Best of Italy and Sicily - 15 Days

Arrival Transfer: Depart the airport at 12:00, 15:00

Welcome: Meet your Travel Director at 17:00

The multicultural capital of Palermo is the launchpad for your journey across Sicily and Italy. You’ll have some free time before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner and orientation of the city’s attractions, so why not head straight out to explore its fascinating streets on your own?

Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour, which includes the Teatro Massimo and the old 'La Cala' harbour. Later, travel to Monreale on the slopes of Monte Caputo, overlooking the almond, olive and orange groves of La Conca d'Oro. Here you’ll visit the 12th-century Norman Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).     

A Visit to Cefalù - EUR 44 pp

Take a drive along the blue coastal highway to the quaint medieval village of Cefalù. You'll have the chance to stroll from the long golden beaches into the winding Arab streets with your Local Specialist.

Sferracavallo with Dinner - EUR 75 pp

Join us for a drive to the coast of Sicily, where you’ll arrive at the quaint fishing village of Sferracavallo. You’ll have the chance to sample a delicious feast of local Palermo specialities, accompanied by wine and soft drinks.

Take it easy this morning or explore further on the Optional Experience taking in different views of the city. Later, journey onwards to Agrigento to tour the impressive Greek Valley of the Temples, dating back to the 6th century BC, with a Local Specialist. This evening, dinner is served at your hotel.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).      

Hidden Palermo and Local Colourful Market - EUR 36 pp

Your local specialist will take you for a stroll through the heart of Palermo with some hidden gems. This discovery will take you to the most exciting local market where you will taste some of the Palermitano street food.

Travel through the vineyards of the southern hills towards the seaside resort of Giardini Naxos, your home for the next two nights. Enjoy spectacular vistas and a taste of la dolce vita in this hillside town of Taormina, with some free time on arrival.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).        

Dinner in Castelmola - EUR 97 pp

Climb by minibus to the heights of Castelmola, above Taormina, to enjoy a tasty Sicilian dinner with local wine in a characteristic restaurant with some of the best views of this magical part of the island.

Sicilian Dinner and Entertainment - EUR 87 pp

Join us for a fantastic Sicilian evening where you’ll enjoy a dinner of Southern Italian specialities with musical entertainment.

Spend the day relaxing at your chic Sicilian resort. Dive into the warm Mediterranean waters, shop for exquisite hand-painted ceramics or indulge in a mulberry granita. Consider joining an Optional Experience to Savoca, the village made famous by ‘The Godfather', and Europe's most active volcano - Mount Etna. This evening, join a Be My Guest experience hosted at a beautiful family-owned Sicilian lemon farm overlooking Mount Etna.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).          

Mt. Etna, Savoca and The Godfather - EUR 65 pp

Discover rustic village life with your Local Specialist as we visit Savoca, the Sicilian setting for 'The Godfather'. Enjoy the stunning views before a visit to Vitelli's bar, featured in the film and famous for 'granita di limone'. Later, you’ll journey up Mt.Etna, one of the most intriguing volcanoes in the world. (Footwear such as trainers or boots advised)

Today we cross the Strait of Messina to mainland Italy by ferry, driving north through rustic Calabria and past Salerno to your hotel in Sorrento where you’ll spend the next two nights. Tonight perhaps consider an Optional Experience to explore the famous culinary culture of Southern Italy.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).   

Sorrento Countryside and Farmhouse Meal - EUR 77 pp

Join a local family at their farm in the Sorrento countryside. Walk through lemon groves, visit the olive oil mill and see how mozzarella is made. Sit down to a spread of home-produced cold cuts, marinated vegetables and fresh olives, all served with wine made from their own grapes. 

Dinner Neapolitan Style - EUR 84 pp

Dine at a family-run restaurant and enjoy an evening of Neapolitan specialities. Tuck into local dishes prepared with regional ingredients and generations of know-how.

Cruise to the Isle of Capri where you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Capri town with a Local Specialist. Window-shop along Via Camerelle and watch the beautiful people in the Piazzetta before returning to Sorrento. This afternoon perhaps consider a drive along the famed Amalfi Coast to Positano, a true Mediterranean gem. You will have the evening at leisure to indulge in a little limoncello in one of Sorrento's many cafes.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).     

Discover The Isle Of Capri - EUR 60 pp

Experience a private, guided cruise along the beautiful southern coast to see spectacular cliffs, the famous Faraglioni Rocks and White Grotto sea cave with its small red coral. View the turquoise waters and private villas and hear the stories of Roman Emperors and famous people through history who have called Capri home before ascending to Capri town. This optional experience is weather dependent and may be replaced by a minibus tour of the Island with a visit to Anacapri and either the Villa San Michele or the Anacapri chairlift.

Amalfi Coast and Positano - EUR 74 pp

Take a scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of Italy’s most iconic stretches of road. Stop in Positano, a cliffside village known for its steep streets, vibrant boutiques and Mediterranean views that have long drawn artists and travellers alike. 

This morning, explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins of Pompeii, where a Local Specialist will guide you on an immersive walking tour. Once lost to the world, the city's rediscovery in the 18th century uncovered a time capsule of remarkably well-preserved ruins, offering a fascinating glimpse into the daily life of a Roman city centuries ago. Afterward, journey north along the stunning coastline, heading toward the iconic 'Eternal City' of Rome. In the evening, indulge in the rich flavours of Rome as you savour a selection of signature Roman dishes, each offering a taste of the city's culinary heritage.

Rome was once the capital of the world and is a city with an irrepressible spirit. Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour, admire the grand exterior of Saint Peter's Basilica. From the Vatican City cross the Tiber river and in Ancient Rome see the Circus Maximus and enjoy a visit to the mighty Colosseum. View the Trevi Fountain on an optional experience discovering piazzas and fountains of Rome with a Local Specialist this afternoon. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city your way.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).      

Piazzas and Fountains - EUR 50 pp

Discover the most enchanting areas of the city with a Local Specialist. Stroll through the maze of narrow streets and picturesque squares in Rome’s historic centre, uncovering famous landmarks and hidden gems in the Eternal City.

Roman Evening with Dinner - EUR 79 pp

Tonight, spend a lively evening with us in Rome. After a short drive, arrive at a characteristic trattoria to relax and enjoy a typical Italian meal, soaking up The Eternal City's unique atmosphere all the while.  

Today, drive north to the mystical medieval hilltop town of Assisi, most famous for being the birthplace of St. Francis. Join a Local Specialist  for a tour of the Basilica of St. Francis to view its magnificent frescoes and carvings. Later, venture to Pisa to visit the Square of Miracles and view the Leaning Tower that bears this city's name.

A short drive north takes us to La Spezia, known as the 'Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea'. Join a Local Specialist to visit Cinque Terre, a series of centuries-old seaside villages clinging impossibly to rugged cliffs that plunge into the Ligurian Sea. Continue later to Florence, once a vibrant republic under the rule of the dynamic Medici family, whose love for art and antiquities created one of the world's most cultural cities.

The magnificent marble Duomo, Santa Croce Basilica, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria feature on your walking tour with a Local Specialist through Florence's historic streets. Explore at your own pace this afternoon, enjoy a shopping spree or a cappuccino in a local cafe, or discover the legacy of Florence's rulers on an Optional Experience to Palazzo Vecchio. This evening, consider a delicious dinner in the famed Tuscan countryside.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).        

Discover Palazzo Vecchio - EUR 56 pp

Marvel at the legacy of the Medici as you visit Palazzo Vecchio, the symbol of Florence's political power for over seven centuries. With your Local Specialist, visit the magnificient 'Hall of the Five Hundred' dedicated to the Medici popes. You’ll also visit rooms decorated with masterpieces by famous artists of the Renaissance, like Michelangelo and Donatello.

Dinner in the Tuscan Countryside - EUR 80 pp

This evening, take a scenic drive to experience a fun and relaxed evening at a friendly, typical restaurant in the countryside. The chef will delight our senses with regional dishes, made with freshly-bought ingredients from the local farmers' markets. Your delicious meal will be accompanied by excellent wines from the vineyards for which this area is so well known. In short, a Tuscan dream come true in an authentic setting.

Begin your day with an Optional Experience to the Accademia, where you’ll see Michelangelo’s ‘David’ and delve deeper into the art of the Renaissance. Later, journey north through Emilia-Romagna to Venice, the 'Queen of the Adriatic'. Settle into the Italian way of life in your free time with a passeggiata (stroll), a cocktail, or an Optional Experience to the island of Burano with dinner included.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).        

Michelangelo's 'David' & Accademia - EUR 66 pp

Step inside the Accademia Gallery for a closer look at Michelangelo’s David, one of the world’s most celebrated sculptures. With guidance from your Local Specialist, discover how this Renaissance masterpiece was brought to life and hear the stories behind Michelangelo’s work and legacy in Florence.

Lagoon Cruise to Burano with Food and Drinks - EUR 90 pp

Cruise across the Venetian Lagoon to Burano, a small island known for its brightly coloured houses and strong fishing traditions. Wander along quiet canals and browse shops selling handmade lace, a craft passed down through generations. Then sit down to a relaxed dinner featuring local flavours and regional wine, surrounded by the island’s cheerful character and laid-back charm. 

Embark on an orientation cruise by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square, which Napoleon once called the 'drawing room of Europe'. See the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners would have one last look at their beloved city before facing imprisonment. Next, witness the centuries-old craft of glassblowing. Your unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps keep alive this delicate tradition for which Venice is justifiably famous, and you’ll watch in awe as masters of their craft shape molten glass into the exquisite pieces that adorn homes all over the world. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore more of the sights or consider an Optional Experience, navigating the city's elegant canals aboard a traditional gondola. Tonight, join your fellow travellers for dinner and toast to shared memories that will linger long after the evening ends.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).       

Venice's Secrets - EUR 51 pp

Explore the hidden maze of streets which make up this unique city as your Local Specialist gives you a fascinating insight into Venice's past and present. You’ll discover tucked away squares and back streets local Venetians use to side-step the tourist throng and give you a sense of authentic life on the island of Venice.

Gondolas & the Grand Canal - EUR 96 pp

Cruise by private water taxi along the Grand Canal, passing the city's iconic palazzi. Spot the Rialto Bridge and arrive near St. Mark's Square before switching pace with a gondola ride through Venice's quieter canals.

For now, it's a fond ciao Venezia as you say goodbye to new friends and prepare to depart for your journey home.  You can, of course, extend your stay.

Departure Transfer: Arrive at the airport at 08:00, 09:30