Premium Sicily and Italy in Depth
Overview
Highlights
- Take a step back in time and marvel at some of Italy’s most fascinating ancient monuments including discovering the ancient ruins of Pompeii with a local guide.
- Get a taste for Italian specialties and visit a family-run winery to sample world-class drops in Tuscany, discover a local olive oil producer and taste their specialties on a farm that has been active since Roman times in Puglia and dig your hands into a traditional cooking class in Sicily.
- Come face-to-face with Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna, as you walk into the centre of an extinct crater and visit a lava cave.
- Get the inside scoop on the best places to eat and explore with your locally-based leader joining you on orientation walks in some of Italy’s most captivating cities.
- Stay in style with 3 Feature Stays, nestled in the heart of the rolling Tuscan hillside, in a once 13th-century Baronial Palace in Nardo and in a countryside estate built within a medieval watch tower in Baglio della Luna Foresteria.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- Palermo -Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Palermo - Welcome Meeting
- Palermo - Welcome Dinner
- Palermo - Anti-Mafia Tour
- Palermo - Sicilian Cooking Class
- Erice - Town Visit
- Erice - Genovesi Tasting
- Erice - Cable Car
- Mazara del Vallo - Kasbah Visit
- Scala dei Turchi - Visit
- Agrigento - Guided visit Valley of the Temples
- Modica - Visit and Chocolate Tasting
- Noto - Guided Walk
- Ragusa - Visit
- Siracusa - Ortigia Orientation Walk
- Catania - Mount Etna Visit
- Taormina - Guided Walk
- Taormina - Greek Theatre Admission
- Catania - Farewell Dinner
- Bari - Dinner in a Local Restaurant
- Bari - Alberobello and Polignano a Mare - Half Day Trip
- Nardo - Lunch in Ostuni
- Nardo - Ostuni Farm Visit and Olive Oil Tasting
- Nardo - Walking Tour
- Nardo - Cooking class
- Matera - Winery Visit With Lunch
- Matera - Ipogeo Underground Cistern Visit
- Naples - Pompeii Visit
- Naples - Dinner In Naples
- Rome - Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Rome – Coffee Granita (Coffee semi-frozen dessert)
- Rome – Guided walking tour
- Rome – Nobleman’s home visit and lunch (Exclusive Experience)
- Siena - Orientation Walk
- Monteriggioni - Orientation Walk
- Chianti Region - Gourmet Dinner
- San Gimignano - Agriturismo Winery Tour & Tasting
- Florence - Orientation Walk
- Pisa - Pisa Visit & Orientation walk
- Lucca - City Walls & Orientation Walk
- Florence - Galleria dell ’Accademia admission
- Florence – Highlights of Florence Guided walk
- Venice -Traghetto boat ride
- Venice - Farewell Dinner at Local Restaurant
- Venice - Water Taxi
- Venice - Palazzo Pisani
Itinerary

Bongiorno! Welcome to Sicily. When you arrive in Palermo, you’ll be met by a local representative for a complimentary airport transfer into the city. Your adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your fellow travellers and local leade...
Enjoy a free morning to see more of Palermo’s small alleyways, buzzing colourful market squares and winding roads. In the afternoon, join a walking tour with your local leader and uncover symbolic places of rebellion and anti-mafia racketeering like the Teatro Massimo...
Today, it’s time to say goodbye to beautiful Palermo and head towards the small town of Erice. Located more than 750 m above sea level, this beautifully preserved medieval town showcases architectural styles from its varied history. When you arrive, you’ll head to a s...
This morning, head east as you stop in the old port of Mazara del Vallo. It’s here that some of the Arab influences in Sicily are most clearly visible. As you stroll through the kasbah (Arab Quarter) you’ll witness the artistic and cultural enrichment brought on by th...
This morning after breakfast, travel to the nearby Valley of the Temples. One of the largest archaeological sites in the world, this is where the ancient city of Akragas once stood. Your local guide will bring this classical Greek site to life as you visit the temples...
Today, say goodbye to Agrigento and hit the road to Siracusa. Along the way, you’ll stop in Ragusa – one of the most scenic towns in all of Sicily. Explore the town and then continue to Modica, which is particularly famous for its chocolate. After tasting some of the ...
This morning, head out on an orientation walk through Ortigia – a small island just adjacent to the main town of Siracusa. Wandering the narrow streets and laneways will reveal ancient ruins, fountains and trattorias. Return to Siracusa in the afternoon, and enjoy a f...
Today, come face-to-face with Europe’s largest active volcano on a daytrip up Mt Etna. At an altitude of approximately 2000 m, you’ll walk into the centre of an extinct crater and visit a lava cave that can be explored with helmets and torches. Walk among the cold lav...
After breakfast today, take a day trip to the city of Taormina. Start things off with a guided walk, where you’ll notice Greek influence in the architecture. Walk through the back streets, gardens and the world-famous Greek theatre and cathedral. The afternoon is free...
Catch an unescorted flight to the coastal city of Bari to begin the next stage of your Italian adventure in Puglia. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You’ll have another welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your new local ...
Leave the coastline behind as you travel inland by private vehicle to the little town of Alberobello. Set among a tranquil landscape of olive groves, the town is famed for its unique beehive-shaped trulli (dwellings built from limestone in the 14th century). While the...
This morning, visit a local olive oil producer on a farm that’s been active since Roman times. You’ll learn how production techniques have changed over the centuries, taste some of the olive oil for yourself and enjoy an included lunch of regional favourites. Then, vi...
Before breakfast, you may like to take a walk through your Feature Stay’s historic ‘secret garden’ where it seems as if figures from days gone by could walk around the corner at any minute. Today head to the beautiful city of Lecce. With its ornate baroque buildings, ...
Enjoy a final morning at your Feature Stay hotel, sitting back with a coffee and soaking up the scenery. Then, it’s time to say goodbye and travel to Matera – an ancient city on a rocky outcrop. Along the way, stop at a local winery for some wine tasting and lunch bef...
Today, dive into Matera’s Old Town, made famous by sassi – more than 3000 stone houses formed from natural grottoes and tufo cliffs, some dating back as far as the 8th century. Join a local guide who will lead you through a labyrinth of staircases and alleyways that c...
Begin the day by driving to the storied town of Pompeii, home to one of Europe’s most well-known archaeological sites – the ruins of Pompeii, caused by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD. Join a local guide to discover the remains of this once thriving Roman trading...
This morning, you will catch a train to Italy's iconic capital city, Rome. If you arrive early maybe grab an espresso and hit the streets. This portion of your adventure begins with another welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your new local leader and fellow travellers. When the formalities are out of the way, head to dinner at a local restaurant and maybe grab a glass of vino.
From ancient monuments to romantic restaurants, Rome is a city of great beauty and diversity. Today, join a private guide for a trip to the Spanish steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona before reaching Campo de Fiori, where a local fresh produce ma...
Today you’ll take a private vehicle to the city of Siena, where your leader will show you the most interesting sights on an orientation walk. At the city’s heart is Piazza del Campo – home to the biannual Palio horse race and nearby the Siena Cathedral. Next, visit Mo...
Start the day with a visit to San Gimignano – the 'Town of Fine Towers'. Explore the medieval Old Town centre and its Gothic and Romanesque architecture with your leader. This region is also renowned for its ancient Vernaccia grapes, which are the basis for one of Tus...
Today you’ll visit Pisa. It’s not always possible to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa due to its precarious state, but as your leader shares the history of this legendary building, you’ll have the opportunity to take a photo from the ground. Your next stop is historic ...
This morning, join a private guided walk of Florence, including a visit to the Galleria dell‘Accademia – an art museum renowned for its collection of sculptures, including the iconic statue of David by Michelangelo. You then have a free afternoon to explore at your ow...
In the morning, head to the railway station and take a high-speed train to Venice. When you arrive, your leader will take you on an orientation walk so you can get acquainted with the city’s maze of canals and learn about its unique history. You will make a stop at Pa...
With no activities planned for today, your trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent to arrange additional accommodation.
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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