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Begin your vacation in Rome, then head south to the charming bayside resort of Sorrento. Skirting the coastline, push farther south and enjoy a 45-minute ferry ride from Calabria across to picturesque Sicily, Italy’s biggest island. Visit world-famous Taormina, admire the “bikini girls” Roman mosaics in Piazza Armerina, and marvel at Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples with the well-preserved ancient Greek temples and Selinunte’s acropolis remains. Stay in colorful Palermo, a city bearing evidence of the many invasions during its 3,000-year history. Enjoy a day trip to Erice, an ancient village set on a hill with breathtaking views of the Egadi Islands, and get to know Trapani and Marsala, where you will visit a local salt mine. Hop aboard an overnight ferry to Naples, then motor back to Rome for the finale of your vacation.
Destinations & Sightseeing
Individual headsets
Inside visits and special features:
Shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description including admission charges where applicable.
Sightseeing:
Visits to Sorrento, Taormina, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Selinunte, Palermo, Erice, Marsala, Naples
Scenic Highlights:
Mount Etna
The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:
Transportation:
Transportation:
Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach; ferry Villa San Giovanni-Messina; overnight ferry Palermo-Naples in 2-berth cabins
Meals
Meals & Itinerary
Buffet breakfasts daily except day 9; 4 dinners
Itinerary
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description.
Day 1 Arrive in Rome, Italy
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore Italy’s ancient capital. Tonight, meet your local host/Tour Director and fellow travelers.
Day 2 Rome–Sorrento
Travel south along the Highway of the Sun to arrive in the charming bayside resort of Sorrento for an overnight.
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 3 Sorrento–Villa San Giovanni–Ferry Crossing–Taormina Area
Today, travel by way of the autostrada through the rustic mountainous scenery of Italy’s most southern region before boarding the FERRY for a 45-minute crossing to Sicily. Only a few more miles to Taormina, where you stay for two nights.
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 4 Taormina Area. Excursion to Mount Etna
Magnificently situated on a 700-foot St. Paul's Cathedral plateau overlooking the Ionian Sea, the heart of Taormina is Piazza Nove Aprile, a paved square with unrivaled views of the sea and Mount Etna. Enjoy a visit to the heights of MOUNT ETNA and the option of a jeep or cable-car ride for a better view of Europe’s largest active volcano. Return to the Taormina area in time for dinner.
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 5 Taormina Area–Piazza Armerina–Agrigento
Today, drive westwards to Piazza Armerina, St. Paul’s Cathedral a maze of steep streets positively overflowing with the colorful atmosphere of Sicilian life. At nearby Casale, visit the ROMAN VILLA, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its mosaics including the whimsical “Bikini Girls.” Next on the agenda is Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, one of Italy’s archaeological jewels. Visit the DORIC TEMPLE OF CONCORD, one of the finest examples of Greek civilization existing today, and the hilltop TEMPLE OF JUNO LACINIA. Spend the night in Agrigento.
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 6 Agrigento–Selinunte–Palermo
Leave Agrigento for Selinunte, one of the most St. Paul′s Cathedral striking and interesting sites in Sicily. At the apex of its power before 409 BC, the city exceeded 30,000 people, excluding slaves. Here, you will see the remains of the ACROPOLIS with its temples and fortifications. Then, head northeast to Palermo, capital of Sicily, for two overnights.
Breakfast
Day 7 Palermo. Excursion to Erice, Trapani & Marsala
Three Sicilian towns are on the agenda today. First St. Paul´s Cathedral is the medieval hilltop town of Erice, reached by cable car. Situated about 2,500 feet above sea level, it immediately impresses with its defensive walls and castle affording breathtaking views over the Trapani Gulf and Egadi Island and on clear days, all the way to the African coast. Next, visit enchanting Trapani with a Local Guide, set on a harbor that was once at the heart of a powerful trading network stretching from Carthage to Venice. The city center stretches along the port and was built in primarily baroque style. Finally, on the western coast of Sicily, stop in Marsala, known for its celebrated Marsala wine. Here, you will visit a local SALT MINE and learn how this local product is extracted and refined. Return to Palermo for an overnight.
Breakfast
Day 8 Palermo (Embarkation)–Overnight Ferry Crossing to Naples
A full day to enjoy this busy and colorful city full of interesting squares and marketplaces, churches, and palazzos in every style—from Moorish to baroque. Join the included sightseeing tour to learn more about this city, and visit the magnificent CAPPELLA PALATINA. This evening, embark for an overnight FERRY crossing from Palermo to Naples.
Breakfast
Day 9 Naples (Disembarkation)–Rome
Travel north this morning and return to the “Eternal City” for plenty of time to enjoy an optional excursion, do last-minute shopping, or maybe sip a drink at Piazza Navona and watch the world go by.
Day 10 Rome
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Breakfast
Tour Director
With Cosmos, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of your Tour Director. Averaging over a decade... we’d like you to meet a Tour Director, who is representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.
Accommodations
ROME Parco Tirreno (ST) or Santa Costanza (F)
SORRENTO Ascot (F) or Central Park (ST) at Massalubrense
TAORMINA Albatros (ST) at Letojanni
AGRIGENTO Kore (F)
PALERMO Politeama (F)
ROME Parco Tirreno (ST)
Know Before You Go
These Know Before You Go travel tips are designed with you in mind, with helpful hints to help you prepare for and enjoy your escorted vacation. They are your guide to getting ready and contain general information on travel documentation, customs, and the country/countries you will be visiting, including budgeting, transportation, climate, languages, and much more. With Globus, you benefit from our experience.
* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review
current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).