Country Roads of Southern Italy and Sicily - 13 Days

This tour explores the unique ‘trulli’ houses of Alberobello and Sassi di Matera, complemented by the rich Greek, Roman and Norman heritage of Sicily.

Insight Vacations - Country Roads of Southern Italy and Sicily Premium Highlights

Included Premium Highlights

    * Explore the unique Trulli buildings of Alberobello - a UNESCO World Heritage listed site
    * Visit the unique Sassi di Matera, ancient dwellings hewn from solid rock and the town of Castellaneta, situated on the Great Ravine and birthplace of Rudolph Valentino
    * Enjoy an excursion to the charming fishing town of Cefalu and visit the catherdral
    * Glimpse a moment of every day Roman life, as you tour the excavations of Pompeii
    * Cruise to the island of Capri and ascend to Capri town by funicular railway
    * Discover the wonders of ancient Rome as you overlook the Forum and visit the Colosseum

Included Personal Insights

    * As night falls, locals dress for the evening and enjoy 'the art of strolling the streets' Join us in the Italian social ritual of 'La Passeggiata'
    * Hear the life story of Rudolph Valentino brought to life by a visit to Castellaneta

Included Additional Excursions & Sights

    * A guided visit of Taormina's Greek theatre
    * See the sub-tropical terraced gardens and stroll to Piazza 9 Aprile for panoramic views
    * Guided tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento to see the Temple of Concord
    * See the beautifully decorated Cathedral of Monreale
    * See the Cathedral and visit the Palatine Chapel in Palermo
    * 'Intarsio' inlay woodworking demonstration in Sorrento
    * Tour St Peter's Basilica, mother church of the Catholic faith
    * Scenic drives - Apennines, Calabria mountains, Sorrento cliff top road

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
    * Overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
    * Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 13

Included Quality Dining

    * Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome (HD)
    * 12 Buffet Breakfasts (BB) and 6 three-course table d'hote Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

ITINERARY Insight Vacations - Country Roads of Southern Italy and Sicily

Tour Pace

An evenly paced tour with three nights in Alberobello and two night stays in Giardini Naxos, Palermo & the Bay of Naples. Plus added attraction of overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples.

Day 1 - ROME AT LEISURE

Welcome to Rome! On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, your airport shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 09:30, 12:30 & 15:30. Later, join your Tour Director for a Welcome drink

Hotel: Una

Day 2 - ROME - ALBEROBELLO

Pass the hilltop monastery of Cassino & follow the scenic route across the Apennines to the Adriatic coast. Your destination is the region known for its strange white Trulli buildings. Sunday evenings are popular for the traditional ritual of passeggiata, a pre-dinner promenade.

Hotel: Grand Hotel La Chiusa di Chietri (BB,D)

Day 3 - MATERA & CASTELLANETA EXCURSION

Admire the Trulli of Alberobello today - circular structures with conical roofs & domed within, built with local limestone & stacked without using mortar. Later, venture along the local roads to nearby Matera where Mel Gibson utilized the extraordinary cave-dwellings known as 'Sassi' as a location for his film 'The Passion of the Christ'. Return via Castellaneta, situated on the Great Ravine & hear about the life & times of one of the locals, Rudolph Valentino. (BB,D)

Day 4 - ALBEROBELLO - GIARDINI NAXOS

Follow the shores of the Gulf of Taranto to the mountainous region of Calabria. Continue around the Purple Coast to the very toe of Italy. After the short ferry crossing to Sicily drive to the seaside resort of Giardini Naxos. Hotel: Sant Alphio Garden (BB,D)

Day 5 - TAORMINA EXCURSION

Drive up to Taormina, clinging to the side of Mount Tauro. Walk with your guide to the tiny courtyard of the Palazzo Corvaja. Visit the Greek Theatre, overlooking the sea & Mount Etna. Now stroll along elegant Corso Umberto to Piazza IX Aprile for more panoramic views. The rest of the day is yours to relax & enjoy at your own pace. (BB)

Day 6 - GIARDINI NAXOS AT LEISURE

A full day to enjoy the beaches, bustling fishing port or visit the Archeological Museum. Don't miss the chance of an optional drive through Sicilian vineyards to Mt Etna, Europe's largest volcano to see the Silvestre Crater & walk through the lava domes! (BB)

Day 7 - GIARDINI NAXOS - AGRIGENTO - PALERMO

Drive to Agrigento on the southern coast of Sicily where the Valley of the Temples once formed part of the ancient Greek colony of Akragas. Walk with your guide along the fortified ridge to witness the main temples. In the afternoon, continue to the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

Hotel: Best Western Al Cavalieri (BB,D)

Day 8 - PALERMO SIGHTSEEING

Sightseeing with a local guide takes you through the baroque Quattro Canti Square to visit the Cathedraland admire the golden mosaics in the Palatine Chapel of the Palace of the Normans. In the afternoon thereis free time to explore or shop in Palermo or to take one of the local excursions offered by your Tour Director. (BB)

Day 9 - PALERMO - OVERNIGHT FERRY

Drive eastwards along the coast to the charming fishing town of Cefalu. Visit the impressive cathedraland stroll down to the medieval stone fountain, used until recent times as a laundry. Later, return to Palermo to board your overnight ferry to Naples. (BB)

Day 10 - FERRY - POMPEII - BAY OF NAPLES

Arrive in Naples in time for breakfast & an orientation tour of the city. Afterwards, continue to Pompeii, buried in 79 AD by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Walk through the cobbled streets with your guide & inspect some of the villas before continuing to your hotel. Tonight, take advantage of a choice of restaurants on a special Dine-Around evening.

Hotel: Grand Hotel La Medusa (BB,DA)

Day 11 - CAPRI EXCURSION

Take the cliff-top road to Sorrento to witness a demonstration of inlaid 'intarsio' woodwork before continuing across the Bay of Naples to the delightful Isle of Capri. Take a funicular train up to Capri Town to spend some time w&ering the narrow alleyways & exploring the exclusive boutiques before returning to your hotel. (BB)

Day 12 - BAY OF NAPLES – ROME

On your return to Rome, visit the famous Colosseum where gladiators once fought, & see the Forum - former religious, politicaland commercial heart of the Roman Empire. Continue to the Vatican City to tour St Peter's Basilica, housing works of art by Michelangelo & Bernini. Tonight join your fellow passengers for a last night celebration dinner at a local restaurant.

Hotel: Sheraton (BB,HD)

Day 13 - ROME

Arrivederci Roma! Sadly, your tour comes to an end after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 07:00 & 09:30. (BB)

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

ROM18 - ILLUMINATIONS DRIVE & PIZZA DINNER
Tonight we have a pizza dinner in a typical Roman restaurant before enjoying an illuminations drive which shows us Piazza Venezia, the Forum, the Colosseum and the Campidoglio. EURO 46

ALB03 - MASSERIA DINNER
Puglia produces nearly all of Italy's olive oil and pasta, and is a paradise for wine-lovers and gastronomes. Tonight we enjoy a delicious dinner typical of the region. EURO 48

ALB01 - OSTUNI
With its stark, white-washed buildings, narrow cobbled streets and arched stairways, Ostuni is reminiscent of a North African Arab Medina. Set against three hills 'The White Town' is a photographer's delight. EURO 25

TAO06 - MT ETNA, SAVOCA & THE GODFATHER
Enter the rustic village life of Sicily with our local guide as we visit Savoca, the town also chosen by Frances F Coppola for his movie 'The Godfather'. Enjoy the stunning views and visit Vitelli's bar, used in one of the scenes of the film, famous for its tasty, ice cold, 'granite di limone'. Then up Mt. Etna, the famous active volcano - the highest in Europe. You will have time to photograph the spectacular scenery before our return to Taormina. EURO 54

TAO02 - DINNER IN SICILY
On an island renowned for its delicious cuisine enjoy a fantastic 'Sicilian' evening with a dinner of Southern Italian specialities!. EURO 48

PAL01 - CULINARY DELIGHT IN PALERMO
A unique experience in a local, rustic farmhouse awaits you! The meal is an abundant feast of homemade specialities including wine. This historical property is where Giuseppe Garibaldi was once a guest and it was also used as Carabinieri barracks in their search for the famous bandit Salvatore Giuliani. A wonderful culinary treat. EURO 50

PAL02 - THE OPEN AIR MARKET AND THE CAPUCHIN CATACOMBS
Experience the rich colours this fascinating city affords in the bustling open-air market. Crammed in the narrow alleys of the Old Town we discover the Vucceria ñ with its gorgeous arrays of fruit, produce and flowers and the animated haggling between vendors and shoppers. It hasn't changed much since Phoenician times! Then proceed to what has to be the most unique ñ and certainly macabre - attraction of Palermo: the Capuchin Catacombs. Eight thousand mummies - dressed in their 18th century finery - are perfectly preserved and on display in a labyrinth of corridors grouped according to class or profession - even a hallway of Brides!. EURO 23

PAL03 - SEAFOOD SPECTACULAR IN THE BAY OF PALERMO
The word 'panorama' derives from the ancients' name for Palermo and you will understand why on this magnificent seaside drive along the ridge of Monte Pellegrino - sacred to Sicilians as the burial place of patron saint Rosalia. We travel down to the perfectly horseshoe shaped Bay of Sferacavallo where you join the locals for a typical seafood feast in one of the area's finest hostelries. You will savour this multi-course dining extravaganza!. EURO 52

SRR02A - ISLE OF CAPRI, ANACAPRI & LUNCH
The Isle of Capri is best seen on a minibus tour. We drive to Anacapri with its magnificent views over the Mediterranean. We then have a guided tour of the famous Villa San Michele, followed by free time to window shop before continuing to Capri town. Light lunch is included. (On certain days the Villa may be substituted with the chairlift to Mt Solaro. It can also be offered without lunch at Euro 37.) EURO 52

SRR08 - AMALFI COAST DRIVE & POSITANO VISIT
First we drive along the famous Amalfi Coast with its clear blue waters and picturesque resorts. We stop to transfer to minibuses in order to visit the exclusive artist's paradise of Positano, magnificently positionedon the Mediterranean coast. EURO 36

SRR12 - DELIGHTS OF THE BAY OF NAPLES
Tucked away amongst the lemon and olive groves of Sorrento is a small family farm where we see how mozzarella is made! Then we enjoy some of these locally produced specialties, pasta, and finish with the famous Limoncello!. EURO 31