Best of Italy and Sicily
from $6355
Duration: 15 Days
Ancient history and fabulous food are the cornerstones of this colorful Italy and Sicily trip. You’ll enjoy local seafood in Sicily, follow the shadow of Mount Etna and admire the Leaning Tower in Pisa’s Square of Miracles.
Day 1
Welcome to Palermo
The multicultural capital of Palermo is the launchpad for your journey across Sicily and Italy. You’ll have some free time before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception and orientation of the city’s attractions, so why not head straight out to explore its fascinating streets on your own?
Day 2
Enjoy the Views in Monreale
Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour, which includes the Teatro Massimo and old 'La Cala' harbor. Later, travel to Monreale on the slopes of Monte Caputo overlooking the almond, olive and orange groves of La Conca d'Oro. Here you’ll visit the 12th-century Norman Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Day 3
Journey to Ancient Agrigento
Journey onwards to Agrigento to tour the impressive Greek Valley of the Temples, dating back to the 6th century BC, with a Local Specialist. This evening, dinner is served at your hotel.
Day 4
Onwards to Scenic Taormina
Travel through the vineyards of the southern hills towards the seaside resort of Taormina, your home for the next two nights. Enjoy spectacular vistas and a taste of la dolce vita in this hillside town, with some free time on arrival.
Day 5
Taormina Your Way Connect with Locals
Spend the day relaxing at your chic Sicilian resort. Dive into the warm Mediterranean waters, shop for exquisite hand-painted ceramics on Corso Umberto or indulge in a mulberry granita. Consider joining an Optional Experience to Savoca, the village made famous by ‘The Godfather', and Europe's most active volcano - Mount Etna. This evening, Connect With Locals during a Be My Guest experience hosted at a beautiful family owned Sicilian lemon farm overlooking Mount Etna.
Day 6
Travel to Sorrento
Today we cross the Strait of Messina to mainland Italy by ferry, driving north through rustic Calabria and past Salerno to our hotel in Sorrento where we’ll spend the next two nights. Tonight perhaps consider an Optional Experience to explore the famous culinary culture of Southern Italy.
Day 7
A Day on the Isle of Capri
We cruise to the Isle of Capri where we’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Capri town with a Local Specialist. Window-shop along Via Camerelle and watch the beautiful people in the Piazzetta before returning to Sorrento. This afternoon perhaps consider a drive along the famed Amalfi Coast to Positano, a true Mediterranean gem. You will have the evening at leisure to indulge in a little limoncello in one of Sorrento's many cafés.
Day 8
Explore Pompeii’s Ruins and Rome Dive Into Culture
This morning we visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ruins of Pompeii where a Local Specialist will take you on a walking tour. For centuries this city was lost to the world, but its rediscovery in the 18th century revealed a time capsule of well-preserved ruins, providing insights into the day-to-day life of a Roman city centuries ago. Later, admire the dramatic coastline as we drive north from Pompeii to the 'Eternal City' of Rome. This evening, an exclusive Trafalgar experience will see you Dive Into Culture and enjoy a visit to the extraordinary Vatican Museums including the famous frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, followed by a special dinner inside the Anima Mundi Museum.
Day 9
Explore Ancient Rome and the Vatican City
Rome was once the capital of the world and is a city with an irrepressible spirit. Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour to admire the city's iconic and unexpected highlights. Head to the Vatican and see Michelangelo’s magnificent Pietà inside St. Peter’s Basilica, then continue on to Ancient Rome, where you’ll see Circus Maximus and experience an in depth walking experience around the walls of the Colosseum. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city your way.
Day 10
Off to Historic Assisi Stays With Stories
Today we drive north to the mystical medieval hilltop town of Assisi, most famous for being the birthplace of St. Francis. Join a Local Specialist  for a tour of the Basilica of St. Francis to view its magnificent frescoes and carvings. Tonight, we'll stay at one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories - a fully renovated old Franciscan monastery.
Day 11
Admire Pisa and on to La Spezia
We venture to Pisa to visit the Square of Miracles and view the Leaning Tower that bears this city's name. A short drive north takes us to La Spezia, known as the 'Pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea'. Tonight is free to explore as you wish.
Day 12
Enjoy Colorful Cinque Terre and Florence
Join a Local Specialist to visit Cinque Terre, a series of centuries-old seaside villages clinging impossibly to rugged cliffs that plunge into the Ligurian Sea. Continue later to Florence, once a vibrant republic under the rule of the dynamic Medici family, whose love for art and antiquities created one of the world's most cultural cities. Tonight perhaps consider dinner in the famed Tuscan Hills.
Day 13
Journey to Venice
The magnificent marble Duomo, Santa Croce Basilica, Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria feature on your walking tour with a Local Specialist through Florence's historic streets. Later, journey north to Venice, the 'Queen of the Adriatic'.
Day 14
Cruise the Canals of Venice Make Travel Matter
Embark on an orientation cruise by private launch to the gateway of Venice, St. Mark's Square, which Napoleon once called the 'drawing room of Europe'. See the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica and the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners would have one last look at their beloved city before facing imprisonment. Next, witness the centuries-old craft of glassblowing. Your unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps keep alive this delicate tradition for which Venice is justifiably famous, and you’ll watch in awe as master craftsmen shape molten glass into the exquisite pieces that adorn homes all over the world.The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore more of the sights or consider an Optional Experience, navigating the city's elegant canals aboard a traditional gondola. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner and toast to shared memories that will linger long after the evening ends.
Day 15
Farewell Venice
For now, it's a fond ciao Venezia as you say goodbye to new friends and prepare to depart for your journey home. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
  • 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
  • 14 Breakfast (B)
  • 5 Dinner (D)
  • Acireale: Join a family-owned lemon farm and enjoy a Be My Guest dinner overlooking Mount Etna.
  • Rome: Enjoy a private visit inside the Vatican where you will tour the Museo Gregoriano Profano featuring Roman and Ancient Greek antiquities before an exclusive private dinner.
  • Palermo: Join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for an introductory orientation of Palermo's highlights.
  • Palermo: Discover the Sicilian capital with your Local Specialist. See Pretoria Square and the 16th-century fountain. View the composite architectural styles of the Palermo Cathedral and visit the Cathedral of Monreale.
  • Agrigento: A Local Specialist will lead you through the magnificent remains of the Greek colony in the Valley in the Temples. See the massive Temple of Concord and clifftop Temple of Juno.
  • Capri: Join a Local Specialist on a walk through elegant Capri to gain insight into the island's local culture and historic landmarks.
  • Pompeii: Walk with a Local Specialist through the cobbled streets of this ill-fated town, frozen in time since the 1st century.
  • Rome: Experience Rome through the eyes of a local, as a passionate Roman guides you past the city's most iconic sites.
  • Rome: Discover ancient treasures of Rome with a passionate local. See Circus Maximus and the Ancient Forum, and stand beside the Colosseum, which bears witness to the limitless courage of the gladiators.
  • Assisi: With a Local Specialist, find out why the Basilica of St. Francis is considered to be one of the crowning artisitic achievements of 13th-century Europe.
  • Pisa: During an orientation, your Travel Director will show you the baptistery, cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
  • Cinque Terre: Led by your Local Specialist, visit this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site, tucked away on the mountainous Italian Riviera coastline. Admire the charming fishing villages and perhaps snap some memorable pictures.
  • Florence: Join a Local Specialist to view the multi-colored marble cathedral, bell tower and baptistery, adorned by Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise. Visit the political heart of the city, Signoria Square.
  • Venice: Learn about the history and ancient skill of Venetian glassblowing, playing your role in ensuring the survival of this traditional craft through your visit.
  • : VIP Admission to the Vatican Museums
  • : Explore Palermo, Agrigento, Pompeii, Capri, Rome, Assisi, Cinque Terre and Florence with a Local Specialist
  • : Discover Taormina, Sorrento and Venice
  • : Visit the Norman Cathedral at Monreale, the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the Isle of Capri, the excavations at Pompeii, the amazing Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and a glassblowing factory in Venice
  • : View Palermo Cathedral, the ancient sites of Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Santa Croce Basilica and the Duomo in Florence and the Byzantine St. Mark's Basilica in Venice
  • : Scenic Cruise to the Isle of Capri and by private launch to St. Mark's Square in Venice
  • Assisi: Built to welcome pilgrims visiting Assisi, Hotel Cenacolo is a fully renovated old Franciscan monastery in nearby Santa Maria degli Angeli.
  • : An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • : Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • : All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • : All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • : Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • : Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • : Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • : Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • : Ferry across the Straits of Messina to mainland Italy
  • : Return cruise to the Isle of Capri
  • : Optional Experiences and free time
Start Date: 2023-09-28
End Date: 2023-10-12
twin
Adult Price: $6475
Child Price: $5875
twinShare
Adult Price: $6475
triple
Adult Price: $6355
Child Price: $5755
single
Adult Price: $7405

Make an Enquiry

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.