Immersive Southern Italy and Sicily Tour: Food, Culture, and History

What to expect on this itinerary
During this immersive 8-day vacation, you will discover the rich history, lively culture, and delicious cuisine of the area. Picturesque towns and stunning landscapes can be found throughout southern Italy and Sicily. Exclusive tours and private tastings will be enjoyed at every destination as you indulge in la dolce vita during this unforgettable vacation.
Customizable Itinerary
Rome – The Legendary Colosseum
Your 8-day trip will begin when you land at Fiumicino Airport in Rome. Upon your arrival, a driver will greet and transfer you to your accommodation, where you will have time to settle in and relax. When you are ready, your guide will lead you on an intriguing tour of the Colosseum. The ancient Colosseum is perhaps one of the most admired landmarks of Italy. The age-old amphitheater dates back to the first century, and you may find yourself imagining being a spectator at one of the epic battles of the gladiators. After your tour of the Colosseum concludes, you can explore more of the city at your own pace.
What's Included:
Naples – Pizza-Making Course
Salerno – Explore the Ruins of Pompeii
Palermo – Ferry Ride to Sicily
Palermo – Private Food Tour
Palermo – Historical City Tour
Agrigento – The Valley of the Temples
Agrigento – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Discover the famous Colosseum, which will allow you to travel back in time to ancient Rome and bring the gladiator battles to life
- Visit Montecassino Abbey, where you will learn about its intriguing history and marvel at its many preserved details
- Indulge in the world-renowned pizza of Naples during a pizza-making class at an authentic pizzeria
- Explore the city of Pompeii during an engaging walking tour around the remains
- Immerse yourself in the cuisine of Sicily as you discover the delicious flavors of Palermo
- Uncover the historic highlights of Palermo, including the stunning Palermo Cathedral and Palace of the Normans
- Journey around the ruins of the Valley of the Temples as you stroll through the history of Agrigento
Detailed Description
An exploration of the food, culture, and history of Southern Italy and Sicily is an immersive experience. Your 8-day journey will begin when you land at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport. Your introduction to the city will come when you embark on a private tour of the legendary Colosseum. The next morning, you will transfer to Naples. Along the way, you will stop in Cassino for a guided tour of the Montecassino Abbey, which dates back to the first century. An evening pizza-making class in Naples, which is the birthplace of pizza, will be a memorable and tasty way to explore the cuisine of the city.
The next morning, you will transfer to the coastal city of Salerno. The ancient city of Pompeii will be a great place to stop and explore to break up the journey. The endless excavations and preserved pieces of history will be awe-inspiring, and you will feel as though you have been transported back in time. The next day, you will ride the ferry to the island of Sicily. The ferry will have wonderful accommodations, and you will enjoy dinner onboard before arriving in the capital city of Palermo later that evening.
The following day, you will discover the city’s cuisine during a private food tour. As you stop at various culinary destinations with your guide, you will learn about traditional Sicilian dishes and sample multiple specialties. A discovery of the fascinating history of Palermo will be in store the following day, and you will tour the city’s historic highlights, including the Palermo Cathedral and Palace of the Normans. The next morning you will transfer to your final destination of Agrigento. Upon your arrival, you embark on a private tour of the Valley of the Temples, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After one last night, a private transfer will lead you to Palermo Airport the next morning for the flight home.
Starting Price
$3,600 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
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 5931 reviews
Thank you, Zicasso's travel designer, for planning our honeymoon. We just had the best and most romantic time. The hotels were beautiful and our tour guides were lovely. We also greatly appreciated your dinner recommendations.
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Zicasso's tour operator elevated this trip far beyond what we could have managed ourselves. It was a five-star, worry-free experience, and every single day felt tailored to us. If you’re looking for true white-glove service for a European getaway, look no further than the tour operator. They’re not just travel planners, they’re travel artists.
We’re already looking forward to booking our next adventure with them!
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This was a fantastic travel company and I cannot recommend them highly enough! The events/tours they planned were a great fit, and they were very responsive and helpful during the trip. Definitely go with this Zicasso company!
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We enjoyed our trip to Italy. All the small details were handled very well by Zicasso's travel company, from limo pick-ups to our train tickets being texted to us!
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We did a lot of research on tour groups and travel companies, and are so pleased we chose Zicasso and their specialized Italy team. They organized every detail of transportation, first-class hotels, and cut-the-line attraction visits with extremely knowledgeable local guides.
We ran into some minor interruptions due to protests and our team quickly navigated around them with their in-country specialists. We felt we saw the best of each location, with additional free time to explore other local things like food, shopping, etc. These folks know their stuff and we will look to use them in the future.
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I want to take a moment to express my sincere thanks to Zicasso's travel company and each and every tour guide they provided. I had the most amazing time of my life. My group received the best care and attention to detail; we never had to worry or wonder what to do or how we would get there. I cannot express my gratitude to all. There is no other way to travel. This tour was worth every penny I spent. Thanks to our guides and drivers for their knowledge and enthusiasm, and to all those who made this a remarkable journey. I'll never forget this trip as long as I live.
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