Sicily (2012)

Depart the U.S. today on your flight to Naples.

Upon arrival in Naples, you’ll be transferred by motorcoach to your hotel in Sorrento.

With its romantic location on the cliffs over the Bay of Naples, Sorrento has long been the subject of songs and legends. It was here that the mythical sirens, with the beauty of their sweet singing, lured sailors to shipwreck on the rocks. Ulysses so desired to hear the sirens’ song that he ordered his crew to block their own ears and tie him to the mast of his ship with his own ears unblocked.

Then enjoy the rest of the day making your own discoveries.

After breakfast, your Hospitality Desk representative will guide you on a walking tour of Sorrento, a town made for strolling. See the cathedral, Piazza Sant’Antonino, the Public Gardens, the town’s typical little alleys, and its main square, Piazza Tasso. You will then take some time on Via San Cesareo, lined with shops offering food and handcrafts.

The rest of the day is yours to explore Sorrento. Charming towns dot the lovely Amalfi Coast, and you may want to branch out and visit one of the lesser known of them.

Perhaps you’ll ride a local bus to Sant’Agata sui due Golfi.Neighboring Sorrento, this town is perched high on the top of the Sorrentine Peninsula, commanding impressive views of the Bay of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, the Gulf of Salerno, and the Isle of Capri.

Dinner is at a local restaurant this evening.

The day is yours to explore and relax as you wish.

Or join us on an optional full-day tour of the beautiful Isle of Capri. Located only seven miles from Sorrento, Capri rises abruptly from the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Set like a gem in the Bay of Naples, just opposite Mount Vesuvius, this fabled four-by-two-mile island has been a popular international destination since the times of the ancient Roman Emperors Augustus and Tiberius. Capri's natural and man-made attractions are unforgettable. The island abounds in hills, cliffs, olive groves, vineyards, and garden terraces overlooking the Amalfi Coast.

On today's excursion, we will introduce you to the charms of this miniature paradise and experience its unique way of life. After a short crossing by jetfoil, we will ascend by minibus to the highest point of the island and visit the village of Anacapri, which offers views over the Bay of Naples and of Mount Vesuvius.

After a light lunch, we will continue to the narrowest part of the island, where we'll visit the Lilliputian town of Capri. We'll stroll through the chic shops and the picturesque whitewashed houses and reach the Gardens of Augustus, which overlook the bathing port of Marina Piccola, adorned by the famous Faraglioni rocks. After pausing to enjoy the expansive views of the Amalfi Coast, you may explore further on your own or indulge in some shopping or in a refreshing gelato. You'll return to the port of Marina Grande via the local funicular train in time for our return boat to Sorrento. Please note: The funicular train may not be available on April-November departures.

Let the lilting pace of Sorrento sweep you up this morning as you continue your explorations.

Or join us after breakfast for a full-day optional tour of the beautiful Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast), sure to be a highlight of your stay in Sorrento.

On this leisurely tour, you'll discover what is perhaps Italy's most beautiful coastline, regarded by locals to be "a gift of the gods." Ride along its ruggedly gorgeous shoreline, decorated by colorful fishing boats and wondrous rock formations. Make a photo stop above Positano, and then continue to the town of Amalfi, romantically situated at the mouth of a deep gorge. You have some free time here, and may want to visit the Duomo of St. Andrew, with its mix of Moorish and early Gothic styles. Or you can take the walk from the plaza in front of the Duomo to the Molini Valley (Valley of the Mills) where paper mills were established, introducing a great paper-making tradition to Italy.

You’ll have lunch in nearby Scala before driving up the winding road to hilltop Ravello, sometime home of the German composer Richard Wagner. This lovely town is set amid vast semi-tropical gardens, and overlooks the Gulf of Salerno and the town of Amalfi nearly five miles directly below. Here you'll visit the gardens of Villa Rufolo.

You have another free day for discovery.

Or, join us on an optional excursion to Pompeii and Naples. This morning we'll depart Sorrento for Pompeii. Totally buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 and not re-discovered until the 17th century, Pompeii's antiquities offer you an unparalleled view of Roman life. With your expert guide, you'll explore Pompeii's most significant sites and learn how its people lived, built homes, and conducted business. The World Monuments Fund, to which Grand Circle Foundation has contributed $150,000 for preservation efforts across Europe, cites Pompeii as one of the world's 100 most-endangered sites. Please note: This tour involves walking over difficult terrain for extended periods of time.

Then it's on to Naples, one of the world's most beautiful seaports. Italy's third-largest city, Naples is dramatically situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the looming bulk of Mount Vesuvius. Colorful and vibrant, for centuries this beautiful city epitomized Italy's national character: cheerful but chaotic. Originally named Neapolis (new city) by its Greek founders, Naples has been an important seaport since it was first conquered by Rome in the fourth century BC. Naples is a city of great contrasts, aware of a heritage that springs from diverse cultural influences: Ancient Greek and Roman, Norman, French, Spanish, and, of course, Italian.

Our tour features an in-depth exploration of the National Archaeological Museum, one of Europe's most valuable repositories, featuring the priceless Farnese collection of ancient Roman statuary and the many colorful treasures removed from long-buried Pompeii, Stabia, and Herculaneum.

We'll enjoy a panoramic tour of the city's highlights: the Maschio Angioino, the massive fortress protecting the harbor; Palazzo Reale; Piazza Plebiscito; the Galleria Umberto, with its fin de siècle atmosphere; the Teatro San Carlo, where Enrico Caruso, the greatest tenor of all time, sang his love for his hometown. The cost of this excursion includes lunch.

Make your own discoveries today.

Or, join us this morning on an optional tour of Stabia and the Villa San Marco. We'll drive to Stabia, located three miles from Pompeii, which has thermal mineral springs that have been used since Roman times. A nonprofit foundation is now in the midst of excavating the ancient city, which was a summer resort and spa for wealthy Romans, who built large and luxurious villas here. In time, 150 acres will be transformed into an interactive archaeological park, featuring the best-preserved group of seaside Roman villas ever discovered. You will tour one of these grand villas, the Villa San Marco.

On your final full day of exploration at your own pace, you may consider a return bus ride to the hillside town of Positano, popular with Tennessee Williams and other well-known figures after World War II. This Moorish-influenced village has sweeping views of the sea.

Gather with your traveling companions in the home of a local family and enjoy a Home-Hosted Lunch this afternoon. You'll savor both the regional cuisine and inimitable Italian hospitality.

After breakfast, you’ll be assisted to the airport in Naples for your flight to Palermo to begin your Sicily Extended Vacation.