September 14-28, 2020
15 days
Day 1. September 14, Mon. Departure
Fly from your airport to a major eastern airport and from there to
Rome, Italy. Dinner is served aboard.
Day 2. September 15. Tue. Land in Rome and transfer to Palermo
Welcome to Rome, Italy! First impression: Italian is spoken here!
Waiting for your connecting flight to Palermo, begin to taste the
Italian espresso coffee/cappuccino. After landing in Palermo a
private bus will take you to your deluxe resort hotel by the beach.
You are very tired, so take a rest and make sure you wake up on
time for your first delicious Sicilian buffet-dinner. At your Fiesta
Hotel every night is a “fiesta” of food, dancing and fun.
Buona Notte (Good Night).
__________________________________________________
Day 3. September 16. Wed.
Highlights of Palermo Palermo is a city of about a million people and the capital of Sicily. It is rich in history and culture. During the past 3000 years
many nations conquered and ruled it: the Phoenicians,
Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Germans,
Spaniards and French. Their cultural influence is still visible in
the highlights of the city and you will see most of them. Have
lunch in the resort area of Mondello by the sea. Enjoy another
evening of food, dancing and fun at your same hotel.
__________________________________________________
Day 4. September 17. Thu. Agrigento: Valley of Temples
This morning you travel through central Sicily and in less than
two hours you arrive to Agrigento where you visit the famous
“Greek Temples”. The Greeks settled in Sicily 3000 years ago and
built many temples in Akragas (today’s Agrigento). Time, wars,
earthquakes, fires and the old city came to an end. Today
farmers grow wheat, olive and almond trees on its ruins.
However, most temples, ruins and burial sites are still there and
attract a large number of tourists. You will see and touch those
ruins. A local guide will walk you through them and explain
everything. Next, the country restaurant Villa Kephos is waiting
for you; you will eat antipasto, three Kinds of Sicilian Pizza and
all wine you want. Often they have also a folkloric group of
singers and musicians to make you sing and dance. After
traveling through more of central Sicily you arrive to your next
hotel in Taormina.
__________________________________________________
Day 5. September 18. Fri. Taormina
Taormina is the most visited tourist place in Sicily. It is located above the Ionian Sea with the smoking Mt. Etna on the back-ground. You will have most of the day free to stroll, shop and eat in some cozy restaurant. You will love Taormina!
In the late afternoon you return to your hotel and spend time
on the beach and/or in your swimming pool. Same hotel.
Day 6. September 19. Sat. Calabria: visit Tropea.
Leave Sicily and cross the Straight of Messina on a huge
ferry boat. Now you are in the Italian mainland, Calabria
region. Travel through mountains, high bridges and
quaint villages perched on top of hills. Stop in Tropea, a
major tourist attraction with a spectacular view of the beach.
Walk through its historic medieval center, shop for souvenirs
and taste the local specialties in some rustic restaurant.
__________________________________________________
Day 7. September 20. Sun. Immersion in the Calabrian life.
Because in the group we will have a few “Calabresi”, this day
we stay in Calabria so they will have the opportunity of going
“home” and look for their “lost relatives”. It will be an
emotional day! For that purpose we go to a few remote small
country towns perched on hills. The rest of people in the group
will love that. Visiting those remote towns, talking to local
people, eating their food and drinking their home-made wine
means to discover the real Italian life. Late afternoon travel
to the Basilicata region and stay in a hotel where you are treated
like royalty.
__________________________________________________
Day 8. September 21. Mon. Matera.
In the city of Matera you will visit the historical center called
“Sassi” (Rocks). Those are prehistoric cave-dwellings dug into
the rocks thousands of years ago. Until recently hose caves
were inhabited by a large number of impoverished people. Today they are a super tourist attraction. The famous movie “The Passion” was made there. After lunch, you travel through the wide plain of Puglia, completely covered with vineyards and olive trees. Visit a winery and then check into your hotel.
__________________________________________________
Day 9. September 22. Tue. Puglia: Alberobello
Today you spend some free time in the famous town of
Alberobello, famous for its funny houses, called “Trulli”.
Those are fascinating traditional whitewashed dwellings
with their roofs covered with flat stones. Then, you go to a
country restaurant, where the Chef will show you how to cook
the “Pugliese” specialties you will eat for lunch. Mamma Mia,
what an experience! Same hotel.
__________________________________________________
Day 10. September 23. Wed. Puglia
This morning first you visit the town of Polignano a Mare,
renowned for its spectacular view of the sea coast and its
old, historic center. Then you stop in Bari to visit the shrine of
San Nicola, who later gave origin to the traditional “Santa
Claus”. After lunch you bypass the city of Foggia and then
enter the region of Abruzzo, so dear to many Italian-Americans.
Day 11. September 24. Thu. Abruzzo
In Ortona you will see the tomb of the Apostle St. Thomas
and then in the “War Museum” you will relive history through
the relics of the cruel battle of Ortona during World War II.
Now let’s go for an exquisite picnic in the country: plenty of
sandwiches with salami, prosciutto, cheese, olives and, most
of all, plenty of local wine. A nice hotel by the beach is waiting
for you. Same hotel.
__________________________________________________
Day 12. September 25. Fri. Abruzzo
Today we might go to a couple of remote towns where people
in the group have family roots. Have lunch in there and then
visit some interesting sights. In alternative, we will go to a street
market, visit the city of Sulmona and its “confetti” factory. In
the evening we will have dinner in a country restaurant with the
most exquisite food (including pasta e faggioli!), gallons of wine
and music by a local accordion player. Same hotel.
__________________________________________________
Day 13. September 26. Sat. Rome: highlights
The best way to discover Rome is to see it during a slow walking
tour. We begin by visiting the famous “Spanish Steps” and “Via
Condotti”, where the rich and famous people go to shop. Next,
you see the celebrated “Trevi Fountain” where you toss your
coins. The 2000 year old and best preserved Roman Temple,
The Pantheon, is a breathtaking wonder of the glory that was
Rome. Navona Square is the most beautiful and most romantic
square in the city. There you will have a “square lunch”. The
Coliseum, Forum Romanum, Caesar’s Palace, Circus Maximus, etc.
are waiting for you. Discovering Rome’s numerous shops and
sidewalk cafes, observing the locals going on their daily activities:
what a unique and pleasant experience!
Day 14. September 27. Sun. Vatican City
One cannot be in Rome and not see Vatican City! This morning you see St. Peter’s Basilica, its Catacombs, the Swiss Guards and shop for religious souvenirs. It is Sunday and that means at noon the Pope will address a huge crowd of people in St. Peter’s
Square. Let’s go! Same hotel.
Day 15. September 28. Mon. Return flight.
A drive to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport reminds you that your
fantastic tour is over! Mamma Mia, I don’t want to go back!
Arrivederci Roma! Ciao, Bella Italia! I shall return!
_____________________________________________
The specialty of this tour is that during your stay in Italy you
will discover and enjoy the real Italian life away from the large
cities crowded with foreign tourists. You will spend relaxing
days and enjoy real Italian food, you will have the opportunity
of visiting the town of your family roots, discover many lovely
sites and have a lot of fun.
_____________________________________________
Dates of the tour: September 14-28, 2020. (15 days)
Cost of the tour: $4250 per person
Tour cost includes: round trip air tickets from Columbus, Oh,
to and from Italy, air ticket from Rome to Palermo, all land
transportation in Italy by deluxe bus, all first class hotels in
double occupancy, all breakfasts and all dinners, drink and wine in most hotels, tour escort at all times, local guide in Agrigento, taxes and tips. Tour cost does not include: lunches, entrance to the Valley of Temples, Sassi and eventual Vatican Museum (a total of
about $40?). Why not included? Because often some people
don’t care to see those places; therefore pay only if you go.
If you don’t depart from Columbus, Oh., your air cost might be more or even less.
Seats for this tour are limited to 25: first come first served!
Seats for this tour are limited first come first served!
For further information and to sign up for this tour contact:
The Italian Heritage Tours
Phone: 1-614-833-5716. 1-800-829-2201
E-mail: italiantours@aol.com https://italianheritagetours.comcontact-italian-heritage-tours/