SICILY AND AMALFI COAST

DAY 1: Arrive in Palermo, Sicily’s lively capital, and transfer to your hotel. Join a welcome dinner.

DAY 2: With a privately guided city tour, discover the Sicily’s vibrant capital, Palermo. Starting with Palermo’s stunning cathedral and cloisters. Proceed to the Palatine Chapel, a superb example of the 12th-century Arab-Norman-Byzantine architectural style. Admire the noble palaces lining the magnificent streets, while cheerful Art Nouveau houses stand in contrast to Baroque and Gothic architecture. In the heart of the city, discover the Palermo Duomo, built on the site of a Muslim mosque, which was in turn built over an early Christian basilica. Explore the Quattro Canti, where you see the medieval San Cataldo Church with its Moorish-style architecture, and La Martorana Church, decorated with Byzantine mosaics. Continue to the hillside town of Monreale and enter its extravagant cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from 1170, it is perhaps the finest surviving example of Norman architecture anywhere in the world, and its mosaic-lined walls, said to incorporate nearly 2.5 tons of gold, are breathtaking to behold. Return to Palermo.

DAY 3: Today, travel across Sicily’s rugged mountainous countryside to the south coast. Stop in Segesta, one of the finest surviving Greek temples in Sicily; solemn isolation lends the site an almost mystical air. Arrive to coastal Agrigento, visit the Valley of the Temples, one of the most outstanding examples of Greater Greece art and architecture, included in the UNESCO heritage Site List since 1997. The Valley includes remains of ten temples, all in Doric style among which the Temple of Concordia is ranked amongst the most notable edifices of the Greek civilization existing today due to its good state of preservation. Check in at the selected hotel.

DAY 4: Journey east to Piazza Armerina, a graceful countryside town, where you visit the incomparable Villa Romana del Casale. A luxurious example of an ancient Italian villa, this UNESCO World Heritage Site houses breathtaking mosaics originally laid in the fourth century. En route to Taormina stop to visit the city of Noto, one of Sicily’s most beautiful Baroque cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. have lunch in a stunning restaurant. Continue to Syracuse, to view rare temples and amphitheaters. Also discover remarkable Greek and Roman ruins, such as the cave called “The Ear of Dionysius,” as well as Baroque buildings and classic churches, including the Duomo. Arrive in Taormina, check in at your hotel.

DAY 5: Today, a local expert introduces you to Taormina, the town’s spectacular Greek amphitheater, set high above the ocean. Still in use as an arts venue today, its permanent “show” is its extraordinary view of Mount Etna, rising in the far distance beyond the stage. Later, relax or catch up on shopping with time at leisure.

DAY 6: Rise early for the journey to Messina, where you board a ferry to cross the strait separating Sicily from the “toe” of the Italian mainland. Disembark in Villa San Giovanni in Calabria, and drive into Basilicata and to Matera, the ancient Città Sotterranea (Underground City), carved right into the Appenine Mountains. Thought to be one of the oldest cities in the world, Matera is a jumble of stone dwellings built alongside (and in some cases, on top of) each other, linked by narrow, jagged lanes. Settle into your incredible hotel, set within Sassi cave dwellings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check in at your hotel.

DAY 7: Take a walking tour of Matera, and experience this incredible ancient city up close. In addition to cave dwellings, the town includes several churches, many also carved into the rock and dating from the eighth and ninth centuries. Later in the morning, join a local chef for a Puglian cooking class. Prepare and eat an unforgettable lunch, with time to explore the town at leisure.

DAY 8: Depart for the beautiful Amalfi Coast, stopping en route in Pompeii, where you set out on a two-hour walking tour of the once-opulent town. The extensive and varied ruins of Pompeii offer rich insight into the history of the Roman Empire. Continue to your hotel in Sorrento, featuring unrivaled views of the Gulf of Naples.

DAY 9: Transfer to stunning Capri by private boat. Upon arrival, stroll Capri’s charming, boutique-lined streets. Then, board a public boat that whisks you to the spellbinding, iridescent Blue Grotto. Observe the magical light that illuminates the cave’s rocky walls. Continue sightseeing, or choose to explore beautiful Villa San Michele in Anacapri the Church of San Michele or the summit of Monte Solaro, reached by chairlift. Return to your hotel on the mainland for an evening at leisure.

DAY 10: Skirt the fabled Amalfi coast by private vehicle, starting with a visit to the enchanting village of Ravello, with its stunning coastal views. Take in vistas from the lovely Villa Rufolo and the Duomo, fronted by a beautifully hued, 13th-century façade before continuing to Amalfi. Pause for lunch in a delightful, sea-view restaurant. After that you may choose between take a sunset cruise along the beautiful Amalfi Coast jetting by private motor boat as you savor a twilight dinner cooked by your onboard chef, or proceed the coast to elegant Sorrento, a Belle Époque treasure of graceful streets with stunning views across the Gulf of Naples. Return to the hotel.

DAY 11: Transfer to the Naples airport and board your departure flight.