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Highlights of
Sicily and Southern Italy
October 16 - 27, 2023
visiting: Palermo, Taormina, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast,
Pompeii, Rome and more!
Program Cost from Chicago
$4,659.00 per person - double occupancy
† A limited number of single rooms may be available at a supplemental cost of $939.
† Price is based on a minimum of 27 group members. Space is limited
Deposit Schedule
• $500 per person due with reservation
• An additional $1200 per person is due by March 1, 2023
• Final payment is due by July 1, 2023
Monday, October 16, 2023 - Chicago Departure: This afternoon we will depart from Chicago O’Hare Airport en route to Europe. Meals and beverages will be served as appropriate during the overnight flight.
Tuesday, October 17 - Palermo: Upon arrival in Palermo this afternoon we will meet our Tour Manager and proceed to our waiting motorcoach. During the drive to our hotel, our tour manager will share general information about our tour and details of today’s schedule. Strategically poised between Europe and Africa, Sicily is a treasure trove of the countless civilizations which have influenced its development and exploited its riches. We proceed to our hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight. (D)
Wednesday, October 18 - Palermo (Erice Excursion): After breakfast this morning we will enjoy a mini tour of Palermo before driving to the hilltop town of Erice, one of the oldest inhabited places on the whole island of Sicily. Wandering the narrow alleys and small piazzas is like taking a step back in time. We will return to Palermo in the early evening. (B)
Thursday, October 19 - Palermo / Monreale / Agrigento: Today we will drive first to Monreale to visit the beautiful Norman Cathedral with its incomparable mosaics, relating stories of the Old and New Testaments. We will then have some free time for lunch before we continue to Agrigento. Here we’ll take a walk with our local guide through the breathtaking Valley of Temples and view some of the finest Greek ruins in the world. In the late afternoon we arrive at our Agrigento hotel dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Friday, October 20 - Agrigento / Piazza Armerina / Taormina: This morning we will drive first to the town of Piazza Armerina, where we will visit the well-preserved mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale, which was probably the country mansion of one of the Roman Emperors. In the afternoon we continue to the chic resort of Taormina, perched above the Mediterranean Sea on Monte Tauro, for dinner and overnight (B, D)
Saturday, October 21 - Taormina: Favored by its climate, Taormina is famous for bougainvillea, cacti and exotic garden terraces, but also for the historic legacy of its ancient ruins. No wonder that Sir Winston Churchill made this a favorite vacation spot. During our walking tour, we will visit the Greek and Roman outdoor theater, enjoy the panoramic views of Mt. Etna and Taormina’s beautiful coastline and stroll through the alleys and squares of the atmospheric old town. The remainder of the day and evening are at leisure to enjoy the Public Gardens, visit the local shops and boutiques or just relax in a sidewalk café and watch the world go by. Overnight in Taormina. (B)
Sunday, October 22 - Taormina / Sorrento: This morning we will drive to Messina to board our ferry and sail to the Italian mainland. Later in the day we pass Salerno and drive north along the clifftop road to Sorrento, a picturesque village on the rocky coast of the Gulf of Naples, for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Monday, October 23 - Sorrento (Amalfi Coast Excursion): Today we experience one of the most dramatic and spectacular drives in the whole of Italy ... the Amalfi Coast. The road clings to the rocky peninsula as it passes through the villages of Positano, Praiano and Amalfi, perched precariously on the cliff face. We will enjoy time in Amalfi to experience the unique atmosphere of this once-powerful maritime city state, before returning to Sorrento for free time and overnight. (B)
Tuesday, October 24 - Sorrento / Pompeii / Rome: This morning we will depart Sorrento and drive first to the excavations of Pompeii, the town buried in 79 A.D. by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. We will walk through the ancient streets and see the baths, forums and villas built by the prosperous Romans. In the early afternoon, we continue to Rome for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Wednesday, October 25 - Rome (Papal Audience & Classical Tour): This morning we will participate in the Papal Audience, which will be requested for our entire group. After free time for lunch, we will then enjoy a tour of Classical Rome, during which we will see the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Capitoline and Palatine Hills. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure. Overnight in Rome. (B)
Thursday, October 26 - (Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel + St. Peter’s Basilica): We begin today with a tour of the Vatican State – its Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica and Square. We have free time this afternoon before we meet for the final Mass of our tour followed by our farewell dinner. (B, D)
Friday, October 27 - Rome / Chicago: Today we say ‘Arrivederci’ to Italy as we transfer to the Rome airport to begin our journey home. We will arrive in Chicago late this evening. Welcome Home!
B - Breakfast, D - Dinner
Program Highlights
• Round trip air transportation from Chicago, including taxes and fees in effect as of November, 2022
• 10 nights accommodations in first class (3 & 4 star) hotels
• Breakfast daily and 6 dinners as noted in the itinerary
• Professional tour manager to accompany the group in Europe
• European transportation via private motorcoach
• Comprehensive sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary, including applicable entrance fees
• Masses to be scheduled during the tour
• Porterage of one suitcase per person at European hotels