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 on your own – in the afternoon, guided tour of Naples (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 age-old fishermen’s quarter – Via Caracciolo, the hillside district of Posillipo with stunning views over the entire gulf, the National Archaeological Museum – interior visit – and the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – in the evening, check-in at the hotel – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Naples by night: panoramic tour by private coach with your tour leader – overnight stay.

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

   Morano Calabro “the heart of Pollino National Park” – Vibo Valentia, 420 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, guided visit of Pompeii, the most visited archaeological site in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – continuing to Morano Calabro in the heart of Pollino National Park – lunch at a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, guided visit of Morano Calabro, one of the most charming villages in Pollino National Park (the historic center, 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 with private coach and tour leader – tasting of the famous artisanal tartufo gelato – overnight stay.

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

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

4. 4Day 4Palermo & Monreale “UNESCO World Heritage Sites”

   Breakfast at the hotel – full day devoted 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 on your own: this is the moment 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: panoramic tour by private coach and walking tour with your 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 park in Italy (Temple of Concordia, Temple of Juno, Temple of Jupiter, Temple of Castor and Pollux, Temple of Hercules) – lunch at a traditional restaurant – arrival in Modica or Ragusa in the evening – dinner at the hotel – free evening, tour leader at your disposal – overnight stay.

6. 6Day 6Ragusa Ibla “the other Sicily” – Modica “an incomparable land” Scicli.

   Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, guided visit of Ragusa (an ancient historic center that preserves its late-19th-century urban layout) – lunch at a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, guided visit of Modica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and birthplace of the poet Salvatore Quasimodo (its refined Baroque buildings and the Church of San Giorgio) and of Scicli, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (panoramic tour of the Baroque town, Via Mormino Penna, the visionary Palazzo Beneventano) – stop at a famous pastry shop to taste the renowned Modica chocolate – return to the hotel in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Modica by night: panoramic tour by private coach with your tour leader – overnight stay.

7. 7Day 7Modica – Noto “where Baroque takes center stage” – Syracuse “the Greek…

   city” – Catania, 150 km. Breakfast at the hotel – transfer to Noto – in the morning, guided visit of this splendid UNESCO World Heritage town, capital of European Baroque, with its magnificent cathedral, churches, monasteries and noble palaces, Porta Nazionale and the Town Hall – lunch at a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, guided visit of Syracuse, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the archaeological park (Greek Theater, Roman Amphitheater, 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: panoramic tour by private coach with your tour leader – overnight stay.

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

   Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, guided excursion on Mount Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – we climb to 1,900 meters to discover the wonders and lunar landscapes of Europe’s highest volcano, walking around the Silvestri Craters, small and long dormant – please note: guests who prefer not to make the ascent for health reasons may wait in the charming village of Zafferana Etnea, where lunch will be served – lunch at a traditional restaurant – in the afternoon, guided visit of Taormina (the Greek Theater, the public gardens, the historic center, Palazzo Corvaja, Corso Umberto) – free time for shopping – return to the hotel – dinner at the hotel – free evening, tour leader at your disposal – overnight stay.

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

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

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

    Breakfast at the hotel – departure for Matera – full day devoted 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 a visit in the Petrapenta district, 14 km from Matera, to the Crypt of Original Sin, known as the Sistine Chapel of rock-church painting) – lunch at a traditional restaurant – free time for shopping – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Matera by night: walking tour with your 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 center with the Aragonese Castle – exterior visit – the Cathedral of San Cataldo and a panoramic tour) – continuing to Lecce – street-food lunch on your own: we recommend the savory rustico leccese and the sweet pasticciotto leccese – in the afternoon, guided visit of Lecce (the Basilica of Santa Croce, the Church of the Gesù, San Matteo, the cathedral, Sant’Irene, along with a great many noble palaces, and Roman remains including the Theater and the Amphitheater) – visit to a traditional papier-mâché workshop – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Lecce by night: walking tour with your tour leader – overnight stay.

12. 12Day 12Salento Tour – Otranto – Santa Maria Di Leuca – Gallipoli, 190 km

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

13. 13Day 13Lecce – Ostuni “the white city” – Valle D’Itria – Alberobello “the…

    trulli” – Bari, 170 km. Breakfast at the hotel – full-day guided excursion – visit of Ostuni, the white city, with an olive oil tasting at a working mill – the Itria Valley – Alberobello and its famous trulli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – lunch at a traditional restaurant – arrival in Bari in the evening – dinner at the hotel – after dinner, Bari by night: panoramic tour by private coach with your 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, guided visit of Bari (the historic center with the Basilica of San Nicola), followed by guided visits of Trani (the Romanesque cathedral that seems to rise straight 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 on your own: we recommend focaccia barese, sgagliozze and octopus sandwiches – arrival in Campobasso in the evening – dinner at the hotel/restaurant – after dinner, Campobasso by night: walking tour with your tour leader – overnight stay.

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

    “the Paleolithic Museum” – Rome, 290 km. Breakfast at the hotel – in the morning, guided visit of Campobasso (the historic center and the Samnite Museum) – continuing to Agnone – light lunch with a tasting of cheeses and dairy products, and a visit to a historic cellar and to a tuff cave used for aging cheese – visit of the Pontifical Marinelli Bell Foundry in Agnone – continuing to Isernia – guided visit of the Paleolithic Museum – arrival in Rome in the evening. Please note: the scheduled visits may be rearranged among the various days depending on museum opening hours or for operational reasons, but the itinerary itself remains unchanged.

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