Welcome to Rome!
At 5 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)
Spend your day your way in Sorrento
Together with a Local Guide, visit the incredible excavations of Pompeii. As you walk along the ancient streets, hear about day-to-day life under the Roman Empire and discover what happened when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. After some free time for lunch, enjoy a scenic drive around the Bay of Naples towards Sorrento. Enjoy an evening at leisure. (B) 168 mi / 270 km
Coves, Cliffs & The Clear Blue Sea
Relax on a jetfoil as you cross the Bay of Naples to the captivating island of Capri. Join your Local Guide for a funicular ride from the harbour to Capri village followed by a guided sightseeing. Visit the Augustus Gardens and admire views of the iconic Faraglioni rocks. Return to the clifftop town of Sorrento for free time to explore this friendly town; browse the artisan stores, try local specialties, or just sit and watch the world go by. Explore more of Sorrento with your choice of included Globus Choice excursions. (B,D)
Gelato Passion: Pure Delight
You scream, I scream, we all scream for gelato! Dig into the secret of Italy's irresistible frozen favorite with a gelato class led by a master gelato maker. Scoop up tips and techniques for the perfect confection at a family-run gelateria, then choose your flavor and delight in freshly made gelato. A very cool experience with sprinkles on top!
Zest For Life
When life gives you lemons, make limoncello! Sorrento's cool and delicious, signature citrus liqueur. Visit a family-run lemon grove and learn what makes Sorrentine lemons so special, then try your hand in a limoncello-making workshop and enjoy tasting local lemon-based specialties.
Dinner at your hotel tonight.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTNATURAL WONDERS Nestled high above the sea on the island of Capri lie the exquisite Gardens of Augustus. This natural paradise promises 180-degree panoramic views and a kaleidoscope of botanical beauty on the cliffs overlooking island and the sapphire sea below. A Slice of Life in Naples
This morning, take a scenic drive to the charismatic and vibrant city of Naples and join your Local Guide for a sightseeing tour of the main highlights, featuring an orientation drive and stop in the iconic Piazza Plebiscito. Enjoy some free time to discover more and perhaps try one of Naples most famous specialties – the pizza. Return to Sorrento for a leisurely evening. (B) 62 mi / 100 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURE & TRADITION Naples delivers Old World charm in spades as one of Italy’s oldest cities. From its regal Palazzo Reale to the 13th-century Duomo di San Gennaro’s frescd masterpieces to nearby Mount Vesuvius to the most famous pizza in the world served throughout the city in Neapolitan style. A stroll along the promenade beside the Bay of Naples reveals why locals and visitors choose this spot to soak in the sunset on the Mediterranean Sea.
Spectacular Apulia
A scenic drive towards Apulia, the charismatic region with the longest coastline, that forms the heel of Italy’s “boot.” Arrive in the vibrant port city of Bari and enjoy free time this evening. (B) 186 mi / 300 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTPICTURE PERFECT Apulia has lots to offer – with charming, whitewashed towns, centuries-old pastoral landscapes, and the magnificent Mediterranean coastline. It is famed for its agricultural produce; it has more olive trees than any other region, often referred to as “the breadbasket” of Italy thanks to its durum wheat production
Sweet Strolls in Apulia
This morning, follow your Local Guide on a walking tour of Bari Vecchia, the city’s oldest district, and visit the Basilica of San Nicola. Drive to Lecce, often called the “Florence of the South,” for a guided walking tour of the beautiful historic center. Visit the Duomo and Basilica of Santa Croce, before stopping at a local cafè to [LF] taste traditional pasticciotto (filled pastry) with almond-infused iced coffee. (B,D)183 mi / 295 kmLOCAL FAVORITE CULTURE & TRADITIONS Traditional pasticciotto is the beloved cream-filled pastry of Lecce, which graces the shelves of Apulia’s bakeries and restaurants. Legend has it that this ubiquitous confection was invented by happy accident when chef Andrea Ascalone made too much cake batter, using the excess ingredients to mix up the original pasticcio (meaning mishap or mess in Italian) - a smaller cake with a creamy filling. Sink your teeth into this heavenly pastry with an almond iced coffee to complete the experience.
Stone Houses
Visit Alberobello, one of Italy’s most recognizable towns. Join your Local Guide for a walking tour through the trulli lined streets, including an interior visit of a Trullo (traditional conical-roof house) to discover how people live there. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTART & ARCHITECTURE The iconic round houses (Trulli) date back hundreds of years. These Trulli, constructed of dry stone and cone-shaped roofs include the oldest structures built in the 16th century and were used as grain storage or residences. Made without cement in the masonry techniques of the day, these whitewashed homes were easily disassembled to avoid property taxes when the collectors came calling! Today, you can stroll the streets lined with Trulli houses to see their conical rooftops decorated with symbols such as a cross, heart, astronomical symbol, or the evil eye.
Creamy Desserts & Cave Dwellings
This morning, stop in Matera for an orientation walk which includes a panoramic view of the picturesque sassi houses, the ancient cave dwellings that have become popular as a film location. Enjoy a scenic drive along the Gulf of Taranto before stopping in Pizzo Calabro for a [LF] traditional tartufo (ice cream dessert) tasting. Continue to Reggio Calabria, once an important city in Magna Grecia, for a guided visit of the museum that houses the Bronzi di Riace (famous Greek bronze warrior sculptures). (B,D) 280 mi / 450 kmLOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES The only thing better than a taste of gelato is having a few different tastes inside a chocolate-shelled truffle! Indulge in a tartufo dessert that will melt in your mouth during a visit to Pizzo Calabro, the “ice-cream city.”
Grand Greek Drama
A short ferry crossing takes you across the Strait of Messina to Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean. Drive to Taormina, dramatically located on a hill overlooking the sea. Visit the ancient Greek theatre. Free time to explore the town and stroll along stylish Corso Umberto. (B) 62 mi / 100 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT ART & ARCHITECTURE The Greek Theatre of Taormina is considered one of the most impressive examples of auditorium engineering and architecture for its superb natural setting and acoustical design. This ancient marvel was dug into the hard rock slopes of Mount Tauro in the 3rd-century BC, with seating to accommodate thousands of spectators. The Teatro Antico di Taormina was built in the Greek tradition of incorporating the natural surroundings to become part of the performance, with light and air permeating the columns to become part of the story.
The Pearl of the Mediterranean
Spend a full day at leisure on the Taormina Riviera: explore more sights, browse the stores, relax on the beaches, or simply sit in a café savoring local specialties and watching the world go by. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION With a backdrop of the Volcanic Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea providing the cinematic setting for the resort town of Taormina, this Pearl of the Mediterranean is a picturesque coastal gem that will spoil you with its stunning beaches, village beauty, and sumptuous culinary specialties.
Sicilian Summits
Enjoy a free day on the Taormina Riviera or join an optional excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano. This evening enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE What better way to spend this free day than with an excursion to Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest volcano and one of the most active in the world. Learn how in 1669, an eruption that lasted 112 days developed a record long stream of lava that destroyed the city of Catania.
Timeless Temples
Drive across the island to Agrigento, location of a real cultural treasure, the UNESCO nominated Valley of the Temples. Join your Local Guide for a walk through this remarkable archaeological site to see the beautiful Greek temples. Continue to Palermo, Sicily’s capital city. (B) 199 mi / 320 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTANCIENT ARCHAEOLOGY The ruins of Akragas remain Sicily's most amazing archaeological site. The impressively well-preserved Tempio della Concordia sits in spectacular setting upon a ridge where it served as a beacon for homecoming sailors and today draws enthralled visitors to revel in the remarkable Valley of the Temples.
Cathedrals & New Beginnings
This morning join your Local Guide for a sightseeing tour of Palermo’s highlights, including a visit to the cathedral. Take a scenic drive to Monreale for a panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro and a visit to the Norman Cathedral. [LF] Hear about one of the anti-mafia movements that support the local community. This evening, join your travel companions for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES The story of the splendid Monreale Cathedral began as Arabs took control of Palermo. They transformed the cathedral into a mosque and banished the Bishop of Palermo from town. Not wishing to venture too far from his beloved cathedral, the bishop settled in a small village in the hills overlooking Palermo, the site of modern-day Monreale. There, he built a modest church to keep the flame of local Christian worship alive. Today the cathedral is known for its stunning mosaics that cover an area of over 64.500sq ft.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
