Sicily & Southern Italy
ScrollDeparture dates
2021 May 1 - May 16
16 days
All-inclusive
$6,795
Per person in double occupancy
Single supplement: $995
Fresh artichokes, tomatoes, sweet almonds, aubergine and cold pressed olive oil will never taste the same. The south of Italy has its own spin on everything, and food is only one example. Lose yourself in the Sicilian heartland and learn about the myriad of civilizations that each left their mark on the island. Discover Greek temples, Arab-inspired markets, Norman castles, and the shimmering beauty of the volcanic Aeolian Islands. A few kilometers north, Calabria and Puglia offer distinct culinary traditions and spectacular coastal towns. Celebrate the art of living, eating and travelling slowly, in the region that started it all.
This tour includes
Tour essentials
- International flights with Air Canada / Air Dolomiti
- 14 nights in first class hotels
- Dedicated English-speaking tour guide and local guides
- Carefully selected visits, with entrance fees
- Luxury coach bus transfers and luggage porterage throughout
Food & drink
- All 41 meals, including: 14 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 14 dinners
- Pugliese farewell lunch (included in meal count)
- Welcome cocktail
- 2 local product tastings
- Bottled water daily (2 x 500ml)
Our approach perks
Private car service to and from your home airport
International and domestic flights
Meals and excursions that are typically sold separately
Tips for all service providers
24/7 Group Guru (in addition to tour guide and local guides)
Extensive travel insurance with Manulife Financial
Total value $2,919
This tour’s itinerary
Overview
Detailed View
DAYS 1 & 2 GOODBYE CANADA, CIAO SICILIA!
Enjoy a private car ride to the airport. Travellers departing from the Toronto
airport are assisted with their check-in. Meet your dedicated Group Guru and
fellow travellers and fly overnight to Palermo. Upon arrival, our luxury coach
will bring you to your hotel. Settle in or walk around the beautiful, chaotic
city before joining us for our welcome cocktail. Overnight in Palermo. (D)
DAY 3 PALERMO AND MONREALE
Learn about the history of Monreale on a guided tour including Santa
Maria Nuova cathedral and its cloister. Return to Palermo for a guided
stroll through the colourful local markets. A Sicilian dining experience
awaits after our visit in the quaint fishing village of Sferracavallo. Overnight
in Palermo. (B,L,D)
DAY 4 ALMOND COOKIES AND MARSALA WINE (325 KM)
Travel to the medieval town of Erice, home to the impressive 13th century
Castello di Venere, and enjoy lunch followed by a delicious almond cookie
tasting. Relaxing tour of one of the region’s oldest vineyards for a tasting of
distinctly deep Marsala wine. Overnight in Agrigento. (B,L,D)
DAY 5 TRACES OF ANCIENT GREECE (246 KM)
Discover Sicily’s most riveting archeological site, the Valley of the Temples,
dominated by colossal Greek temples dating back to the 5th century BC.
Artistic stop in Piazza Armerina to visit Villa Romana del Casale and its
well-preserved Roman mosaics. Overnight in Syracuse. (B,L,D)
DAY 6 NOTO’S BAROQUE WONDERS (75 KM)
Gorgeous Noto awaits! The picturesque Baroque town is home to the best
gelato in the world. Our day trip showcases the Cattedrale di Noto and a
stroll along the storied Vittorio Emanuele avenue. Free afternoon in Syracuse,
or join us for an optional visit of the Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo
Orsi (at no additional cost). Overnight in Syracuse. (B,L,D)
DAY 7 SYRACUSE AND ORTIGIA (111 KM)
At its peak, Syracuse was the largest city in the ancient world. The Neapolis
archeological park, the Greek Theater and the tiny, eclectic island of Ortigia
will leave you wanting more. Today, lunch is at a local manor overlooking
fields of almond, lemon and olive trees. This is Sicily! Scenic drive to
Taormina for dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight near Taormina. (B,L,D)
DAY 8 MOUNT ETNA AND TAORMINA (110 KM)
Wake up to the towering presence of Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest volcano,
and enjoy a drive through lunar landscapes to appreciate its striking beauty.
Perched on a cliff nearby, the resort town of Taormina hosts us for lunch and a
guided tour of its epic Greek amphitheater. Overnight near Taormina. (B,L,D)
DAY 9 AEOLIAN ISLAND ADVENTURE (150 KM)
From Milazzo, set sail on the Tyrrhenian sea to the sunny landscapes of our first postcard-worthy Aeolian island, Lipari. Following lunch, enjoy free time on the island, or join us for an optional visit of the Museo Archeologico Regionale Eoliano (at no additional cost). Overnight in Lipari. (B,L,D)
DAY 10 PANAREA AND STROMBOLI
Leisurely start before our boat ride to charming Panarea and striking
Stromboli. Our slow pace will only be interrupted by the dramatic image
of Stromboli’s volcano. Enjoy lunch with a view of the mountain’s smoking
silhouette, before returning to Lipari for the night. (B,L,D)
DAY 11 CROSSING INTO CALABRIA (200 KM)
Return to Milazzo by boat and drive to Messina for a photo op with the
world’s largest astronomical clock. Following lunch, cross the strait of Messina
to rejoin terra firma on the Calabrian outpost of Villa San Giovanni. Enjoy
the viewpoint of Capo Vaticano and its turquoise waters, before heading
to Vibo Valentia for the night. (B,L,D)
DAY 12 PIZZO CALABRO AND TROPEA
Discover the seaside town of Pizzo Calabro, where local must-sees include
the Aragonese castle, the Baroque St. George Church as well as the
intricate Piedigrotta Church. The beautiful town of Tropea will be a restful
stop before we return to rustic Vibo Valentia for the night. (B,L,D)
DAY 13 FAMOUS SASSI DI MATERA (307 KM)
Drive along the Ionian coast to beautiful Matera and down into the district
of “Sassi” (or stones), where 1,500 cave dwellings spectacularly dot the
flanks of a steep ravine. Your day is capped off with a tasting of local
products from the Basilicata region. Overnight in Matera. (B,L,D)
DAY 14 ALBEROBELLO’S TRULLI HOUSES
A true haven of the far niente and dolce vita, Puglia is a special place.
Discover the awe-inspiring Castellana Caves before a serene walking tour of
Alberobello and its unique trulli houses. Delight in a Pugliese lunch and enjoy
free time to discover the city at your own pace, or join your Group Guru for
an optional activity (at no additional cost). Overnight in Alberobello. (B,L,D)
DAY 15 RICH LECCE AND WHITEWASHED OSTUNI (223 KM)
Enjoy a guided tour of stunning Lecce to expore its rich artistic heritage,
before our farewell lunch. Stop in Ostuni, contrasting centennial olive trees
and whitewashed buildings. Return to Alberobello for the night. (B,L,D)
DAY 16 HOME SWEET HOME
Travel to Bari airport and fly to Canada, arriving the same day. Your driver will
meet you at the airport to help you with your luggage and drive you home. (B)
