Journey from Rome through the Amalfi Coast, the Apulia Region, the Trulli Valley, and Matera, then continue across the Mediterranean to the island of Sicily, concluding in Palermo.
This expertly curated itinerary offers a perfect balance of history, culture, natural beauty, and gastronomic delights—an unforgettable exploration of Southern Italy and Sicily.
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Rome (FCO)
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Palermo (PMO)
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First Class Hotels/Masseria
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24
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Arrival & Departure
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Luxury Minibus
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Fresh Orecchiette
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1
Dates
The same itinerary, with a minimum of 6 participants, can also be offered as a private tour at no additional cost. Your private trip combines comfort, exclusivity, and exceptional value—ensuring an unforgettable Italian experience crafted just for you. Request your private tour using the form below (end of the page), or contact us at: info@greattoursofitaly.com
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Group Discount Available Available PackagesTuesdayMarch 17, 2026SundayMarch 29, 2026EUR 4350
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Group Discount Available Available PackagesTuesdayApril 14, 2026SundayApril 26, 2026EUR 4450
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Group Discount Available Available PackagesTuesdayMay 12, 2026SundayMay 24, 2026EUR 4450
Great Southern Italy is a 13-day tour, perfectly paced to enjoy the beauty of southern Italy. Start from Rome, enjoy the scenery of the Amalfi Coast, Apulia, Basilicata, and Calabria regions reach the Mediterranean Sea and then embark on a Sicilian adventure. During this marvelous vacation through the south of Italy, you will have the opportunity to enjoy many picturesque towns considered to have outstanding universal value for cultural and natural heritage by the World Heritage Committee (whc.unesco.org). Italy is an amazing country filled with beautiful art, magnificent architecture, an extensive history, delectable cuisines, fine wines, and friendly people. Known for its relaxed lifestyle, you will explore Italy in the same fashion.
Second or Third time in Italy
- 13 Day Tour – Rome, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Lecce, Salento, Otranto, Castellana Caves, Alberobello, Itria Valley, Matera, Pizzo, Taormina, Mt. Etna, Agrigento, Valley of the Temples, Mt. Erice, Monreale, Palermo
- Start in Rome (FCO) – End in Palermo (PMO)
- 24 Meals to include: 12 breakfast buffets, 4 lunches (wine and olive oil tasting with fine local food,3 lunches), 8 dinners
Welcome to Rome Int. Airport (FCO)! Meet our tour guide and driver and head to your hotel via transfer bus at (10:00 am, 12:30 pm, or 3:00 pm) after a quick rest, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Rome’s highlights followed by a special Welcome Dinner at one of Rome’s lively restaurants.
Hotel: Belstay, Pineta Palace similar (1 night)
After breakfast, follow the Highway of the Sun towards Naples, the city famous for being the standard for pizza and having the best espresso in Italy. In the morning our local guide will share the history of monuments and sites such as the Triumphal Arch of New Castle, the St. Charles Theater, the Royal Palace, the Galleria Umberto, and the semicircular Piazza Plebiscito. In the afternoon drive towards the Amalfi Coast to reach your waterfront hotel where you’ll have some free time at your own pace before enjoying dinner.
Hotel: Le Due Torri, La Lucertola or similar (2 nights)
Free time for shopping in the town of Sorrento, famous for its fantastic lemons which are used to make the regional “limoncello” liqueur. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant with an unforgettable panoromic view. In the afternoon enjoy views of the enchanting colorful towns built on dramatic inclines along the Amalfi Coast (overlooking Amalfi and Positano). Enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Leave the Amalfi Coast to reach Taranto, a seaside city which lies between the Mar Grande (Big Sea) and Mar Piccolo (Little Sea). Enjoy some free time to see the 15th-century Aragonese Castle and the San Cataldo Basilica. In the afternoon, take a scenic drive to the Honey Colored Town of Lecce, known as “The Florence of the South”. Enjoy a sightseeing tour which will include the stunning Basilica and its monumental “Piazza Del Duomo”. In the evening, discover the under-the-radar wine scene and flavors of typical local dishes amongst the cobblestone streets.
Hotel: GH di Lecce, Hotel Leone di Messapia or similar (2 nights)
Today, a full excursion through the province of Salento. Visit the ancient town of Otranto. Walk through the 1000-year-old walled hamlet and the 11th-century Norman cathedral with the best-preserved mosaic floors in southern Italy. Enjoy lunch at a ”Masseria” (a fortified farmhouses which has been luxuriously restored). After lunch experience beautiful Lecce at your own pace.
This morning reach a local farm house to have a fun “Orecchiette” pasta making class with “nonna”. Enjoy lunch with typical dishes prepared with local food. In the afternoon, reach the village of Alberobello, known for its strange white Trulli buildings with their circular structures and conical roofs.
Hotel: Relais Porta del Sud, Park Hotel La Grave or similar (2 nights)
Drive to the famous Sassi of Matera (a fascinating cluster of prehistoric cave dwellings built into the rocks of deep ravines) for a walking tour. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage site (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/). Wind up the day with a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.
Leaving the town of Matera, drive through the unforgettable landscapes of the Calabria region down to Villa San Giovanni. There will be some free time for lunch in the beautiful village of Pizzo. In the afternoon, take a forty-five-minute ferry ride to Sicily. Upon arrival enjoy some free time followed by dinner.
Hotel: Villa Diodoro, Ceaser Palace or similar (2 nights)
Visit the 3rd-century Greek Amphitheater in Taormina, the second largest of its kind in Sicily. Situated above the city, it offers spectacular views of the bay and Mt. Etna. Later, embark on an exciting excursion to Mt. Etna. Lunch will be served on the slopes of Etna with wine tastings from local farms. Weather permitting, we will ascend 5,400 feet to the highest active volcano in Europe.
Drive to Agrigento for a walking tour through the Valley of the Temples where you will discover some of the world’s most striking and well-preserved Grecian ruins, second only to Athens! a Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/) Tonight’s dinner will be served at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Blu Kaos, Hotel Villa Romana or similar (1 night)
Explore the medieval town of Erice which is surrounded by ancient Elimi & Phoenician walls. This little town is situatiod 2887 feet above sea level and allows striking sea views. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch stroll through the charming old stone streets and see medieval churches such as the Cathedral of Erice.
Hotel: IBIS Style Palermo, Bel 3 or similar (2 nights)
This morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city featuring the honey-colored Cathedral and Piazza Bellini. From there travel to the town of Monreale to visit the magnificent 12th century Norman Cathedral. Picturesque views of the Conca d’Oro (famous for its 50,000 square feet of precious Byzantine mosaics) will astonish as we make our way through this ancient city. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate the success of your vacation.
Arrivederci Italia! Our Departure transfer bus will arrive at Palermo Int. Airport (PMO) at 5:30 am and 7:30 am
Great Southern Italy map
What's included
Excursions
- Rome: sightseeing bus tour
- Naples: walkign tour (WLG)*
- Lecce: walking tour (WLG)*
- Castellana Caves: tickets (WLG)*
- Fresh pasta making class
- Alberobello: walking tour (WLG)*
- Matera: walking tour (WLG)*
- Messina: ferry boat tickets
- Taormina: Greek Amphitheater tickets and walking tour (WLG)*
- Agrigento: Valley of the Temples tickets and walking tour (WLG)*
- Palermo: walking tour (WLG)*
- Monreale: Norman Cathedral tickets (WLG)*
- *(WLG) = With Local Guide and wireless headsets
Overall Trip Rating:
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By Linda G. September 21, 2025 Regional DiversityGreat Tours of Italy tour opened our eyes to a side of Italy we never knew existed. Naples, Apulia, Sicily coastal views, ancient ruins — all in one fantastic itinerary. The cultural richness and regional diversity were stunning. More than just the typical Rome–Florence–Venice route, this tour delivered authenticity and charm. -
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By Sabrina F. September 20, 2025 Off the beaten pathThis tour was a beautiful surprise! Southern Italy has so much charm and authenticity. We loved exploring the whitewashed towns, crystal-clear beaches, and amazing traditional food. The itinerary was unique and the value for money outstanding. Highly recommended for travelers looking for something different from the typical tourist path.
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By James L.(United States (US))September 11, 2025 It was perfect!Our guide, Roberta and our bus driver were great. We had a very fun group of people in our tour and the whole trip was so organized. I will recommend Great Tours of Italy to my friends and I will use it again! Thanks for the memories
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By Lyne Scott(Italy)June 11, 2025 Great Southern ItalyThis was the best tour I have ever been on. Great Tour of Italy pick the best hotels, locations of interest and restaurants in every city. Their tour guides know how to give you the “local” experience for outstanding food and remarkable hospitality. I felt a part of the group but enjoyed 5 star, personal attention. Italy was beautiful as expected but for care and attention to detail Great Tours of Italy was the unexpected star of the show each and every day.
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By Sarah B.(United States (US))June 2, 2025 FabulousFabulous. Our guide, Tiziana, was the best. Our driver, Aldo, was over the top. We learned so much history about Italy and experienced so much culture with your tour. Thank you Great Tours of Italy
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By Lauri(United States (US))May 13, 2025 Never been disappointedWe have been doing Great Tours of Italy tours for 3 times and have never been disappointed. Great service, incredible itineraries, and lots of wonderful inclusion.
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By Anita(United States (US))April 23, 2025 Premier TravellingGreat Tours of Italy is the premiere of traveling experiences, high end but well worth the money. The ease and efficiency with which Simone put this package were exceptional.
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By Donna(Italy)October 19, 2024 Touring the southern ItalyWe did Great Southern Italy trip with a very professional Tour Guide and most experienced bus driver. Stayed at very comfortable and clean hotels with breakfasts included. Tour included visits to famous sites as well as passage through rural areas with olive groves and citrus orchards and great eating experiences. The tour could have included an archaeological museum or two. On the whole a very enjoyable experience.
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By David e Peggy(Italy)August 1, 2024 Superb serviceWe absolutely loved our trip to Italy and Sicily. Our tour guide, Enrico, was fabulous. His personality made the trip so much fun! I still don't know how he maneuvered those hairpin turns. The hotels were beautiful with gorgeous views and superb service. The food and the "local wine" at the restaurants was extremely good. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone travelling with Great Tours of Italy.
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By Mary Ann Kalisky(Italy)June 26, 2024 Faboulus timeMy family of nine took the 13 day Great Southern Italy private tour this past summer. All had a fabulous time thanks to our wonderful guide Veronica and driver Simone. We saw more in 13 days than you could possibly see on your own. We had very short wait times at major attractions and saw people standing in line for hours who were traveling on their own. All of our hotels were first class. We also had enough time to explore on our own. Great Tours of Italy tour are fabulous, recommend to anyone who wants to experience all the highlights.
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By Patricia Sinocchi(Italy)June 25, 2024 Great Southern Italy tourMy wife and I just returned from a 13 day small group tour of Southern Italy and Sicily provided by GTI (8 persons were on the tour plus the tour guide/driver, Simone). Breakfast was provided each day along with one other meal (mostly dinner) which featured local specialty menus. The meals were uniformly very good and included very generous portions of each item. Simone provided excellent background data about each area that was visited and was attentive to the needs of all “guests”. Highly recommend this firm for anyone wanting to visit Italy.
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By Paul Mcpherson(Italy)September 10, 2019 Great Southern ItalyWe took Great Southern Italy tour in September of this year. It was the perfect tour to hit all of the highlights of Amalfi Coast, Salento and Sicily. The small towns that we visited on this tour were also absolutely incredible. Our main tour guide was wonderful, and the individual guides were the best! They were all very knowledgeable which made the trip an educational adventure. For those that want extra time in Italy, Great Tours of Italy booked an extension for us to Rome for 3 days. They took care of our train transportation for four of us, tickets with skip the line and local guide to Colosseum and Vatican Museums. It was the absolute perfect vacation for us, thanks to the flexibility provided by the hybrid group/individual tour. We will absolutely trust Great Tours of Italy with our arrangements once again. They are amazing!
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By Kane and Susan(Italy)June 25, 2019 Third tourThis was our third Tour with Great Tours of Italy. We previously took the Great North Italy and Pearls of Italy, which I would recommend for first time visitors to Italy. We took the Great Southern Italy tour in late June. The tour was wonderful. We loved the itinerary and our tour guide, Chiara, was superb. My favorite part of the trip was Taormina- the shops and the breathtaking views from the ancient Grecian theater. We also saw Mt. Etna erupting- truly a memorable experience. Sorrento was beautiful. Not only did we like the shopping, but my husband loved taking a dip in the Mediterranean. I highly recommend Great Tours of Italy!
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By Gail & Clara(Italy)May 8, 2018 South of italyThe inaugural 12 Day Great Southern Italy tour - 2024 - was absolutely amazing. Great Tour of Italy arranged first class accommodations, and all of the tour stops and destinations were so interesting and most enjoyable. Months afterwards, it’s still hard to believe that our group had so many wonderful experiences in one tour. This first time world traveler definitely was blessed to have had Perillo offer the tour. I can’t wait to participate in another tour!
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By Sebastian S.(Italy)June 20, 2017 Brilliant vacationJust got back from the Italian Broadway, it was brilliant. First bus tour I’d ever taken, We saw so many things! Good local guides and great local restaurants with original Italian food…no American version. Some of the hotels were not in the city center but we always had good AC and spacious rooms/bathrooms. We didn’t mind staying a little outside the center…we saw already so much during the day that is really nice to know you are in a comfy hotel and just rest.(most of the hotels we stayed at had swimming pools). We can’t wait to go back next year for the Great Southern Italy.
Great Southern Italy is a 13-day, 12-night curated journey from Rome to Palermo, crossing the Amalfi Coast, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, and Sicily. This tour blends history, archaeology, UNESCO sites, cuisine, and natural beauty—ideal for first-time or returning travelers seeking a complete Southern Italian experience.
You will stay in First Class Hotels and Masserie, typically:
- Rome (1 night): Belstay, Pineta Palace, or similar
- Amalfi Coast (2 nights): Le Due Torri, La Lucertola, or similar
- Lecce (2 nights): GH di Lecce, Hotel Leone di Messapia, or similar
- Itria Valley (2 nights): Relais Porta del Sud, Park Hotel La Grave, or similar
- Taormina (2 nights): Villa Diodoro, Ceaser Palace, or similar
- Agrigento (1 night): Blu Kaos, Hotel Villa Romana, or similar
- Palermo (2 nights): IBIS Style Palermo, Bel 3, or similar
All hotels are selected for comfort, location, and quality.
A total of 24 meals:
- 12 buffet breakfasts
- 4 lunches (including wine/olive oil tasting & masseria lunch)
- 8 dinners
- 1 pasta-making culinary experience
Luxury Minibus for all transfers and touring
Ferry crossing from Calabria to Sicily
Airport transfers at scheduled times
Arrival Transfers in Rome (FCO):
- Group transfers depart at 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM, and 3:00 PM.
Departure Transfers in Palermo (PMO):
- Group transfers depart at 5:30 AM and 7:30 AM on Day 13.
Private transfers can be arranged for travelers outside the scheduled times.
- Rome sightseeing tour
- Naples walking tour & historic center
- Amalfi Coast panoramas & Sorrento
- Lecce’s Baroque architecture
- Otranto’s cathedral & Salento coast
- Fresh pasta “Orecchiette” class with a local nonna
- Alberobello’s iconic Trulli homes (UNESCO)
- Matera’s Sassi cave dwellings (UNESCO)
- Pizzo village & ferry crossing to Sicily
- Taormina Greek Amphitheater (UNESCO)
- Mount Etna excursion with wine tasting
- Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples (UNESCO)
- Erice medieval hilltop town
- Palermo and Monreale Cathedral with its 50,000 sq ft of mosaics
Yes. Certified local guides (WLG) accompany key tours, including:
- Naples
- Lecce
- Castellana Caves
- Alberobello
- Matera
- Taormina
- Agrigento
- Palermo
- Monreale
Wireless audio headsets are provided where noted.
Yes. The tour includes:
- Wine and olive oil tasting with local food
- Orecchiette pasta-making class
- Lunch at a traditional masseria
- Numerous regional meals featuring local specialties
While the tour is easy, many UNESCO sites involve uneven stone paths, steps, and moderate walking. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Yes. We offer optional pre- and post-tour hotel nights and custom trip extensions upon request.