Sicily, Puglia & the Amalfi Coast

Arrive in Palermo, Sicily’s lively capital, and transfer to your hotel located in the city’s historic center. Sicily has a long history of stubborn independence from the political forces of mainland Italy, and today remains an autonomous region with its own distinct history and culture. Join your Resident Tour Director tonight for a welcome dinner.

Journey to the hillside town of Monreale and enter its extravagant cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from 1170, it is perhaps the finest surviving example of Norman architecture anywhere in the world, and its mosaic-lined walls are breathtaking to behold. Return to ancient Palermo for a guided tour, seeing the Cathedral and the ninth-century Norman Royal Palace with its glittering, mosaic-laden chapel. Still in use today as the headquarters of Sicily’s Parliament, the palace is the oldest royal residence in all of Europe. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure exploring more of this unique port city. In the early evening, enjoy an A&K-exclusive visit to the beautiful Palazzo Francavilla for a private tour and aperitifs with the owner.

Today, travel across Sicily’s rugged, mountainous countryside to the south coast. Stop in the small village of Corleone, birthplace of several Mafia bosses (including fictional characters in The Godfather). The Mafia — or as its members call it, Cosa Nostra (literally, “our thing”) — has vexed Sicily for well over a century, thriving in this land so famously resistant to official authority. Learn more about this troubled aspect of Sicilian history from a local expert. Proceeding to coastal Agrigento, discover the ancient Valley of the Temples that includes the Temple of Concord, a superb example of classical, sacred architecture. Explore the ruins before checking in to your hotel in nearby Favara.

Journey east to Piazza Armerina, a graceful countryside town, where you visit the incomparable Villa Romana del Casale. A prime example of a luxurious Roman villa, this UNESCO World Heritage Site houses breathtaking mosaics originally laid in the fourth century. Continue to the east coast of Sicily and up to the 6,000-foot-plus heights of smoldering Mount Etna, taking in panoramic views of the landscape and coast. Later, arrive in charming Taormina, which has allured visitors since the 19th century with its sweeping beaches and rolling hillsides. Gather for a special dinner and cooking class, and savor arancini, a delicious Sicilian specialty of deep-fried stuffed rice balls.

Today, a local expert introduces you to the town’s spectacular Greek amphitheater, set high above the sea. Still in use as an arts venue today, its permanent “show” is its extraordinary view of Mount Etna, rising in the far distance beyond the stage. Later, relax or catch up on shopping with time at leisure.

Rise early for the journey to Messina, where you board a ferry to cross the strait separating Sicily from the “toe” of the Italian mainland. Disembark in Villa San Giovanni in Calabria, and drive into Basilicata and to Matera, the ancient Città Sotterranea (Underground City), carved right into the Appenine Mountains. Thought to be one of the oldest cities in the world, Matera is a jumble of stone dwellings built alongside (and in some cases, on top of) each other, linked by narrow, jagged lanes. Settle in to your hotel, in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Journey into Puglia to nearby Locorotondo, one of Italy’s most beautiful towns, for a walking tour. Meet an olive oil producer for a private tasting and buffet lunch featuring local products. Later, visit Alberobello and its rows of fantastic trulli houses, conical limestone dwellings unique to this province of Bari.

This morning, depart for the sparkling Amalfi Coast area. Stop en route in Paestum, an ancient Greek city known for its well-preserved temples; see them after a tour and lunch at a nearby mozzarella-making farm. Arrive in Naples, and check in to your hotel by the harbor.

Enjoy a morning tour of Herculaneum, an ancient Roman settlement that was destroyed by the spectacular lava flows of nearby Vesuvius in AD 79. Drive to the Amalfi Coast and the cliffside village of Positano; explore Positano and take boats to the whitewashed fishing town of Praiano for lunch at leisure. Return to Naples, where tonight you enter the Academy of Pizza Making to learn the intricacies of this Neapolitan craft and enjoy the results.

Cruise by boat across the deep blue Gulf of Naples to the sun-kissed island of Capri. Visit Anacapri and charming Capri town, where cool cafés, designer boutiques and grand villas have lured everyone from emperors to celebrities. Tonight, cap off your journey with a special farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.