ITALIAN PENINSULA AND SICILY

Upon arrival at Milan you will be transferred to the hotel. It is advised to visit the most touristic places of Milan such as: the Duomo; the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II; La Scala; the Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio; the Palazzo dell’Ambrosiana, etc. Accommodation in the hotel.

After breakfast free time is on your own. Then, the first stop is Verona, city represented in William Shakespeare’s tragic love story “Romeo and Juliet”. We suggest you to visit the most important places of the city in your free time, such as Piazza Bra; roman amphitheater, etc. Dinner and accommodation in the hotel.

After breakfast the first stop is Venice. You will enjoy a cruise across the Venetian Lagoon in order to reach Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. During the boat ride you can admire the characteristic water of Venice canals and its beautiful architecture. After this boat trip, a visit to the crystal industry of Murano is scheduled. After lunch, it is possible to make a romantic gondola ride (optional) or visit the Basilica and the Ducal Palace. The rest of the day is on your own to explore the city. Dinner and accommodation.

After breakfast the first stop of the journey will be Florence, the capital of Tuscany. Upon arrival it is scheduled to make a sightseeing tour in order to see the most important places: Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore together with the Baptistery and its Gate of Paradise; Ponte Vecchio; San Lorenzo’s market; Basilica of Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria, etc. After lunch, free time is on your own to visit (optional) some of the jewels of this unique city, such as Michelangelo’s David sculpture that can be found in Galleria dell’Accademia; the Basilica of San Miniato; Medici Chapels; etc. Dinner and accommodation.

After breakfast the first stop is Assisi, homeland of St. Francis. It is possible to freely visit the Basilica and the tomb of the Saint. The next stop is Rome, the eternal city where a sightseeing tour is organized: Colosseum (outside), one of the most beautiful Roman amphitheaters; Piazza Venezia; Circo Massimo etc. It is also possible to visit the Baroque area, which is characterized by its peculiar fountains and squares. Dinner and accommodation in the hotel.

After breakfast a visit to the Vatican Museums is the first place to enjoy. It is possible to see the breathtaking Sistine Chapel and the Pietà inside the St. Peter’s Basilica which seems to breathe life into the marble. After lunch a visit through the most popular places is scheduled: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Moses, another perfect work of Master Buonarroti. Dinner and accommodation.

After breakfast the first stop is Pompeii in order to visit the amazing archeological remains. Pompeii was buried under the ashes of Vesuvius Vulcan in 79 B.C. Then it is possible to make a sightseeing tour of Naples: the seaport, the seafront promenade, the old center, Piazza del Plebiscito, etc. After arriving to the hotel, the rest of the day is on your own to explore the city. It is possible to make a trip to Capri, and island formerly frequented by Roman emperors (lunch included). Accommodation.

After breakfast, free time is on your own, we suggest you to visit the Archaeological Museum in order to know more about the history of this region. Then, a visit to the Coral Jewellery Museum and the Museum of Royal Palace is scheduled. It is also possible to visit some of the numerous castles of this region such as: Castel Nuovo, Castel Dell’Ovo, Capuano, Sant’Elmo, etc. The next stop is Palermo which will be reached by boat from Naples port. Accommodation in the cabins.

Upon arrival at Palermo, you will be transferred to the hotel in order to have breakfast. Then a tour through Monreal is organized. It is possible to visit the Cathedral and its beautiful cloister. The tour continues through the historical centre of Palermo: the Cathedral, the Royal Palace and its Cappella Palatina, the church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, etc. After lunch it is possible to visit Erice (optional), a tiny medieval region in Trapani. Dinner and accommodation.

After breakfast the first place to visit is Selinunte. The archaeological area was founded by the Greek civilization in VII B.C. and then they blend with the Carthaginian culture. After lunch you will reach the next stop: Agrigento, considered “the most beautiful city of the mortals” and birthplace of Luigi Pirandello, Italian playwright. Then a visit to the Temple Illuminati is scheduled. Dinner and accommodation.

After breakfast the first place to visit is Piazza Armerina, a city located in the heart of Sicily where the Villa Romana del Casale (UNESCO World Heritage) can be found. This Villa has some majestic tiles that describe how life was in Sicily during the IV century. The next stop is Catania. After lunch, served in a typical restaurant of the region, the trip continues to the spectacular landscapes of this Baroque city. Finally, you will arrive to Syracuse. Dinner and accommodation.

After breakfast the first place to visit is Syracuse, founded in 733-734 B.C. It is possible to visit the archaeological area where the Temple or Minerva, Arethusa Fountain, Temple of Apollo, the Greek theatre and the Roman amphitheatre are located. After lunch the next stop is Noto, capital of the Sicilian Baroque famous for its iron balcony designs. The Cathedral is one of its treasures. It was restored using antique techniques of repair. Dinner in a restaurant at Ortigia (Syracuse) which is placed in a charming old area of the city. Accommodation in the hotel.

After breakfast the first stop is Mount Etna, one of the most active volcanoes of the world and the highest one of Europe (3345 meters/10,991 ft). It is possible to ascend in order to see the vegetation as you climb up. After lunch the next stop is Taormina where a visit to the Greek theatre is scheduled. It is possible to admire the magnificent landscape: the Mount Etna next to Taormina and Naxos beach. Free time to explore the city and transfer to the hotel in Taormina. Dinner and accommodation.

After breakfast the first stop of the day is Messina where a sightseeing tour including the Cathedral is scheduled. The next stop is Cefalù a tiny fishing town that can be freely visited. Lunch in a restaurant besides the sea. Free time is on your own to visit the charming alleys of this place: the Normand cathedral, built in 1311 and its medieval lavatoi. Dinner and accommodation in Palermo.

After breakfast free time is on your own until the transfer to the airport.