Sicily, Puglia & the Amalfi Coast

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Sicily, Puglia & the Amalfi Coast



Tour Description:

Experience the glories of Southern Italy on a panoramic journey revealing authentic cuisine and culture as well as the slow pace of rural life. Discover Sicily’s ancient ruins, exotic landscapes and the rocky shores of breathtaking Capri.

Map for Sicily, Puglia & the Amalfi Coast
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Dates & Pricing

Friday 03 May 24 — Monday 13 May 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 17 May 24 — Monday 27 May 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 07 Jun 24 — Monday 17 Jun 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 05 Jul 24 — Monday 15 Jul 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 30 Aug 24 — Monday 09 Sep 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 06 Sep 24 — Monday 16 Sep 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Monday 09 Sep 24 — Thursday 19 Sep 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 13 Sep 24 — Monday 23 Sep 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Monday 16 Sep 24 — Thursday 26 Sep 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 20 Sep 24 — Monday 30 Sep 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Monday 23 Sep 24 — Thursday 03 Oct 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 27 Sep 24 — Monday 07 Oct 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 04 Oct 24 — Monday 14 Oct 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote
Friday 11 Oct 24 — Monday 21 Oct 24Starting at $8,795 Get a Quote


ITINERARY

Day 1 - Palermo, Italy
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.

Day 2 - Palermo
Join a local guide for a walk through a 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. Then, 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 Palermo with the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore more of this unique port city. Later, enjoy an A&K-exclusive visit to the beautiful Palazzo Francavilla for a private tour and an apéritif with the owner.

Day 3 - Agrigento
Today, travel across Sicily’s rugged, mountainous countryside to the southern 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, which includes the Temple of Concord, a superb example of classical sacred architecture. Explore the ruins before checking in to your hotel in nearby Favara.

Day 4 - Piazza Armerina
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.

Day 5 - Taormina
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.

Day 6 - Matera
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.

Day 7 - Alberobello
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, followed by a lunch featuring local products. Later, visit Alberobello and its rows of fantastic trulli houses, conical limestone dwellings unique to this province of Bari.

Day 8 - Paestum
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. This evening, enjoy an iconic Neapolitan specialty at a traditional pizzeria.

Day 9 - Positano
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 the stunning Amalfi Coast to the cliffside village of Positano, where you have time for exploration and lunch at leisure before returning to Naples.

Day 10 - Capri
Cruise by ferry 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.

Day 11 - Naples
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.