Family Friendly Vacation to Southern Italy and Sicily

What to expect on this itinerary
Experience Southern Italy and Sicily’s stunning landscapes, historical landmarks, and mouthwatering cuisine with this unforgettable 9-day family vacation. The history and culture of each destination will come to life through private tours and exclusive experiences. Immerse yourself in the beautiful lifestyle of Southern Italy and Sicily, climb Mt. Vesuvius, indulge in a cannoli-making course, and visit the gorgeous island of Capri.
Customizable Itinerary
Naples – Pizza-Making Class
Southern Italy and Sicily are filled with intriguing cities, famous landmarks, and delicious food, making them the perfect destination for a memorable family vacation. Your 9-day journey will begin when you land at Naples International Airport. A quick transfer will lead you to your luxurious accommodation in the heart of the city. After having some time to settle in, you can have a couple of hours to spend at your leisure before transferring to an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria, where you will partake in a private pizza-making class.
What's Included:
Naples – Discover Mt. Vesuvius
Sorrento – Capri and the Blue Grotto
Salerno – Visit Mozzarella Factory
Palermo – Picturesque Ferry Ride
Palermo – Sicilian Puppet Theater
Agrigento – Cannoli-Making Class
Taormina – Visit the Greek Theatre
Taormina – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Discover your inner chef through an exclusive family pizza-making class in Naples
- Climb Mount Vesuvius, which is one of Italy’s most famous volcanoes
- Visit the gorgeous island of Capri and unrivaled Blue Grotto during an excursion from Sorrento
- Explore an authentic mozzarella factory and indulge in delicious tastings
- Enjoy one night in Salerno with wonderful views and landscapes
- Witness iconic sites and delight in delicious cuisine during your ferry ride from Salerno to Palermo
- Tour the Palermo Cathedral, which is full of intricate details and known for its multiple architectural styles
- Indulge in a cannoli-making class that will have you learning from an authentic Sicilian baker
- Discover the ancient Greek Theatre and stunning Isola Bella during your stay in the town of Taormina
Detailed Description
Southern Italy and Sicily are home to some of Italy’s most beautiful cities and famous landmarks, making them the ideal destination for an unforgettable family vacation. Your 9-day journey will begin when you land at Naples International Airport. A memorable afternoon will be in store, and you will head to an authentic pizzeria to learn how to make traditional Neapolitan pizza before enjoying your delicious creation for dinner. The next day will feature a private tour of one of Italy’s most famous volcanoes, Mt. Vesuvius. The climb up the volcano will be exhilarating, and the views from the top will be incredible. After your final night in Naples, you will head to your next destination of Sorrento. Later in the afternoon, you will embark on a short ride to the beautiful island of Capri for a private tour of the island and a visit to the unrivaled Blue Grotto.
As the sun rises over Sorrento the next morning, you will continue to Salerno. Along the way, a visit to an authentic mozzarella factory will allow you to discover a delicious specialty of the area. After one wonderful night in Salerno, you will transfer to Sicily. The next day, you will discover the culture of Palermo with a private tour of the Palermo Cathedral. You and your family will also discover the Sicilian tradition of puppet theater as you visit a local museum and enjoy a live marionette performance before another fantastic day comes to a close.
The next morning, your private transfer will lead you to the historic city of Agrigento. After arriving at your hotel, your expert guide will lead you on a tour of the Valley of the Temples, where you will discover your inner archeologist and explore the many fascinating ruins. Next, you will head to an authentic bakery to learn how to make a traditional Sicilian cannoli. The opportunity to indulge in this sweet confection will be the perfect way to end the day. The next day, you will journey to your final destination of Taormina. Your final full day in Sicily will lead you to the ancient Greek Theatre and serene island of Isola Bella for private tours.
Starting Price
$4,100 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 675 reviews
Our Zicasso travel specialist did a fantastic job planning our family vacation for five adults.
Each hotel was top-notch. At the villa in Taormina, the rooms were luxurious, with unbelievable views of the bay and Mount Etna from private verandas. The staff were gracious and the restaurant's breakfast buffet delicious. Lunch and dinner were top-notch. The hotel in Agrigento was modern and the grounds were exceptional. It was close to the Valley of the Temples, with amazing views of the ruins from each room and the beautiful infinity pool. The hotel in Palermo was old-fashioned luxury with up-to-date facilities and close to the old town.
Our tour guides and drivers were excellent.
My only regret is that we only had 10 days to explore Sicily as there was so much more to see!
Our agent did a yeoman's job helping us plan this trip.
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We had a fabulous time in Sicily. It was our first visit and Zicasso’s travel company planned an excellent itinerary, with great recommendations on the cities and towns to visit that felt like a truly local experience. (Other agents focus on the big cities of Palermo and Taormina, but the travel company recommended we spend more time in Syracuse/Noto, Ragusa, and Modica.)
We loved our primary driver and the boutique hotels they selected for us. Communication and documents were all easy to follow.
The only piece we wish might have been curated a little more was the recommended dining options. There were too many and not necessarily great restaurants.
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I recently completed an incredible 12-day vacation in Italy, arranged by Zicasso’s travel company, and it was one of the best vacations I have ever had. From the initial planning with the travel specialist and her team to the seamless execution on the ground, everything exceeded my expectations for a luxury custom trip.
We started in Italy, where we were immediately met at the airport by a hostess who got us through all the lines in record time and into a Mercedes Sprinter van that took us to Naples. Naples offered us a really vibrant, authentic Italian feel, and the incredible food that the travel specialist recommended from the movie "Eat Pray Love" was the best pizza I’ve ever eaten in my life. I don’t think I can eat pizza in the United States anymore. The private drivers and guides made this whole trip stress-free.
Our next incredible experience was the dream-like Amalfi, Sorrento, and the Isle of Capri. The hotel in Positano was beautiful. We were enchanted with all the colorful cliffs, the boutique shopping, and the stunning view from our balcony room. Sorrento was my favorite city of all. It was very relaxed, with lemon groves everywhere and beautiful sunsets, and our hotel had balconies that opened up on the Mediterranean. The highlight of our trip was the island of Capri. The boat ride was just fantastic and we started at the top of the mountain and did the chairlift so we had a whole view of the city.
The highlights of the trip for me were the boat ride along the Amalfi Coast, the cooking class and wine experience at the female venture, and the wine by Mount Vesuvius.
Our last two nights were back in Rome and it was kind of hard to go from the low-key vibes of Sorrento to the action-packed atmosphere of Rome, but the hotel the travel specialist picked was just perfect. It was 10 minutes from the Spanish Steps and she arranged a tour of the underground Colosseum. I learned so much about everything in that area. All the guides, the drivers, everything was magical. I would highly recommend this travel specialist and the travel company.
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"È stata una meraviglia!" Zicasso’s travel specialist crafted the perfect trip for us. Nothing “off the rack.” No cities. Just pure, unique, authentic Sicily! She was available any time we had questions and turned requests around in the snap of a finger. If you want to have dinner in the middle of the Mediterranean as you watch Stromboli volcano erupt in the night, the travel specialist will arrange it. She always presented us with the unexpected. Grazie mille!
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Zicasso’s travel agent and her team were very responsive when we needed assistance. We definitely didn't need three weeks in Sicily—there's not that much to see. Three of the hotels were great and two not so great, but again, the travel agent's team was quick to find us a better alternative. Thanks to the travel agent and her team.
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