Itinerary for Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily ... · Enjoy a free day to relax on Sicily's beautiful beaches, or explore the island's quaint towns. The town of Taormina itself

Expat Explore - Version: Wed Feb 12 2020 09:48:25 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time) Page: 1/7

DAY 1: Arrive in Rome

Welcome to Rome! Meet up with your tour leader at our hotel in the afternoon and prepare for a great evening. Your tour leader will

show you ‘Rome by night’ - explore some of the iconic sights of the Eternal City including the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and the

Pantheon. Later this evening we'll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Experiences

Your tour begins! Tonight you will enjoy an evening tour of Rome - see the capital in all it's glory, including views of the Trevi Fountain,

Piazza Navona and Pantheon.

Try some classic Roman cuisine and get to know your Expat Explore tour leader and fellow travellers at the welcome dinner this

evening.

DAY 2: Rome - Sorrento

Itinerary for Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily • Expat Explore

Start Point:

Hotel in Rome,

Please contact us

15:00-17:00 hrs

End Point:

Palermo, Day 10,

Hotel in Palermo

10:00 hrs Naples, final day,

Naples port

10:00 hrs (traffic dependent) Rome, final day,

Hotel in Rome - Please contact us

13:00 hrs (traffic dependent)

Included Meals

Breakfast: Lunch: Dinner:

Accommodation

Hotel Cristoforo Colombo

BV Oly Hotel


Leaving Rome, we’ll head to the Sorrento peninsula, stopping off along the way to see Mount Vesuvius and to explore the ancient

ruins of Pompeii, destroyed in 79AD in a catastrophic volcanic eruption. Upon arrival on the Sorrento peninsula, we have a two-night

stay. This area is famous for limoncello (a sweet lemon liqueur), the perfect way to finish off your included dinner this evening!

Experiences

See Mount Vesuvius and explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii - preserved since ancient times under meters of ash and pumice, it

offers superb insights into life (and death) in the ancient Roman Empire. An expert local guide will accompany you and introduce you

to the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Optional Excursions

Amalfi Coast: € 45

* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.

DAY 3: Sorrento: Free Day

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Delle Palme

Sisters Hotel

Hotel Aequa


A gorgeous old town hugging the coastline, the Sorrento peninsula is our base for the day. Explore the towns in your own time, or

alternatively choose our optional excursion to the famous Isle of Capri, where you can spend some free time exploring the rugged

coastline, ancient Roman ruins and stylish piazzas.

Optional Excursions

Isle of Capri: € 75


DAY 4: Sorrento - Matera - Alberobello

Today we’ll head east and explore the southern Italian region of Apulia, taking a comfort stop along the way in the ancient cave city of

Matera. Known as "la Città Sotterranea" (the Subterranean City), it is famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts, the ‘sassi’. Later

we'll arrive in Alberobello, and enjoy an orientation tour of the region's famous ‘trullo’ houses. These beautiful 14th century

whitewashed stone huts have iconic conical roofs, and are specific to the Itria Valley. This afternoon you’ll have free time to further

explore Alberobello; check out the trullo church of St Antony and the Trulli museum.

Experiences

Comfort stop in the ancient cave city Matera. Human remains from 7,000 BC have been found here, and the historical center and the

Park of the Rupestrian Churches is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Explore the 14th century trulli stone houses, the Parrocchia Sant'Antonio di Padova church, and the Trullo Sovrano museum.

Originally constructed as temporary shelters and storehouses by farm labourers, the trulli are now permanent features of

Alberobello.

DAY 5: Alberobello - Taormina

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Delle Palme

Sisters Hotel

Hotel Aequa

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Colle del Sole


Today we take a coastal drive beside the Ionian Sea, before we leave the mainland behind and take a short ferry ride over to the

island of Sicily, home of Mount Etna. Prepare for stunning views as we make our way to Taormina. Upon arrival, your tour leader will

take you on an orientation walk of this hilltop town, showing you some of the highlights you can explore further on your free day

tomorrow. This evening we’ll top off our Sicilian experience with an included dinner at our beachside hotel.

Experiences

Orientation walk of Taormina. One of the most popular holiday resorts in Sicily, Taormina was founded by the Greeks who built an

amphitheater in a stunning hilltop location overlooked by Mount Etna. During your exploration with your tour leader, you will be

taught about the art of passeggiata, an Italian social custom. As you roam through the streets and alleyways, the presence of the

active volcano Mount Etna adds to the excitement of visiting this Greco-Roman town.

DAY 6: Taormina: Free Day

Enjoy a free day to relax on Sicily's beautiful beaches, or explore the island's quaint towns. The town of Taormina itself is one of Italy’s

most popular summer destinations, perched on the side of a mountain and offering medieval churches, a castle and Greek

amphitheatre. For those looking to explore further afield on their Italian tour, speak to your tour leader for their recommendations,

including boat tours of the beautiful coastline, paragliding and 'Godfather' tours.

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Kennedy


Optional Excursions

Taormina Sunset Cruise: € 65

Mount Etna day trip: € 125


DAY 7: Taormina - Syracuse - Agrigento

Take an easy drive through the heart of Sicily today and be charmed by the sweet Sicilian scenery en route. Along the way, take a

comfort stop in Syracuse, an ancient town on the southeast coast of Sicily that was built in ancient Greek times. Then drive the final

stretch for the day to ‘Valle dei Templi’ (Valley of the Temples), one of the most outstanding examples of Magna Grecia art and

architecture. Spend the night in the hilltop city of Agrigento.

Experiences

Visit the historically significant Sicilian city of Syracusa (as the locals call it). Located on the southeast coast of Sicily, Syracuse was

originally a Greek colony. Today it’s home to a number of Greek remains like a Greek theatre that dates back to the 5th century BC.

You will be transported back in time as you meander cobbled lanes, pavement cafes and baroque architecture. While here shop

locally-grown pistachios, almonds and sun-dried pachino.

Explore the Valley of the Temples, a national monument of Italy and archaeological site in Agrigento. The Valley includes the remains

of seven temples built in the Doric style

DAY 8: Agrigento - Cefalù - Palermo

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Kennedy

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Dioscuri


Leaving Agrigento this morning, take a scenic drive through central Sicily as you set out to the town of Cefalù for lunch. Cefalù is a

historic town that boasts some of Italy’s finest beaches. Arriving in Palermo in the early afternoon, enjoy a walking tour that will

introduce you to the city’s highlights. Founded more than 2,700 years ago by the Phoenicians, Palermo is noted for its history, culture,

architecture and food. Sights you'll see on your walking tour include the Piazza Indipendenza, Porta Nuova (The New Gate) and the

Cathedral of Palermo.

Experiences

Enjoy a walking tour of Palermo; see the highlights of this historic city, a melting pot of cultures over the centuries. Make a note of all

the places you want to explore further on your free day tomorrow.

DAY 9: Palermo: Free Day

Enjoy the day to further explore Sicily’s capital, Palermo. Over the centuries Palermo has been colonized by many different rulers,

including the Greeks, Romans and Normans. This melting pot has resulted in a variety of architectural styles for you to explore in the

historic old town. The option of an excursion to Monreale is also on the table. Travel there by coach and visit the spectacular

Included Meals



Monreale Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed attraction. Then visit an Italian farmhouse for a delicious lunch. This evening, we’ll take an

overnight ferry back to the Italian mainland. For travellers who wish to stay on in Palermo, tonight’s hotel accommodation will be

included in the tour price, and the tour will end in Palermo on Day 10 after breakfast.

Optional Excursions

Monreale Cathedral and lunch at local farmhouse: € 50


DAY 10: End of tour - Naples/Rome

This morning we’ll arrive in Naples where travellers can choose to end their tour (with a drop off at the port), or continue on the coach

with the tour leader and make our way back to Rome, where the coach will drop off at the hotel.

Experiences

You can choose to end your tour in Naples this morning if you wish to extend your stay in southern Italy (with a drop off at the port),

or carry on back to Rome where the tour will end this afternoon.

Included Meals


Accommodation

Hotel Athenaeum

Included Meals


Documents

Itinerary for Highlights of Southern Italy & Sicily ... · Enjoy a free day to relax on Sicily's beautiful beaches, or explore the island's quaint towns. The town of Taormina itself