Our journey begins when we depart the USA.

Upon arrival at Palermo Airport, we will be greeted by our English speaking tour manager who will be with the group during the entire stay in Italy. We will board the private deluxe bus and transfer to our hotel for our welcome dinner and overnight.

This morning after breakfast, we will visit Palazzo dei Normanni, the Norman Palace built around the 10th Century by the Arab emirs and later turned into a formal residence by the Norman kings. For their architecture, they made use of the technical mastery of Muslim workforces, thus generating “Arab-Norman Art”. The building complex, which now forms the Royal Palace, is the result of additions made between the 16th and 17th centuries, giving it a consistent appearance. Inside the Palace, the Palatina Chapel is a real jewel. This is a site that alone makes a visit to Palermo worthwhile. In this church, described by Maupassant as “the most beautiful religious jewel dreamt of by human thought”, the fusion of the vast diversity of Sicily’s origins – European, Sicilian, Byzantine and Arab – is realized in visual terms. The mosaics are the finest products of Byzantine art, without equal in any of the churches of Constantinople. The Christ Pantocrator in the dome, the angels surrounding him and the Evangelists absorbed in their studies, which are the the oldest mosaics, stand out. After the visit, we will enjoy a break for lunch at Il Capo market (not included), the oldest in Palermo, where we will see and taste the famous Palermo street food, such as panelle, arancine, crocchette and Pani Ca Meusa. Admire colorful stalls featuring an abundance of fruit, vegetables, seafood and meats as the sellers’ cries bid for our attention. In the afternoon, we will continue to the Cathedral of Palermo and Palermo’s wide boulevards, traditional Sicilian Old Quarter, and baroque palaces. Tonight dinner is on our own.

After breakfast, we will depart Palermo and drive to Monreale. Upon arrival, we will explore the Monreale Cathedral and Cloister. The cathedral in Monreale is regarded as the most beautiful of the Norman churches in Sicily. The mosaics were made with 2200 kg of pure gold, experts have estimated. Craftsmen from Constantinople were employed to expedite the work. After lunch (not included), we will continue to Agrigento. Upon arrival we will check in at the hotel. Then we will visit the Archaeological Park of the Valley of the Temples, dated around 5th century B.C., that belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage. We will walk through the finest of all ancient Greek sites such as Temple of Hera, the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Zeus. At the end of our day, we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast, we will drive to Ragusa. Upon arrival, we will visit Villa Romana del Casale and learn that Sicily was also colonized by the Romans. Here we’ll spend much of our morning surrounded by the world’s richest and most colorful collection of Roman mosaics — including the time-bending “bikini girls” mosaic. After lunch in a local restaurant (included), we will continue to Siracusa. We then check into our hotel. Dinner is on our own in Siracusa.

Today we will spend the day in Syracuse. After breakfast, we will visit the Neapolis, the famous archaeological park in the countryside of Siracusa. This place houses, amongst the others, the Greek Theatre, Ear of Dionysius and the Latomie. Then we will reach the lovely peninsula of Ortigia. Starting from the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, with a lovely walking, we will finally admire the Duomo square with its beautiful white Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, erected on the Ancient Greek temple of Athena. The walk will continue till the Fountain of Arethusa. In the late afternoon we drive to Taormina where we will spend the next two nights. Dinner tonight is at our hotel.

This morning, after breakfast, we will depart hotel and drive to at Mt Etna, which is 3370 meters high, and is Europe’s highest volcano, and it is still active. We will reach 500 meters- Next we will enjoy a rich Sicilian meal with wine tasting at a local winery (included). This afternoon we will tour Taormina with a local guide. Visit Taormina’s remarkably situated ancient Greek theatre, which is still used today for open-air performances. Dinner is at leisure on our own. We return to our hotel for overnight.

After breakfast, we checkout and drive to Catania. We will have an orientation guided tour and time at leisure for lunch at Catania‘s fish market (not included). In the afternoon, we will transfer to the Catania airport for our flight to Naples (included). When we arrive into Naples, we will transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will board our motor coach to Herculaneum to visit the ancient Roman city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and lies just north of Pompeii. On this tour, we will explore the ruins with an archaeological guide and benefit from a smaller group size, meaning more chances to ask your guide questions. Next, we visit the Samnite house and the Temple of the Augustales, see the remains of the thermal baths and gymnasium, and learn how the city was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. We will return to Naples for the rest of the afternoon for lunch (not included), then to wander and shop among the streets of the historic centre. Tonight dinner is on our own. Overnight is in Naples.

Today we spend the day in Naples. After breakfast, we will start visiting the National Archeological Museums. Then we will continue with a walking tour around the historic centre of Naples to explore the old town. Spaccanapoli, the narrow straight street that splits the historic centre in two, offers patisseries and souvenir shops as well as many historical buildings and churches. The Cathedral of Naples dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. The church was originally built in Gothic style, but was reconstructed and renovated in other architectural styles over the centuries. After lunch (not included), we will continue our walking tour till Piazza Plebiscito. Balance of the day at leisure to taste the famous Sfogliatella and Coffee. Tonight we will enjoy a cooking class where we will learn how to make the world-known Italian pizza and then taste it. We return to our hotel for overnight in Naples.

Today we will enjoy the Amalfi Coast! We will depart the hotel after breakfast and drive to Sorrento. From there, by minivans, we will reach Positano, also called the pearl of the Amalfi Coast. Then we will continue by boat to Amalfi. We will marvel at the colors of the beautiful streets, rich in history and art, famous throughout the world and since 1997, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will visit the imposing Cathedral. After lunch (not included), we will enjoy a Limoncello demonstration and tasting. In the afternoon, we will continue by boat to Maiori, where will stop for a culinary experience at Sal De Riso’s bakery. Then we will return by boat to our hotel in Naples for our Farewell dinner and last overnight.

At the close of an unforgettable tour, we transfer to the airport and arrive back in the States with memories that will last a lifetime.