Country Roads of Southern Italy & Sicily (Classic, 15 Days)

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Description

Summary

Starts
Rome
Duration
15 days
Languages
English
Difficulty
Easy

Description

Embark on a captivating 15-day journey through the timeless beauty of Italy and Sicily. This multi-day tour is a perfect blend of iconic landmarks, local culture, and gastronomic delights. From the ancient ruins of Rome and Pompeii to the charming trulli houses of Alberobello, from the sun-kissed island of Capri to the stunning landscapes of Sicily, every day brings a new adventure. Experience the local way of life, taste authentic cuisine, and learn about the rich history and traditions of these regions. Whether you're a history buff, a food lover, or a nature enthusiast, this tour has something for everyone.

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Included

14 night accommodation

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6 Dinner with Wine (DW)

14 Breakfast (B)

1 Lunch with Wine (LW)

1 Dinner (D)

Rome: Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travellers at a uniquely Roman local restaurant.

Capri: Enjoy a tasting of limoncello, Capri's traditional lemon liqueur.

Palermo: Sample a variety of cuisine on your Dine-Around evening.

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Choose between two carefully selected activities

Capri: Discover the luxuriant Gardens of Augustus with a Local Expert and admire views of the Faraglioni rocks.

Capri: Enjoy a tasting of limoncello, Capri's traditional lemon liqueur.

Palermo: Join your Local Expert for a walk through the lively Vucciria market.

Palermo: Visit the spectacular 12th Century Palatine Chapel. Its sombre exterior gives away few clues to the riches inside. Step into a world where the walls glitter with 12th century mosaics, the best of their kind in the world.

Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.

Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.

We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.

Vatican: Gain Fast Track access into the Vatican Museums and admire the famous Bramante Staircase. Witness the genius of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and view the splendid dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Alberobello: Dine at Trattoria Terra Madre, where owner Alessandro and his nonna have built a restaurant that focuses on sustainability and creating jobs for locals. Everything is grown organically and harvested on site, and excess produce is donated to their community. The restaurant sources their produce locally, implements a strategy to reduce their food waste and promotes sustainable agricultural practices. Trattoria Terra Madre, advances UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production.

Grottole: Participate in the fascinating Wonder Grottole project. This regeneration initiative works to rehabilitate the abandoned historic centre and preserves traditional village life.

Palermo: Learn about the civil anti-mafia movement and discover the lesser known history of Palermo.

Rome: Sightsee the local way, with a leisurely passeggiata through the backstreets, where a friend in Rome will explain how modern life takes place, around ancient treasures like the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

Capri: Cruise by jetfoil to this famous isle through beautiful blue Mediterranean waters to meet your Local Expert.

Capri: Relax and enjoy the views as you are driven in an iconic open-top taxi.

Alberobello: Led by a Local Expert, explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing the Trulli of Alberobello. Circular structures with conical roofs that are domed within, built from local limestone and stacked without using mortar.

Matera: With your Local Expert, visit the famous Sassi or cave dwellings, which were home to approximately 20,000 people until 1950 and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pompeii: Walk with a Local Expert through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century.

Messina: Cross the Straights of Messina to Sicily by ferry.

Taormina: Should you awake early, you may see why this is known as 'The Dawn Coast of Europe.'

Taormina: Visit the ancient Greek Ampitheatre with your Local Expert. Set on a cliff, open to the sky, take your seats and enjoy the view through the crumbling arches to Mount Etna.

Agrigento: A Local Expert will lead you through the magnificent remains of the Greek colony in the Valley in the Temples. See the massive Temple of Concord and clifftop Temple of Juno.

Syracuse: Walk through the gardens of Paradise Quarry, listen to the acoustics in the mysterious Ear of Dionysius and visit the Greek theatre.

Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

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From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.

Taormina: During your orientation with your Travel Director, visit the courtyard of Palazzo Corvaja, seat of the first Sicilian parliament, and stroll along Corso Umberto to Piazza IX Aprile.

Cefalu: Your Travel Director will show you the cathedral, built to fulfil a vow. Walk to the medieval stone fountain in the old fishermen's quarter, find the Gothic arch of the Porta Marina and see the harbour.

Catania: During an exploration with your Travel Director see the Duomo, Piazza and the noble buildings of Palazzo Senatorio.

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Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).

If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.

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Map

Attractions

Gravina Sotterranea, Gravina in Puglia, Bari, Apulia, ItalyGravina Sotterranea
photo of trevi fountain at sunrise beautiful full view, Rome, Italy.Trevi Fountain
photo of Ruins of the Ancient Greek Theater in Taormina on a sunny summer day with the mediterranean sea. Province of Messina, Sicily, southern Italy.Greek - Roman theatre
photo of Side View with the Bell Tower of the Basilica of San Clemente in the Center of Rome on a Background of Partly Cloudy Sky,Rome Italy.St. Clement Basilica
photo of Palazzo Fizzarotti, Municipio 1, Bari, Apulia, ItalyPalazzo Fizzarotti
photo of Michelangelo Capitoline Steps to Piazza Campidoglio on Capitoline Hill, Rome, Italy.Capitoline Museums
Roman ruins in Rome, ItalyPalatine Hill
photo of view of . Foto presente sulla pagina personale di Facebook caricata il 3 novembre 2014, Palermo, ItalyPalazzo Abatellis
Limeston cave called Ear of Dionysius (Orecchio di Dionigi) on Sicily, Italy.Ear of Dionysius
Amphitheatre of PompeiiAmphitheatre of Pompeii
Cathedral of the Nativity of Mary Most Holy (Duomo) in Syracuse, Sicily, ItalyCathedral of Syracuse
photo of View over the historical city center of Cefalù, the beach and the ocean, seen from Castello di Cefalù, a castle on a high rock, Rocca di CefalùCastello di Cefalù
photo of view of Pantheon in the morning. Rome. Italy.Pantheon
Siracusa, Ortigia Island from the air at sunset, Sicily, Italy. Isola di Ortigia, coast of Ortigia island at city of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy. Aerial view. June 2023Island of Ortigia
Agrigento, Sicily, Italy. Ercole Ancient Greek temple in the Valley of the Temples, Sicilian island.Valle dei Templi
photo ofPalazzo Biscari .Palazzo Biscari
Casa MalaparteCasa Malaparte
photo of view of Palermo, Italy at the Palermo Cathedral, Palermo, Italy.Palermo Cathedral

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 – Day 1: Arrival in Rome

  • Rome
  • Fiumicino - Arrival day
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Welcome to Rome, a city that beautifully blends antiquity with modernity. After your arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport, you'll be transferred to your hotel. Take some time to relax and freshen up before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travellers over a delightful welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

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Day 2

Day 2 – Day 2: Exploring Rome

  • Rome
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  • Trevi Fountain
  • Pantheon
  • Trajan Forum
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Today, we delve into the heart of Rome, exploring its art, history, and vibrant street life. A local expert will guide us through the city's backstreets, leading us to the spectacular Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, a well-preserved monument from the Roman period. We'll also discover the charming district of Trastevere, known for its medieval alleyways, ancient churches, and lively atmosphere.

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Day 3

Day 3 – Day 3: From Rome to Alberobello

  • Alberobello
  • Rome
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  • St. Clement Basilica
  • Capitoline Museums
  • Palatine Hill
  • More

We start the day with a visit to the Vatican Museums, where we'll enjoy fast-track entry and exclusive access to the Bramante Staircase. Admire the stunning ceiling of the Sistine Chapel before visiting St. Peter's Basilica. Later, we journey to the picturesque town of Alberobello.

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Day 4

Day 4 – Day 4: Discovering Alberobello

  • Alberobello
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Today, we explore Alberobello, renowned for its unique trulli houses. A local expert will guide us through these circular structures with conical roofs, built without using mortar. In the evening, we'll enjoy a farm-to-table dinner at Trattoria Terra Madre, where we'll learn about the importance of home-grown organic produce and witness a pasta-making demonstration.

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Day 5

Day 5 – Day 5: Free Day in Alberobello

  • Alberobello
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Enjoy a free day in Alberobello. You may choose to join an optional trip to the stunning city of Ostuni, known for its white-washed buildings and fascinating history. Explore the narrow cobbled streets, admire the beautiful sea views, and taste the renowned olive oil produced in this area. Alternatively, you can opt for a traditional dinner at a local 'Masseria', a fortified farmhouse in the countryside.

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Day 6

Day 6 – Day 6: Matera and Grottole

  • Matera
  • Alberobello
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  • Gravina Sotterranea
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Today, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sassi in Matera, a labyrinth of cave dwellings and churches carved out of solid rock. We then proceed to the small village of Grottole, where we'll meet a local who is striving to preserve the traditional way of life. After exploring the historic old town, we'll enjoy a light lunch with wine.

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Day 7

Day 7 – Day 7: Pompeii and Sorrento

  • Pompei
  • Sorrento
  • Matera
  • More
  • Amphitheatre of Pompeii
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Our journey takes us to Pompeii, a city frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. A local expert will guide us through the cobbled streets of this ancient city. We then venture on to the picturesque resort of Sorrento, perched on the southern cliffs of the Bay of Naples, offering stunning views of Mount Vesuvius.

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Day 8

Day 8 – Day 8: Capri Excursion

  • Sorrento
  • Capri
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Today, we cruise across the azure sea to the sun-drenched island of Capri. Upon arrival, we'll take an open-top taxi ride to Capri Town for an orientation walk. You can choose to visit the immaculate Gardens of Augustus with a local expert or enjoy a tasting of limoncello, Capri's famous lemon liqueur. We'll then return to Sorrento by funicular.

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Day 9

Day 9 – Day 9: Journey to Sicily

  • Sorrento
  • Giardini-Naxos
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We travel along the Purple Coast to the very toe of Italy and board a ferry bound for Sicily, crossing the mythical Strait of Messina. According to Greek legend, this strait was home to the sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis. Upon arrival in Sicily, we'll check into our hotel on the Taormina Riviera for a three-night stay.

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Day 10

Day 10 – Day 10: Exploring Taormina

  • Taormina
  • More
  • Basilica of St. Nicholas of Bari
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Today, you may choose to join an optional trip to Mount Etna, Europe's largest active volcano. We'll then visit the old town of Taormina, perched on the side of Mount Tauro, offering stunning views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. With a local expert, we'll visit the Greek theatre and stroll along the elegant Corso Umberto.

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Day 11

Day 11 – Day 11: Cefalu and Palermo

  • Cefalù
  • Taormina
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We travel to the quaint fishing town of Cefalu, where we'll visit the imposing cathedral and stroll down to the medieval stone fountain for a picture-perfect view of the harbour. Later, we continue our journey to Palermo, the capital of Sicily.

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Day 12

Day 12 – Day 12: Exploring Palermo

  • Palermo
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  • Palermo Cathedral
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Today, we explore Palermo. You can choose to visit the spectacular 12th-century Palatine Chapel with a local expert or join the Anti-Mafia tour and learn about the modern-day efforts against organized crime. In your free time, you may wish to visit Palermo Cathedral, a unique blend of architectural styles. In the evening, enjoy a selection of local restaurants on your dine-around evening.

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Day 13

Day 13 – Day 13: Agrigento and Ragusa

  • Ragusa
  • Agrigento
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  • Valle dei Templi
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We journey to Agrigento to explore the Valley of the Temples with a local expert. Marvel at the massive Temple of Concordia and the clifftop Temple of Juno overlooking the sea. Our travels then take us to the hilltop town of Ragusa.

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Day 14

Day 14 – Day 14: Syracuse and Catania

  • Syracuse
  • Catania
  • Ragusa
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  • Cathedral of Syracuse
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Today, we visit Syracuse's Paradise Quarry and its unusual Ear of Dionysius. We'll also see the impressive Greek theatre, one of the largest of the ancient world. After exploring the atmospheric Old City, we continue to Catania, where we'll celebrate our time in Sicily over dinner with fellow travellers.

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Day 15

Day 15 – Day 15: Departure

  • Catania - Departure day
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As our memorable tour comes to an end, we'll enjoy views of Mount Etna on our way to Catania Airport for our departure flights. Safe travels!

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