Insight's First Class Services

• Professional Tour Director to escort you
• Luxury touring coach with extra legroom & onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with service charges, taxes & porterage
• Complimentary transfers on Day 1 and Day 9 between the airport and your Insight tour hotel

Quality Dining

• Highlight Dinner of Italian cuisine in Rome (HD)
• 8 Buffet breakfasts (BB), 3 three course table d’hôte dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

Tour Pace
This is a well paced itinerary with two night stops in every centre. This means once your morning sightseeing is completed, there is free time in the afternoon to rest, shop or explore at your own pace.

DAY 1 – ARRIVE ROME

On arrival at Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport there are complimentary transfers to the tour hotel at 09.30, 12.30 and 15.30. Then time to relax or explore! Later, join your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Melia Roma Aurelia Antica.

DAY 2 – ROME SIGHTSEEING

We meet our local guide and begin our Rome sightseeing tour with a visit to St Peter’s Basilica, seeing the Popes’ Altar by Bernini and Michelangelo’s powerful Pieta. Now we cross the river Tiber to see the Forum and visit the mighty Colosseum, where gladiators once fought to the death. Time at leisure this afternoon. This evening, we stop by the beautifully illuminated Trevi Fountain before continuing to a local restaurant for our Highlight Dinner, complete with vino and entertainment. (BB,HD)

DAY 3 – ROME – SORRENTO

We stop briefly at the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Cassino this morning, before continuing south to Pompeii. With our local guide, we stroll through the streets of this Roman town engulfed in AD79 by an eruption of Mt Vesuvius. Now on to our hotel in the scenic cliff top resort of Sorrento.
Hotel: Michelangelo. (BB,D)

DAY 4 – SORRENTO

Today’s excursion is to Capri, the island of dreams! Arriving at the Marina Grande by boat, we ascend to Capri Town by funicular railway. Here, we have time to wander through the shops and enjoy the fabulous views. Perhaps join an optional excursion to Anacapri before returning to Sorrento? (BB)

DAY 5 – SORRENTO – TAORMINA

We take the smooth Autostrada south along the very edge of the mountainous Calabria region, so often compared to Switzerland. Continuing down to the very toe of Italy, we make the short ferry crossing to Sicily and continue to Taormina.
Hotel: Sant Alphio Garden. (BB,D)

DAY 6 – TAORMINA

Taormina, founded in 400 BC, is beautifully located overlooking the sea and facing the snowy peak of Mount Etna. We shall visit the Greek Theatre (3rd Century B.C.), the glorious sub-tropical terraced gardens, then stroll along elegant Corso Umberto to Piazza 9 Aprile for splendid panoramic views across the bay to the Ionian Sea. The rest of the day is at leisure. (BB,D)

DAY 7 – TAORMINA – PALERMO

We cross the island to the small fishing town of Cefalu, hemmed between the sea and a rocky promontory. We visit the impressive cathedral, which was erected to fulfil a vow made by the Norman King Roger II. Later, we follow the coast to the Sicilian capital of Palermo.
Hotel: Astoria Palace. (BB)

DAY 8 – PALERMO

Palermo was the setting of some of the film locations for the 'Godfather' and you will surely recognise some of the scenes! Our guided tour shows us the Piazza Bellini, Cathedral and Palace of the Normans with its Palatine Chapel and dazzling mosaics. We then drive out to Monreale to admire the multi-coloured marble, paintings and mosaics inside the Cathedral. We return to Palermo for time at leisure. (BB)

DAY 9 – PALERMO

Our tour ends after breakfast today. Transfers from the hotel arrive at Palermo Airport at 05.00 and 07.30 hrs. (BB)

Hotels
Hotels range from the modern Melia Aurelia Antica to the family run Sant Alphio Garden in Giardini Naxos, near Taormina, and the Michelangelo in Sorrento, just a short walk from the main Piazza Tasso.

Fellow Passengers
This tour is ideal for second time visitors to Italy and Europe. Also, most of Sicily is mild and sunny all winter long, making it attractive to those wanting to avoid the extremes of the European weather.

Highlights
Highlights include the Isle of Capri, and the Greek & Norman heritage of Sicily. Also, in the absence of the summer tourists, you're likely to encounter local residents who have plenty of time and inclination to chat.

Enjoy our Premium Highlights Plus These Extra Tour Features

Excursions & Sights

• Visit the vast St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City, adorned with priceless works of art
• Visit the Trevi Fountain & Colosseum in Rome and see the Forum
• Learn the daily life of ancient Roman civilisation on a guided tour of Pompeii
• Visit the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Cassino
• Visit Taormina’s Public Gardens and enjoy views of the gulf from Piazza 9 Aprile
• See Bellini Square, the Cathedral & Palatine Chapel in Palermo’s Palace of the Normans
• See the paintings, multi-coloured marble and mosaics in the Cathedral at Monreale

Guided City Tours

• In depth sightseeing tours in Rome, Pompeii & Palermo
• Orientation tours in Sorrento & Taormina

Insight's First Class Services

• Professional Tour Director to escort you
• Luxury touring coach with extra legroom & onboard toilet
• First Class hotels with service charges, taxes & porterage
• Complimentary transfers on Day 1 and Day 9 between the airport and your Insight tour hotel

Quality Dining

• Highlight Dinner of Italian cuisine in Rome (HD)
• 8 Buffet breakfasts (BB), 3 three course table d’hôte dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)