Beautiful Puglia, Southern Italy and Sicily

Welcome to the start of your Italian adventure! We'll begin our journey towards the Adriatic Sea, passing through the stunning landscapes of the Apennine Mountain range. Our first stop is Termoli, a charming seaside city known for its 13th-century castle and Romanesque cathedral. After a leisurely lunch and a stroll, we'll head to Monte Sant'Angelo, a world heritage site and a place of pilgrimage. We'll then continue to Trani, 'the pearl of the Adriatic', before ending our day in Bari, where we'll rest for the night.

After breakfast, we'll explore the old town of Bari, a city with a rich history dating back to Roman times. We'll then continue to Brindisi, a walled port city where you can enjoy a pleasant walk along the sea and admire the impressive Roman column. Our next stop is Lecce, known as the 'Florence of the South' for its stunning baroque architecture. After a leisurely lunch, we'll visit Taranto, a vibrant city with a great Aragonese castle and an old quarter. We'll return to Brindisi for the night.

Today, we'll visit two spectacular towns. First, we'll explore Alberobello, famous for its unique conical-shaped houses known as 'trulli'. Next, we'll head to Matera, known for its 'Sassi di Matera', a complex of ancient houses and buildings carved into the rock. After a leisurely lunch, we'll continue through Basilicata and Campania, admiring their beautiful mountain landscapes. We'll arrive in Naples in the evening, where you'll have some free time to explore.

After a leisurely morning in Naples, we'll board a boat to the stunning Island of Capri. Here, you can take a boat to the Blue Grotto or the cable car to Capri city. We'll then return to the mainland and continue to Sorrento, a charming town at the base of a cliff. After some free time to explore, we'll continue to the Gulf of Salerno, where we'll spend the night.

Today, we'll travel south, crossing the Cilento National Park to reach Paola. Here, we'll visit the sanctuary of St Francis of Paola and have free time for lunch in its pretty historic centre. We'll then continue to Villa San Giovanni, where we'll take a short ferry crossing to the island of Sicily. We'll arrive in Messina, where we'll have time for a stroll and to visit the cathedral before continuing to Taormina. Dinner is included.

Today, we'll explore the beautiful city of Taormina, located at the foot of the Etna volcano. Churchill once described it as the prettiest place on earth. You'll have time to stroll around the ancient city centre and visit its Greek theatre, which offers unforgettable views. You can also enjoy the beach. Dinner is included.

We'll travel to Syracuse, a city that once rivalled Athens and Rome for its power and splendour. You'll have time to visit its magnificent historic centre. After lunch, we'll continue to Noto, a small city that seems to have stopped in time, known as the Baroque jewel of Sicily. We'll then head towards Agrigento, where we'll see the magnificent temple complex from the coach. Dinner is included.

With a local guide, we'll visit the Valley of the Temples, an impressive archaeological site considered the most complete complex of Greek temples. We'll then travel to Marsala, a historic city known for its famous wine. After lunch, we'll continue around the Marsala salt marshes to Erice, a very picturesque Phoenician town overlooking the sea. We'll end our day in Palermo, where dinner is included.

After breakfast, we'll visit the beautiful village of Monreale, where we'll explore its beautiful Arab-Norman cathedral, a World Heritage Site known for its impressive golden mosaics. We'll then explore Palermo, the Sicilian capital, known for its Arab, Norman, and Baroque influences. Highlights include the Cathedral and the Palace of the Normans with its Palatine Chapel. In the late afternoon, we'll board a modern night ferry to Naples. Accommodation is in double cabins with en-suite bathrooms.

We'll arrive in Naples early in the morning and continue to Pompeii, where you can admire the remains of this Roman city that was covered by the ashes of Mount Vesuvius. After that, we'll visit Naples, one of the most fascinating cities in Italy and one of the oldest and most continuously inhabited in Europe. After a leisurely lunch, we'll continue to Cassino, where we'll see the immense abbey where one of the toughest battles of the Second World War took place. We'll arrive in Rome at the end of the day.

After breakfast, our unforgettable journey through Italy comes to an end. We hope you've enjoyed this adventure as much as we have enjoyed guiding you through it. Arrivederci!