Grand Tour Welcome to the South - The 5 Senses 2026-27

Day-by-day itinerary

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1. 1Day 1Rome – Naples, 230 km

   Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Naples – street-food lunch at leisure – in the afternoon, a guided tour of Naples (a panoramic tour along the city’s great avenues, Piazza Municipio with the Maschio Angioino, the Teatro San Carlo and the Galleria Umberto I, Piazza del Plebiscito with the Royal Palace and the monumental Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, the Santa Lucia district – an old fishermen’s quarter – Via Caracciolo, the hillside district of Posillipo with stunning views over the whole bay, the National Archaeological Museum – interior visit – and the UNESCO-listed historic centre) – in the evening, accommodation at the hotel – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Naples by night: a panoramic tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

2. 2Day 2Naples – Pompeii, “the most visited archaeological site in the world”…

   Morano Calabro, “the heart of the Pollino National Park” – Vibo Valentia, 420 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of Pompeii, the most visited archaeological site in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – onward to Morano Calabro, in the heart of the Pollino National Park – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Morano Calabro, one of the most charming villages of the Pollino National Park (the historic centre, the monastic complex of San Bernardino da Siena, the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena) – arrival in Vibo Valentia in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Pizzo Calabro by night, by private coach with the tour leader – tasting of the famous artisan tartufo ice cream – overnight stay.

3. 3Day 3Vibo Valentia – Messina – Cefalù – Palermo, 330 km

   Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Messina – a tour of the city (the cathedral and Piazza Duomo) – street-food lunch at leisure – in the late afternoon, a guided visit of Cefalù (the historic centre and the UNESCO-listed cathedral) – arrival in Palermo in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Palermo by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

4. 4Day 4Palermo and Monreale, “UNESCO World Heritage Sites”

   Breakfast at the hotel – a full day given over to a guided visit of Palermo and Monreale and their UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the Palazzo dei Normanni with the Palatine Chapel – interior visit – San Giovanni degli Eremiti – interior visit – the cathedral – interior visit – followed by a panoramic tour with exterior visits of the Teatro Massimo, Piazza Pretoria, the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, known as La Martorana, and the cathedral and cloister of Monreale) – street-food lunch at leisure: we suggest taking the chance to try the classics of Palermo street food – panelle, crocchè (or cazzilli), boiled octopus, pani ca’ meusa, rice arancini and sfincione – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Palermo by night: a panoramic tour by private coach and a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

5. 5Day 5Palermo – Agrigento – Modica, 270 km

   Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Agrigento – guided visit of the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest archaeological area in Italy (the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Hercules) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – arrival in Modica or Ragusa in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

6. 6Day 6Ragusa Ibla, “the other Sicily” – Modica, “a land without equal” Scicli.

   Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of Ragusa (the old historic centre, which keeps its late nineteenth-century urban plan) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Modica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (birthplace of the poet Salvatore Quasimodo, with a visit of its refined Baroque buildings and the Church of San Giorgio) and of Scicli, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (a panoramic tour of the Baroque town, Via Mormino Penna and the visionary Palazzo Beneventano) – a stop at a famous pasticceria to taste the renowned Modica chocolate – return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Modica by night: a panoramic tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

7. 7Day 7Modica – Noto, “where the Baroque takes the lead” – Syracuse, “the Greek…

   city” – Catania, 150 km. Breakfast at the hotel – transfer to Noto – in the morning, a guided visit of this splendid UNESCO World Heritage town, the capital of European Baroque, with its magnificent cathedral, churches, monasteries and patrician palaces, the Porta Nazionale and the Town Hall – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Syracuse, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the archaeological area (the Greek Theatre, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Ear of Dionysius), the island of Ortigia and the cathedral – arrival in Catania in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Catania by night: a panoramic tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

8. 8Day 8Etna and Taormina, “myth and passion”, 100 km

   Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided excursion to Mount Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – we climb to 1,900 metres to discover the wonders and lunar landscapes of Europe’s highest volcano, walking among the Silvestri Craters, now small and extinct – please note: guests who would rather not go up Mount Etna for health reasons may wait in the charming village of Zafferana Etnea, where lunch is served – lunch in a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Taormina (the Greek Theatre, the public gardens, the historic centre, Palazzo Corvaja, Corso Umberto) – free time for shopping – return to the hotel – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

9. 9Day 9Catania – Reggio Calabria – Tropea, “the balcony over the Tyrrhenian”…

   Cosenza, 330 km. Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Reggio Calabria – guided visit of the National Archaeological Museum with the famous Riace Bronzes – onward to Tropea – lunch in a traditional restaurant – guided visit of the town (the cathedral and the historic centre, with a stop at the Affaccio, a stunning balcony over the Tyrrhenian Sea) – tasting of traditional onion specialities at a local producer – in the afternoon, arrival in Cosenza – guided city tour (the old town with its UNESCO-listed cathedral) – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Cosenza by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

10. 10Day 10Cosenza – Matera, “the City of the Sassi”, 210 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Matera – a full day given over to a guided visit of Matera, the City of the Sassi, ancient dwellings now inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (the cathedral, a walking tour through the Sassi districts of Sasso Caveoso, Santa Lucia alle Malve and Madonna de Idris – and, in the Petrapenta district, 14 km from Matera, a visit to the Crypt of Original Sin, known as the “Sistine Chapel” of rupestrian painting) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – free time for shopping – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Matera by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

11. 11Day 11Matera – Taranto, “the city of two seas” – Lecce, “the Florence of the…

    South”, 180 km. Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Taranto – guided visit of the city of two seas (the historic centre with the Aragonese Castle – seen from the outside – the Cathedral of San Cataldo, and a panoramic tour) – onward to Lecce – street-food lunch at leisure: we recommend trying the savoury rustico leccese and the sweet pasticciotto leccese – in the afternoon, a guided visit of Lecce (the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Church of the Gesù, San Matteo, the cathedral, Sant’Irene, along with a wealth of patrician palaces and Roman remains including the Theatre and the Amphitheatre) – a visit to a traditional papier-mâché workshop – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Lecce by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

12. 12Day 12Salento tour – Otranto – Santa Maria di Leuca – Gallipoli, 190 km

    Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – a visit of Otranto (the historic centre and the cathedral with the precious mosaic of 1163 that covers its floor), of Santa Maria di Leuca, de finibus terrae, and of Gallipoli (from the Greek for “beautiful city”, with its characterful old town) – lunch in a traditional restaurant – return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – evening at leisure – the tour leader is at guests’ disposal – overnight stay.

13. 13Day 13Lecce – Ostuni, “the white city” – the Itria Valley – Alberobello, “the…

    trulli” – Bari, 170 km. Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – a visit of Ostuni, the “white city”, with an olive oil tasting at a working mill – the Itria Valley – Alberobello with its famous trulli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – lunch in a traditional restaurant – arrival in Bari in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Bari by night: a panoramic tour by private coach with the tour leader – overnight stay.

14. 14Day 14Bari – Trani – Castel del Monte, “a UNESCO World Heritage Site”…

    Campobasso, 280 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of Bari (the historic centre with the Basilica of San Nicola), followed by guided visits of Trani (the Romanesque cathedral “rising from the sea”, dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim, with a tasting of Moscato di Trani at a wine bar) and of Castel del Monte (Frederick II’s castle, built on the model of the Palatine Chapel in Aachen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – street-food lunch at leisure: we recommend focaccia barese, sgagliozze and octopus rolls – arrival in Campobasso in the evening – dinner at the hotel or in a restaurant – after dinner, Campobasso by night: a walking tour with the tour leader – overnight stay.

15. 15Day 15Campobasso, “the Samnite Museum” – Agnone, “the Marinelli foundry” – Isernia…

    “the Palaeolithic Museum” – Rome, 290 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, a guided visit of Campobasso (the historic centre and the Samnite Museum) – onward to Agnone – light lunch with a tasting of cheeses and dairy specialities, a visit to a historic cellar and to a tuff cave used for ageing cheese – a visit of the Pontifical Marinelli bell foundry in Agnone – onward to Isernia – guided visit of the Palaeolithic Museum – arrival in Rome in the evening. Please note: the planned visits may be rearranged between days according to museum opening times or operational requirements, but the itinerary remains unchanged.

    Experience here: Segreti di MarmoExperience here: I Tesori di Carta