Because of its natural beauty, history, monuments, food and people, the Italian peninsula can be considered as a huge out-door museum. Tourists would love to see all that, but it is impossible to do it in two weeks. Therefore, I have organized and conducted many tours that take people to see and enjoy Bella Italia from Rome to Sicily. The program here below describes what an escorted tour to South Italy is about.
Palermo. Fly from USA to Rome. Next morning take a flight to Palermo. Enjoy your first Sicilian dinner in a fantastic hotel by the sea. Next day you have an escorted walking tour of the city where you see all of its historic sites. Lunch in a typical Sicilian restaurant by the sea.
Cefalu. Free day relaxing in the picturesque medieval town of Cefalu; shop, eat and go to the beach.
Country town, family roots. Today we go to some remote town on the mountain where some people in the group have family roots. In a country restaurant you will see and help cooking the delicious food you will eat for lunch. Visit a winery and a farm with animals. Then you are free to walk in town, talk to local people, stop in some bar/coffee.
Segesta and Erice. Segesta was founded by the Greeks 3000 years ago. Wars and earthquakes destroyed it, but it majestic temple has remained intact. You will see it. Next, climb more than 2000 feet and enter Erice, a medieval town that has remained unchanged for at least a 1000 years. Breathtaking panoramic views. Free time to visit, lunch and shop.
Unlucky Selinunte. This morning you visit the famous ruins of Selinunte, a Greek city that went overnight from being a prosperous city to apile of ruins, because 2400 years ago the Carthaginians from north Africa invaded with an army of 100.000, massacred 20.000 people in Selinunte, took the others prisoners and destroyed the city. Today the place is a real Mecca for lovers of archaeology. After that we stop in a country winery and join Bacchus, the god of wine!
Agrigento. 3000 years ago the Greeks built the large city of Agrakas. Time, wars and fires and the city disappeared, but most temples, ruins and burial sites are still there. Today farmers grow wheat, olive and almond trees where was Agrakas. A local guide will walk you through the “Valley of the Temples” and explain everything. Next, the country restaurant Villa Kephos is waiting for you!
Taormina. Taormina is the most visited tourist place in Sicily. You will have most of the day free to stroll, shop and eat in some cozy restaurant. You will love Taormina! From there you have an excellent view of mighty, ever smoking Mt. Etna.
Calabria. Cross the Strait of Messina on a huge ferry boat and enter the region of Calabria. Drive through mountains and by Lameziastop in a country restaurant where they give a cooking lesson about what you are going to eat. Eventually we stay two days in Calabriaso people can visit the town of their family roots.
Amalfi or Capri. Both places are “a piece of heaven on earth”. Impossible to see both, so the majority of people will decide where to go.
Pompeii. You have certainly heard about Pompeii, the city that was buried under the volcanic ashes. Only recently it has been excavated. A local guide will walk you through it. What an impressive sight!
Rome. The Eternal City and cradle of the western civilization. See its major highlights: Colosseum, Caesar’s Palace, Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus, Forum Romanum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Navona Square, Castle San Angelo, Basilica of St. Paul, St. Peter’s Basilica and Museum in Vatican City, have some free time and a fabulous lunch in a typical Roman restaurant.
The detailed program, dates and cost of this tour can only be established when we know that it will be completely safe to travel to Italy. So, please keep in touch.
