Rome, Naples, and Sicily

Day 1: Rome

Ciao Roma! Upon arrival you’ll be met by your Sky Vacations ambassador for the transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is at your leisure.

Day 2: Rome  

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before meeting your guide for a full day tour of Rome, the capital of Italy. The “eternal city” has a history that spans more than 2500 years. In the ancient world it was successively the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded as one of the birthplaces of Western civilization. During your tour you’ll see the Imperial Forum, the Colosseum, Constantine’s Arch, and the astonishing sights of Ancient Rome. After a stop for lunch on your own, it’s time for a stroll in Piazza di Spagna to see the world-famous Spanish Steps. Snap a picture by the Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Navona before reaching one of the most important ancient buildings in the world, the Pantheon.

Day 3: Rome & Naples

After breakfast, you’ll depart for a morning visit to the Vatican Museums. Originally started as a group of sculptures collected by Pope Julius II (1503-1513) and placed in what today is the “Cortile Ottagono,” it is now an extensive museum complex housing some of the most important works of art ever created. Your tour concludes in the Sistine Chapel, visited by millions every year. You’ll have time to grab lunch and explore on your own before a late afternoon transfer and rail journey to Naples.

Day 4: Pompeii & Naples

This morning, you’re off to visit one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world, Pompeii. Your trip includes a visit to the archeological museum and a tour explaining how life in the city was before Vesuvius hit in 79 B.C. You’ll walk the alleys, visit the town forum, and see the local bakery, spas, and homes. After lunch on your own, enjoy an afternoon panoramic tour of Naples, the capital of the Italian region Campania and the third-largest municipality in Italy. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and the city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Day 5: Capri

After breakfast, your driver transfer you to the ferry going to Capri, one of the most spectacular islands on the Mediterranean Sea. Enchanting and picturesque, Capri is an island made of limestone rock, one of the Mediterranean’s must-see places and home to the famous Blue Grotto, Grotta Azzurra. Your tour will take you around to see the island, including its two towns, and you will have the rest of the day to enjoy the serene atmosphere of Capri on your own.

Day 6: Amalfi & Sicily

Enjoy a picturesque tour along the breathtaking Amalfi coast with stops in several towns and villages. In the late afternoon, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight from Naples to Palermo, Sicily. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel.

Day 7: Palermo & Monreale

Today you’ll depart on half-day guided tour of Palermo. Its original name (Panormus) means large port and it was a meeting point between East and West. You will see the Cathedral, which houses the tomb of the Norman Kings and the Swabian Emperor Frederick II, the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, and many of the city’s landmarks. After lunch on your own, it’s off to Monreale to visit the astonishing Duomo, which is often called “the eighth wonder of the world”. You’ll return to Palermo in the early evening.

Day 8: Eryx, Selinunte, & Agrigento

Enjoy breakfast followed by a departure for Eryx. Eryx is mentioned by Latin poets, like Virgil, as a mountain of the first order of magnitude and is associated with gods. On its summit stands a celebrated temple of Venus or Aphrodite, founded, according to the current legend, by Aeneas. Take some time for lunch followed by a visit to Selinunte for a guided tour of the “Collina Orientale,” home of many temples and the Acropolis. At the end of the tour, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Agrigento. 

Day 9: Catania

This morning you’ll depart for a guided tour of the Valley of Temples, which boasts one of the greatest treasures that Greek civilization created in the ancient city of Acreages. The most important temples are dedicated to the goddesses Juno and Concordia, to the Legend of Hercules, to Olympic Jupiter, and the twins Castor and Pollux. After lunch, continue towards Piazza Armerina, one of the most important archeological sites in Sicily. About 3 km from where the town is presently situated is Villa Casale, a Roman villa adorned with astonishing mosaics from the Roman Imperial Period. At the end of the tour, transfer to your hotel in Catania.

Day 10: Siracusa, Noto, & Catania

This morning, depart to Siracusa, a city rich in history. Siracusa is divided into 2 parts: Ortigia Island (the ancient center) and Neapolis, the archeological site. You’ll see the Greek theatre, Latomie, the artificial Cave called “Dionysus’s Ear,” and the Roman amphitheater from the 3rd Century AD. After lunch on your own, travel to Noto, the triumph of Sicilian baroque style. You’ll have a guided visit of the historical city center highlighting the churches San Carlo Borromeo and San Domenico, as well as numerous noble palaces.

Day 11: Catania, Cyclops Coast, & Acireale

Today begins with a morning tour of Catania, located right at the foot of the Volcano Etna. See Piazza Duomo, the very heart of Catania with the Cathedral, the Elephant Fountain, Via Crociferi, Municipal Palace, Chierici Palace, the Benedictine Monastery, and Villa Bellini with its beautiful gardens. In the afternoon, take a tour along the Cyclops Coast to see Aci Castello, Aci Trezza and Acireale.

Day 12: Taormina, Cefalu, & Palermo

This morning you’ll depart for Taormina, site of the first Greek colony in Italy, with spectacular views of Mount Etna and the Calabrian Coast. Enjoy a visit to its Hellenic theatre, and then spend some time in the beautiful downtown with Piazza Corvaja and the Arab Tower. Next, its off to Palermo with a stop in Cefalù. Cefalu is a lively and beautiful town at the very foot of the Monte Madonie. You’ll arrive in Palermo late this afternoon.

Day 13: Departure

Transfer to Palermo airport for your onward journey.