11-Nights La Vita e Bella: A Southern Italian Journey

Europe Express · 11 days

11-Nights La Vita e Bella: A Southern Italian Journey
Deluxe
La vita è bella in this Southern Italian adventure! Experience the best of Southern Italy on this unforgettable 12-day adventure filled with rich history, breathtaking scenery, and culinary delights. The journey kicks off in Naples, where guests will explore the city’s vibrant culture with a hop-on, hop-off tour, delve into its food scene with a gastronomic tour, and master the art of pizza making. In Sorrento, guests will enjoy a scenic wine tasting tour, relax on the picturesque island of Ischia, and discover the allure of Capri and Anacapri on a private full-day excursion. A visit to Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers an insightful look into the city’s ancient history before travelers head to Sicily. Upon arrival in Palermo, guests will immerse themselves in Sicily’s rich culture and history with a walking tour of Palermo’s architectural marvels, including an evening pizza and gelato cooking class. A full-day excursion to Erice and Marsala invites guests to explore medieval villages, taste local wines, and journey along the stunning Marsala Salt Route. The trip concludes with a guided tour of the Palazzo dei Normanni and the Cappella Palatina, showcasing 800 years of Sicilian history and the region’s captivating blend of Western and Eastern artistic influences. As the tour wraps up, guests will depart Sicily with fond memories of their Southern Italian adventure.

Includes:
  • Activities and excursions as specified in the itinerary
  • Accommodation: Naples (3 nights) - Sorrento (4 nights) - Palermo (4 nights)
  • Meals where noted in the itinerary
  • Train rides where noted in the itinerary
  • Admission tickets as specified in the itinerary

Air

Call for airfares from your city.

Itinerary

Palermo
Excursions

Palermo and Monreale - 8 hours — Optional Private Excursions

Spend a full day in the capital of Palermo and Monreale.

Added value:
  • Visit of Piazza Pretoria-Quattro Canti-Norman Palace and Monreale
  • Visit of Palermos famous food market Vucciria
  • Time for shopping
Tour duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair accessible
Physical activity: Moderate with a fair amount of walking

Included:
  • Private sedan or van and English speaking guide for the day
  • Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port
Not included: meals

Sorrento
Excursions

Sorrento: The Ancient City of Pompeii - 6 Hours — Optional Private Excursions

Travel outside along the coast today with your driver to the ancient site of Pompeii where your expert local guide will meet you to explore this most famous of places. The extensive and varied ruins of Pompeii now provide us with a rich history of life at the time of the Roman Empire. There are theatres, thermal baths, shops and lavish dwellings, many of which have been incredibly well preserved. After your visit you will have time at leisure for lunch before returning to your cruise ship in Sorrento.

Highlights:
  • Visit the incredibly preserved Roman city of Pompeii
Tour Duration: 6 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:
  • Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
  • An expert English-speaking guide at the Pompeii site (3 hours)
  • Entrance fees to the Pompeii site
  • All taxes
Exclusions:
  • All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
  • Gratuities

Sorrento: The Iconic Amalfi Coast - 6 Hours — Optional Private Excursions

Today meet your English-speaking driver-guide and private vehicle for a half-day excursion along the stunning Amalfi Coast taking in the villages of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. The Amalfi drive is the most romantic drive in Italy, following the road snaking along the edge of the rocky cliffs that plunge straight into the sea. Amalfi is the coast's largest town and home to the magnificent 10th-century Duomo fronted by a beautifully coloured 13th-century facade. Also be sure to admire the amazing views from Ravello’s Villa Ruffolo.

Highlights:
  • Drive along the magnificent Amalfi Coast, stopping at Positano, Amalfi and Ravello.
Tour Duration: 6 hours

Tour Can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:
  • Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
  • An expert English-speaking driver-guide throughout the tour (6 hours)
  • Entrance fees to the Villa Ruffolo
  • All taxes
Exclusions:
  • All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
  • Gratuities

Sorrento: Capri Exploration by Private Motorboat – 8 hours — Optional Private Excursions

Explore the island of Capri in style today as you take a cruise in your skippered private motorboat. As you circle the Island of Capri you will be able to stop at Marina Piccola, a delightfully picturesque inlet that provides the Caprisi and other sun worshippers with their best beach – it is also safe for swimming. The entire cove is romantically lined with stabilimenti – elegant bathing lidos.
We suggest lunch at Al Gallo D’Oro (payable locally), which serves an excellent selection of local fare.
Travelling west, pass the beach of Marina Grande and of Bagni di Tiberio. Continue to the next stretch of coastline which consists of the high calcareous cliff with fissures and grottoes covered by lush, indigenous vegetation.
Enjoy time at leisure for shopping or perhaps a lazy swim from the boat before cruising back to Sorrento.

Highlights:
  • Private skippered motorboat to explore the beautiful island of Capri, including Marina Piccola and Marina Grande. 
Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:
  • 34-foot (1-4 pax) or 43-foot (5-6 pax) private motorboat with English-speaking skipper (8 hours)
  • All taxes
Exclusions:
  • All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
  • Gratuities

Naples
Excursions

Naples and Pompeii - 8 hours — Optional Private Excursions

Added value:
  • Introduction to the history of Naples and Ancient city of Pompeii
  • Free time for shopping in Napes
  • Lunch to be reserved at original Naples pizzeria

Tour duration: 8 hours
Semi wheelchair accessible
Physical activity:  moderate

Included:
  • Private deluxe sedan or van for the day
  • English speaking guide for Naples and Pompeii
  • Clients are picked up and dropped off at the Port
Not included: meals

Naples: Food Tour of Naples - 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions
Along with your expert guide, head into the heart of the historic centre of Naples and explore one of Naples’ best food markets. Your guide will lead you through the market stalls and shops, where you can sample some of the delicious local specialties. Continue along the alleys of the historic city centre to discover the most picturesque corners of Naples. Sites include the Greek ruins of Bellini square, the street of music (San Biagio dei Librai), San Gregorio Armeno street (famous for shops selling nativity scenes), Decumani and old churches decorated in Rococo style.
Stop for a wine tasting in one of the most famous wine shops in the city before the highlight of your tour: lunch in one of the world’s oldest pizzerias! Naples is the birthplace of the pizza. The Naples pizza margherita features a soft yet satisfyingly chewy base, all puffed up and charred at the edges, the merest smear of tomato sauce, the odd dot of mozzarella and a few basil leaves. Not to be missed is the pizza fritta - the original pizza and unique to Naples - a deep fried pizza filled with ricotta cheese. Heaven on a plate!

Highlights:

  • Sample some delicious specialities at one of Naples' best food markets
  • Visit one of the world's oldest pizzerias for lunch
Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning/Afternoon

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low

Inclusions:
•    Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
•    An expert local guide (4 hours)
•    Entrance fees
•    All taxes
•    Wine tasting and pizza

Exclusions:
•    All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
•    Gratuities

Naples: The City of Naples - 8 hours — Optional Private Excursions
Naples' historic city centre is the largest in Europe, covering 4,200 acres and enclosing 27 centuries of history. One of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world with Bronze Age Greek settlements dating back to the second millennium BC, the area was re-founded as Neápolis (‘new city’) in the sixth century BC, becoming a lynchpin of Magna Graecia and playing a key role in the merging of Greek culture into Roman society.

Explore Naples today with your expert guide. Highlights include the Spaccanapoli district, the magnificent Duomo cathedral, the Cappella Sansevero with its virtuosic sculptural masterpiece the Cristo Velato, as well as lesser-known gems such as the San Giovanni a Carbonara. Today’s tour encompasses artistic-historic treasures and plenty of local colour. Along the way, enjoy a bite of Naples’ famous street food ‘frittura’, a sinfully delicious mix of deep fried aubergines (eggplant), zucchini, mozzarella, arancini (rice croquettes), cauliflower, or potato croquettes.
Continue your sightseeing tour in the historic centre of Naples. Visit the Castel Nuovo, the imposing medieval structure built by the Angevins to defend the city. You may also wish to visit the adjoining Palazzo Reale (The Royal Palace Museum and Royal apartments), built in the 17th century. The magnificently decorated halls and rooms contain the original Bourbon furnishings, paintings, statues and porcelain. Enjoy a panoramic drive to reach the magnificent Carthusian Monastery, the Certosa di San Martino situated on Vomero Hill, where you may visit the luxuriously decorated Baroque Style church.

Highlights:

  • Try Naples' famous street food as your guide shows you the historic sights of Italy
  • Visit the medieval Castel Nuovo, whose magnificently decorated rooms contain original Bourbon furnishings, paintings and statues
Tour Duration: 8 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Low

Inclusions:
•    Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
•    An expert local guide (8 hours)
•    Entrance fees
•    All taxes

Exclusions:
•    All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
•    Gratuities

Naples: Historic Pompeii & Vesuvius - 9 hours — Optional Private Excursions
Travel outside Naples today for an excursion to Pompeii. Upon arrival at Pompeii, enjoy a walking tour of this once opulent town. The extensive and varied ruins of Pompeii now provide us with a rich history of life at the time of the Roman Empire. Destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 BC, this dugout treasure represents an amazing day trip for children and adults alike. On view are temples, forums, amphitheatres, a brothel and the casts of those killed by the falling ash and pumice stone.
Mount Vesuvius – 1281 meters high – was brought into volcanological history after the eruption of 79 BC, when it destroyed the towns and thousands of residents of Pompeii, Stabiae, and Herculaneum. Climb till the summit of the ‘mount’ this afternoon with your guide and admire the splendid views across the Bay of Naples. Lose yourself admiring its slopes, once covered with vineyards and woods that nowadays provide a spectacular backdrop for the bustling town below.
 

Please note: The visit to Mount Vesuvius is not suitable for people with mobility issues and is subject to both volcanological and weather conditions at the time of the tour.



Highlights:
  • The ruins of Pompeii provide an unparalleled window into life during the Roman Empire
  • Climb to the summit of Mount Vesuvius to admire views across the Bay of Naples
Tour Duration: 9 hours

Tour can Operate: Morning

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Moderate

Inclusions:
•    Luxury car or minivan at your disposal during the tour
•    An expert local guide (8 hours)
•    Entrance fees
•    All taxes

Exclusions:
•    All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
•    Gratuities

Terms & Additional Information
All prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy, and are subject to change based on availability. All packages are subject to availability at time of booking. Hotels that are on request may not be available and a comparable alternate will be offered.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

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