MEDITERRANEAN DREAM: AMALFI COAST & SICILY

Start in Naples and travel south to the Amalfi coast. From a bird’s-eye perspective, admire the colorful towns clinging theatrically to the steep cliffs as you hike the clifftop Path of Gods trail with a guide. Ponder the bustling life of Roman towns forever interrupted by a sudden eruption of Mt Vesuvius at the archeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, exploring them with a private guide, and visit a winery. Hop on a boat to revel in the island charms of Capri: the monumental Faraglioni, enthralling rock formations that spurt out of the sea, the dazzling seafronts of Capri and Anacapri towns and the meandering Via Krupp.

Today leave the mainland on a domestic flight and venture out to Sicily. Unwind in Trapani, a charming harbor town where the seductive seafront promenade fronts a maze of charming alleyways. Go higher to the village of Erice, perched at 750m altitude, where a Norman castle sits at an ancient Venus worship site, offering some of Sicily’s most splendid panoramas of Trapani and the Aegadian islands. Reward your sweet tooth with marzipan candies and almond and pistacchio pastries, then continue the sweet escapade in the region of Marsala, to visit one of its oldest cellars for a tasting of the famed fortified wine, served with typical Sicilian delicacies.

Explore Agrigento, a hilltop city on Sicily’s southwest shore, featuring one of the island’s greatest archeological complexes and its most renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Valley of the Temples. With an expert guide, stroll through the vast valley, dotted with almond and olive trees between the strikingly preserved monumental Greek temples of Zeus, Concordia, Aesculapius and many others.

Indulge in the most splendid tribute to Sicily’s Roman history at Villa del Casale in the splendid mountain city of Piazza Armerina. Admire its wonderfully preserved 4th-century architecture, especially the magnificent colorful mosaics, protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In Syracuse city, take in the colors and scents of the ingredients for your cooking class with a chef, who will reveal the secrets behind delicious Sicilian feasts. Visit the archeological park in Syracuse featuring Greek and Roman amphitheaters; Paradise Quarry, a natural cave formerly used to imprison slaves Spend a day with an expert guide visiting the other highlights of Sicily: the baroque landmarks of UNESCO-listed Noto; the old hilltop town of Ragusa Ibla; and Modica, a charming city known for its chocolate and churches.