Amalfi Coast & Sicily

AMALFI COAST & SICILY – Best of the South

Day 1, – Rome to Sorrento – Pompei on route [B,D] 3 nights
9.00am Transfer to your hotel in Sorrento. Drive along the spectacular coast road of the Bay of Naples to Sorrento. Reached Pompeii at 11.00am you will visit and explore with our local guide the archeological park. Pompeii was partially destroyed and buried in up to 20 ft of ash and pumice from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It was rediscovered in 1749. Since then its excavation has uncovered an extraordinarily preserved insight to life in a city at the height of the Roman Empire. The balance of the day is at leisure. The center of Sorrento’s life is focused at the Piazza Tasso, where you’ll find restaurants, pizzerias, cafes, and shops that will satisfy every person’s search for La Dolce Vita. Tonight experience a special welcome dinner at a local Neapolitan restaurant.

Day 2, – Sorrento – Capri Island [B]
9.00am Meet your guide in the lobby Transfer to the harbor and board hydrofoil to Capri. The island of Capri is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, rich of natural beauty and breathtaking panoramic views. You will sail across the Tyrrhenian sea by hydrofoil and approaching the pier of Capri you will surround and admire the massive cliffs from the bottom and appreciate the crystalline water of the island. You will dock at Marina Grande, than take the funicular to the famous Piazzetta, center of town. Walking along the narrow streets you will reach the Caesar Augustus Gardens.
Get your Kodak moment of “i Faraglioni”. Free time for lunch and shopping before returning to the pier by funicular to board the hydrofoil back to Sorrento.

Day 3, – Sorrento – Positano, Ravello, Amalfi [B]
9.30am Meet your driver in the lobby. Full day on the Amalfi coast, a natural Unesco Site, known worldwide for its breathtaking road on high cliffs overlooking the sea. Stop in Amalfi, visit St Andrew’s Church and the maritime Museum of Ancient Republic of Amalfi. Do not miss the chance to get the famous Amalfi paper as souvenir. Taste some “Limoncello” at one of local small factory.
Continue to the village of Ravello, famous for the music festival. Suggested visit to the wonderful gardens of Villa Cimbrone and its amazing view of the coastline. Lunch suggested in Ravello at Ristorante “Da Salvatore” (with Seaview). Return to Sorrento.

Day 4, – Sorrento to Catania/Taormina [B] 3 nights
Morning at leisure in Sorrento.
3.00pm Transfer to Naples’ Capodichino Airport for your flight to Sicily: 1 hour flight

After arrival, claim your luggage and than proceed to exit, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Orientation walking tour of Taormina’s charming city center and suggested dinner at local restaurant.

Day 5, – Taormina – Mountain Etna [B, L]
9.30am Explore the slopes of Mt. Etna with its ancient volcanic eruptions and stop for an interesting honey-tasting session in Zafferana. On the way back to Taormina, stop at famous winery for a wine tasting followed by lunch on the terrace of this incredible location, facing the Ionian sea and the region of Calabria, immersed into the chestnuts forest and surrounded by vineyards of Nerello Mascalese and Nero d’Avola grapes.
Tonight you may experience dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants of Taormina.

** Wine Tasting include winery visit in english, wine tasting of 4 wines, local appetizer with mixed cheeses, grilled meet or sausage, dessert and coffe.

Day 6, – Taormina – [B]
Free day in Taormina. Explore the Greek/Roman amphitheater, with its spectacular view of Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe.
Afternoon God Father’s Tour. Take a short trip to the the villages of Forza d’Agro’ and Savoca, where F. F. Coppola filmed his Oscar award winner.
Rest of the day at leisure for shopping and free activities.

Day 7, – Taormina – Piazza Armerina – Agrigento [B, D] – 1 night
9.00am Departure to Agrigento. On route stop to admire the roman mosaics in Piazza Armerina, visit of the Villa Romana del Casale, UNESCO site. Continue than to Agrigento. Guided visit of the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO Site.
Sicily is considered the most concentrated area of Greek temples outside Greece. After visiting the Valley of the Temples, travel to the western Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily. Check in at your hotel. Dinner at local restaurant.

Day 8, Agrigento – Marsala – Trapani [B] – 2 nights
Marsala is situated at the western most point of the island. Famous worldwide for its famous wine, a wine of meditation, or as is best classified it is a dessert wine, as Porto wine. We will visit a historic wine cellar, housed in a typical local structure called Baglio followed by a wine tasting included.
Lunch based on local products such as the prized bluefin tuna of Favignana.
We continue than along the famous salt marshes of Trapani. Visit an ancient wind mill and the Salt Museum. Tasting of local sea salt included. Check in at your Hotel.

Day 9, Trapani – San Vito Lo Capo – Lo Zingaro – Erice [B]
Day at leisure to enjoy San Vito Lo Capo white beach and the Natural reserve of “Lo Zingaro”, a must see, un unforgettable experience today. Try the local dish “Couscous di Pesce”, a derivation of traditional arab couscous while the western part of Sicily was influenced by and the poor “Pane Cunzatu”.
Move than to Erice, the medieval Umbrian village of Sicily. Short visit and time at leisure to admire the beautiful Sunset on the Edagi islands. Return to Trapani  and overnight.

Day 10, – Palermo [B, D]  – 1 night
Transfer to Palermo. This day will be dedicated to a guided tour of the capital of Sicily, Palermo. Visit of Monreale and the famous Benedictine Abbey, with its spectacular golden mosaics dated twelfth century and rap presenting the Old and New Testament.
Than we will continue to the center of Palermo with a visit to the Cathedral, the Quattro Canti, the churches of San Cataldo and La Martonara, the famous local flee-market “Mercato del Capo” ending at the Massimo Opera House, considered the 3rd largest Theatre in Europe. Afternoon at leisure for shopping and free activities. in the evening move than to the resort town of Mondello for a farewell dinner by the seashore.

Day 11, Palermo – Rome Airport [B]
7.30am Morning transfer to Palermo Airport for your return flight home.

Island of Capri
Colors of the mediterranean sea
Funicolar from the port to the famous Piazzetta
Faraglioni and Augustus Gardens
Famous Krupp Street
Boat tour
Limoncello Tasting
Hand-made sandals

Sorrento
limoncello tasting
inlaid wood handcrafts

Positano
exclusive pottery
linen cloths

Ravello / Amalfi coast
breathtaking road
St Andrew Church
Villa Cimbrione
Villa Rufolo

Naples
Pompei archeological parks
Mountain Vesuvio and coral factory

Taormina
greek and roman theatre food
fashion & shopping
Castelmola, the guardian medieval village above
Godfather II, visit of Savoca and Forza d’Agro’
Volcano of Etna
natural volcanic landscape
honey tasting
wine tasting

Agrigento
visit of the valley of the greek temples, a UNESCO site

Trapani
Marsal winery and tasting
Salt marshes

Palermo
Cosmopolitan city
noble palaces
squares and gardens
Opera Theatre Massimo
suggestive churches of San Cataldo

Cefalù
San Giovanni Eremiti
fisherman’s village

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