Southern Italy Sicily

Arts Club
Tour 2016
Southern Italy
& Sicily
Depart: September 30, 2016
Return: October 17, 2016
Day 1 – Saturday, 01 October 2016: Arrive Rome, Italy
Welcome to Rome! A group transfer will take you to your hotel for check in. The
remainder of the day is free to relax and to start your exploration of the city of the Caesars
and the ancient capital of Christendom. (If you are arriving for a pre-stay in Rome, transfer
in Rome is not included.)
Day 2 – Sunday, 02 October 2016: Rome
Enjoy a free day to explore the city. Rome has ancient ruins throughout the city, as well at
the remains of the Roman Forum. In addition, Rome has 2000 years of Christian tradition,
replete with archeological sites, fascinating catacombs and great works of art, including St.
Peter’s Basilica and the papal grottoes. This evening we will leave the hotel for a special
welcome dinner at one of Rome’s lively restaurants. (B, D)
Day 3 – Monday, 03 October 2016: Rome – Pompeii – Sorrento
Arrive in fascinating Pompeii*, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by the
eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Your local guide will walk you past patrician
homes, public baths, and commercial districts strikingly recalling day-to-day life when
Rome was at the apex of her power. Continue on to the charming resort of Sorrento, which
was founded by the ancient Greeks. (B, D)
Day 4 – Tuesday, 04 October 2016: Sorrento – Excursion to Capri
Speed across the bay by jetfoil to the Isle of Capri. Emperor Caesar Augustus first
developed Capri as his private paradise. Ride the funicular to Capri village for a guided
visit of this pretty town, with free time to explore the little shops on the piazzetta before
returning to Sorrento. (B, D)
Day 5 – Wednesday, 05 October 2016: Sorrento – Excursion to Naples and Reggia di Caserta
Arrive in colorful Naples, an ancient city highly regarded as a paragon of Hellenistic culture
and which was favoured by the earlier Roman emperors as a holiday resort. A local guide
takes you first to the National Archeological Museum, housing some of the world’s greatest
Greco-Roman treasures and the well-preserved objects found in Pompeii. Then, on to the
city center to admire the remarkable Triumphal Arch of the New Castle, St. Charles Theater,
the Royal Palace, Galleria Umberto, and the semicircular Piazza Plebiscito. Then, visit
splendid Reggia di Caserta, the Italian Versailles with its impressive residence of 1,200
rooms with elegant gardens stretching two miles. It was built in the 18th century for the
Bourbon kings of Naples; today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch in Naples is
included. (B, L)
Day 6 – Thursday, 06 October 2016: Sorrento – Amalfi Drive & Positano
Enjoy a scenic drive up to the Madonnina, a breathtaking viewpoint over the Amalfi Coast.
You will have free time to visit and shop in the quaint terraced village of Positano, a
prosperous port of the former Amalfi Republic, which was one of the great trading centres
of the Mediterranean before the rise of Venice. See the Byzantine church of Santa Maria
Assunta and its famous majolica tile dome. Remainder of the day is at leisure. (B, D)
Day 7 – Friday, 07 October 2016: Sorrento – Trani - Alberobello
Stop in Trani, which had one of the largest Jewish communities in Southern Italy in the 12th
century until the Inquisitions. Enjoy a special lunch with local specialties which awaits you
at a seaside restaurant. Continue to the picturesque town of Alberobello, where you will
stay for the next three nights. (B, L, D)
Day 8 – Saturday, 08 October 2016: Alberobello – Cooking Class
Discover the charm of Alberobello, the city of drystone dwellings known as Trulli, with
unique prehistoric style buildings. Take a walking tour through the town's fascinating
architecture, one of the best preserved and most homogeneous urban areas of this type in
Europe which made Alberobello a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy an inside visit of
the Olive Oil Museum. Later on let a renowned chef reveal the secrets of the local hearty
cuisine. Take the chance to be part of an Italian cooking lesson and prepare your own
Italian meal. Remainder of the day is free. (B, L)
Day 9 – Sunday, 09 October 2016: Alberobello – Excursion to Ostuni
Visit the striking hilltop village of Ostuni, reputed to have once been destroyed by Hannibal
during the Punic Wars. The village is situated within touching distance of the seashore and
known as “La Citta Bianca” (The White City) due to its fortress of white washed buildings
clustered together on the hillside and which give it a very exotic feel, more Greek or Middle
Eastern than Italian. The brightness of its whitewashed houses, set against the pink-tinged
brown of its principal monuments, makes the town stand out in the green of the surrounding
area. Your local expert will guide you through a series of small roads, alleys and arches
where hints of the Middle Ages are at hand everywhere from the portal of a palace to the
walls of a convent or the front of a church. (B, D)
Day 10 – Monday, 10 October 2016: Alberobello – Matera – Reggio Calabria
In Matera, a guided walking tour features a visit to one of the picturesque Sassi Houses, an
example of prehistoric rock-cut residences. Afterwards, enjoy a spectacular drive south
along the Gulf of Taranto before heading inland to Reggio Calabria. Visit the museum
which houses the world-famous bronze warrior sculptures, “Bronzi di Riace”, with a local
guide. (B, D)
Day 11 – Tuesday, 11 October 2016: Reggio Calabria – Ferry - Palermo
Cross the Strait of Messina by ferry and start your discovery of the beautiful island of Sicily,
the great melting pot of the Mediterranean world: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Saracens,
Normans, French, and Spanish have left their marks and contributed to its rich heritage. Upon
arrival in Sicily, travel to Palermo. This afternoon enjoy a guided tour of Teatro Massimo, the
biggest opera house in Italy and one of the largest in Europe which first opened in 1897. (B,
D)
Day 12 – Wednesday, 12 October 2016: Palermo
Palermo was founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians and is now the cultural, economic and
tourist capital of Sicily. Guided sightseeing features the ornate Piazza Bellini, Capo Market,
the baroque Church of Immacolata, and the cathedral. Drive up to Monreale for a
panoramic view of the Conca d’Oro and a visit to the 12th century Norman cathedral,
famous for its 50,000 square feet of precious byzantine mosaics. Later, visit an original
Sicilian farm, Antica Masseria Barone di Salvo in Tumminia. Meet the casaro, and see how
he prepares a fresh ricotta. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B, D)
Day 13 – Thursday, 13 October 2016: Palermo. Excursion to Marsala and Sferracavallo
In Marsala, visit a salt mill and its pens, followed by a true highlight of a wine tasting at the
famous Florio wine cellar to sample and learn about Marsala wines. Enjoy lunch in
Sferracavello, a fishing village just a few miles from Palermo with the remainder of the day
at leisure. (B, L)
Day 14 – Friday, 14 October 2016: Palermo – Agrigento – Taormina Rivera
Today, head to Agrigento and enjoy a walk with your local guide through the breathtaking
Valley of Temples. Even travelers who have visited Athens and Delphi are awed by the
gigantic yet graceful Greek structures that miraculously survived 24 centuries of tormented
history. Then visit the 3rd century Greek amphitheatre, the second largest of its kind in
Sicily. Arrive at your hotel in Taormina Rivera. (B, D)
Day 15 – Saturday, 15 October 2016: Taormina Riviera – Excursion to Mt. Etna
Start the morning with free time to explore Taormina. This afternoon enjoy a scenic drive
with a local guide through orchards, vineyards, and forests up to the Europe's highest active
volcano, above the margin between the African and Eurasian crustal plates. From your
vantage point at 6,500 feet, observe the unusual landscape of extinct craters and rivers of
solidified lava. This evening includes dinner at Agriturismo Tenuta San Michele Santa
Vernerina. (B, D)
Day 16 – Sunday, 16 October 2016: Taormina Riviera – Excursion to Syracuse & Ortigia:
Travel to Syracuse, once a powerful Greek port and the birthplace of mathematician
Archimedes, which has attracted visitors such as philosopher Plato and, later, Apostle Paul,
who converted its citizens to Christianity. Enter the archeological site with a local guide to
see the 5th century BC Greek theater, Garden of Paradise, Ear of Dionysus, Altar of Hieron
II, Roman amphitheater, and the Cordmakers' Cave, with a history much older than the
fallen temples and ruins of the mainland. The rest of the day is at leisure. The island of
Ortigia is the historical heart and charm of Syracuse with tight-knit and narrow medieval
lanes. (B, D)
Day 17 – Monday, 17 October 2016: Taormina Rivera
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
* Italicized sites and events are included.
Included:
HOTELS: 16 nights (all subject to change)
Rome:
Sorrento:
Alberobello:
Reggio Calabria:
Palermo:
Taormina Riviera:
Donna Laura Palace
Sorrento Palace
Victory Country
Grand Hotel Excelsior
Mercure Excelsior Hilton
Atahotel Naxos Beach Resort
Accommodations will be provided in deluxe first-class hotels. Rooms are twin-bedded,
with private bath or shower; double beds on request only. Hotel taxes, service charges,
state and local taxes, tips to baggage porters and hotel staff are all included in our tour
price.
MEALS:
16 buffet breakfasts (B)
4 lunches (L) with wine
12 dinners (D) with wine
SIGHTSEEING:
Sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary with inside visits (including admission charges).
Sightseeing with local guides where applicable.
TOUR DIRECTOR:
The services of a professional, multilingual Italian director will be provided throughout.
NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE:
Air fare, airport taxes (where applicable), excess baggage, meals not included in attached
itinerary, all items of a personal nature such as laundry, cleaning, telephone, telex or fax
expenses, and tips to motor coach driver, tour director and local guides.
COST:
$5,429 per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement: $1200 **(Limited availability for single rooms)**
Pre-paid gratuities: $TBA (making life simpler)
Deposit: Non-refundable $250 at time of booking.
Please note any substantial changes caused by currency fluctuation may force an added
surcharge due to circumstances beyond our control.
TRAVEL INSURANCE:
Insurance for all ages with cancellation and medical only $239 (also covers pre-existing).
The pre-existing coverage on this policy is excellent, since very few policies cover this
and, based on our age group, it is a very wise choice to take this coverage. Insurance can
only be included at time of full deposit.
This tour is not suitable for individuals with balance or mobility issues.
To confirm your reservation for this incredible tour of Southern Italy in 2016
or for any further questions, please email:
geoffclydesdale@gmail.com
604.685.6756