Southern Italy and Sicily

br />Discover Sicily, the crossroads of civilizations, where Moorish and Norman influences intertwine in the architecture and Greek and Roman ruins stand guard on the hillsides and valleys. Travel off the beaten path through the beautiful and unspoiled region of Calabria in southern Italy. Explore the stunning Amalfi coast and Sorrento. In evocative Pompeii, walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans who perished in the foothills of Mount Vesuvius.

Day 1: Overnight Flight
Join Collette Vacations in exploring the hidden treasures of southern Italy and Sicily. Enjoy breathtaking scenery, historic cities, centuries old hilltop villages, and wonderful cuisine.

Day 2: Palermo, Sicily - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant featuring traditional Sicilian cuisine.

Day 3: Palermo - Monreale - Agrigento
LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Your Tour Manager helps you discover the origin and history of the Italian language along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. A Palermo cultural tour features the lovely squares of Quattro Canti, Piazza Pretoria and Piazza Bellini. Note the exotic mixture of Moorish, Norman and Spanish Baroque styles that make this city special. Also see the Palace of the Normans, La Martorana Church, and the Cathedral, which houses the Imperial Crown of Constance of Aragon. In the nearby town of Monreale, visit the 12th century Cathedral with its dazzling interior of multicolored marbles, paintings, mosaics and cloisters Depart Palermo for Agrigento later this afternoon.

Day 4: Agrigento
Start your day at the stunning Valley of the Temples, one of the most important archeological sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. From ancient times to the present day, the Valley of the Temples’ ruins, landscape and colors have inspired poets, writers and painters. Here you get an up-close view of the temples of Juno, Concordia, Hercules and Jupiter. Learn about ancient Greek cultures when you visit the Archeological Museum, known for its extensive collection of Greek vases and statues.

Day 5: Agrigento - Mt. Etna - Catania - Giardini-Naxos
Depart Agrigento and travel Sicily, with its spectacular landscapes and picturesque towns. Arrive in vibrant Catania, where a local guide will share its history. Visit the cathedral and view the main sites of this historic and baroque city. Witness the daily spectacle of bartering for fresh fish and produce when you visit the local market. Later, visit Mt. Etna Volcano National Park to see the spectacular landscapes sculpted by nature. Arrive in Giardini Naxos, the “garden of Sicily."

Day 6: Giardini Naxos - Taormina - Giardini Naxos
This morning you visit beautiful Taormina, known for its charming atmosphere, significant monuments and flowering gardens. Enjoy viewing the Greek Amphitheater, Corso Umberto and the bountiful Public Gardens. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to further explore this delightful town.

Day 7: Giardini Naxos - Salerno
Travel to Messina where you will take a short ferry to Villa San Giovanni on Italy’s mainland. Travel through the beautiful and unspoiled region of Calabria and into Campania, arriving later this afternoon in the seaside town of Salerno, famous for its Allied landings during WWII.

Day 8: Salerno - Sorrento - Amalfi Coast - Salerno
Begin your day exploring the popular seaside resort town of Sorrento. Visit local artisans and watch them demonstrate the art of inlaid wood making. Next, travel the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, where the Mediterranean Sea and mountains meet. Upon arriving in Amalfi, you will have free time to explore the town square, ceramic shops and cafes. Enjoy a visit to one of the coast’s family-owned Limoncello factories to learn how this lemon-flavored liqueur is made and sample the delicious results. Also visit the family’s very own “pasticceria” and taste one of the area’s famed pastries.

Day 9: Salerno - Pompeii - Rome
Travel towards the Bay of Naples and experience the excavated ruins of Pompeii at the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. Soak in the history of the preserved original buildings of a typical Roman town 2,000 years ago. A local guide will provide an in-depth view of this remarkable archeological sight. Later, travel to Rome, the magnificent capital of Italy.

Day 10: Rome
Begin your day with an optional tour to the “Magnificent Treasures of the Vatican Museums.” Later, enjoy a tour of Classical Rome featuring the Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum, and the Arch of Constantine. Contemporary Rome is also highlighted through the famous Trevi Fountain. Tonight, celebrate the end of your journey with a farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant.

Day 11: Rome - Depart for Home
Your tour ends today, leaving you with many pleasant memories of a wonderful vacation.

Don't miss our current specials: FREE Door to Door Service Now Vacations Start at HOME! Don't worry about getting to the airport... because a vacation should be worry-free. With Collette Vacations, enjoy free round trip sedan service that takes you from your home to the airport when you purchase an air-inclusive Collette tour.* This personalized service - including gratuities - is available on new air-inclusive bookings to the South Pacific, Canada, and Europe; and on ALL Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures and Explorations by Collette tours. On departures May 2010 and beyond, Door to Door transfers are included with air-inclusive bookings to all destinations Great Savings • Added Comfort • More Convenience
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/9/2010 - 9/19/2010	$1,999
9/16/2010 - 9/26/2010	$1,999
9/23/2010 - 10/3/2010	$1,999
10/7/2010 - 10/17/2010	$1,999
10/14/2010 - 10/24/2010	$1,999
10/21/2010 - 10/31/2010	$1,999
11/4/2010 - 11/14/2010	$1,899
3/24/2011 - 4/3/2011	$1,899
4/1/2011 - 4/11/2011	$1,949
4/28/2011 - 5/8/2011	$1,999
5/26/2011 - 6/6/2011	$2,199
7/7/2011 - 7/18/2011	$2,099
7/21/2011 - 8/1/2011	$2,099
8/18/2011 - 8/29/2011	$2,099
9/8/2011 - 9/19/2011	$2,199
9/15/2011 - 9/26/2011	$2,199
9/22/2011 - 10/3/2011	$2,199
10/6/2011 - 10/17/2011	$2,199
10/13/2011 - 10/24/2011	$2,199
10/20/2011 - 10/31/2011	$2,199
10/27/2011 - 11/7/2011	$2,199
11/10/2011 - 11/21/2011	$1,999
3/15/2012 - 3/26/2012	$1,999
4/12/2012 - 4/23/2012	$2,099
4/26/2012 - 5/7/2012	$2,199
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

FREE Door to Door Service

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