Magically suspended between the blue sky and an iridescent colored sea, the Amalfi coast seems to be born from the palette of a painter who wanted to use the warmer color gradients for creating a landscape that enchants the visitor at the first shot, giving thrilling experience and such evocative view to doubt, for a moment, it is real. The Costiera has thus always attracted tourists, since Grand Tour to the thousands of more humble visitors of the late 20th century.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape on 1997 the Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline on the southern coast of the Sorrentina Penisula in the beautiful region of Campania located in Southern Italy. It is is an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, with exceptional cultural and natural scenic values resulting from its dramatic topography and historical evolution, an area of great physical beauty and natural diversity. It has been intensively settled by human communities since the early Middle Ages. There are a number of towns such as Amalfi and Ravello with architectural and artistic works of great significance such as the Torre Saraceua at Cetara, the Romanesque Cathedral of Amalfi and its “Cloister of Paradise,” with their strong oriental influences, the Church of San Salvatore de’ Birecto at Atrani, where the Dogi of Amalfi were elected, and Ravello with its flue Cathedral and the superb Villa Rufolo.
The rural areas show the versatility of the inhabitants in adapting their use of the land to the diverse nature of the terrain, which ranges from terraced vineyards and orchards on the lower slopes to wide upland pastures. In some parts of the Costiera the natural landscape survives intact, with little, if any, human intervention. It supports the traditional Mediterranean flora of
myrtle, lentisk, broom, euphorbia, etc, which can withstand the windswept aridity of much of the area.

Southern to the Amalfi Coast, the enchanting island of Sicily with its immense beauty and vast cultural, historic and natural heritage. The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, separated from the Continent by the Strait of Messina, Sicily is a land of extremes and contrasts, a magnification of all things Italian. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.”  Evidences of Sicily’s 3,000 years of history as the strategic crossroads of Europe are all around you. Nowhere else have Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, French, Germans, Spanish, Italians, and even the British, left such an enormous collective legacy and some of the most stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy. The island is a vast open-air museum, a testament to nearly every Mediterranean civilisation of the past. In Sicily, you’ll discover that luxury exist in historical, cultural and outdoor settings, in the lifestyle of people and the ambiance of places. In Sicily, luxury and indulgence are a state of mind.

ITINERARY & PROGRAM, overview
13 days – 12 nights

Day 1 – Rome or Naples – Sorrento

  • Arrival at Naples or Rome International Airport.
  • Meet & greet your driver and private transfer to your luxury hotel, the Grand Hotel Cocumella, 5 stars, in Sant’Agnello di Sorrento.
  • Check-in, dinner at leisure.

Day 2 – Amalfi – Positano – Ravelllo

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
  • Explore the beauty of the Amalfi Coast with a guided visit of Amalfi, Positano and Ravello.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.
  • Overnight stay at Grand Hotel Cocumella.

Day 3 – Capri

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
  • Hydrofoil to Capri, enjoy the charme of this island with a private guided visit.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.
  • Overnight stay at Grand Hotel Cocumella.

Day 4 – Naples – Palermo

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
  • Check-out and private transfer to Naples airport for your flight to Palermo (according to flight departure we can organize a guided visit of Naples).
  • Arrival at Palermo International Airport and private transfer to your luxury accommodation.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.

Day 5 – Palermo

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
  • Explore Palermo, the Capital of Sicily with a guided visit including Palatine Chapel, Norman Palace, Arab-Norman Cathedral, Oratory of St Cita, Opera House.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure
  • Overnight stay at your luxury accommodation in Palermo.

Day 6 – Monreale & Cefalù

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
  • Guided visit of the Cathedral of Monreale and its nearby Cloister
  • Then, proceed for a walking visit of Cefalù and its Norman Cathedral.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.
  • Overnight stay at the Grand Hotel Villa Igiea.

Day 7 – Erice, Segesta & Menfi

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel, then check-out.
  • Departure for a guided visit of Segesta and its archeological park including a Greek Theatre a the Doric Temple immersed into the countryside and surrounded by vineyards.
  • Proceed for a walking visit of the well preserved and charimg Medieval village of Erice from which you can enjoy an incredible view of both the countryside, the sea and the Aegadi islands.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.
  • Overnight stay at Foresteria Planeta, a refined wine boutique hotel in Menfi.

Day 8 – Selinunte – Agrigento

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
  • Departure for a guided visit of the archaeological park of Selinunte, one of the largest in Europe.
  • Proceed south toward Agrigento and enjoy a guided visit of the Valley of the Temples. Its impressive Doric temples constitute one of the most important testaments to Greek culture and art, and they tell us about the thousand-year old history which began in the Sixth century B.C. with the founding of the ancient colony of Akragas.
  • Overnight stay at the luxury Villa Athena, 5 stars, overlooking the Valley of the Temples.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.

Day 9 – Piazza Armerina- Syracuse

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
  • Departure to Syracuse with en route stop in Piazza Armerina to visit the Roman Villa del Casale and its huge collection of floor mosaics.
  • Arrival in Syracuse and overnight stay at the luxury Ortea Palace, 5 stars.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.

Day 10 – Syracuse & Noto

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
  • Guided visit of Syracuse “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all” as Cicero described it. Enjoy a walking tour of Ortigia, the Baroque style historic heart of the town and visit some of its treasures as the Cathedral, built on a former Greek temples, Caravaggio’s painting “The Bury of St Lucy” placed at the nearby Badia of St Lucy.
  • Lunch at leisure in town.
  • After lunch, guided visit of the impressive archaeological park, the olf Greek town of Neapolis with the Greek Theatre, the largest in Sicily and one of the largest in the world. Although the stage has been destroyed, the grandness, prominence and majesty with which it was cut into the rock, demands respect and awe.
  • End the day with a walking visit of the Baroque pearl of Noto, listed as UNESCO World heritage site for being, quite simply, the apotheosys of baroque tonn planning and architecture.
  • Return to Syracuse and overnight stay at the luxury Ortea Palace, 5 stars.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.

Day 11 – Catania & Taormina

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
  • Departure to Catania and guided walking visit of the city, the second biggest in Sicily, founded in the 8th century BC by Chalcidians and noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy. Its old town, besides being one of the biggest examples of baroque architecture in Italy, is a World Heritage Site, protected by UNESCO. Its historic market in the heart of the town is one of the most pictureque and lively in Sicily and gives you the opportunity to be immersed into the everyday life of local people and food.
  • Proceed to Taormina and check-in at the luxury Belmond Timeo, 5 stars. Then, guided walking visit of this lovely town, named the pearl of Sicily, and the Greek Theatre with its perfect picture-postcard panorama.
  • Lunch and dinner are at leisure.

Day 12 – Mt Etna: an active volcano and an exciting wine destination

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
  • Departure to explore Mt Etna, the biggest active volcano in Europe and one of the most exciting wine destinations worldwide. Visit, wine tasting and lunch at a top boutique winery.
  • Retunr to Taormina and overnight stay at the Belmond Timeo.
  • Dinner is at leisure.

Day 13 – Arrivederci!

  • Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check out.
  • Private transfer to Catania INternational Airport for departure OR you may decide to add some more days to explore the gorgeous Aeolian Islands (suggested from May to October) off the norther coast of Sicily.

Please, note the detailed program is available upon request by email to info@isolabella.it

***

FEATURES

General info
The Amalfi Coast & Sicily is a private escorted trip designed to provide customised luxury services and let participants enjoy their Sicilian experience at best. Accommodation provided is luxury, strategically located. When provided, the food is always typically local, with a blend of regional delicacies and top-quality wines. Transportation is top quality. Your driver/guide or your driver/escort and your local guides are qualified, knowledgble but pleasant and happy to meet any specific need and interest.

Departures
This tour is available all year round upon request.

Prices
Quote per person are given upon request with details of inclusions/exclusions.

Flights
We prefer you to take care of your flights according to your needs.

Adds-on
We would be happy to assist you in case of any pre and post nights in Sicily, Amalfi Coast, Rome or any other Italian city and Malta. Do not hesitate to ask for info.

Reservation & Payment
A deposit of 30% per person is required at the time of reservation. Final payment of the tour is due 60 days prior to the beginning of the tour.

Please, feel free to:

 

Go to top