Country Roads of Southern Italy and Sicily 12 Day tour from $2248 

an Insight Vacations luxury tour

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Tour Highlights

Hotels

This tour has a varied selection of hotels ranging from the beautifully restored villa style La Medusa to the modern Sant Alphio Garden hotel, which has a wonderful, scenic location overlooking the Bay of Naxos.

 Fellow Passengers

This tour attracts both those passengers who have Southern Italian or Sicilian family ancestry & those who wish to extend their knowledge of Italian history & culture by exploring the lesser known Southern regions.

 Highlights

This tour explores the unique 'trulli' houses of Alberobello and Lecce in the  south. There is also the stunning scenery of Sicily and its rich historic Greek  & Roman heritage, plus the beauty of the Island of Dreams, Capri.

Excursions & Sights

• See the fascinating Trulli dwellings of Alberobello
• Visit the town of Lecce with it's baroque basilica and fine Piazza del Duomo
• Visit Taormina's Greek theatre, dating back to the 3rd century BC
• Visit the sub-tropical terraced gardens in Taormina
• Stroll along Corso Umberto to Piazza 9 Aprile in Taormina for panoramic views
• Guided tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento to see the Temple of Concord
• See  the beautifully decorated Cathedral of Monreale
• See the Cathedral and visit the Palatine Chapel in Palermo
• Tour the cobbled streets of Pompeii with a local guide
• Cruise to the Isle of Capri & funicular to Capri Town 'Intarsio' inlay woodworking demonstration in Sorrento
• Visit the beautifully illuminated Trevi Fountain in Rome
• See the Colosseum & the Forum in Rome, visit St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City

Scenic drives - Apennines, Calabria mountains, Sorrento cliff top road

Guided City Tours

In depth sightseeing tours in Rome, Lecce, Agrigento, Palermo  & Pompeii

Orientation tours in Alberobello, Taormina, Naples & Sorrento

Insight's First Class Services

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples
• Complimentary arrival transfer on Day 1 and departure transfer on Day 13

Quality Dining

Highlight Dinner of local cuisine with entertainment in Rome

12 buffet breakfasts and 6 three course table d'hote dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee.

Tour Itinerary

Tour Pace

An evenly paced tour with three nights in Alberobello and two night stays in Giardini Naxos & Pompeii. Driving days are always scenic and added attraction  of travel by overnight ferry from Palermo to Naples.

DAY 1 SAT  - ROME AT LEISURE

On arrival at Rome's Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport there are complimentary transfers to your tour hotel. Settle in this afternoon, relax, or start exploring this glorious city? Maybe spend some time wandering through the vast parklands of  the Villa Borghese or just relax at a cafe in the Piazza Navona? Later, join your Tour Director and fellow guests for a Welcome Drink. Hotel: Crowne Plaza  St. Peters.

DAY 2 SUN - ROME - ALBEROBELLO

This morning we head southwards passing by the brooding hilltop monastery of Cassino to Caserta. Here we take the scenic route across the Apennines to the Adriatic coast. Our destination is the small town of Alberobello, in the heart of the unique  Trulli region. The region of Puglia is a food and wine lovers' paradise, so perhaps dine out tonight? Hotel: Astoria. (BB)

DAY 3 MON - ALBEROBELLO

This morning we have time to explore Alberobello, with its strange white Trulli  buildings spread out over the hillside. Trulli are circular structures with conical roofs and domed within, built with local limestone, stacked without using mortar.  Relax this afternoon or why not visit the 'underground architecture' of Matera? (BB,D)

DAY 4 TUE - LECCE EXCURSION

We travel down the 'heel of the boot', across fertile plains, to the town of Lecce, known locally as 'the baroque Florence'. Here our local guide reveals a wealth of baroque and rococo buildings, all decorated with great fantasy. We see the Basilica of the Holy Cross and explore the Piazza del Duomo before some time at leisure.  Later this afternoon we return to the beehive shaped Trulli houses, and our hotel  in Alberobello. (BB)

DAY 5 WED - ALBEROBELLO - GIARDINI NAXOS

The local roads take us south this morning to follow the shores of the Gulf of Taranto to the mountainous Calabria region. Continuing along the Purple Coast, we  reach the very toe of Italy, to make the short ferry crossing to Sicily. Now to our hotel in the seaside resort of Giardini Naxos. Hotel: Sant Alphio Garden. (BB)

DAY 6 THU - TAORMINA EXCURSION

This morning we visit Taormina, founded in 400BC, and beautifully located overlooking  the sea towards the snowy peak of Mount Etna. We visit the Greek Theatre (3rd Century  B.C.), the glorious sub-tropical terraced gardens, then stroll along elegant Corso  Umberto to Piazza 9 Aprile for splendid panoramic views across the bay to the Ionian  Sea. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax and enjoy our seaside location. (BB,D)

DAY 7 FRI - GIARDINI NAXOS - AGRIGENTO

Today we investigate the heart of Sicily as we make our way to the grey houses of Piazza Armerina and the nearby Roman Villa of Casale. This immense building is  noted for its famous mosaics which cover almost the entire floor. Cupids playing  with dolphins, wild animals and even bikini clad girls are all depicted in the picturesque  scenes. Later, we continue to the attractive hillside town of Agrigento. Hotel: Kaos.  (BB,D)

DAY 8 SAT - AGRIGENTO - PALERMO

We spend the morning exploring Agrigento's Valley of the Temples, the finest Greek sanctuary in Sicily. Especially impressive is the massive Temple of Concord  and clifftop Temple of Juno overlooking the sea. This afternoon we continue to the  historic capital of Sicily, Palermo. Before reaching our hotel, we visit Monreale,  with its finely decorated cathedral. Hotel: Excelsior Palace. (BB)

DAY 9 SUN - PALERMO - OVERNIGHT FERRY

Our sightseeing includes Quattro Canti Square, Cathedral and the mosaics in the  Palatine Chapel of the Palace of the Normans. This afternoon we drive along the  coast to the fishing town of Cefalu. We visit the cathedral, erected to fulfil a  vow made by the Norman King Roger II. Later, we return to Palermo to take the overnight  ferry to Naples in the early evening. (BB)

DAY 10 MON - FERRY - BAY OF NAPLES

We arrive early in Naples for breakfast, then, after an orientation tour of the  city, we continue to Pompeii, buried in 79 AD by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius. We walk with our local guide through the cobbled streets to the Forum and inspect  some of the shops and villas, before continuing to our hotel. Hotel: La Medusa.  (BB,D)

DAY 11 TUE - CAPRI EXCURSION

This morning we take the cliff top road to Sorrento where we witness a demonstration of inlaid 'intarsio' woodwork. We continue across the Bay of Naples to the delightful Isle of Capri. We take a funicular train up to Capri Town where we have time to  wander the narrow alleyways and explore the exclusive boutiques. Later this afternoon, we return to our hotel. (BB,D)

DAY 12 WED - BAY OF NAPLES - ROME

We travel north to return to Rome. On arrival we see the Colosseum and Forum - once the religious, political and commercial heart of the Roman Empire. We also tour St Peter's Basilica, mother church of the Catholic faith. Tonight, we stroll  to the illuminated Trevi Fountain, before enjoying a farewell highlight dinner with pasta and music. Hotel: Crowne Plaza St. Peters. (BB,HD)

DAY 13 THU - ROME

Our tour ends with a transfer to the airport. (BB)