop provides ceramics crafted by locals, along with traditional clay whistles known as cucu. The street Via Madonna delle Virtu offers a panoramic view of the ravine and the opposite hillside where caves speckle the landscape.

The doors of the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia opens in the morning light of the port city and contains a collection of Riace bronzes, ancient Roman and Byzantine artwork, and even splintered rocks from the Low Paleolithic era. Before you make your way across the Strait of Messina, visit the remarkable museum to witness the sensational Riace bronzes, the famous 5th-century BC bronze statues discovered in the sea. The microclimate room protects the twin statues from the elements.

The gallery also contains other works from the 5th-century BC, such as the Head of a Philosopher, a bronze sculpture that depicts a man with immense character detail. After your visit to the museum, board the ferry to Messina as the narrow waterway has a width of three miles and reaches a depth of more than 800 feet. The coastline of Sicily is visible from the shores of mainland Italy, along with the snowcapped peak of Italy’s most active volcano, Mount Etna.

Your private transfer will escort you from the harbor to the luxurious seaside town of Taormina, which ascends the side of a mountain that overlooks the Mediterranean. Greek settlers founded the town in the 4th-century BC, and its gorgeous location became a draw for visitors from northern Europeans around the 18th-century. A stroll along the cobblestone streets leads you to the Teatro Greco, a horseshoe-shaped theater that opens up to unparalleled views of the volcanic peak in the distance. The Greek settlers erected the structure’s base in the 3rd-century BC and in the summer, locals continue to use the theater for festivals on art, film, and music.

In the morning, look out your window to find the Mediterranean Sea crashing against the rocks below Taormina. The quaint cafes set out their tables along the cobbles of Corso Umberto I as boutique shops open their doors and look out to the 10th-century Palazzo Corvaja. After breakfast, the day is yours to enjoy the delights in and around Taormina as you lounge on the beach at Spisone as sailboats drift along the sapphire water, and smooth sand paves the coast to the lapping waves.  You could venture to Etna to experience the rugged landscape and unique views of the rolling craters. At the base of Etna, meet your guide for a walk through the mountains filled with forest and vineyards.

Board your cable car and rise in altitude to nearly 9,850 feet. The trees below look like a blanket of greenery rather than individual plants as your guide will lead you along the alpine trails to the summit craters another 1,115 feet above sea level. The air is cool and crisp from the peak and you can lookout over the landscape for a view of the undulating slopes and distant cliffs that slip into the Mediterranean Sea. The numerous craters along the summit smolder with activity as steam rises from the lunar landscape and dissipates into the air. The Southeast Crater was formed in the 1970s after the volcanic activity released pressure by opening a vent to spill ash and lava. The view is as magnificent as the experience itself.

The trail of Via Circonvallazione travels along the cliffs and hills outside of Taormina to the precipice that supports Madonna della Rocca. The chapel was carved into the rock and utilized the cliff to form the ceiling. At the top of the trail stands Castello di Taormina, which reaches a height of more than 1,300 feet above sea level. The edifice stands atop the ancient Acropolis that once celebrated the Greek gods of the first settlers. Today you will stroll along Via Circonvallazione to visit the old castle ruins or relax on the narrow strip of sandy beach that connects the shoreline to the rock-bound island of Isola Bella.

In the morning, your private instructor and chef will meet you at the hotel and lead you through the local market of Taormina. What resembles gourmet goods, from produce to sun dried tomatoes are items used in everyday cooking in Sicily. You can imagine the distinctive Sicilian flavors most people think of when they enjoy Italian cuisine. The market has a vibrant atmosphere and is filled with vendors that call out to one another and passersby. Salami and various types of cheeses decorate the tables, along with baskets of eggplants and oranges that fill the market with a zesty aroma.

After shopping for ingredients, your chef will lead you to their private kitchen and the antique ambiance of the city combines with the modern ease of their workspace. Follow your chef as you peel tomatoes and dice onions. Roll out fresh sheets of pasta and as the sauce simmers, your chef will open a bottle of regional wine. Sip your wine as you taste your food to see how the pair compliments each other. In the end, you will have a veritable Sicilian feast complete with linguine al limone, frutti di mare, and a delicious torta cassata to finish the meal.

The 15th-century Palazzo Corvaia once housed Sicilian Parliament and the nobles when meeting to discuss the issues of the country. The preserved palace contains elements of 10th-century Saracen architecture notable in the tower and its triple window adorned with elegant curved arches. The history of Sicily comes alive in the towns across the Italian island, from graceful churches to dramatic castles, along with the largest collection of Greek temples in all of Italy. Your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you to the Catania International Airport for your flight home. You could extend your vacation in Italy to spend more time to discover the luxury and beauty of Sicily, and visit the Baroque architecture of the inland villages or stroll along Syracuse’s ancient islet.