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Small Group Southern Italy Tour

The small group southern Italy tour is a two-week trip through Southern Italy’s sightseeing highlights.

Begin this escorted southern Italy tour in the Campania region. Afterward the tour continues to Basilicata region. Finally the tour travels to Puglia.

Overnights include the lively city of Naples. Afterward, the tour travels short distance around Bay of Naples to Minori on the Amalfi Coast. Then, your journey through southern Italy crosses the Italic peninsula to Basilicata, where there is an overnight in Matera. Then the trip continues to Lecce.

Finally the small group southern Italy trip ends in Monopoli. This seaside village is quintessential end to your escorted southern Italy tour.

Small Group Southern Italy Tour Highlights

  • Explore layers of Naples’ history by exploring its underground
  • Visit Naples’ Sansevero Chapel
  • Evening of music entertainment in Naples
  • Explore ancient Rome with escorted tour of Pompeii
  • Indulge in wine tasting and lunch with authentic flavors to Campania
  • Boat rides around the Amalfi Coast area, weather permitting
  • Visit Amafli and Positano with free time to enjoy the jewels of the Amalfi Coast
  • Excursion to Ravello to visit gardens and enjoy free time.
  • Hike Path of Lemons
  • Visit Sassi di Matera cave houses and Rupestral Churches
  • Visit Grottaglie, famous for its ceramic
  • Excursion to Ostuni
  • Excursion to Alberobello

Small Group Southern Italy Tour Inclusions

  • 12 Nights Accommodations
    • Naples 2 Nights
    • Minori 4 Nights
    • Matera 2 Nights
    • Lecce 2 Nights
    • Monopoli 2 Nights
  • Breakfast Daily
  • Four Dinners
  • One Lunch
  • Luxury motor coach touring between cities
  • English-speaking tour director from beginning to end
  • Audio headsets for easy listening to tour guides

To book your small group southern Italy tour contact ItalianTourism.us 800.227.1577 or submit form


Small Group Southern Italy Tour Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart for your small group escorted southern Italy tour with an overnight flight from the United States to Naples Italy. This tour itinerary is unique because it bypasses Rome flying into Naples. Likewise, the return from is from Bari. Naples is a lively city located in the Campania region. Many tours to Southern Italy skip Naples for Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. For the adventurous traveler Naples offers excitement, color, history and fantastic food that Italy is known for. Moreover, Naples is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. it was originally founded by the ancient Greeks during the Magna Grecia. Therefore, Naples is perfect place to begin your journey through Southern Italy’s history and culture.

Day 2: Small Group Southern Italy ­Tour Begins in Naples

Today you arrive in Naples. Mt Vesuvius towers over the landscape its volcanic eruptions formed. The volcano is an integral part of the history around the Bay of Naples. Its eruption destroyed ancient Roman towns. Paradoxically, it is that destruction that preserved those ancient towns like Pompeii and Herculaneum for modern travelers to explore and discover ancient Roman civilization. Mixed with the ancient Roman culture are remnants of its ancient Greek past. The southern Italy tour is an exploration into ancient Greek culture and its influence in southern Italy.

Arrive at your hotel with time to relax. This evening the small group southern Italy tour begins with dinner. There you’ll meet your fellow travelers and tour director.
Hotel Paradiso, Naples
Meals: Dinner

Day 3: Naples

Modern-day Naples is built upon layers upon layers of history. Today explore Naples’ ancient past with an escorted tour of its underground ancient ruins. After, you’ll visit Sansevero Chapel, home to the Veiled Christ statue. This statue is rumored to be created by alchemy due to its carved flowing cloth. Then, you’ll meet local Neapolitan artisans. After, the afternoon is yours to enjoy Naples at leisure.

Of course, we suggest indulging in a world-famous Neapolitan pizza. Following lunch, there is no shortage of things to do around Naples. First, you may consider a visit Via Gregorio Armeno. This street is famous for its craftsmen who sculpt Presipi. For history buffs, plan a visit to the Naples National Archaeological Museum. This museum is where most of the priceless art, sculpture and mosaics excavated from Pompeii and Herculaneum are located. Finally, just a stroll through its lively streets is stimulating and the best way to experience its culture.

Then, this evening, there is an included private concert, performed by the Napulitanata social enterprise, which supports Italian heritage and abates the city’s high unemployment.
Hotel Paradiso, Naples
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Naples ­ Pompeii ­ Minori

Today you’ll visit the Ancient Roman city Pompeii. A tour guide will transport you back in time to the last days of decadent Rome. While strolling through Pompeii you’ll see ancient public baths and villas where ancient Romans lived in apparent luxury. After you’ll travel across the countryside to a nearby winery. Mt. Etna’s ash over the centuries has turned into very fertile ground. At the winery you’ll enjoy a wine tasting with lunch including local specialties grown in the area’s rich soil. After that, the tour continues to Minori on the Amalfi Coast.
Hotel Villa Romana – Minori
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 5: Minori ­

Minori is a fishing village. Along the hills are terraced lemon groves, which are typical to the Amalfi Coast.

This morning begins with a visit to a garden. First, learn more about the lemons used to make among other things the famous liqueur Limoncello. Then, there is a hike among the coast on the Path of Lemons. This is ancient route that links Minori to Maiori. Explore on your own before returning to Minori by boat*. Then the remainder of the day is yours.
Hotel Villa Romana – Minori
Breakfast

*Boat journey is weather permitting.

Day 6: Explore Amalfi Coast by Boat: Amalfi & Positano

Today enjoy exploring the Amalfi Coast by boat*. The view from the water back to the rocky coast are breathtaking. First visit Amalfi. The town was formerly one of the original maritime republics, the others being Pisa, Venice and Genoa. Enjoy free time in Amalfi. Enjoy an gelato in its cobblestone piazza. Or visit its mosaicked cathedral. Then, you’ll board the ferry to cruise by boat from Amalfi to Positano. Afterward, enjoy a free afternoon in this resort town, perhaps browsing the posh boutiques or resting along the beach. Finally, return to Minori by ferry enjoying the views back to the Amalfi Coast.
Hotel Villa Romana – Minori
Meals: Breakfast

*Boat journey is weather permitting.

Day 7: Excursion from Minori to Ravello

Today you’ll travel high above the coast to Ravello. This picturesque village enjoys wonderful views of the coastline below. Once there, visit the gardens of Villa Rufolo, making your way through a latticework of hedges and flowers to gaze out at the azure waves below. Then take advantage of free time on your own. Perhaps you’ll hike the half ­mile trail down to the gardens of Villa Cimbrone before returning to Minori in the afternoon.
Hotel Villa Romana – Minori
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8: Travel from Minori to Matera

Today you’ll travel from the Amalfi Coast across southern Italy to Matera in the region of Basilicata. During the trip there is an excursion to the Museum of Operation Avalanche in Eboli where you’ll get a glimpse into the area’s war­stricken past. Afterward, continue south to Matera, a world heritage site known for its cave dwellings and Rupestral Churches. Your Matera accommodations are carved out of the cave dwellings. In these unparalleled accommodations, connect with the Italian landscape like never before.
Locanda Di San Martino – Matera
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Matera

This morning begins with a hike into Matera’s 9,000­ year ­old history. The guided walking tour explores the hillside caves, known as Sassi. Afterward, you have a choice of two activities. You may either work with your hands at a bread­-making class or enjoy more hiking to explore Matera’s prehistoric and medieval heritage through countryside and rock churches i.e Rupestral Churches. Finally, this evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.
Locanda Di San Martino – Matera
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Travel from Matera to Lecce

Today your small group southern Italy journey continues from Matera to Lecce. During the trip you’ll visit Grottaglie, famous for its ceramic. There you’ll have tome to stroll around the artisan shops. Afterward, the trip continues to Lecce, the southern Italian Baroque city. There you’ll get to know the city with a local expert who will introduce the iconic architecture and papier­mâché craftsmanship. Then enjoy dinner this evening in the city center.
Santa Chiara Suite Hotel – Lecce
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 11: Lecce

Today is a free day in Lecce. Begin the day strolling around Lecce. Afterward, consider joining an optional excursion to Otranto and a nearby winery, featuring a tasting of wine from the region’s dark­ purple grapes. Then, reconvene in the evening for a private folk music and dance performance, highlighting the traditional pizzica e taranta. According to legend, spider bites cause the women to dance with feverish energy.
Santa Chiara Suite Hotel – Lecce
Meal: Breakfast

Day 12: Travel from Lecce ­to Monopoli with Ostuni Excursion

Today the small group escorted Southern Italy trip continues to Monopoli. During the trip there is an excursion to Ostuni. The town is popular with travelers and photographers because of its whitewashed buildings, and the olive tress that surround town. In Ostuni you’ll cruise through the town like a local in the backseat of an open­air Ape Calessino, a traditional 3­-wheel car. Then enjoy time on your own. Afterward continue to Monopoli, a town reminiscent of Greece and set along Italy’s eastern shore. Make the most of a free afternoon to independently discover the town’s secrets.
Albergo Diffuso Monopoli Srl – Monopoli
Meals: Breakfast

Day 13: Monopoli Excursion to Alberobello

Today enjoy an included excursion to Alberobello, where cone­-shaped trulli homes enchant all visitors. There you’ll have time to meander through the labyrinth of these trulli houses. Then as the day draws to a close, wish Italy goodbye at a farewell dinner.
Albergo Diffuso Monopoli Srl – Monopoli
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 14: Small Group Southern Italy­ Tour Ends

Today your small group southern Italy tour ends in Monopoli. Transfer to Bari with lovely memories of southern Italian culture and history.

To book your small group southern Italy tour contact ItalianTourism.us 800.227.1577 or submit form


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