Day 2 Friday, September 24, 2010 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento
The group will meet Sue Jane in Rome before travelling by coach south, past the great city of Naples and the volcano of Vesuvius on our way to the Amalfi Coast, the southern part of the Sorrento Peninsula. The Amalfi Coast is one of the most spectacular in Italy. Perfectly preserved medieval villages spill down sheer cliffs to the azure sea. The group will travel along the famous road that clings to the cliffs and twists and turns its way along the coast, offering breathtaking views. We have an included group dinner this evening to welcome everyone on the tour.

Day 3 Saturday, September 25, 2010 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento
The group will continue travelling along the famous road that clings to the cliffs above the coast, offering breathtaking views to Amalfi, and then travel up into the hills to the delightful village of Ravello. It is located on a ledge with spectacular views over the sea and the coast. We visit the Villa Cimbrone, a beautiful garden in the classical style, which contains historic statues and temples. We will also visit the Villa Rufolo with its beautiful garden overlooking the sea. Built by the powerful Rufoli family, it was the residence of several popes and Charles of Anjou. Sue knows the area well and will make sure we get the most out of our touring today. She will recommend an interesting venue for dinner.

Day 4 Sunday, September 26, 2010 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento
Today we take a ferry for a short distance across the Bay of Naples to the fabled island of Capri. Capri, the Island of Dreams, enchanted two Roman emperors, Augustus and Tiberius, and continues to attract artists, writers, musicians and celebrities. It is known for its temperate climate, luxuriant vegetation and dramatic, rugged coastline. On arrival we will take the funicular to the town of Capri for a guided tour.

Day 5 Monday, September 27, 2010 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento
Today we travel to the ancient, perfectly preserved ruins of Pompeii. A wealthy settlement of the Roman Empire, it was destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 70AD. We will have a tour of the ruins with a local guide to see the Forum, the House of the Vetti, a wellpreserved aristocratic villa and much more.

Day 6 Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Palmero
We depart our hotel this morning for Naples airport, where we board our flight to Palermo, Sicily. We will be met at Palermo airport and transferred to our comfortable, centrally located hotel. Sicily is rich in ancient history with well-preserved remains of Greek, Roman and Norman habitation. Sue Jane’s inside knowledge and experience will illuminate our visit to this fascinating island. This afternoon we have a sightseeing tour of the city of Palermo with a local guide. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC, the city has been home to numerous settlers including the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Germans and Spanish, before finally becoming part of a unified Italy in 1860. We will visit the medieval Cassaro quarter which contains the cathedral, 14th-century palazzos and gardens. We will also visit the La Kalsa quarter which is in the old Islamic area, the centre of the city when it was ruled by the Arab Emirs. On completion of the tour we will return to the hotel and the afternoon will be free for you to further explore the city.

Day 7 Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Palermo
This morning please meet Sue and the guide in the lobby of the hotel. We will travel by coach to visit the famous Palatine chapel, originally constructed by King Roger II between 1130AD and 1140AD. Known for its spectacular Arab-Norman interior, the decoration of gold set off by marble, the Palatine chapel is an architectural masterpiece. We will return to Palermo for a typical Silician Puppet show. This is a fun event.

Day 8 Thursday, September 30, 2010 Palermo
We travel to the beautiful medieval town of Monreale in the hills behind Palermo. If the weather is clear, we will have a panoramic view of the city, and beyond to the sea. Monreale is also known for its Norman abbey, which is famous for its spectacular mosaics. In Monreale there will be time for lunch and a leisurely walk through the town. We will return to Palermo via Mondello, a picturesque beachfront town. Originally a fishing village you can still see rainbow-coloured fishing boats bobbing in the harbour.

Day 9 Friday, October 1, 2010 Palermo
Today we travel to the Temple of Segesta, one of the most perfectly preserved monuments to survive from the ancient world. Built in 430BC, the Doric temple has extraordinarily harmonious proportions. It is located in majestic solitude on a hill surrounded by a deep valley. Erice was renowned in the ancient world as a place of worship, conducted in its magnificent temple dedicated to Aphrodite. Today it is a picturesque town of medieval buildings. We will return to Palermo, where we will have an included group dinner.

Day10 Saturday, October 2, 2010 Agriegento
We travel along the coast before driving inland towards Caltanissetta. In the very heart of Sicily, Caltanissetta is located on a plateau. The historic town centre clusters around Piazza Garibaldi. We continue to Agriegento; the site upon which the town was constructed has been inhabited since pre-historic times. About 580BC, a group of people from present-day Rhodes and Crete founded the city. In 210BC the Romans conquered it and changed its name to Agrigentum. The Valley of the Temples shelters a series of temples, all erected in the course of the 5th century BC. The buildings were restored by the Romans in the 1st century BC. The broad Viale Della Vittoria, shaded by trees, provides beautiful views of the Valley of the Temples and leads to a square in front of the station.

Day 11 Sunday, October 3, 2010 Agriegento
We will have a guided tour of the historic sites, which cover the settlement of the area over 2,500 years. This is one of the world’s most interesting historic areas. Our tour will explain the occupation of this area by the Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans and the Normans. The afternoon will be free for individual activities.

Day 12 Monday, October 4, 2010 Syracusa
We travel along the picturesque coastal road to Gela, which was a Greek settlement. We continue on to the ancient city of Syracusa, where we will be spending the next three nights.

Day 13 Tuesday, October 5, 2010 Syracusa
Today we have a tour of the ancient city of Syracusa with a local guide. Founded in 8BC by the Corinthians, this splendid city eventually established supremacy over the rest of Sicily. The old part of the town is on the island of Ortygia and contains churches, the cathedral, old palazzos and houses. We will have a walking tour of this historic centre. The cathedral has been converted from an ancient Greek temple and is more than 2,000 years old. The afternoon will be free. Sue will recommend an interesting venue for dinner.

Day 14 Wednesday, October 6, 2010 Syracusa
Today we travel through the Isli Mountains to the town of Noto, which is a tiny baroque jewel. We then travel to Avola where we have a tasting of local wines before returning to Syracusa.

Day 15 Thursday, October 7, 2010 Taormina
We depart Syracusa this morning and travel north along the coast to the second city of Sicily, Catania. We drive up the side of the spectacular volcano, Mt Etna, powdered with the grey ash left by many eruptions. We will see the fertile citrus plantations, vineyards and recent lava flows, with views of the snow-topped Mt Etna. We continue to the famous resort of Taormina where we will spend the next three nights. Taormina is spectacularly located high on a 200 metre rocky outcrop, surveying the mountain. The town, founded by the Greeks, has an ancient theatre that also overlooks Mt Etna. Since the 18th century, Taormina has been a popular travel destination.

Day 16 Friday, October 8, 2010 Taormina
This morning we will have a tour of Taormina with a local guide, walk around the medieval centre and see the terrace Piazza IX April, with its views overlooking Mt Etna and the sea. We will visit Torre dell’Orologio, a restored 12th-century clock tower and the famous ancient Greek theatre founded in the 3rd century BC and rebuilt by the Romans at the end of the 1st century – it is spectacularly sited with views of Mt Etna in the distance. The rest of the day will be free for exploration and relaxation.

Day 17 Saturday, October 9, 2010 Taormina
A free day to enjoy the facilities of the hotel and do some last-minute shopping. We have an included farewell dinner to celebrate the wonderful times we have had exploring the Amalfi Coast and Sicily.

Day 18 Sunday, October 10, 2010 In flight
We will be transferred to Catania, where we will board a flight for Rome and then on to Australia.

Day 19 Monday, October 11, 2010 Australia
The group arrives in Australia and tour arrangements conclude.