Ancient Roman city of Pompeii and Vesuvius in the background

Greek, Byzantine, and Christian Influences of Southern Italy Tour

Ratings of Zicasso's Service
Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Italy, Vatican City

Places Visited

Rome, Vatican City, Capri, Ravello...

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Suggested Duration

14 Days

The indelible effects of Greek, Byzantine, and Christian traditions permeate culture and customs during your customizable Italy tour. Follow the dramatic influence that shaped civilization south of Rome. Wander through the antiquated ruins of former Greek settlements in Sicily. Stroll along the unearthed roads of Pompeii to find mosaics depicting epic tales. Indulge in the beauty of Capri and the Amalfi Coast. Sip Sicilian wine on family-owned vineyards. Immerse yourself in the golden glow of...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Stroll beneath the brilliant golden glow of the Byzantine mosaics decorating the Palatine Chapel in Palermo
  • Discover the splendor of the largest preserved Doric temple in the world, located in the ruins of Segesta in Sicily
  • Wander along the Greek temples rising out of the verdant plains of Campania at Paestum before partaking in a cheese-making lesson at a local dairy farm
  • Travel the famous scenic road along the Amalfi Coast to visit the charming towns overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, leading to the Cathedral at Amalfi
  • Visit the historical and legendary churches of Rome on a private tour taking you from St. John Lateran to the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica
  • Explore the preserved marvels of Syracuse on an epic ancient tour to find wild papyrus, a magnificent theater, and an ancient cathedral
  • Indulge in the splendid tastes of Sicily with a wine tour around Sciacca, sampling the delightful flavors fortified by the surrounding terrain
  • Witness the prestigious art of the ancients while exploring the streets of Pompeii and the National Archaeological Museum in Naples
  • Traverse the rugged landscape of Mt. Etna on a guided four-wheel-drive excursion to the fuming craters overlooking the lush foothills

Detailed Description

Art, architecture, and customs of Southern Italy and Sicily highlight the deeply embedded layers of kingdoms, trade, and traditions that influenced daily life south of Rome. Your two week Southern Italy itinerary embarks on a discovery of Greek, Byzantine, and Christian cultures, from Rome to Palermo. Your adventure begins with your arrival in Rome. Your private transfer greets you at Fiumicino Airport and escorts you to the heart of the Eternal City. Embark on a fabulous walking tour of the city center, focused on the famous and fabled churches of Rome. The next day, you travel south to the island of Capri. Relax in the comforts of your luxurious hotel overlooking the cliffs of the island. Stroll through Capri Town or Anacapri at your own pace to find the historical churches and private vistas of the treasured island.

The following day, your guide greets you in the hotel lobby, eager to introduce you to the history of Capri, leading from the villas of Roman emperors to the Carthusian monastery of St. James. You transfer by ferry to the Amalfi Coast for the remainder of the day at leisure at your gorgeous hotel in Ravello. Then, your private driver takes you along the Amalfi Coast at your leisure to indulge in the splendor of the Mediterranean seaside. Visit the town of Positano to discover remnants of Byzantine design. Venture outside of the Amalfi Coast to explore the Doric temples of Paestum. Continue to a dairy farm outside of the ancient Greek ruins for an in-depth class on how to make the celebrated buffalo mozzarella.

Afterward, your private transfer leads you across the Bay of Naples, stopping at Mt. Vesuvius to reach the top of the famous crater. You continue to the legendary city of Pompeii to walk along the preserved archaeological park. Upon reaching Naples, you have a private guided tour of the National Archaeological Museum to find a mixture of Roman and Greek artwork filling the galleries. Next, you fly to Palermo, Sicily to enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. Spend time visiting the outdoor markets or dip into warm Mediterranean waters at Mondello Beach. You have a guided tour of the historical city, delving deeper into the Norman, Arab, and Christian architecture decorating the city.

You continue to the small town of Monreale to explore the fascinating cathedral before returning to your hotel in Palermo. You visit the Greek ruins in Segesta to find the largest Doric temple in Italy. Explore the Medieval town of Erice before settling in the luxuries of your seaside resort in Sciacca. You can relax on a half-day wine tour learning about the ways the locals produce the celebrated varietals before relishing the remainder of the day at leisure. Embark on an immersive tour of a Greek settlement in the Valley of the Temples at Agrigento. Find preserved structures and fallen statues before reaching the serene cliff-top town of Taormina.

Your guide leads you on a fascinating tour of the baroque and medieval charms culminating at the Greek Theater, which offers a view of Mt. Etna. Visit the ancient city of Syracuse. Sit in the largest Greek theater ever discovered and stroll the ancient lanes of a city preserved alongside the Mediterranean Sea. Venture to the foothills and craters of Mt. Etna with a guided tour. Witness the lush orchards and greenery at the mountain base before wandering through the lunar landscape of the upper crater. Once in Catania, you have a private tour of the ancient baroque city rebuilt after a 17th-century earthquake. Your private transfer greets you at the hotel on the final day. You make your way out of the city to reach Catania-Fontanarossa Airport for your flight home.

Starting Price

$6,300 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.9 stars based on 5952 reviews.

Italy Tour Review: Wine Tour, Cooking Classes, Local Cuisine,...

Zicasso’s travel company was wonderful in planning our trip on short notice and in line with our requests and preferences. Their suggestions of what to do and where to stay were perfect. And when we accidentally got off on the wrong island, the travel company quickly got us new ferry tickets to get to the right place. It was all seamless.

Reviewed By Sherry G.

Italy Honeymoon Review: Rome, Sorrento, Cooking Class, Private...

This trip was the greatest week of our lives! Everything planned was better than I could have imagined. The private drivers being coordinated behind the scenes made the trip so easy and removed all the stress of trying to navigate a new country. Every driver and our tour guide was so nice and I feel like we made friends with all of them.

My favorite part of the trip was definitely the cooking classes and that every tour was private and intimate for my wife and I. The connections Zicasso’s travel agent hooked us up with made the trip the most memorable experience. Our travel agent and the travel company took special care of all the tiny details of the trip; our hotel knew it was my birthday and had a special surprise for me! I’m beyond thankful for the perfect honeymoon they provided my wife and I.

Reviewed By Branson S.

Italy Trip Review: Sorrento, Cooking Class, Local Cuisine,...

The accommodations and private tours were worth the extra money. Our drivers were professional and helpful.

Reviewed By Claudia R.

Italy, Greece Travel Review: Como, Bellagio, Wine Tour,...

The overall trip was great. The weather was terrific and the countries we visited had so much to see. Zicasso's tour company did a good job of balancing relaxation with fun. Each of the guides we had was so pleasant and shared so much information with us. They were very attentive to our needs.

Reviewed By Nisha V.

Italy Vacation Review: Florence, Rome, Truffle Hunt, Cooking...

Wow, where to begin. This trip was an absolute dream.

When I first spoke to Zicasso’s travel consultant, I told her my main travel concern: traveling with nine- and 15-year-old boys as a single mom in Italy. I was excited to take the trip with them, but I really needed something that was meticulously planned to take away the nerves of having to navigate alone with two kids. She listened and executed the most beautiful trip.

She planned activities that captured the attention and imagination of a fourth grader and a teenager. And the experiences were unique. Probably the highlight of the trip was a truffle hunt with the hunter and his dog in the countryside outside of Florence. My oldest wants to move to Florence and start hunting! We had a personalized cooking class, a private Vespa tour of Rome, and a delicious and informative art and food tour, among other amazing experiences. As we were sending photos back home, I got so many requests for our itinerary because it was so special and unique. Both boys were hard-pressed to choose which part they liked best.

The hotels she selected were beautiful, comfortable, and right in the heart of the cities and attractions we wanted to see. When we encountered a small hiccup (by our hotel, not our travel agent), I contacted her and she responded right away, getting us a free room upgrade and free dinner! We felt very taken care of.

Aside from the amazing activities and locations we saw, the trip was fantastic because everything was so seamless. We always had a private driver arranged, pre-booked train tickets, and even someone to make sure we made it on time for our flight home. I never had to worry about a thing. It was also telling that every tour guide we interacted with had only glowing things to say about our travel agent and her keen attention to detail and organization.

If you're planning on visiting Italy, this travel company is the travel agency you need to select. It takes any of the stress and guesswork out of the travel process, and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.

Thank you so much! You helped us make some amazing memories!

Stephanie

Reviewed By Stephanie S.

Italy 25th Anniversary Travel Review: Positano, Sorrento,...

This was possibly the best vacation we have ever taken. A fitting trip to mark our 25th anniversary, we will remember our days in Positano and Sorrento forever. Everything was perfect and the service and support were extraordinary.

Zicasso's travel specialist and the other people were always super-helpful and friendly. The hotels they chose for us in particular were exactly what we wanted. I can’t think of a single issue. Transport, transfers, etc., were perfect. The only bad part was that we had to return to normal life afterwards! We highly recommend our travel company to anyone! Grazie mille!

Reviewed By Mauro A.

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