9-Day semi-escorted Tour of South Italy: Sicily, Matera and Apulia
Sicily

9-Day semi-escorted Tour of South Italy: Sicily, Matera and Apulia

9 d
Vacation Packages
Group
difficulty Easy
Bus
Wheelchair Not Accessible
Languages: 
EnglishItalianSpanish

9-day vacation package: Sicily, Matera and Apulia

Come away to this 9-Day Tour of Sicily, Matera & Apulia as you will take you on a journey to the best of the bests of Sicily (visiting Palermo, Agrigento and more), Apulia and its ancient Trulli, and the wonderful city of Matera.

Sicily, Matera & Apulia Visit in 9 days tour in half board highlights: 

  • Discover the rich history of Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island with an escorted tour
  • Visit the UNESCO sites of Palermo, Taormina, Bari and the trullis of Alberobello
  • Admire Matera, the city built on stone, the European Capital of Culture in 2019
  • Immerse yourself into the Sicilian culture and traditions in local Sicilian food and wine tasting
  • Sit back and we will take you through the times and beauty of Sicily at your comfort and pleasure

Sicily, Matera & Apulia Visit in 9 days tour in half board

Day 1: Palermo

Independent arrival at the hotel in the charming city of Palermo. You will have a meet and greet with your tour leader and group; dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Day 2: Monreale - Palermo

After breakfast in the hotel, begin your day visiting Monreale and its proclaimed Eighth Wonder of the World, the Norman Cathedral and its splendid Arab-Norman styled Cloister. You will then return to visti the capital of Sicily, Palermo with a view of Mt Pellegrino, the world-famed Arab-Norman Cathedral, Martorana Church, Cappella Palatina and the Pretoria Square. You will also have a stop for a food surprise in a local bakery. After free time for lunch (NOT included), keep visiting the city centre. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 3: Cefalù - Catania

After breakfast, you will be transfered to Cefalù, a charming medieval town that is situated on the northern coast of Sicily. Join your free time to stroll through the town or visit the famous Mandralisca Museum or the Norman Cathedral. Then we will head to Catania to visit the historic centre, have a walk across the city centre from Via dei Crociferi to the scenic Duomo square. After free time for lunch (NOT included), stop in a historic bar of  to taste the typical "granita & brioche".Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Catania.

Day 4: Etna - Taormina

The first visit of the day will be dedicated to the ancient fish market of Catania. Then, depart to Mt. Etna, the highest, largest and the most active volcano in Europe. Reach the “Crateri Silvestri”, small volcanic cones that are not inactive, surrounded by ancient lava flows. Later, embark to a beekeeping company for a honey extraction lab visit to taste some homemade honey. Proceed to Taorminawhere, after free time for lunch (not included), you will visit the ancient Greek Theatre and stroll around the elegant streets and shops of the center. Then return to Catania with an overview of the beautiful Riviera dei Ciclopi. Dinner and overnight in Catania.
Please, note that the Tour Escort will be present until the evening of Day 4. From the Day 5, the tour will be semi-independent.

Day 5: Catania - Bari

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport and direct flight (or stopover) to Bari. In Bari, transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight. Depending on the flight time, you can have free time to explore  Catania or Bari.

Day 6: Matera - Bari

After breakfast, transfer to Matera, where a professional guide will accompany you to discover this city, famous above all for its "Sassi": it is the oldest part of the city caverns and labyrinths carved literally in the rock alternate with houses. Free time for lunch, while in the afternoon you will return to Bari, where you will visit the city and its characteristic historical center, with the Cathedral of San Nicola and you will have the chance to stroll the streets of Bari Vecchia and admire the Norman Swabian Castle. Dinner and overnight at the hotel..

Day 7: Bari - Polignano a Mare - Alberobello - Ostuni - Lecce

The first stop of the day, after the departure from Bari, will be Polignano a Mare, with its beautiful old town nestled on the bay, where you can have a walk and enjoy the view. Next, you will move to Alberobello, which with its typical houses, the Trulli, has become a symbol of this corner of Puglia. Accompanied by a local guide, you will visit this characteristic center, unique in the world, with a visit to the Sovereign Trullo. The day will continue towards Ostuni, the white city, where you can walk in the enchanting old town. Transfer to Lecce, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Lecce - Gallipoli - Lecce

The first part of the day will be dedicated to the visit of Lecce: a local guide will show you the wonders of the historic center of the capital of Salento, from the Church of Santa Croce, to Piazza di Sant'Oronzo. There will also be a stop at a papier-mâché workshop and a wine-based aperitif. After free lunch, in the afternoon we will proceed to Gallipoli, where you can visit the historic city center and admire the imposing Cathedral of Sant'Agata, the Church of Purity and an ancient hypogeum mill from 1600 AD. located in the basement of Palazzo Granafei. Return to the hotel in Lecce, dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Lecce

After breakfast, end of our services.

Other eXPeriences in Italy...

Discover the south of Italy with our 8-day tour of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands or the 5-day tour of Sicily from Catania to Palermo. If you are curious to discover North Italy instead, check out of vacation packages in Milan, Venice and lakes.