Gorgeous view of the Calabria, Italy coastline

Best of Southern Italy & Sicily 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

Places Visited

Rome, Tarquinia, Caserta, Naples...

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Suggested Duration

14 Days

Capture the essence of history, culture, and cuisine during your customizable, 14-day highlights tour of Southern Italy and Sicily. Indulge in the alluring splendor of heritage featured in colorful towns around the Amalfi Coast and within the elegantly-preserved architecture of Palermo. From walking the excavated streets of Pompeii to strolling beneath luxurious, Baroque adornments in Lecce, your Southern Italy and Sicily tour embraces grandeur and immerses you in unrivaled beauty.

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Revel in the thrills of a private helicopter ride over the Amalfi Coast to reach the inspiring atmospheric scenery of the island of Capri
  • Discover the authentic flavors of Sicily during a luxurious wine tour, visiting a mixture of family-owned estates along the foothills of Mt. Etna
  • Witness the magnificent collection of ancient artifacts from Roman colonies such as Pompeii in the National Archeological Museum in Naples
  • Wander through millennia of history along the Italian Peninsula during a private tour of the cave-dwellings of Matera
  • Embrace the historic charm and enchanting ambiance of the collective seaside towns of Maratea
  • Delight in the immersive, fairytale atmosphere of Alberobello, which derives from the unique Trulli homes that shape the diverse neighborhoods
  • Bask in views one of the largest ancient Greek theaters in the world during your private walking tour of Syracuse
  • Sample the delectable cuisine of Sicily when indulging in a memorable dinner at a celebrated Michelin-starred restaurant in Palermo
  • Discover gilded embellishments and displays of regal opulence in Caserta Palace that can be found both in the royal apartments and across the luscious gardens
  • Marvel at the gorgeous scenery and chic Baroque architecture of Taormina on a cliff that overlooks the sapphire waters of the Ionian Sea

Detailed Description

Whether discovering the rich history of Rome or the impressive architecture of Syracuse, indulging in the flavors of vineyards that are spread across the foothills of Mt. Etna or wandering along the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea in Otranto, your 14-day, highlights tour of Italy and Sicily will reveal the beauty of local heritage and the magnificence of the natural landscape. This exploration through Italy will provide you with an unrivaled journey that takes you from the regal Etruscan tombs of Tarquinia to the ancient Greek Theater of Syracuse. You will take your time to enjoy the majesty of Italy with private tours, luxurious excursions, and unique activities that will shape your memorable journey, spanning coastline, gorges, and an epic and ancient history.

Your highlights tour of Southern Italy and Sicily will begin with your arrival in Rome, where you will stay for one night and discover the marvels of the underground tombs of Tarquinia, finding elaborate artwork and unique burial traditions of the pre-Roman civilization. You will have four nights in a captivating hotel in Sorrento for plenty of opportunities to explore the wondrous scenery and culture around the Bay of Naples from the extravagance of the Caserta Palace to a private driver that transfers you to the various towns of the Amalfi Coast.

You will have a scenic helicopter transfer to Capri island and enjoy a tremendous private tour through the impressive history of Pompeii and Herculaneum, featuring remarkable mosaics and the preservation of daily Roman life. Two nights in the charming Pugliese town of Ostuni will take you across the peninsula toward the Adriatic Sea, delving into the rugged cave-dwellings of Matera, the Baroque architecture of Lecce, the seaside heritage of Otranto, and the fabulous fairytale images of Trulli homes in Alberobello.

Your tour will return you to the Western shores of Italy with a night in Maratea, which is a collection of resort towns that overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea and is known for its stunning views and 44 churches. Three nights in Taormina will introduce you to the pleasures of Sicily with private tours that will take you deep into traditions that date back to the Phoenicians and Magna Grecia. You will taste a range of fabulous wines that have been produced on family-owned estates at Mt. Etna in addition to finding the remains of ancient Greek architecture that accentuate the Baroque designs of Syracuse. The end of your Southern Italy and Sicily vacation will culminate in vivacious Palermo where you can indulge in the sensational flavors of a Michelin-starred restaurant and the exquisite culture of markets, Norman and Arab architecture, and elegant squares.

Consider learning more about our travelers’ favorite Italy travel activities by reading their Italy travel reviews.

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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