Tour Route Through Southern Italy
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Hotel Accommodations / Roommates
All hotels have three star ratings (based upon the one through five star rating system). We have had good luck finding roommates on past trips for those not interested in paying the single hotel room supplement.
In-Country Transportation
In-country transportation from city to city is by modern 50-passenger private, air conditioned charter bus.
Description of Major Destinations*
October 14, 2010 (Thursday) – Leave home for Rome
Today you leave home from San Francisco International Airport to begin your Southern Italy adventure!
October 15 (Friday) – Arrive in Rome
Rome (Roma), the eternal city, is literally eternal. Having endured for over 2,700 years, it has an ambiance like no other. Embedded in centuries of history and culture, it is Italy's capital and largest city, offering much to see. In this city a phenomenal concentration of history, legend, and monuments co-exists with an equal concentration of people busily going about their everyday lives.
Throughout much of its long, noble history Rome was a city-state unto itself, developing and basking in its own grandeur and uniqueness. Built on seven hills, halfway between the country's fertile, industrious north and balmy, Mediterranean south, Rome has been at the center of Italy's empire building as well as her inspiring cultural and artistic expressions.
It is hard to believe that the Dark or Middle Ages ever existed in a city so steeped in light and littered with magnificent white marble ruins. The ancient Romans left us as a gift such famous monuments as the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, the Pantheon and the Forum. From the Renaissance came Vatican City, St. Peter's Square and Basilica and a priceless array of art treasures for you to behold.
Remember, when in Rome, do as the Romans do -- stroll the Spanish Steps and along the shops and cafe culture of the Via Condotti and Via Veneto or simply toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain then have a gelato. Consider, as you are strolling through this remarkable city or perhaps along the Appian Way on the city’s outskirts, that you are walking in the footsteps of Julius Caesar, St. Peter, Charlemagne, the Catholic Popes, and Michelangelo!
October 18 (Monday) – Naples – 2 Nights
Fasten your seat belts and hold on tight! Naples (Napoli) is a bustling sea port in a beautiful natural setting. It is one of the most exciting and vivid places you’ll ever visit. The city, set around one of the most beautiful bays in Italy and lying in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, is full of beautiful architecture.
Naples, a former Greek trading center established around 600 B.C., was later conquered by the ancient Romans and became a residence of several emperors and other important people of that time. Today, it is filled with bustling street life, chaotic traffic, and numerous narrow and winding alleyways that lead to many quaint shops and restaurants. While walking in the streets of Naples, you will hear the harsh dialect of the Neapolitan language bellowed at volume.
This region of Italy is rich in historical, artistic, and cultural traditions with its own distinct cuisine. It is where the pizza originated in the 18th century and is eaten, like so many other delicious local foods, out on the street. Neapolitans will engage nearly anyone in conversation and they love to interact almost as much as they love to eat outdoors.
When you visit Naples, prepare for an interesting and intense experience.
October 20 (Wednesday) - Sorrento - 3 Nights 
Sorrento, perched on a dramatic line of steeply rising cliffs, is a charming town in a spectacular setting. On a clear day you can see the city of Naples across the bay almost 25 miles away, the slopes of the majestic Mt. Vesuvius, and the island of Ischia. Nicknamed “La Gentile” because of the gentleness of its climate and the cheery friendliness of its inhabitant, it has been a popular vacation retreat since 600 A.D.
The charms of Sorrento are many; from the picturesque streets of the old city adorned by patrician villas to the Marina Grande, a traditional fishing harbor and popular destination for a stroll. The town, with pretty pastel colored houses and several quaint small squares, is surrounded by orange and lemon groves and lush thickly wooded hills where vines and olives are grown.
Sorrento is a great town for walking and exploring. At the center of Sorrento is Piazza Tasso, a bustling and typical Italian square filled with several bars and restaurants. The view from the public gardens above this square is spectacular. The old historic quarter has charming cobbled streets and alleyways, a 15th-century cathedral, and several luxurious old villas. The area of Via Comunale, lined with colorful flowerbeds and stately trees, terminates at a seaside terrace that offers spectacular views of the Bay of Naples and the peak of Mt Vesuvius.
October 22, 2010 (Friday) – Cosenza – 1 Nights
The town of Cosenza is situated in a valley at the confluence of the Busento and Crathis rivers. The town has been known throughout antiquity as the Athens of Calabria due to its rich cultural past. The historical center is one of the best preserved in Italy, with finely renovated palaces, medieval squares, old craft shops and lively areas full of people in the evenings.
Cozensa, with its uncontaminated landscapes, has a rich cooking tradition and is well known for its cheeses and wines. The city remains an important cultural center with museums, theatres, numerous libraries and the University of Calabria. There’s a riverside Friday morning market.
While in Cosenza, be sure to take in the 12th-century Cathedral, one of the most interesting and best conserved sacred buildings in Southern Italy. Reconstructed after a disastrous earthquake in 1184, it was solemnly inaugurated in 1222 in the presence of emperor Frederick II of Swabia. The facade in the original Romanesque-benedictine style, has three gothic portals and three rosewindows. The inside of the church is divided into three naves, and contains the fine chapel of the Madonna of the Pilerio, patron saint of the city, beautiful frescoes, the sepulchre of Isabel of Aragon, the sarcophagus of Meleager.
Piazza Frederico II, a castle built by the Normans and reduced to its ruinous, bare interior by several earthquakes, is the best place to take in Cosenza and its surrounding mountains. The fantastic view makes the steep ascent worthwhile.
Also, while visiting this nice town, consider a visit to Piazza XV Marzo. This elegant square is fronted by the Palazzo del Governo and the neoclassical Teatro Rendano. In its center is a 1914 statue of hero-philosopher Bernardino Telesio. The northwest corner has his Accademia Cosentina and, within it, an excellent library and museum. South of the piazza stretches shady Villa Vecchia, a huge and welcome oasis of green. October 24 (Sunday) – Catania -- 2 Nights
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The town of Catania is Sicily's second largest city with a population of about 350,000. Catania is characerized by its charming architecture and magnificent coastline. It lies between the Ionian Sea and the slopes of the well known volcano, Mount Etna. Historically, much of Catania's history has been linked to its volcanic neighbor. The city was build by natural and geophysical elements, and most of the city's buildings are made from Etna's black lava. While visiting Catania, be sure to take the opportunity to visit Piazza del Duomo, which lies in the heart of the city and the Duomo, erected in the late 11th century and dedicated to St. Agata, Catania’s patron saint.
October 26 (Tuesday) Palermo – 2 Nights
Palermo, the capital city of Sicily, rises up in a beautiful bay at the foot of Monte Pellegrino on the northern coast of the island. It is another of Italy’s most exciting, chaotic and exhilarating cities. One reason for this is that Palermo bears the stamp of every invader that held this Sicilian city in its grasp over the past three millennia. You will find traces of this in its architecture - Baroque, Rococo, Medieval, Romanesque, Renaissance, Spanish, Arabic and more. You will also find traces it its cuisine, with dishes like couscous and orange salad suggesting North Africa, a distinctive Mediterranean emphasis on fish and shellfish, and spicier food than you would find on the mainland.
While in Palermo, be sure to see the many sights, including the superb Cattedrale (cathedral), the Palazzo dei Normanni (Royal Norman Palace) and its Cappella Palatina (the chapel has superb mosaics). There are very fine Norman churches, one of the main legacies of the Frenchmen's brief occupation, and some very good museums. There are excellent bars and restaurants, and the harbor, although a little rundown, has an interesting atmosphere.
October 28 (Thursday) Fly Home
Today you must leave beautiful Italy and return home. But rest assured that you will have memories that will last for a lifetime!
Optional Side Excursions
Additional optional side excursions are being planned. More information will be available closer to departure!
Reservations
Reservations for the Southern Italy Cultural Tour 2010 are being accepted now on a first-come first-served basis until spaces are filled. The first 15 sign-ups will receive the “Early Bird” discount. Act now to secure your seat and save!
Additional Information
For a complete itinerary, trip application, and additional information, please contact one of our group tour consultants today! Click here to e-mail us: Contact Us
* The price assumes double occupancy, a minimum of 30 trip participants, an exchange rate of $1.50 U.S dollars to 1.00 Euro, estimated airline taxes and fees, and reflects the $100.00 early-bird discount offered to the first 15 sign-ups for this tour. A single supplement of $273.00 applies to individual travelors. A $500.00 non-refundable deposit must be submitted to receive the early-bird discount. All deposits and payments are non-refundable after their due dates. Please request a trip Application for complete details and a list of hotels.