ANCIENT MOSAIC WONDERS IN SOUTHERN ITALY

Arrive in Naples and meet your expert guide, then stroll through the historic city streets where ancient Greek and Roman foundations intersect with grand palaces. Visit the National Archaeological Museum, home to first-century BC mosaics from Pompeii, and explore the mosaic-rich Galleria Umberto and the city’s artistic Underground stations. Travel to Pompeii and Herculaneum to witness Roman homes preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius, admiring intricate floor mosaics and frescoes. Dine in a private palazzo and overnight in Naples.

Fly to Palermo, Sicily, the island’s cultural and historical heart, where Greek, Arab, Norman, and Roman influences converge. Explore the Palatine Chapel and meet restoration artisans. Venture to Monreale Cathedral to admire one of Italy’s most extensive mosaic programs, including the Christ Pantocrator and 400 intricately decorated columns. Continue east to Cefalù Cathedral and then to Enna, a hilltop city that showcases Sicily’s strategic past. Overnight in Enna with private dining experiences.

Visit Villa del Casale in Piazza Armerina to experience its 4th-century floor mosaics spanning 3,500 square meters, offering a window into ancient life and iconography. Continue to Caltagirone to meet contemporary ceramic artists and explore local workshops. Travel to Noto, a Baroque jewel reconstructed after the 1693 earthquake, and admire its cathedral, palaces, and historical streets. Conclude this block with a visit to Syracuse, where history, mosaics, and Greek theater culture converge.