Rome, Amalfi Coast and Sicily

This morning we will enjoy a relaxed breakfast before we embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Rome. Our guide will delve into the history of the city from the tale of Romulus and Remus to the gladiators and the present day. As we travel through time, we will pass iconic sights such as the Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Navona, plus our guide will also point out some of Rome’s hidden gems. After our tour, we will enjoy time at leisure, a perfect opportunity to retrace your steps and make the most of our final day in this historic city.  

After a leisurely breakfast we’ll check out of our hotel and transfer to Rome railway station where we take the train to Salerno. From Salerno we’ll join a coach transfer to our hotel in Minori. This attractive seaside town is situated along the famous, UNESCO-listed, Amalfi Coast. Tonight, we will enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel.

Today we’ll join our coach for a full day tour of the stunning Amalfi Coast. This stretch of coastline, situated on the northern tip of the Salerno Gulf on the Tyrrhenian Sea, is deemed an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, as awarded by UNESCO in 1997. The coastline is dotted with hillside buildings, colourful flowers, blue flag beaches and crystal-clear waters. We will follow the coast from Sorrento to Maiori, stopping for some free time in the town of Amalfi. After a day filled with stunning scenery, we will return to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

After breakfast we will check out of our hotel and transfer to Salerno railway station, where we will join the train to Catania. This epic train journey will treat you to stunning views of the southern Italian coast before reaching Reggio di Calabria station, where the journey gets really interesting! The locomotive that has hauled the train from Salerno is detached, leaving just the carriages, which are then loaded onto a ferry. Once the train is on board, you can leave your seat and head to the sun deck, where you can enjoy wonderful views as you cross the Mediterranean Sea. On arrival in Sicily another locomotive will connect to the train and you will continue your journey to Catania. Modica. Upon arrival we will transfer by coach to our hotel in Modica, our home for the next four nights. We enjoy a delicious welcome dinner in a local trattoria.

This morning we’ll be joined by a local guide for a walking tour of Modica. Rebuilt following a devastating earthquake in 1693, the architecture in the town is recognised as part of a UNESCO site, due to its outstanding testimony to the exuberant genius and final flowering of the Baroque art movement in Europe. Also famed for its chocolate, Modica is a haven for food lovers and our guide will be sure to point out the best eateries, in between showing us the historical highlights of Modica. In the afternoon we will leave Modica and journey to Ragusa, the capital of the Ragusa province. Built between the two valleys of Cava San Leonardo and Cava Santa Domenica, the town is divided into two main focal points; Ragusa Ibla, the Old Town, and Upper Town where you’ll find the iconic Ragusa cathedral. After free time, we’ll return to our hotel where the rest of the evening is yours at leisure.

Today is all about Sicily’s most famous yet ferocious landmark - the active volcano of Mount Etna, and we’ll be viewing this iconic volcano by train. The Circumetnea train runs along a 110km private track which traces the base of the volcano. The vintage single car is like something from a bygone era and passes through petrified lava, pistachio filled plantations, citrus groves, and hundreds of cacti as you go. Mount Etna is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and it is in an almost constant state of activity, it has even been designated a Decade Volcano by the United Nations and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. After a day viewing Etna from all angles, we will return to our hotel for an evening at leisure.

After breakfast, the entire day is at your leisure to enjoy the Sicilian city of Modica. Why not take a walk through the Baroque buildings, indulge in some traditional Sicilian cuisine, or treat yourself to a spot of souvenir shopping? Tonight, we will enjoy a traditional Sicilian farewell dinner in a local trattoria.

After a leisurely breakfast we check out and board our coach which will transfer us to Catania airport for our return flight to London.