This luxurious 14-day Southern Italy tour has you traveling through revered regions and back-country villages to uncover tales of ancient cultures and modern delicacies. Luxuriate on the beaches in Sicily after sipping homemade wines, marvel at spectacular views from a Norman Castle, admire art and architecture in magnificent cathedrals, witness active volcanoes, and learn how to make cannoli during your majestic experience of Southern Italy.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Taormina – Attend a Performance at the Greek Theater
The transparent waters of the Ionian Sea will welcome you as your plane touches down at Catania Fontanarossa Airport. Your private driver will be waiting for you and will promptly usher you to your luxurious accommodation, which will be located in the heart of Taormina. You will meet your guide at your hotel after you check-in to explore the fascinating town by foot. In the evening, you will travel back in time by visiting Teatro Greco, which is the Greek Theater. Here, you can walk in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks and learn about the history of their settlement in Sicily.
What's Included:
Day 2
Taormina – Indulge in a Food and Wine Tour
Day 3
Taormina – Hike along Dried Lava Beds
Day 4
Cefalu – Admire Byzantine Mosaics and Castle Ruins
Day 5
Cefalu – Delight in a Wine and Cheese Tasting
Day 6
Cefalu – Watch a Volcanic Eruption on Stromboli
Day 7
Ostuni – Soar through the Skies on a Private Jet
Day 8
Ostuni – Partake in the Art of Crafting Olive Oil
Day 9
Ostuni – Wander through a Maze of Trulli
Day 10
Positano – Tour the Ancient Civilizations in Matera
Day 11
Positano – Sip Homemade Limoncello
Day 12
Positano – Splash in the Blue Grotto
Day 13
Naples – Venture through the Ruins of Pompeii
Day 14
Naples – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Stroll through town and learn about the history of Taormina, which will be followed by an open-air performance at a Greek Theater that was built in the 3rd Century BC
- Explore phenomenal scenery from the remote village of Castelmola while enjoying a uniquely flavorful almond wine
- Indulge in a thrilling hike to the summit of Mt. Etna for a Sicilian picnic that will be complete with spectacular views
- Admire Byzantine mosaics and ancient Norman architecture as you immerse yourself in the dynamic history of Cefalu
- Learn the art of producing traditional Madonie Provola cheese, which will be followed with a local Sommelier who pairs these cheeses with Sicilian wines
- Island-hop through the remote Aeolian Islands to enjoy a wine tasting in Salina and to watch Stromboli’s volcano erupt against the dark night sky
- Craft your own cannoli in Palermo before jetting off to the sun-soaked Puglia Region in a private jet
- Wander through the whimsical town of Alberobello as you curiously admire the unique design of a trullo
- Uncover centuries worth of history and culture as you venture through the pre-historic streets of Matera
- Appreciate the fine art of production of homemade Limoncello as you sip the sweet and tangy delicacy in the shade of a family-owned lemon grove
- Cruise to the luxurious island of Capri in a privately chartered boat and explore the hilltop village of Anacapri
- Meander through the wide streets of Pompeii to learn about ancient culture and life in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius
Starting Price
$6,300 per person (excluding international flights)
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 5942 reviews.
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.
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.
The accommodations and private tours were worth the extra money. Our drivers were professional and helpful.
Reviewed By Claudia R.
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.
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.
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.