13 Day Private Tour of Southern Italy

Your driver will meet you on arrival and bring you into central Naples.

The afternoon is spent walking through the historic center with your private guide. Spaccanapoli runs straight through the old town and acts as a natural route, passing churches, bakeries, small food shops, and cafés along the way. You can stop for espresso, pastries, or quick tastings depending on your pace. As you walk, you’ll pass places like Gesù Nuovo and San Gregorio Armeno, a street known for its traditional workshops. 

In the evening, dinner is best kept simple with a reservation at one of Naples’ well-known pizzerias, where traditional wood-fired pizza is prepared using local ingredients and long-standing methods.

After breakfast, your driver will take you out of Naples towards Pompeii, while you enjoy views of Mount Vesuvius along the way. 

Once inside the site, you’ll walk through the main streets, moving between the Forum, residential homes, bathhouses, and shops. Preserved details such as mosaics, courtyards, and wall paintings make it easy to understand how the city once functioned before the eruption.

From Pompeii, the drive continues up Mount Vesuvius. The last part is a short walk along a marked path to the crater, with wide views across the Bay of Naples from the top. 

Return to Naples in the late afternoon.

Your driver will pick you up in the morning and begin your journey along the Amalfi Coast.

The road follows the cliffs with regular stops possible at viewpoints overlooking the sea. The route is narrow and winding, with the coastline visible throughout, making the drive itself a key part of the day.

In Positano, you’ll park above the town and walk down through narrow streets lined with shops and cafés. The route leads towards the beach, where there is time to explore, stop for lunch, or sit by the water.

Continue along the coast to your accommodation in the afternoon.

Begin in Amalfi, where the cathedral sits at the top of the main square. Steps lead up to the entrance, with small streets branching out from the center filled with shops and cafés.

After time in Amalfi, your driver and guide will take you inland to Ravello. The road climbs steadily, with views opening out as you reach the town above the coastline.

Visit Villa Rufolo or Villa Cimbrone, where terraces and gardens look out across the sea. The setting is quieter, with fewer crowds and wider viewpoints.

Return to your accommodation along the coast.

On day 5, you depart the Amalfi Coast on a journey through the Italian countryside. On arrival in Matera, your driver will take you into the Sassi districts. Walking through the area, you’ll pass cave dwellings, rock-cut churches, and narrow pathways that move between different levels.

Stops can be made at viewpoints looking across the valley, where the layout of the town becomes clear. The stone buildings and terrain create a setting that feels very different from anywhere earlier in the trip.

Spend the evening in the old town.

Travel to Puglia and arrive in Alberobello, known for its trulli houses.

Walk through the main districts, where rows of white stone buildings with conical roofs form entire streets. The layout is compact, making it easy to move through at a steady pace.

After time in Alberobello, continue into the surrounding countryside with your driver and guide. The drive takes you past olive groves, farmland, and small villages, showing a quieter side of the region. 

Return to your accommodation later in the day.

Arrive in Lecce and begin walking through the historic center.

The cathedral sits within Piazza del Duomo, enclosed by surrounding buildings. Continue through the city, passing detailed Baroque façades and carved stonework that define the area.

The streets are easy to navigate, with cafés and small shops along the way. Time can be taken to stop and explore at your own pace.

Return to your accommodation in the afternoon.

Travel to Polignano a Mare along the Adriatic coast.

Walk through the old town, where narrow streets lead to viewpoints above the sea. Several terraces overlook the coastline, offering views down to the water below.

Continue to Lama Monachile beach, set between cliffs, where there is time to stop by the water.

Return to your accommodation later in the day.

Your driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Sicily.

On arrival in Palermo, you’ll be met and brought into the city to begin exploring straight away. Start in Ballarò market, where narrow streets are filled with food stalls selling fresh produce, seafood, and local street food. This is one of the best places to understand the city’s character.

From the market, continue on foot through the historic center, passing Quattro Canti and Piazza Pretoria, where open squares contrast with the tighter streets nearby.

Stops can be made for local dishes such as arancini, panelle, or cannoli as you move through the city. The afternoon gives a strong first look at Palermo’s mix of architecture and everyday life.

Begin with a short drive to Monreale, set above Palermo.

Visit the cathedral, where the interior is covered in detailed gold mosaics, and continue into the cloisters, known for their carved columns and quiet courtyard setting. From the terrace areas, there are clear views back over Palermo and the coastline.

Return to the city and continue exploring on foot. Walk through areas such as Via Maqueda and surrounding streets, with stops for cafés or small food shops along the way.

The day can include time at sites such as Teatro Massimo or the Palermo Cathedral, depending on your pace.

Travel across Sicily with your driver, with the landscape gradually changing as you head east.

Arrive in Taormina and begin with a walk along Corso Umberto, the main street running through the town. Continue to the Greek Theatre, set above the coastline, where views open out towards Mount Etna and the sea.

From here, walk back through the town, passing small squares, shops, and cafés, with time to stop along the way.

Your driver and guide will take you up Mount Etna, stopping at different elevations where the landscape changes from forest to volcanic rock.

At higher levels, walk along marked paths near crater areas, where the ground is made up of solidified lava and ash. The terrain is uneven, with open views across the surrounding countryside.

In the afternoon, continue to a winery on the slopes of Etna. Here, you’ll take part in a tasting experience, with wines produced using volcanic soil, often paired with a simple local lunch.

Return to Taormina in the evening.

Spend your final morning in Catania.

Walk through the city center starting at Piazza del Duomo, where the cathedral and surrounding buildings are set out around the main square. Continue into the nearby fish market, where stalls line the streets, and daily activity is concentrated.

The market is one of the busiest parts of the city, with vendors calling out and fresh seafood on display throughout.

Depending on your timing, there may be time for a short walk through nearby streets before your driver takes you to the airport for departure.