Rome, the Amalfi Coast & Sicily

October 17 - 29, 2010

ITINERARY

Day 1
After a short drive to our hotel in the center of Rome we embark on a memorable tour that will offer us a visual feast of superb Roman architecture. Once the seat of the great Roman Empire and later the home of the papacy, Rome's magnificent classical features, including the Forum, the Coliseum, and Palatine Hill, will be brought to life for us by our local expert guide. Medieval churches, palaces, amphitheatres, fountains and squares all compete for our attention with their elegant columns, carvings and inscriptions.

Day 2
After breakfast we visit the Vatican with its rich trove of priceless art treasures and gardens, St. Peters Basilica (the largest cathedral in the world), and the Sistine Chapel, which features the exquisite masterpieces of Botticelli and Michelangelo. In the afternoon we have time to explore on our own or with Sara. Tonight we dine on mouthwatering regional specialties.

Day 3
Leaving Rome, we drive to the charming seaside town of Sorrento, where we will stay for the next three nights. Borrowing from Greek mythology, the Romans placed the legendary abode of the Sirens - those wicked mermaids who lured seamen to their death by their sweet songs - at Surrentum (Sorrento). Ulysses resisted their calls by stuffing the ears of his crew with wax and having himself bound to the mast of his ship. After an afternoon exploring the town, we will dine at one of Sorrento's great restaurants where we may accompany the freshest of seafood with a bottle of local Ravello or Positano wine.

Day 4
Today we enjoy a boat excursion across the Bay of Naples to the entrancing island of Capri. The main town is nestled between two mountains, with its houses connected by winding, hilly alleyways that lead into the main square of Piazza Umberto. Our island tour takes us to the famous Blue Grotto, the 14th century Palazzo Cerio, and high up the mountain to the Belvedere of Punta Canone with its spectacular view of the Bay of the Marina Piccola. We see the Gardens of Augustus, a beautiful terraced park of trees and flowers, and at the very summit of Monte Tiberio we visit the Villa Jovis, one of the twelve residences built on the island for the Roman Emperor Tiberius. We look down onto the Bay of Naples, the islands of Ischia and Procidea, Cape Miseno, and Mt. Vesuvius, and shudder at the thought of Tiberius throwing his enemies over the cliff.

Day 5
Today we take a scenic drive down Italy's magnificent Amalfi coast stopping in Positano for lunch. The Amalfi coast affords us views of quaint fishing villages, luxuriant vegetation and cliffs dropping dramatically down to the turquoise blue Mediterranean.

Day 6
Today is one you will never forget. We visit the most remarkable archeological discovery ever unearthed: Pompeii. The incredibly preserved houses, streets, stores, and brothels present a fascinating chronicle of daily life in 79 A.D., when one fateful day a layer of volcanic dust and ash from Mt. Vesuvius froze life in an instant. Plaster casts of the volcano's victims have been made by pouring plaster into the cavities left by the bodies, producing an extremely realistic and eerie reproduction of the ancient Romans going about their daily business. At the end of a memorable day we board the evening ferry to cross the Bay of Naples to Sicily. We have dinner on the ferry and sleep in first class cabins.

Day 7
After breakfast on the ferry we arrive at Palermo, the beautiful and bustling capital of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean with a population of over five million inhabitants. For more than 2,000 years Sicily has inspired the creation of artistic masterpieces, which include the architecture of great cathedrals, paintings, music and poetry. Historically, Sicily's strategic position in the Mediterranean has made it appealing to foreign powers, which resulted in centuries of foreign domination by Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spanish. Sicilian culture reflects the architectural, artistic and gastronomic influences of its former invaders. This morning we tour Palermo with a local guide. After lunch we drive into the country to a lovely Sicilian winery for a tour and tasting, returning to Palermo for dinner.

Day 8
This morning we visit Monreale, a fine tribute to Arab-Norman art. The cathedral of Monreale boasts a remarkable interior with magnificent gold mosaics representing episodes from the Old Testament. We continue on to the tiny town of Erice which offers charming old stone streets, medieval churches and hilltop castles. The African influence on cuisine is apparent here in the local specialty, couscous with fresh fish. Segesta, an abandoned ancient city and one of the world's best-preserved Greek architectural sites, is our last stop today. Segesta's Doric temple stands alone in a natural setting in the country, giving us an unnerving feeling we have stepped back in time more than 2,000 years.

Day 9
Our next destination is the charming medieval city of Agrigento, high on a plateau overlooking Sicily's southern coast. Founded in 582 BC by Greek settlers, the town was described by the Greek poet Pindar as "the most beautiful of those inhabited by mortals". Best known for its striking Via dei Templi (Valley of the Temples), the old medieval town of Agrigento is also home to beautiful churches built during the Norman era. Virtually in the shadow of Agrigento, the Valley of the Temples is located in a delightfully natural setting of olive groves and almond orchards. Here we explore the remains of five of the principal temples built in the 5th century BC, including the massive and majestic Tempio della Concordia (Temple of Concord) which has remained nearly intact. Across the valley is the Tempio di Giove (Temple of Jupiter), whose ruined columns stood 20 meters high and used to stand colossal statues. A copy of one of these columns lies on the ground among the ruins, giving an idea of the immense size of the structure. The original column can be seen in the Museo Archeologico, just north of the temples and well worth a visit. Driving across undulating low hills, we come to the town of Piazza Armerina. In 1950, a magnificent villa was unearthed - built perhaps by an emperor - with a phenomenally rich trove of Roman mosaics. Vivid red, blue and flesh tones depict life as it was 1,600 years ago. We continue to the east coast where we check into our beautiful hotel on the outskirts of Taormina. A gourmet dinner awaits us.

Day 10
Today we visit Siracusa, noted for its Greek and Roman theaters and the largest Greek amphitheater in the world, 138 meters in diameter, dating from 475 BC. Nearby is the "Ear of Dionysus", a 200 foot chamber where sound reverberates at exceptionally high levels. We return to our hotel to relax before dinner.

Day 11
Today we explore the crown jewel of Italy, Taormina. With a rare view of splendor with Mount Etna in the background and the seacoast in front of us, we visit the Greek and Roman outdoor theater, which was hand hewn out of rock by the Greeks. Numerous unique small artisan shops and gardens like the Giardino Pubblico make Taormina the perfect place for a stroll and perhaps a bit of shopping. This evening we enjoy a grand farewell dinner.

Day 12
This morning we drive to the Catania airport for our return flight home. Arrivederci, Bella Italia!