Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Italy is famous world over for exporting its pasta, pizza, cars and fashion, but some of its most famous and influential exports have been its citizens. Many of the ideas held about Italy around the globe, but particularly in the US, are derived from Sicily and Naples, because it was Italians largely from these areas who left to build their American dream. Indeed, there is a Sicilian proverb ‘Cu nesci arrinesci’, meaning ‘he who leaves his comfort zone, succeeds’.  Elena Ferrante, the Neapolitan author, has a book entitled ‘Those who Leave and Those who Stay’. Perhaps it is now time to go back and see whether nonna’s sauce is still going strong back in the motherland and practise some of those dialect words you grew up with.

 

Naples

“Vedi Napoli e poi muori.”

(“See Naples and die.”)

(Goethe)

Day 1 Sorrento

It was considered that you could see the city of Naples and then die happy that you had seen the most beautiful place in the world. It is here where you will arrive and we will make our way to our hotel in the seaside resort town of Sorrento, with plenty of time to settle in and relax.  Dinner is at a local restaurant. The night ends with our first limoncello because when life gave the Italians lemons, they quickly turned them into a fabulous beverage, as is their way. (D)

Day 2 Naples & Pompeii

‘Happy Campania’, was what the Romans called this region, because it was here that they came to holiday. On our tour of her capital, we will stop at one of Naples’ most famous cafes for cappuccino and pastries. Lunch is at one of her famous pizzerias and we then make our way to Herculaneum to see how the Romans used to live. Return to Sorrento for an evening at leisure. (B, L)

Day 3 Private Sail to Capri & a Pizza-Making Lesson

Today we head out on private boats to enjoy a day trip around Capri, including a picnic lunch and alcohol to toast us on our way. Enjoy an opportunity to snorkel and swim in the green/blue waters for which the island is renowned. The pizza Margherita comes from Naples, named in honour of Queen Margherita for whom it was prepared in 1889. This evening we head to an agriturismo to learn about the art of mozzarella-making, visit the farm, enjoy aperitivi and then make our own pizzas. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Amalfi

A trip to Amalfi to visit her splendid cathedral. There is then some free time to explore the town and have lunch, before we return to Sorrento for a free afternoon there.Dinner in a local restaurant. (B, D)

 

Sicily

“On the sixth day God accomplished His work and, pleased with all the beauty He had created, He took the Earth in His hands and kissed it. There, where He put His lips, that’s Sicily.” 

(Renzino Barbera, Poet)

Day 5 Maratea & Taormina

Sicily has one of the richest and most diverse of histories thanks to a series of invasions by everyone from the Greeks to the Romans, Saracens to the Normans and the various reigning European monarchies. As one of her most famous authors, Tomasi de Lampedusa said, in possibly the most famous Sicilian novel, ‘The Leopard’ (‘Il Gattopardo’): “For over twenty-five centuries we’ve been bearing the weight of superb and heterogeneous civilizations, all from outside, none made by ourselves, none that we could call our own”. It is here that we head today, but we stop on the way for lunch and a wander in the picturesque town of Maratea. We then continue south, arriving into Taormina in the early evening. (B, D)

Day 6 Taormina & Siracusa

“Were a man to spend only one day in Sicily and ask “What must one see?” I would answer him without hesitation ‘Taormina’. It is only a landscape, but a landscape where you find everything on earth that seems made to seduce the mind and the imagination.”  (Guy de Maupassant)

Morning is at leisure in Taormina. Perhaps an opportunity for you to visit the Greek theatre, or, alternatively browse the lovely shops. After lunch we head to Siracusa to visit the Temple of Apollo, followed by dinner at a local restaurant before returning to Taormina. (B, D)

Day 7 Etna & a Volcanic Winery

This morning we head in 4 x 4 on a trip to the top of Mount Etna. In order to cool down, there can be no better way than to sip on wines from the second biggest wine growing area outside of Tuscany. Lunch will help absorb some of the effects of the wine, but will do little to dampen the exhilaration of going up Etna. This evening is at leisure in Taormina. (B, L)

Day 8 Cefalù to Palermo

Today we make our way to Palermo, stopping on the way in Cefalù for free time to explore and have lunch. We continue on to Palermo where we check into our hotel and then head out for a typical Sicilian meal, Palermo style. (B, D)

Day 9 Palermo

“Sicilians build things like they will live forever and eat like they will die tomorrow.” (Plato)

To put this theory to the test, our guided tour includes tasting the goodies at the famous local street markets. This is followed by free time to further explore the old town. We then meet up to sample yet more Sicilian cuisine, in a nod to the Sicilian proverb that food is more important than clothes, or perhaps more appropriately, food is more important than fitting into our clothes. (B, D)

Day 10 Trapani & Swimming in the Aegadian Islands

Today we are off to Trapani where we check into our hotel. Once checked in, we head out on a private boat to the spectacular Aegadian (Egadi) Islands where there is an opportunity to swim, snorkel or hike, or perhaps pay a visit to the prehistoric cave drawings. This evening enjoy a typical meal including local specialities such as cous-cous. (B, D)

Day 11 Erice & Marsala

After enjoying a morning’s guided visit of Erice, a town founded by the Phoenicians, there is some free time for lunch before we head to the salt flats. We then continue onto Marsala where we have the chance to sample this sweet dessert wine before heading back to our hotel for the evening and for our final dinner. (B, D)

Day 12 Departure

As D.H. Lawrence said, “anyone who has once known this land can never be quite free from the nostalgia for it.” I, too, hope that you will keep this part of the world in your hearts forever, and look forward to seeing you on your next trip. (B)

Included in this trip: