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

Agrigento in Sicily, Italy

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.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Rome, Naples, Salerno, Palermo (City), Agrigento

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

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:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Naples – Pizza-Making Course

Day 3

Salerno – Explore the Ruins of Pompeii

Day 4

Palermo – Ferry Ride to Sicily

Day 5

Palermo – Private Food Tour

Day 6

Palermo – Historical City Tour

Day 7

Agrigento – The Valley of the Temples

Day 8

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.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 4335 reviews

France, Italy, China, Japan Trip Review: Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Glass Blowing, Cultural Experiences, 16 Days

Zicasso’s travel company did such a great job putting the trip together. I was charged for an extra night at our hotel in Paris, but they are refunding that and the Cairo portion of the trip we had to cancel.

Our Paris tour guide was great and I’d recommend her to anyone. Our Rome tour guides were very good. Hong Kong was fine. Our Tokyo guide was wonderful.

Really, the only hiccup on the trip was our hotel in Hong Kong. The company that picked us up dropped us at one hotel, not the correct one. Thankfully, a couple of their bellhops walked us and all our luggage several blocks to the correct hotel. Our tour guide the next day also went to the wrong hotel, but we only lost about 45 minutes before we figured out the issue. If you use that hotel again, please make sure folks know which hotel is which.

The "Fast and Furious" car experience was OK; however, my grandson was so tired he slept through most of it. The chopstick-making was fun, as was the glass-blowing experience.

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Italy Honeymoon Review: Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Wineries, History, 12-Day Trip

Our honeymoon trip to Italy, planned by Zicasso’s travel company, was the perfect trip in every way. From the time we landed in Rome and were greeted by our driver to the time we left Venice 12 days later, every detail was taken care of. The guides, tours, accommodations, restaurant recommendations, and travel transfers were expertly executed, so we didn't have to worry about anything except having the time of our lives!

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Italy Travel Review: Amalfi Coast, Rome, Capri, Sorrento, 10 Nights

We had an amazing trip of a lifetime to the Amalfi Coast and Rome. Zicasso’s travel specialist did a fantastic job getting to know me and finding out what my exact wants were. They kept tabs on us while we were traveling and even contacted us when our train was delayed over an hour. When we had an issue, there was always someone there to help resolve it.

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Italy Tour Review: Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Rome, Wine Tasting, 10 Nights

The trip was amazing and the tours and hotels were great. We enjoyed every minute.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Italy, Slovenia Vacation Review: Dubrovnik, Old City Wall

We had a great trip. There were some tiny glitches along the way, but that's to be expected. We saw most of what I had planned on. It was easy to work with our agent.

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Italy Travel Review: Agrigento, Trapani, Favignana, Siracusa, Terrasini, Boat Ride, Street Food Tour, 2 Weeks

I really liked the hotels and the Airbnb we were booked in. The breakfasts were lovely, and the staff was even lovelier. Also, I appreciated that we started our trip in a smaller place before we tackled the bigger cities. The excursions were nicely spaced out and we really enjoyed our start-of-the-season boat cruise, as well as the final market tour.

Our drivers were either early or on time, and our “long-haul” driver for two of our trips was great. He and my husband really hit it off.

I really appreciated that staff members were available when we needed them (even on the weekends and even when we were the ones who showed up in the wrong spot).

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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