Roman Castles, Vieste, Lucera, Alberobello, Ostuni, Melfi, Matera, Rossano, Tropea, Reggio Calabria, Messina, Lipari Isles, Etna, Taormina, Catania, Acireale, Siracusa, Caltagirone, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Selinunte, Palermo, Cefalù, Naples
DAY 1
CASTELLI ROMANI (Roman Castles): Arrival in Roman Castles late morning. Accommodation in a Religious Villa. In the afternoon, visit to the Roman Castles and tasting of the local wine in a typical cellar. Dinner and overnight stay in a local residence.
DAY 2
ROMAN CASTLES - GARGANO: Breakfast. Departure for Puglia and arrival in Gargano in the afternoon. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 3
VIESTE - MONTE SANT'ANGELO: Breakfast. Departure for Vieste. Visit to Foresta Umbra, to enjoy the sights of the ancient village. Opportunity to visit the Grotte Marine del Gargano (Sea Caves of Gargano) by motorboat. Guided visit of Monte Sant'Angelo, the important centre of Gargano, and guided visit to the ancient historical sites of the town. Opportunity to visit the Museum of Arts and Folkloristic Traditions, the Castle, owned by Svevian, Angioins and Aragonese, and the very ancient cave-sanctuary, dating from the 5th century. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 4
LUCERA - CASTEL DEL MONTE: Breakfast. Departure for Lucera, known in ancient times as Luceria Saracenorum, and visit to the ancient town and Frederic II of Svevia's castle, the Cathedral and the Roman amphitheater. Visit to Castel del Monte, in order to know the mysterious and important castle wanted by Frederic II. Departure for the Monopoli-Alberobello area and accomodation in hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 5
ALBEROBELLO - OSTUNI - GROTTAGLIE: Breakfast. Departure for Aberobello, where it will be possible to wonder at its trulli constructions, and Ostuni, the famous white town. Visit to Grottaglie, famous worldwide for its ceramics. If time permits, visit to Marina Franca and Locorotondo. Opportunity to taste typical local cuisine. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 6
MELFI - MATERA: Breakfast. Departure for Melfi. Visit to the medieval town of Norman origin, to the Cathedral and its bell-tower and to the Archeological Museum. Visit to Matera and to its famous Stones, to the churches of S. Maria de Idris and S. Pietro Caveoso, to the church of S. Lucia alle Malve, to the cathedral and to the museum D. Ridola. Continue on to Altomonte. Accommodation in hotel in the Altomonte-Cosenza area. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 7
ROSSANO - ALTOMONTE: Breakfast. Departure for Rossano and visit to the town. Rossano is very rich in history and is one of the main byzantine religious centres of the entire region. It will be possible to admire the Codex Purpureus, one of the most ancient Greek Evangeliarium (parchment manuscript Gospel) on show at the Diocesan Museum, together with a variety of other fascinating ancient exhibits. Visit to a liquorice factory, where the Amarelli family has been working liquorice for 250 years, producing high-quality liquorice. In the afternoon, visit to Altomonte, one of the most interesting town of Calabria. Visit to the Noman castle, to its tower and to the impressive Norman Santa Maria della Consolazione church, which houses an arry of art. Visit to San Giacomo church, featuring precious Baroque decorations, to the Civic Museum and to the craft shop. Visit to a liqueur factory and tasting. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 8
TROPEA - CAPO VATICANO - SIDERNO: Breakfast. Departure for Tropea, fascinating village which stands on a spectacular sandstone cliff. Visit to the Cathedral, built in the 11th century. You will explore the narrow streets of the historical centre, admiring the portals of the patrician houses and in the end at the church of Santa Maria dell'Isola. Departure for Capo Vaticano and visit to the town, famous for having hosted the novelist Giuseppe Berto. Continue on to Siderno. Accommodation, dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 9
REGGIO CALABRIA - AMENDOLEA: Breakfast. Departure for Reggio Calabria, town situated on Messina strait, and visit to the National Museum of Magna Grecia, which houses Riace's Bronzes, and to the Cathedral, featuring a wonderful Baroque chapel. The unique seafront walk was described by the famous Italian writer D'Annunzio as the most beautiful kilometer of Italy. Departure for Amendolea. Visit to a countryside farmhouse restaurant. Rich buffet and tasting of the typical local cuisine. Opportunity of an excursion on foot to the Castle of Amendolea. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 10
GERACE - MESSINA: Breakfast. Departure for Gerace, one of the most important historical centre of Calabria, rich in artistic artefacts. Visit to the ruins of the Castle, the Arch of the Bombarde, the Porta del Borghetto and the Porta dei Vescovi (entrances to the medieval town), and to the cathedral. In the afternoon, departure for Villa San Giovanni and boarding of the ferry-boat to Messina. Hotel accommodation in the Messina or Milazzo area. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 11
LIPARI ISLES AND VOLCANO: Breakfast. Full day excursion to the Lipari Isles and Volcano, wonderful island famous for their unspoilt nature. Tour by bus of the Island of Lipari. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 12
ETNA - TAORMINA: Breakfast. Full day excursion to Etna and opportunity of excursion by jeep and cable car or just by jeep only with alpine guide (compulsory). Visit to Taormina, famous for its historical town centre and the Greek open-air theatre. Hotel accommodation in the Acireale area. Dinner in farm with folk band. Overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 13
CATANIA - ACICASTELLO - ACI TREZZA - ACIREALE: Breakfast. Departure for Catania and visit to the historical centre, featuring the Cathedral, where famous figures as Bellini and Dusmet are buried, and to the Ursino Castle and the Civic Museum. In the afternoon, tour by motorboat of the Riviera dei Ciclopi (Cyclops bank). Visit to Acicastello, first Norman castle to defend Sicily, Acitrezza, where Verga set his famous novel I malavoglia, and Acireale, known as the town of the bells because of its several churches. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel.
DAY 14
SIRACUSA - NOTO - RAGUSA: Breakfast. Departure for Siracuse and visit to the archeological area and to the town centre. In the afternoon, visit to Noto and accommodation in a hotel in the Ragusa area. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 15
RAGUSA - MODICA: Visit to Ragusa, anciently called Ibla and famous for its Baroque art, and departure for Modica. Free time to visit the seaside. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 16
CALTAGIRONE - PIAZZA ARMERINA: Breakfast. Departure for the town of Caltagirone, a jewel in the heart of Sicily and the capital of ceramics. Departure for Piazza Armerina and visit to Villa del Casale, a patrician villa featuring impressive gates, thermal baths and mosaics. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 17
AGRIGENTO - SELINUNTE: Breakfast. Departure for Agrigento, town that lies in the Temple Valley. Departure for Selinunte, free time to visit the seaside. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 18
SELINUNTE - MARSALA - ERICE - PALERMO: Breakfast. In the morning visit to the archeological park of Selinunte. Departure for Marsala, with its numerous salt-ponds and visit to a typical winery. Departure for Erice, an ancient walled village, and visit to the town. Hotel accommodation in the Palermo area. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 19
SANTO STEFANO DI CAMASTRA - CEFALU': Breakfast. Departure for Palermo and a stop at Santo Stefano di Camastra, famous for its ceramics and Cefalu', a typical seatown. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 20
PALERMO - MONREALE - NAPLES: Breakfast. In the morning visit to Palermo, its centre and the Cathedral, that includes all the Sicilian arts, and the Palazzo dei Normanni, a famous example of Arab-Norman-Byzantine architecture. Departure for Monreale and visit to its Cathedral, home to Byzantine, Arab and Norman art. Transfer to the seaport and departure by boat to Naples. Accommodation in a religious Villa. Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY 21
NAPLES - ROME: Breakfast. Guided tour of Naples. Departure for Rome. Transfer to the airport.
Accommodation in our wonderful Monastery-hotels comparable to ***/****star hotels Daily breakfast and dinner Sightseeing tours and guided visits by our art historian guides as per program Ferry boat Palermo-Naples Special evenings 24 hour ZefiroWorld telephone assistance One person free for every 25 paying people
Luxury motor coach English speaking tour escort Beverages and lunches Entrance fees Bus driving and parking permits Tips and Extras Everything not mentioned in "Included in the Price"
(min. 25 pax)
