Insider`s Italy - Civilized Adventures

Insider’s Italy
NAPLES • POMPEII • AMALFI COAST • CAPRI • SICILY
May 4 - 17, 2016
Host: Andrew De Angelis of Civilized Adventures
Our “Insiders Italy” trip was designed by Andrew De Angelis who was born and raised in a
beautiful village just outside of Rome. In 2015 Andrew travelled to Sicily to explore this beautiful
island that he already knew well. He fine-tuned the trip design and has chosen these dates to
coincide with special events in Sicily including a unique festival in the city of Noto and attending
a performance at Siracusa’s ancient Greek theatre just as the summer theatre season begins.
Andrew is clearly motivated by a love of travel and a desire to unravel the mysteries of different
cultures. He has honed his skills as a travel planner in Rome, London (England) and Arhus
(Denmark), as well as Mendoza in the beautiful winelands of Argentina. Andrew has guided
groups in Brazil, Tibet, Morocco and Jordan. Overall, he has travelled to 40 countries, covering
Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Scandinavia, and South America and he recently safari’d
in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. He’s even a professional Italian pizza maker, as a
graduate of the “Scuola Italiani Pizzaioli” in Rome!
On Insider’s Italy you’ll discover fabled sites while seeing Italy as an Italian would. Drink in the
ambiance as you walk the vibrant streets where the very ancient stands beside the very new. Italy
is light and colour, food and wine. While many historic sites are showcased, the vibrant culture
and fantastic scenery of Italy is always a highlight.
Learn some of the secrets of making Napolitan pizza, soak up the views along the Amalfi coast
and visit the island of Capri before exploring the haunting ruins at Pompeii. Discover Sicily - a
world apart: visit the coastal town of Cefalù with its ties to ancient Greece and Norman kings. See
the Greek temples of Agrigento; sail the Sicilian coast by private boat; attend a performance at
the ancient theater of Siracusa; witness the “Infiorata” in Noto, an event that occurs only once a
year. Connect it all on leisurely strolls as Andrew takes you down narrow cobbled streets, or helps
you find that special piazza where you can sit down with a drink and watch the world go by. Join
Andrew on this special small-group discovery of Italy!
Above: Cefalu, Sicily
“When you shop for a custom tour
package you hope that the itinerary
is seamless. Andrew [said] he would
help us plan a great tour. And we
had a great tour. We loved it! All
our needs were met and we had
a tight schedule. If it wasn’t for
Andrew we would have wasted a lot
of time and money”
TC, Argentina/Chile Custom Tour, March 2014
Andrew, overlooking one of the 40
vents found on Sicily’s Mt. Etna,
Europe’s highest active volcano
ABOUT YOUR ADVENTURE
May 4 & 5 - NAPLES
(Hotel Palazzo Caracciolo, 2 nts, 1B, 1D)
Naples, Italy’s third largest city, is set on the
beautiful Bay of Naples. Make your own way
to the lovely Palazzo Caracciolo, located in
the 13th-century historic heart of the city. Now
a 4-star hotel, it was once the residence of
the aristocratic Caracciolo family and also of
the Napoleonic general and King of Naples,
Joachim Murat.
On May 5 we join our expert local guide
as we embark on a walking tour of this
eclectic and intense city. Today’s highlight
is found in the San Severo chapel which
protects the Veiled Christ: one of the most
impressive works of art in the world. Marvel
at the seemingly transparent veil carved from
the same block of marble as the main figure.
Also see the bizarre “Anatomical Machines”
that are actually skeletons with fully preserved
circulatory systems! How they were created is
still a mystery, some 250 years later.
Your trip host, Andrew, is a certified pizza
chef. To him, you cannot leave Naples without
learning the art of making a great pizza and
this afternoon we enjoy a private lesson at a
nearby pizzeria. At the end of this hands-on
lesson, enjoy your pizza dinner, complete with
a special appetizer.
May 6 & 7 - THE AMALFI COAST & CAPRI
(Hotel Regina Sorrento, 2 nts, 2B, 2D)
Our journey takes us south to the Amalfi
Coast, famous for its stunning scenery where
beautiful towns seem to spill off the steep
hillsides into the sea. On this “free-flow” drive,
we may stop in places like Vietri sul Mare,
Ravello or perhaps Positano before reaching
Sorrento.
In Sorrento, settle into the Hotel Regina which
overlooks the historic old town. We’re sure
you’ll want to linger on the terrace, which offers
fantastic panoramic views across the Bay of
Naples with Vesuvius in the distance.
The Veiled Christ, Naples
On our first night in Sorrento we stroll to the
Teatro Tasso for a special, traditional dinner
complete with a “Tarantella show”. Tarantella
is a dance typical to the region. Does the
dance really have anything to do with trying to
neutralize the affects of a Tarantula bite? We’ll
find out!
On May 9 we meet up with our Sicilian guide to
explore Cefalù. We visit the Duomo, the 12thcentury cathedral that seems to stand guard
over the tile roofs and the narrow cobbled
streets of the old city. It was the first Norman
church in western Sicily. We stroll through the
old town, seeing the sites.
On May 7 we take the hydrofoil to the beautiful
island of Capri which seems to rise straight
up from the sea. Our expert local guide and
private vehicle await our arrival. Capri has
been inhabited since before the time of the
Romans, but when artists “discovered” it
in the early 19th century it became more
widely known. Since then, artists, writers and
travellers have been drawn to this dramatic
place. The main road snakes around the top
of the island offering breathtaking views to the
azure blue sea below.
Enjoy free time this afternoon, perhaps
lingering over lunch, wandering the town, or
relaxing on the beach. Andrew comments: “it’s
not all about the history though. Cefalù is a
place you need to feel. Cobbled streets, patios,
the beautiful beach, the smell of the sea - this
is a wonderful introduction to Sicily!” Later this
afternoon we learn more about Sicilian cuisine
as we participate in a cooking class, learning
local techniques with an expert chef. We dine
on the results.
We return to Sorrento in the afternoon. Tonight
we enjoy dinner at a typical local restaurant.
May 8 & 9 - CEFALU, SICILY
(La Plumeria Hotel, 2 nts, 2B, 2D)
Leaving Sorrento, we drive to Pompeii. In
79AD this sprawling city was destroyed when
Mount Vesuvius erupted. We’ll explore the
surprisingly well preserved site with an expert
local guide before continuing to the Naples
airport to fly to Palermo.
Welcome to Sicily - theoretically Italy but very
much another world! We leave Palermo and
drive along the coast to Cefalù. This small
town has a beautiful setting at the foot of a
rocky outcrop along the edge of the sea. First
mentioned in 396BC, it was originally a Greek
settlement. Its shores have seen the arrival of
Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs,
and most notably the Normans. It was the
Norman King Roger II who was responsible for
much of what we see today. After you settle
into the hotel we reunite for a “welcome to
Sicily” dinner.
Cefalu, Sicily (A. De Angelis)
Amalfi Coast, near Ravello
May 10 - MONREALE, TRAPANI & MARSALA
(Hotel Baglio Oneto, B, L, D)
Driving toward the west coast of Sicily we stop
to visit the 12th-century Norman cathedral of
Monreale just outside of Palermo. Within you’ll
see sparkling Byzantine mosaics, making this
one of the most spectacular churches in all of
Italy. After lunch we drive to the famous salt
pans near Trapani. In this scenic region, we
learn of the centuries-old processing of this
uniquely flavoured salt. As the sun begins to
drop, watch the colours change in the salt
pans before we continue to our beautiful hotel,
set on a hill overlooking the city of Marsala.
The Baglio Oneto hotel is an elegant historic
residence of the Oneto family which has
produced wine and olive oil for centuries. Enjoy
a dip in the pool, the views from the terrace or
relax in your charming room before we meet
for dinner in one of the hotel’s beautiful rooms.
May 11 - AGRIGENTO
(Hotel Villa Athena, B, L, D)
We drive along the coast to Agrigento. On
the way we stop to visit the somewhat bizarre
ABOUT YOUR ADVENTURE
Monreale cathedral’s Byzantine mozaics (A. de Angelis)
open-air museum at the “Enchanted Castle
of Filippo Bentivegna”. Once in Agrigento we
stay at the beautiful Hotel Villa Athena which
overlooks the fabled ruin site.
Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples is where
we find some of the best preserved ancient
Greek buildings outside Greece. Now on the
list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, some
temples date back to 510BC. We tour the ruins
of this city that once rivalled Athens in Greece’s
golden age. After our visit we return to our hotel
to drink in the views and have dinner.
May 12, 13 & 14 - SIRACUSA
(Hotel Livingston, 3 nts, 3B, 2L)
We drive across the bottom of Sicily to Butera,
one of the top wine making regions in Italy.
Here, the Zonin family produces world class
wines. We reach their estate in time for a
sumptuous four course lunch complete with
wine tastings. After lunch we may tour the
underground cellar.
We continue to Sicily’s east coast and the
historic city of Siracusa. We stay for three
nights at the Hotel Livingston which has a
prized location in the heart of the historic city
centre, overlooking the sea. Enjoy the rest of
the evening for your own explorations.
May 13: This morning we explore Siracusa,
one of the most impressive cities of the ancient
world. After visiting the historic centre - which
is just outside our door - you’ll have free time in
the afternoon. Later we attend a performance
at the ancient Greek theatre, celebrating the
opening of the Greek Theatre Festival, one
of Sicily’s most prestigious cultural events. We
are sure you will be amazed at the acoustics of
this ancient structure.
May 14: This special day is full of highlights
as we experience Sicilian life. At Portopalo
we reach the southernmost point of Europe.
This beautiful spot is graced by long beaches
fringed by the crystal-clear sea, the island of
Capo Passero with its 17th-century Spanish
fortress, and other remnants from cultures
Charming Cefalù (A. de Angelis)
past. We’ll learn about the traditions and history
of the village and gain some understanding of
the way of life of the area’s fishermen, which
has changed little over the years. After lunch
at a simple seafood restaurant we visit the
neighboring village of Marzememi where we
board our chartered boat and sail to the city
of Noto.
As we sail over the clear water we pass the
Vendicari Nature Reserve whose marshes
are home to a variety of migrating birds. After
a couple of hours on the water and under the
sun we reach historic Noto, a beautiful baroque
city. We have planned our visit to be on the
third Sunday of May when the “Infiorata” takes
place. During this beautiful event, colourful
flowers are used to “paint” images on the
Corrado Nicolaci street. Admire the amazing
workmanship as we stroll the Corrado.
May 15 & 16 - TAORMINA
(Sirius Hotel, 2 nts, 2B, 1L, 1D)
After breakfast we drive to Mount Etna,
Sicily’s famous and towering volcano. At
3,323m it is the highest active volcano in
Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
After enjoying the views we’ll have a light
lunch with flavourful products of Sicily before
continuing to Taormina where the rest of the
day and evening is for your own explorations.
The Hotel Sirius enjoys a prime location on
the hillside overlooking the town and the sea.
On May 16 we explore Taormina, admiring
the breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea and
the impressive ancient Greco-Roman theater
which is one of the most important ruins in
Sicily. In the old town we see the Palace
Corvaja, the Odeon and the Corso Umberto.
Later tonight we enjoy our “farewell to Sicily”
dinner.
May 17 - DEPART OR EXTEND
(B)
Our Insider’s Italy adventure ends after
breakfast today. Andrew recommends several
extensions, including a visit to nearby Malta or
more time in other parts of Italy.
Taormina’s ancient theatre (A. de Angelis)
Bird’s eye view of the Infiorata festivities in Noto, Sicily
TRIP COST: CA$ 6,900 per person, twin-share.
HOW TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT
Please complete a booking form/waiver, (call us
or go online at www.civilizedadv.com), and return
them to us with your deposit. We accept Visa and
MasterCard. SAVE: pay by cheque and we’ll
take 2% off! Please make cheques payable to:
Civilized Adventures Inc.
•
•
•
Deposit: CA$ 1,500 is due upon booking.
Installment: CA$ 1,500 is due Dec. 21, 2015
Final payment is due Mar. 7, 2016
Please note: All payments are non-refundable
once received. We strongly suggest you
purchase adequate trip cancellation/interruption
insurance to protect your funds. You are welcome
to book after an installment date however you will
be responsible for all past-due amounts at time of
booking and the rate is subject to change; your
participation will be subject to availability. Should
Civilized Adventures have to cancel a departure
due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ll offer
alternative arrangements. If these alternatives are
not suitable, all payments will be returned to you.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We offer insurance through Reliable Life and
Travel Guard. Premiums and coverage differs
by age group. Restrictions may apply due to any
pre-existing conditions you may wish to cover.
Premiums can be adjusted for extensions and
other adjustments and are subject to change.
Beautiful Taormina, Sicily
INCLUSIONS
•• Complete pre-departure information,
including mini-guide, and meeting (held in
Calgary)
•• 13 nights’ twin-share accommodation in
4-star properties (5-star in Agrigento),
including city tourist taxes. Single
supplement: CA$ 1,350
•• All meals as listed (B=breakfast, L=lunch,
D=dinner). Water and local wine are included
in Sicily
•• Touring and entrance fees as described
•• Expert local guides as mentioned
•• Arrival transfer in Palermo, Sicily; Departure
transfers in Naples, Italy and Catania, Sicily
•• Services of Civilized Adventures host,
Andrew De Angelis with a minimum group
size of 10
EXCLUSIONS
•• International return flights (and departure
taxes) to Naples, Italy and back from
Catania, Siciliy
•• Arrival transfers in Naples (we anticipate
you may add pre-trip extensions, so we can
adjust this on an individual basis)
•• Flight Naples to Palermo (see “FLIGHTS &
EXTENSIONS”)
•• All items of a personal nature, including
drinks/bar expenses, tips, souvenirs, laundry,
internet charges, etc.
•• Optional travel insurance
•• Gratuities to local guides, drivers etc.
•• Any activities and excursions not specified
•• Visas to enter Italy (not required of Canadian
passport holders)
•• Any increases due to circumstances beyond
our control (i.e. park fee increases, fuel
surcharges, currency fluctuations, etc.)
Cobbled streets of Pompeii (A. de Angelis)
FLIGHTS & EXTENSIONS
Please consult with Andrew De Angelis who is
ready to assist you with your flight requirements,
as well as any pre- or post-tour extensions. Air
Canada and Lufthansa fly via Frankfurt to Rome
and Naples. KLM flies via Amsterdam. At this
time we are unable to hold a group block on
the Naples-Palermo flight however Andrew will
be pleased to book this for you at the best fare
available. NOTE: if you are booking your own
flights, please consult with us first. Ensure you
have sufficient connecting time between flights.
If you have extra time, we have many ideas for
you including spending time in Venice, Rome or
Tuscany pre-trip, spending an extra day or two
in Taormina at the end of the trip, or extending
to visit Malta, the island-country that can be
reached by hydrofoil from Sicily. These are just
suggestions - share you thoughts with Andrew
and he can help make it happen.
more details?
Contact our Adventure Travel Specialists:
We can tell you more about the experiences
you’ll enjoy and provide you with
hotel “info sheets”.
IT160504
ADVISORY: We strive to deliver a quality “Civilized Adventure”. Travellers must understand that they are visiting developing countries and must be prepared to deal with unusual occurrences,
local inadequacies, and unpredictable events. If you are flexible, curious about new people, places and environments, and have a positive attitude, we welcome your participation. This type
of travel is rewarding if you can embrace the inherent challenges . Please call us if you have any questions or concerns. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that you get the most out of your travel
experience.
CIVILIZED ADVENTURES
1220 10th Avenue SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 0W7
T: (403) 205-4120 | 1-800-688-1804 (outside Calgary) | Fax: (403) 205-4121
info@civilizedadv.com | www.civilizedadv.com
4