11-Nights Southern Italy: Sicily, Puglia and the Amalfi Coast - Small Group Journeys — CALL
Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1652161
A culinary hot spot and epicenter of history and art, Italy beckons you to discover the true meaning of la dolce vita. Experience the glories of Southern Italy on a panoramic journey that reveals this Mediterranean-flavored region’s distinctive food and culture as well as the slow pace of rural life, from Sicily’s ancient ruins to the colorful cliffsides of the Amalfi Coast.
11 nights | Call for pricing
Itinerary Details
1 Arrive 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.
Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes
Meals:
2 Palermo – Treasures Of Art Nouveau Architecture
Join a local guide for a walk through the Royal Opera House, the largest opera house in Italy and the third largest in Europe. The opera house is famous for its magnificent neoclassical-Art Nouveau architecture and excellent acoustics. Then, journey to the hillside town of Monreale and enter its extravagant cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its mosaic-lined walls are breathtaking to behold. Return to Palermo with time free to explore more of this unique port city. Later, on an A&K-exclusive experience, visit beautiful Palazzo Francavilla for a private tour and an apéritif with the owner.
Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes
Meals:
3 Agrigento – The Dark History Of Cosa Nostra
Journey 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 been part of Sicilian life for well over a century, as you learn from a local expert. Proceeding to coastal Agrigento, discover the Temple of Concord, a superb example of classical sacred architecture.
Alba Palace
Meals:
4 Piazza Armerina – Ascend Mount Etna
In the town of Piazza Armerina, visit the UNESCO-listed Villa Romana del Casale to view its breathtaking mosaics. Continue to the east coast of Sicily and up to the 6,000-footplus heights of smoldering Mount Etna, taking in panoramic views of the landscape and coast. Later, arrive at your lush resort above the sparkling coast.
Grand Hotel San Pietro
Meals:
5 Taormina – Majestic Vantage Point
Drive to Taormina for a private, chef-led cooking class in a villa above the sea, and eat what you’ve created. Then explore the town’s Greek amphitheater with a guide.
Grand Hotel San Pietro
Meals:
6 Matera – Ancient Cave City
In Messina, cross the strait between Sicily and the Italian mainland by ferry. Disembark in Villa San Giovanni in Calabria, and drive into Basilicata and to Matera, the UNESCO-listed Città Sotterranea (Underground City), a site carved into the mountains.
Palazzo Gattini
Meals:
7 Matera – Guided Tour And Bakery Visit
Explore Matera, walking its narrow, jagged lanes with a guide, and then visiting a bakery that carries on local bread-making traditions.
Palazzo Gattini
Meals:
8 Alberobello – The Trulli Houses Of Apulia
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 made from local products. Later, visit Alberobello and its rows of conical trulli houses, dwellings unique to this province of Bari.
Palazzo Gattini
Meals:
9 Paestum And Naples – Making Mozzarella
Depart for the sparkling Amalfi Coast area, famed for its postcard-perfect villages of pastel-painted houses perched on steep cliffs overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno. Stop en route in Paestum, an ancient Greek city known for its well-preserved temples, which you view before stopping for lunch at a nearby mozzarella-making farm. In Naples, settle into your hotel. Tonight, eat an iconic Neapolitan specialty at a traditional pizzeria.
Romeo Napoli
Meals:
10 Positano – Glories Of The Coast
Journey to Sorrento to visit a lemon nursery and learn about this icon of the Amalfi Coast. Take in a demonstration of Neapolitan cooking, followed by lunch. Then, drive the Amalfi Coast to Positano to take in the stunning views and continue via Amalfi to Ravello for an engaging photo stop. Return to Naples.
Romeo Napoli
Meals:
11 Naples – Design Your Day
Begin your last full day of exploring Southern Italy with your choice of one of these Design Your Day activities:
- Join a Guide to Tour Herculaneum, destroyed by the lava flows of nearby Vesuvius in AD 79.
- Explore the Flavors of “Hidden Naples” on a foodie’s walking tour of this vibrant city noted for its cuisine.
- Cruise to the Isle of Capri, where you roam this sun-kissed paradise from the Villa San Michele to the Gardens of Augustus.
Tonight, celebrate your journey with a special farewell dinner.
Romeo Napoli
Meals:
12 Depart Naples
After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport for your departing flight.
Meals:
Excursions
Naples and Pompeii - 8 hours
- Introduction to the history of Naples and Ancient city of Pompeii
- Free time for shopping in Napes
- Lunch to be reserved at original Naples pizzeria
Tour duration: 8 hours
Included:
- Private deluxe sedan or van for the day
- English speaking guide for Naples and Pompeii
- Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port
Naples: Food Tour of Naples - 4 hours
Naples: Food Tour of Naples - 4 hours
Along with your expert guide, head into the heart of the historic centre of Naples and explore one of Naples’ best food markets. Your guide will lead you through the market stalls and shops, where you can sample some of the delicious local specialties. Continue along the alleys of the historic city centre to discover the most picturesque corners of Naples. Sites include the Greek ruins of Bellini square, the street of music (San Biagio dei Librai), San Gregorio Armeno street (famous for shops selling nativity scenes), Decumani and old churches decorated in Rococo style.
Stop for a wine tasting in one of the most famous wine shops in the city before the highlight of your tour: lunch in one of the world’s oldest pizzerias! Naples is the birthplace of the pizza. The Naples pizza margherita features a soft yet satisfyingly chewy base, all puffed up and charred at the edges, the merest smear of tomato sauce, the odd dot of mozzarella and a few basil leaves. Not to be missed is the pizza fritta - the original pizza and unique to Naples - a deep fried pizza filled with ricotta cheese. Heaven on a plate!
Highlights:
- Sample some delicious specialities at one of Naples' best food markets
- Visit one of the world's oldest pizzerias for lunch
Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Low
Inclusions:
• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert local guide (4 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes
• Wine tasting and pizza
Exclusions:
• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities
Naples: The City of Naples - 8 hours
Naples: The City of Naples - 8 hours
Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe, covering 4,200 acres and enclosing 27 centuries of history. One of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world with Bronze Age Greek settlements dating back to the second millennium BC, the area was re-founded as Neápolis (‘new city’) in the sixth century BC, becoming a lynchpin of Magna Graecia and playing a key role in the merging of Greek culture into Roman society.
Explore Naples today with your expert guide. Highlights include the Spaccanapoli district, the magnificent Duomo cathedral, the Cappella Sansevero with its virtuosic sculptural masterpiece the Cristo Velato, as well as lesser-known gems such as the San Giovanni a Carbonara. Today’s tour encompasses artistic-historic treasures and plenty of local colour. Along the way, enjoy a bite of Naples’ famous street food ‘frittura’, a sinfully delicious mix of deep fried aubergines (eggplant), zucchini, mozzarella, arancini (rice croquettes), cauliflower, or potato croquettes.
Continue your sightseeing tour in the historic centre of Naples. Visit the Castel Nuovo, the imposing medieval structure built by the Angevins to defend the city. You may also wish to visit the adjoining Palazzo Reale (The Royal Palace Museum and Royal apartments), built in the 17th century. The magnificently decorated halls and rooms contain the original Bourbon furnishings, paintings, statues and porcelain. Enjoy a panoramic drive to reach the magnificent Carthusian Monastery, the Certosa di San Martino situated on Vomero Hill, where you may visit the luxuriously decorated Baroque Style church.
Highlights:
- Try Naples' famous street food as your guide shows you the historic sights of Italy
- Visit the medieval Castel Nuovo, whose magnificently decorated rooms contain original Bourbon furnishings, paintings and statues
Tour can Operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Low
Inclusions:
• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert local guide (8 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes
Exclusions:
• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities
Naples: Historic Pompeii & Vesuvius - 9 hours
Naples: Historic Pompeii & Vesuvius - 9 hours
Travel outside Naples today for an excursion to Pompeii. Upon arrival at Pompeii, enjoy a walking tour of this once opulent town. The extensive and varied ruins of Pompeii now provide us with a rich history of life at the time of the Roman Empire. Destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 BC, this dugout treasure represents an amazing day trip for children and adults alike. On view are temples, forums, amphitheatres, a brothel and the casts of those killed by the falling ash and pumice stone.
Mount Vesuvius – 1281 meters high – was brought into volcanological history after the eruption of 79 BC, when it destroyed the towns and thousands of residents of Pompeii, Stabiae, and Herculaneum. Climb till the summit of the ‘mount’ this afternoon with your guide and admire the splendid views across the Bay of Naples. Lose yourself admiring its slopes, once covered with vineyards and woods that nowadays provide a spectacular backdrop for the bustling town below.
Please note: The visit to Mount Vesuvius is not suitable for people with mobility issues and is subject to both volcanological and weather conditions at the time of the tour.
Highlights:
- The ruins of Pompeii provide an unparalleled window into life during the Roman Empire
- Climb to the summit of Mount Vesuvius to admire views across the Bay of Naples
Tour can Operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Inclusions:
• Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
• An expert local guide (8 hours)
• Entrance fees
• All taxes
Exclusions:
• All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
• Gratuities
Laid at the southern feet of the Mounts Lattari, which protect it from the
Northwinds, Positano enjoys - thanks to its favourable position - all the advantages
of a mild, dry climate. It is surrounded by green mounts, which form a sort
of crown: Mount Comune, Mt. S. Maria del Castello, Mt. S. Angelo a Tre Pizzi
(1444 metres high), Mt. Conocchia, Mt. Campo dei Galli and Mt. Paipo; towards
south and east the gaze sweeps over the sea up to Punta Licosa and Capri. Three
miles away from the coast a little arcipelago rises from the sea - "Li Galli"
or "Sirenuse" - composed by three islands: "Gallo Lungo", "Rotonda", "Castelluccio",
which was always supposed to be the abode of the bewitching Syrians.
The origins of Positano, like those of many other towns, are lost in the mists
of time, so that it is difficult to distinguish between history and legend.
As it often happen in the past, myths supplied for the lack of data: one of
these myths tells us that Positano was founded by Poseidon - the Latin Neptune,
the god of the sea - for the sake of the nymph Pasitea, whom he loved. It is
certain that Phoenicians and Greeks, travelling westwards, landed in Positano,
which at that time, was inhabited by Oschi and Piceni. The Romans built near
the 'great' beach a rich patrician villa, which has now been buried by gardens
and by the church devoted to Our Lady of the Assumption. With the fall of the
Roman Empire Positano became a part of the Republic of Amalfi, the first maritime
republic, and went through flourishing period, owing to the commerce with the
other countries of the Mediterranean area.
Unfortunately this period was followed by gloomy ones, particularly during
the Angevin and Aragonese domination, when our village was more than once exposed
to the offence of the Saracen pirates, first, and, then of the Turkmen. A legend
referring to that period says that the Saracen pirates, during an incursion,
sacked the main Church and brought away, among other things, the Byzantine picture
of Black Virgin, which was kept in the church and is now to be found in the
apse over the high altar; they had just left the shore, when a voice was heard,
that said: "Posa, posa". The pirates became aware of having committed a sacrilege,
repented came back ashore and restored all the ill-gotten goods. To defend themselves
from the very frequent raids of the pirates the inhabitants of Positano built
three guard-towers, which can still be seen today in the quarters called "Fornillo",
"La Trasita", "La Sponda" and some others in the inner part of the village.
In the same period the mountain villages of Montepertuso and Nocelle enlarged
to harbour the inhabitants of Positano and Laurito, who feared the pirates.
In 1700 there was a thriving period as it is shown by many villas in the late
Baroque style, built on the East coast. The Unification of Italy forced many
inhabitants of Positano, as it happened for so many other people of South Italy,
to migrate to America, where fortune smiled on some of them. After the First
World War - during which Positano also paid its great tribute of blood - this
village, which was already the refuge of some Italian artists, like Vincenzo
Caprile, harboured many Russian, German artists and men of letters, who chose
it for its peace and quiet. Among others we can remember: Semenov, Zagoruiko,
Essad Bey, Clavel, Escher, Massine, Kovaliska, Ghillausen, etc., who with their
works maid this flat of land known all over the world.
The tourism booming took place after the Second World War; but despite of an
intense expansion our village preserve its characteristic vertical structure
and its bright architecture with suggestive, panoramique corners. Thanks to
the innate sense of hospitality of its inhabitants Positano became one of the
most famous tourist places all over the world. Our village is also internationally
known for its clothing production: many little, but elegant boutiques, which
are almost everywhere on both sides of streets and lanes, can satisfy all the
requests of a cosmopolitan clientele. Its favourable position put it in the
centre of a land rich of history and natural beauties. During the summer a series
of patronal feasts - among which we can remember that on the 2nd of July in
Montepertuso and that on the 15th of August in Positano - and cultural events
- like the International Award for the Art of Dancing to the memory of the great
dancer-choreographer Leonide Massine - gladden the evenings, making the stay
in this charming place, also called the "Gem of the divine coast", more pleasant
and suggestive.
Excursions
Taormina and Mt Etna Day - 8 hours
Taormina and Mt Etna Day - 8 hours
Added value:
- Experience visiting a live volcano
- Visit the charming sea village of Taormina
- Stop at a local winery near Mt. Etna
- Time for shopping on the famous Corso Umberto in Taormina
Included:
- Private car or van and English speaking driver guide.
- Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port
- Meals
Excursions
Palermo and Monreale - 8 hours
Palermo and Monreale - 8 hours
Added value:
- Visit of Piazza Pretoria-Quattro Canti-Norman Palace and Monreale
- Visit of Palermos famous food market Vucciria
- Time for shopping
Included:
- Private sedan or van and English speaking guide for the day
- Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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