Abercrombie & Kent
OFFER ID 1507529
Sicily, Puglia & the Amalfi Coast
Experience the glories of Southern Italy on a panoramic journey revealing authentic cuisine and culture as well as the slow pace of rural life. Discover Sicily’s ancient ruins, exotic landscapes and the rocky shores of breathtaking Capri.
10 nights from $8,795 per person
Abercrombie & Kent: Sicily, Puglia & the Amalfi Coast
DAY 1 Palermo, Italy
Arrive in Palermo, Sicily’s lively capital, and transfer to your hotel located in the city’s historic center. Sicily has a long history of stubborn independence from the political forces of mainland Italy, and today remains an autonomous region with its own distinct history and culture. Join your Resident Tour Director tonight for a welcome dinner.
Join a local guide for a walk through a ninth-century Norman Royal Palace with its glittering, mosaic-laden chapel. Still in use today as the headquarters of Sicily’s Parliament, the palace is the oldest royal residence in all of Europe. Then, journey to the hillside town of Monreale and enter its extravagant cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from 1170, it is perhaps the finest surviving example of Norman architecture anywhere in the world, and its mosaic-lined walls are breathtaking to behold. Return to Palermo with the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore more of this unique port city. Later, enjoy an A&K-exclusive visit to the beautiful Palazzo Francavilla for a private tour and an apéritif with the owner.
Today, travel across Sicily’s rugged, mountainous countryside to the southern coast. Stop in the small village of Corleone, birthplace of several Mafia bosses (including fictional characters in The Godfather). The Mafia — or, as its members call it, Cosa Nostra (literally, “our thing”) — has vexed Sicily for well over a century, thriving in this land so famously resistant to official authority. Learn more about this troubled aspect of Sicilian history from a local expert. Proceeding to coastal Agrigento, discover the ancient Valley of the Temples, which includes the Temple of Concord, a superb example of classical sacred architecture. Explore the ruins before checking in to your hotel in nearby Favara.
Journey east to Piazza Armerina, a graceful countryside town, where you visit the incomparable Villa Romana del Casale. A prime example of a luxurious Roman villa, this UNESCO World Heritage Site houses breathtaking mosaics originally laid in the fourth century. Continue to the east coast of Sicily and up to the 6,000-foot-plus heights of smoldering Mount Etna, taking in panoramic views of the landscape and coast. Later, arrive in charming Taormina, which has allured visitors since the 19th century with its sweeping beaches and rolling hillsides.
Begin your day with a private cooking class in a villa overlooking the sea, enjoying what you’ve created for lunch, for a lively Chef’s Table experience. Afterward, join a local expert introduces you to the town’s spectacular Greek amphitheater, set high above the sea. Still in use as an arts venue today, its permanent “show” is its extraordinary view of Mount Etna, rising in the far distance beyond the stage. Later, relax or catch up on shopping with time at leisure.
Rise early for the journey to Messina, where you board a ferry to cross the strait separating Sicily from the “toe” of the Italian mainland. Disembark in Villa San Giovanni in Calabria, and drive into Basilicata and to Matera, the ancient Citt Sotterranea (Underground City) carved right into the Apennine Mountains. Thought to be one of the oldest cities in the world, Matera is a jumble of stone dwellings built alongside (and, in some cases, on top of) each other, linked by narrow, jagged lanes. Settle in to your hotel in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Journey into Puglia to nearby Locorotondo, one of Italy’s most beautiful towns, for a walking tour. Meet an olive oil producer for a private tasting, followed by a lunch featuring local products. Later, visit Alberobello and its rows of fantastic trulli houses, conical limestone dwellings unique to this province of Bari.
This morning, depart for the sparkling Amalfi Coast area. Stop en route in Paestum, an ancient Greek city known for its well-preserved temples; see them after a tour and lunch at a nearby mozzarella-making farm. Arrive in Naples and check in to your hotel by the harbor. This evening, enjoy an iconic Neapolitan specialty at a traditional pizzeria.
Enjoy a morning tour of Herculaneum, an ancient Roman settlement that was destroyed by the spectacular lava flows of nearby Vesuvius in AD 79. Drive the stunning Amalfi Coast to the cliffside village of Positano, where you have time for exploration and lunch at leisure before returning to Naples.
Cruise by ferry across the deep blue Gulf of Naples to the sun-kissed island of Capri. Visit Anacapri and charming Capri town, where cool cafés, designer boutiques and grand villas have lured everyone from emperors to celebrities. Tonight, cap off your journey with a special farewell dinner.
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Naples: Food Tour of Naples - 4 hours
Along with your expert guide, head into the heart of the historic centre of Naples and explore one of Naples’ best food markets. Your guide will lead you through the market stalls and shops, where you can sample some of the delicious local specialties. Continue along the alleys of the historic city centre to discover the most picturesque corners of Naples. Sites include the Greek ruins of Bellini square, the street of music (San Biagio dei Librai), San Gregorio Armeno street (famous for shops selling nativity scenes), Decumani and old churches decorated in Rococo style.
Stop for a wine tasting in one of the most famous wine shops in the city before the highlight of your tour: lunch in one of the world’s oldest pizzerias! Naples is the birthplace of the pizza. The Naples pizza margherita features a soft yet satisfyingly chewy base, all puffed up and charred at the edges, the merest smear of tomato sauce, the odd dot of mozzarella and a few basil leaves. Not to be missed is the pizza fritta - the original pizza and unique to Naples - a deep fried pizza filled with ricotta cheese. Heaven on a plate!
Highlights:
Naples: The City of Naples - 8 hours
Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe, covering 4,200 acres and enclosing 27 centuries of history. One of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world with Bronze Age Greek settlements dating back to the second millennium BC, the area was re-founded as Neápolis (‘new city’) in the sixth century BC, becoming a lynchpin of Magna Graecia and playing a key role in the merging of Greek culture into Roman society.
Explore Naples today with your expert guide. Highlights include the Spaccanapoli district, the magnificent Duomo cathedral, the Cappella Sansevero with its virtuosic sculptural masterpiece the Cristo Velato, as well as lesser-known gems such as the San Giovanni a Carbonara. Today’s tour encompasses artistic-historic treasures and plenty of local colour. Along the way, enjoy a bite of Naples’ famous street food ‘frittura’, a sinfully delicious mix of deep fried aubergines (eggplant), zucchini, mozzarella, arancini (rice croquettes), cauliflower, or potato croquettes.
Continue your sightseeing tour in the historic centre of Naples. Visit the Castel Nuovo, the imposing medieval structure built by the Angevins to defend the city. You may also wish to visit the adjoining Palazzo Reale (The Royal Palace Museum and Royal apartments), built in the 17th century. The magnificently decorated halls and rooms contain the original Bourbon furnishings, paintings, statues and porcelain. Enjoy a panoramic drive to reach the magnificent Carthusian Monastery, the Certosa di San Martino situated on Vomero Hill, where you may visit the luxuriously decorated Baroque Style church.
Highlights:
Naples: Historic Pompeii & Vesuvius - 9 hours
Travel outside Naples today for an excursion to Pompeii. Upon arrival at Pompeii, enjoy a walking tour of this once opulent town. The extensive and varied ruins of Pompeii now provide us with a rich history of life at the time of the Roman Empire. Destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 BC, this dugout treasure represents an amazing day trip for children and adults alike. On view are temples, forums, amphitheatres, a brothel and the casts of those killed by the falling ash and pumice stone.
Mount Vesuvius – 1281 meters high – was brought into volcanological history after the eruption of 79 BC, when it destroyed the towns and thousands of residents of Pompeii, Stabiae, and Herculaneum. Climb till the summit of the ‘mount’ this afternoon with your guide and admire the splendid views across the Bay of Naples. Lose yourself admiring its slopes, once covered with vineyards and woods that nowadays provide a spectacular backdrop for the bustling town below.
Highlights:
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.