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Southern Italy & Sicily With Apulia & the Amalfi Coast



Tour Description:

Delight in a special exploration of Italy’s southern climes, from striking Sicily and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to unheralded Apulia, the alluring “boot heel” where a vivid history, unique architecture, and bountiful plains join the sun and sea in creating a prized (and crowd-free) region. Add Italian hospitality, outstanding cuisine, and notable lodgings for la dolce vita, small-group style.

Note: Some dates may travel with a reverse itinerary.

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Dates & Pricing

Sunday 31 Mar 24 — Monday 15 Apr 24FROM*: $5,374 Get a Quote
Monday 08 Apr 24 — Tuesday 23 Apr 24FROM*: $5,374 Get a Quote
Friday 12 Apr 24 — Saturday 27 Apr 24FROM*: $5,774 Get a Quote
Tuesday 16 Apr 24 — Wednesday 01 May 24FROM*: $5,774 Get a Quote
Sunday 28 Apr 24 — Monday 13 May 24FROM*: $5,774 Get a Quote
Thursday 02 May 24 — Friday 17 May 24FROM*: $5,774 Get a Quote
Friday 23 Aug 24 — Saturday 07 Sep 24FROM*: $6,174 Get a Quote
Saturday 31 Aug 24 — Sunday 15 Sep 24FROM*: $6,174 Get a Quote
Sunday 08 Sep 24 — Monday 23 Sep 24FROM*: $6,174 Get a Quote
Monday 16 Sep 24 — Tuesday 01 Oct 24FROM*: $6,174 Get a Quote
Wednesday 02 Oct 24 — Thursday 17 Oct 24FROM*: $5,774 Get a Quote
Sunday 06 Oct 24 — Monday 21 Oct 24FROM*: $5,774 Get a Quote
Monday 14 Oct 24 — Tuesday 29 Oct 24FROM*: $5,374 Get a Quote
Tuesday 22 Oct 24 — Wednesday 06 Nov 24FROM*: $4,974 Get a Quote
Saturday 26 Oct 24 — Sunday 10 Nov 24FROM*: $4,974 Get a Quote
* Including airfare from select cities. Ask your Pavlus Travel Planner for details.


ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Taormina (Catania), Sicily

Day 2: Arrive Taormina
We arrive today in Catania on Italy’s autonomous island of Sicily then transfer by motorcoach to Taormina and our boutique hotel overlooking the Ionian Sea. Tonight we gather for a welcome dinner at the hotel. D

Day 3: Taormina
Highlights of our morning walking tour of this delightful medieval town include the spectacular ancient Greek theater dating to the 3rd century CE, the popular 13th-century cathedral, and grand Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. This afternoon is at leisure; perhaps to relax by the hotel pool; visit a lovely Taormina beach; or stroll along Corso Umberto, lined with shops and restaurants. With lunch and dinner on our own today, perhaps a culinary adventure is in order … and thanks to Sicily’s strategic Mediterranean location that lured many invaders, Sicilian food incorporates Italian, Arabic, and African influences into a singular, and delicious, cuisine. B

Day 4: Taormina/Agrigento
On today’s excursion we visit the “Valley of the Temples,” the archaeological zone of Agrigento, whose Doric temples and sanctuaries date to Greek rule in the 5th century BCE. Known in its heyday as the “most beautiful city of mortals,” Agrigento’s highlight is the stunning, well-preserved Temple of Concordia (c. 430 BCE). A visit to the museum here lends context to our explorations. Late this afternoon we return to our hotel, where we dine tonight. B,L,D

Day 5: Taormina/Mount Etna
This morning’s tour ventures to Europe’s largest active volcano. The ancients believed Mt. Etna to be the forge of Vulcan, god of fire; today, modern-day Sicilians have a very personal relationship with the volcano, which frequently erupts but is seldom destructive. Centuries of lava flows have resulted in a rich, fertile landscape where citrus groves and vineyards thrive. Midday we enjoy a small group highlight: lunch at a family-run working farm amidst acres of lemon and kiwi. After returning to our hotel mid-afternoon, the remainder of the day is at leisure. B,L

Day 6: Taormina/Matera
We leave Sicily today for the mainland region of Basilicata, a day-long transfer that includes a ferry ride from Sicily to Calabria. Late this afternoon we reach Matera, whose historic troglodyte churches and dwellings (Sassi) have been designated a UNESCO site and where our hotel is a renovated cave dwelling in the city’s historic district. B,D

Day 7: Matera
Today we explore this city of art and folklore, with its unique ancient urban structure still intact. Home to more than 100 rock churches, Matera resembles ancient Jerusalem and has been used by international film directors as a stand-in for the holy city. Following a guided walking tour, the remainder of the day is at leisure to explore independently before dinner tonight at a local restaurant. B,D

Day 8: Matera/Alberobello/Lecce
Departing Matera this morning, we stop in Alberobello, whose 400 or so trulli – whitewashed conical houses with greystone roofs – rank as a UNESCO World Heritage site. We take a walking tour along the pristine cobblestone alleys, stepping inside an artisan’s workshop or trullo tipico, a recreation of an inhabited home. After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue on to Lecce, one of the oldest cities in Apulia, (Italy’s “boot heel”), in time for dinner together at our hotel. B,L,D

Day 9: Lecce
We discover the “Florence of the South” on this morning’s tour, so named for the unique decorative style for which Lecce is known: barocco leccese, the ornate and intricate sandstone carvings of cherubs and monsters, fruits and flowers that adorn local buildings from top to bottom. We see Palazzo Vescovile (c. 1632), the exuberantly decorated church of Santa Croce, and the Duomo with its lovely piazza. This afternoon is at leisure to explore this town of 100 churches as we wish; tonight we enjoy dinner together. B,D

Day 10: Lecce/Otranto
Today’s excursion takes us to the beautiful walled town of Otranto, overlooking the Adriatic. On a walking tour here we see the imposing 15th-century Aragonese castle with its traditional moat, and the Romanesque cathedral whose impressive wall-to-wall mosaic floor was created in 1166. We continue on to a local winery for a tasting and lunch then return to Lecce mid-afternoon. Dinner tonight is on our own. B,L

Day 11: Lecce/Sorrento
This morning we depart by coach for Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples. En route we stop for a traditional trattoria lunch in the small town of Polignano a Mare. Dinner tonight is on our own in lively seaside Sorrento. B,L

Day 12: Sorrento/Pompeii
Today we visit the excavated ruins at the evocative UNESCO site of Pompeii for a guided tour of the city frozen in time by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE (the city was accidentally rediscovered in 1749). Late this afternoon we gather for a hands-on Neapolitan cuisine cooking lesson, followed by dinner to savor the fruits of our labors. B,D

Day 13: Sorrento/Capri
Today we travel by hydrofoil to the storied Isle of Capri, a popular resort since Roman times. We explore cozy Capri town; visit the terraced Gardens of Augustus with stunning views of the azure sea; then enjoy free time for lunch and to explore on our own before we return to Sorrento early afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy this city with views of Mt. Vesuvius as we wish. Dinner tonight is on our own in Sorrento. B

Day 14: Sorrento/Amalfi Coast
We embark this morning on a breathtaking drive along the winding, cliff-top Amalfi Coast road between Sorrento and Amalfi above the glistening Tyrrhenian Sea – with stops for photos along the way. This afternoon is at leisure; tonight we bid “arrivederci” to Italy and our fellow travelers at a farewell dinner. ,D B

Day 15: Depart for U.S.
This morning we transfer to the Naples airport, where we connect with our return flight to the U.S. B

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking uphill and on uneven or cobblestone streets, and at sites of ancient ruins. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included