14 Day Highlights of Sicily & Southern Italy

Welcome to Rome!  
At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant (D) 
 

Spend Your Day Your Way in Sorrento 
Together with a Local Guide, visit the incredible excavations of Pompeii. As you walk along the ancient streets, hear about day-to-day life under the Roman Empire and discover what happened when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. After some free time for lunch, enjoy a scenic drive around the Bay of Naples towards Sorrento.  
Enjoy an evening at leisure. (B)  
 

Coves, Cliffs & The Clear Blue Sea  
Relax on a jetfoil as you cross the Bay of Naples to the captivating island of Capri. Join your Local Guide for a funicular ride from the harbour to Capri village, followed by a guided sightseeing. Visit the Augustus Gardens and admire views of the iconic Faraglioni rocks. Return to the clifftop town of Sorrento for free time to explore this friendly town; browse the artisan stores, try local specialties, or just sit and watch the world go by. Explore more of Sorrento with your choice of an included Globus Choice excursion. Choose between a gelato class at a family-run gelateria plus tasting, or a visit to a family-run lemon grove for a limoncello-making (lemon liqueur) workshop plus local lemon-based specialties sampling. Enjoy dinner at your hotel tonight. (B,D) 
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
Nestled high above the sea on the island of Capri lie the exquisite Gardens of Augustus. This natural paradise promises 180-degree panoramic views and a kaleidoscope of botanical beauty on the cliffs overlooking the island and the sapphire sea below. 
 

Land of the Sirens 
Enjoy a free day in the Sorrento Area. Take a stroll along the charming streets, admire the spectacular views,browse the stores, laze on the beach, or try delicious local specialties  
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
Just as the sirens of Greek mythology lured sailors to the rocky shores of Sorrento, we are drawn to its alluring panoramas, sun-washed beaches, bistros, and boutiques. Take a seat in a sidewalk café to peruse the picturesque panoramas of the Bay of Naples. (B) 
 

Spectacular Apulia  
Take a scenic drive towards Apulia, the charismatic region with the longest coastline that forms the heel of Italy’s “boot.” Arrive in the vibrant port city of Bari and enjoy free time this evening. (B)  
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
Apulia has lots to offer – with charming, whitewashed towns, centuries-old pastoral landscapes, and the magnificent Mediterranean coastline. It is famed for its agricultural produce; it has more olive trees than any other region and is often referred to as “the breadbasket” of Italy thanks to its durum wheat production. 
 

Sweet Strolls in Apulia 
This morning, follow your Local Guide on a walking tour of Bari Vecchia, the city’s oldest district, and visit the Basilica of San Nicola. Drive to Lecce, often called the “Florence of the South,” for a guided walking tour of the beautiful historic center. Visit the Duomo and Basilica of Santa Croce, before stopping at a local café to [LF] taste traditional pasticciotto (filled pastry) with almond-infused iced coffee. (B,D) 
LOCAL FAVORITE  
Traditional pasticciotto is the beloved cream-filled pastry of Lecce, which graces the shelves of Apulia’s bakeries and restaurants. Legend has it that this ubiquitous confection was invented by happy accident when chef Andrea Ascalone made too much cake batter, using the excess ingredients to mix up the original pasticcio (meaning mishap or mess in Italian) - a smaller cake with a creamy filling. Sink your teeth into this heavenly pastry with an almond-infused iced coffee to complete the experience. 
 

Stone Houses  
Visit Alberobello, one of Italy’s most recognizable towns. Join your Local Guide for a walking tour through the charming streets to see the world-famous trulli (traditional conical-roof houses) to discover how people live there. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B) 
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
The iconic round houses (trulli) date back hundreds of years. These trulli, constructed of dry stone and cone-shaped roofs, include the oldest structures built in the 16th century and were used as grain storage or residences. Made without cement in the masonry techniques of the day, these whitewashed homes were easily disassembled to avoid property taxes when the collectors came calling! Today, you can stroll the streets lined with trulli houses to see their conical rooftops decorated with symbols such as a cross, heart, astronomical symbol, or the evil eye. 
 

Creamy Desserts & Cave Dwellings  
This morning, stop in Matera for an orientation walk, which includes a panoramic view of the picturesque sassi houses, the ancient cave dwellings that have become popular as a film location. Enjoy a scenic drive along the Gulf of Taranto before stopping in Pizzo Calabro for a [LF] traditional tartufo (ice cream dessert) tasting. Continue to Reggio Calabria, once an important city in Magna Grecia, for a guided visit to the museum that houses the Bronzi di Riace (famous Greek bronze warrior sculptures). (B,D)  
LOCAL FAVORITE  
The only thing better than a taste of gelato is enjoying a few different flavors inside a chocolate-shelled truffle! Indulge in a tartufo dessert that will melt in your mouth during a visit to Pizzo Calabro, the “ice-cream city.” 
 

Grand Greek Drama  
A short ferry crossing takes you across the Strait of Messina to Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean. Drive to Taormina, dramatically located on a hill overlooking the sea. Visit the ancient Greek theatre. Enjoy free time to explore the town and stroll along stylish Corso Umberto. (B)  
TOUR HIGHLIGHT  
The Greek Theatre of Taormina is considered one of the most impressive examples of auditorium engineering and architecture for its superb natural setting and acoustical design. This ancient marvel was dug into the hard rock slopes of Mount Tauro in the 3rd century BC, with seating to accommodate thousands of spectators. The Teatro Antico di Taormina was built in the Greek tradition of incorporating the natural surroundings as part of the performance, with light and air permeating the columns to become part of the story. 
 

The Pearl of the Mediterranean  
Spend a full day at leisure on the Taormina Riviera: explore more sights, browse the stores, relax on the beaches, or simply sit in a café, savoring local specialties and watching the world go by. (B) 
TOUR HIGHLIGHT  
With a backdrop of the volcanic Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea providing a cinematic setting for the resort town of Taormina, this Pearl of the Mediterranean is a picturesque coastal gem that will spoil you with its stunning beaches, village beauty, and sumptuous culinary specialties
 

Sicilian Summits  
Enjoy a free day on the Taormina Riviera or join an optional excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) 
FREE TIME TIPS 
What better way to spend this free day than with an excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest volcano and one of the most active in the world? Learn how, in 1669, an eruption that lasted 112 days developed a record-long stream of lava that destroyed the city of Catania. 
 

Timeless Temples  
Drive across the island to Agrigento, location of a real cultural treasure, the UNESCO-nominated Valley of the Temples. Join your Local Guide for a walk through this remarkable archaeological site to see the beautiful Greek temples. Continue to Palermo, Sicily’s capital city. (B)  
TOUR HIGHLIGHT 
The ruins of Akragas remain Sicily's most amazing archaeological site. The impressively well-preserved Tempio della Concordia sits in a spectacular setting upon a ridge where it served as a beacon for homecoming sailors and today draws enthralled visitors to revel in the remarkable Valley of the Temples. 
 

Cathedrals & New Beginnings  
This morning, join your Local Guide for a sightseeing tour of Palermo’s highlights, including a visit to the cathedral. Take a scenic drive to Monreale for a panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro and a visit to the Norman Cathedral. [LF] Hear about one of the anti-mafia movements that support the local community. This evening, join your travel companions for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) 
TOUR HIGHLIGHT  
The story of the splendid Monreale Cathedral began as Arabs took control of Palermo. They transformed the cathedral into a mosque and banished the Bishop of Palermo from town. Not wishing to venture too far from his beloved cathedral, the bishop settled in a small village in the hills overlooking Palermo, the site of modern-day Monreale. There, he built a modest church to keep the flame of local Christian worship alive. Today, the cathedral is known for its stunning mosaics that cover an area of over 64,500 sq ft.  
 

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)