Immersive Southern Italy and Sicily Tour: Food, Culture, and History

View of the Arc de Triomphe of Constantine and the Colosseum, Rome

What to expect on this itinerary

During this immersive 8-day vacation, you will discover the rich history, lively culture, and delicious cuisine of the area. Picturesque towns and stunning landscapes can be found throughout southern Italy and Sicily. Exclusive tours and private tastings will be enjoyed at every destination as you indulge in la dolce vita during this unforgettable vacation.

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Rome, Naples, Salerno, Palermo (City), Agrigento

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Rome – The Legendary Colosseum

Your 8-day trip will begin when you land at Fiumicino Airport in Rome. Upon your arrival, a driver will greet and transfer you to your accommodation, where you will have time to settle in and relax. When you are ready, your guide will lead you on an intriguing tour of the Colosseum. The ancient Colosseum is perhaps one of the most admired landmarks of Italy. The age-old amphitheater dates back to the first century, and you may find yourself imagining being a spectator at one of the epic battles of the gladiators. After your tour of the Colosseum concludes, you can explore more of the city at your own pace.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Naples – Pizza-Making Course

Day 3

Salerno – Explore the Ruins of Pompeii

Day 4

Palermo – Ferry Ride to Sicily

Day 5

Palermo – Private Food Tour

Day 6

Palermo – Historical City Tour

Day 7

Agrigento – The Valley of the Temples

Day 8

Agrigento – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Discover the famous Colosseum, which will allow you to travel back in time to ancient Rome and bring the gladiator battles to life
  • Visit Montecassino Abbey, where you will learn about its intriguing history and marvel at its many preserved details
  • Indulge in the world-renowned pizza of Naples during a pizza-making class at an authentic pizzeria
  • Explore the city of Pompeii during an engaging walking tour around the remains
  • Immerse yourself in the cuisine of Sicily as you discover the delicious flavors of Palermo
  • Uncover the historic highlights of Palermo, including the stunning Palermo Cathedral and Palace of the Normans
  • Journey around the ruins of the Valley of the Temples as you stroll through the history of Agrigento

Detailed Description

An exploration of the food, culture, and history of Southern Italy and Sicily is an immersive experience. Your 8-day journey will begin when you land at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport. Your introduction to the city will come when you embark on a private tour of the legendary Colosseum. The next morning, you will transfer to Naples. Along the way, you will stop in Cassino for a guided tour of the Montecassino Abbey, which dates back to the first century. An evening pizza-making class in Naples, which is the birthplace of pizza, will be a memorable and tasty way to explore the cuisine of the city.

The next morning, you will transfer to the coastal city of Salerno. The ancient city of Pompeii will be a great place to stop and explore to break up the journey. The endless excavations and preserved pieces of history will be awe-inspiring, and you will feel as though you have been transported back in time. The next day, you will ride the ferry to the island of Sicily. The ferry will have wonderful accommodations, and you will enjoy dinner onboard before arriving in the capital city of Palermo later that evening.

The following day, you will discover the city’s cuisine during a private food tour. As you stop at various culinary destinations with your guide, you will learn about traditional Sicilian dishes and sample multiple specialties. A discovery of the fascinating history of Palermo will be in store the following day, and you will tour the city’s historic highlights, including the Palermo Cathedral and Palace of the Normans. The next morning you will transfer to your final destination of Agrigento. Upon your arrival, you embark on a private tour of the Valley of the Temples, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After one last night, a private transfer will lead you to Palermo Airport the next morning for the flight home.

Starting Price

$3,600 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.

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We had a fabulous trip to Italy, including to Sorrento, Taormina, and Rome. Zicasso’s travel specialist made sure every detail was taken care of, including stays in beautiful, well-located hotels and excursions that were interesting and fun for our family.

For example, she arranged for an airport host to assist us with our arrival to and departure from the Rome airport, and she was simply amazing, whisking us through the airport and eliminating stress for our family.

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Aside from the delay because of the time change, working with Zicasso’s travel specialist was great. She took care of all arrangements in Sicily once our decisions were made. She confirmed with every hotel, driver, and guide, making sure our travel was effortless.

The guides were great, adding so much historical information to our attractions. Our drivers were friendly, providing us with clean, comfortable vehicles, safe driving, and interesting conversation about modern life in Italy. Our hotels were high-end, in city centers, with amazing breakfast buffets and professional, kind staff.

We used a reputable tour group for our first week of mainland Italy travel, but our experience with this travel specialist far surpassed the tour group experience and our expectations. I would not hesitate to use her again for any travel plans in Italy. She checked in with us pre-, mid-, and post-travel. There wasn’t one hiccup with the plans she made for us.

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Zicasso’s travel company helped us plan a trip that exceeded our expectations. From the hotels to the guides to the scheduling of events, things could not have gone smoother. We visited all the sites and did all the things we wanted to do, and still had free time to roam on our own. This team is top-notch and we highly recommend them.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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