Cultural & Gastronomy Tour of Southern Italy in 14-Days

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.

After breakfast, you will meet your guide and travel to a remote village that is perched directly above Taormina. Approximately three miles away, you can choose to hike the rugged landscape or to relax in a chauffeured vehicle. Regardless of your choice, Castelmola promises to reward you with some of the most spectacular views in Sicily. In order to fully enjoy the culture of a city, one must immerse themselves in the cherished cuisine. Sicilian life revolves around their delicious food with recipes that have been handed down through the generations. You will explore such recipes as you amble through the streets of Taormina in the evening, meeting with local chefs, who are actually more of artisans than they are chefs.

Today, you will meet your expert guide after a filling breakfast for a drive to the base of Mt. Etna. There are a plethora of trails in which to climb to the summit, and your guide will work with you to choose the best one based on your fitness levels and the desired amount of exercise that you wish to achieve. Combined with this thrilling experience will be a Sicilian lunch that will be spread out for you in like a picnic. The fertile lava soil has the unique ability to produce some of the finest and rarest foods, including wine and honey, which locals consider to be the gold of Etna. You can rest your weary feet on the blanket, sip a glass of local wine, and admire the amazing views.

After an exciting three days in Taormina, you will venture to Sicily’s northern coastline in a private, air-conditioned coach following breakfast. Your personal driver will escort you directly to your luxury accommodation, which will be within walking distance of all the iconic sites in Cefalu. Your expert guide will help you to immerse yourself in the Sicilian culture by explaining its rich past that you will witness first-hand. Afterward, you will climb up the rocky bluff of La Rocca, and you will continue to see history and culture unfold as you pass the site of an ancient Arab citadel and the ruins of a Norman castle. Exuberantly sparkling seas will then congratulate you as you reach the summit of your climb, where you will be rewarded with spectacular views.

Today, you will tour Castelbuono and its renowned castle. Afterward, you will continue your tour by discovering the rich treasure of Madonie Provola cheese. Your guide will lead you to local shops, where you will learn the exquisite art of making this cherished, Sicilian staple. A Sommelier will join your group to perfectly pair the delicious fare with local Sicilian wines. You can clink your glasses and sample the cheeses that are spread out before you as you breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Today, a chartered boat will pull up to the dock in Cefalu and usher you through the Tyrrhenian Sea toward this UNESCO World Heritage Site. These islands, which host an array of different landscapes that are full of natural grottoes, intriguing archeological sites, serene beaches, and mesmerizing views, are imbued with history and mythology. A private guide will be waiting for you at the dock to lead you around the island. You will then continue your island-hopping tour in Stromboli. Stromboli, an island that is bursting with raw and wild beauty, is best known for its active volcano, which typically puts on a spectacular display of eruptions every 30 minutes.

On your final day in Sicily, your chauffeur will greet you at your hotel in Cefalu to usher you along the gorgeous Sicilian coastline to the bustling center of Palermo. Once you arrive, a local guide will lead you through the streets and the markets. After you tour through Palermo, you will attend a cannoli-making class, where a renowned chef will teach you how to prepare the classic, Sicilian delicacy. Culminating your full day in Palermo, your driver will meet you in town and lead you to the airport, where a private jet will be waiting to fly you to Italy’s eastern coast. Your short flight will conclude as you land in Bari, which is a coastal city in Italy’s Puglia Region.

Shortly after you finish your hot breakfast that will be accompanied by a frothy cappuccino, your private driver will meet you at your hotel to transfer you to the city of Ostuni. This region, located on the heel of Italy’s boot, is revered throughout the world for producing some of the finest olive oils. On the outskirts of Ostuni, your driver will arrive at a small vineyard, where you will witness rows upon rows of windswept olive trees. A traditional lunch of delicious orecchiette pasta will be served to you as you sample some of the various oils.

Today, you will travel through the glorious Valle d’Itria with your private driver, passing dense almond groves and a multitude of unique towns that pepper the glorious landscape. The famed UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello is one of these towns, which is where dome-shaped trullo line the twisting streets that lead through a charming village. Your private guide will lead you through the streets and into flower-filled squares, explaining the details of how these unique buildings were constructed and the reasons why. Once you return to Ostuni in the late afternoon, you will partake in a private cooking class, where you will learn the art of crafting Puglia’s specialized cuisine.

Today, you will travel in style and comfort as you cross the southern boot of Italy, voyaging from the east coast to the west. You will venture through the very origins of ancient Italian culture as your driver stops the car in the intriguing town of Matera. Your private guide will lead you on an in-depth tour that leads you inside some prehistoric cave dwellings, a few of which were inhabited until the mid-20th century. You can climb the vertical footpaths that lead past beautifully frescoed churches, which are known as the chiese rupestri and were built between the 8th-13th centuries. Upon arriving at your luxurious accommodation in central Positano, you can watch the sun dip toward the horizon as the distant clouds turn various shades of pink and purple.

This morning, a leisurely walk through town will showcase sherbet-hued villas that are stacked vertically on each other and the purple bougainvillea that spills over from large terraces. In the afternoon, your driver will usher you to a lemon grove in the small town, where you can enjoy the privilege of tasting genuine Amalfi products, such as lemon honey, Limoncello liqueur and cream, lemon cakes, and lemon jam. The tour will also lead you through the kitchen, where workers will demonstrate how all of these traditional products are made. Afterward, you will relax in the tranquil groves under archways, sip your Limoncello, and smell the sweet scent of lemons that hang on the branches above you.

Today, you will step onboard a luxury boat and sail to the island that is located 13 miles off the coast of mainland Italy. After arriving in Marina Grande, your captain will direct you to a smaller boat that is waiting for you. You will then venture for the infamous blue grotto. You will be able to jump feet first into the refreshing waters, which may prove to be a life-changing experience. Afterward, you can walk in the footsteps of the ancient Phoenicians by ascending over 900 steps that coil precariously up the cliffs through dense vineyards to the town of Anacapri.

As you leave the pristine Amalfi Coast and venture toward Naples, your driver will make a stop for you, so you can visit one of the main cultural sites in Southern Italy. Mt. Vesuvius was responsible for the town’s abrupt destruction and continues to dominate the background of Pompeii. Your informative guide will lead you through this piece of living history, and you can walk away from the unspoiled ruins with a profound understanding and appreciation of what this ancient culture was like at one point in time. The distinct aroma of tomato sauce will hang lazily in front of the pizzerias, where your driver will drop you off to attend a highly-respected pizza-making class.

As your trip concludes, you can enjoy a relaxing morning that will be complete with a full-bodied breakfast and espresso. You can leave your bags at the hotel concierge and stroll once more through your favorite corner of this dynamic city. You will then meet your private transfer in the hotel lobby, who will escort you to Naples International Airport for your flight home.