Tour program

“Gran tour of South Italy”

(Hotel & Excursions Package - 9 nights - Monday Arrivals – Guaranteed departures – min. 2 pax)

With this 9 days tour, we can combine a stay of culture and relax in three of the most beautiful places in Italy. The first part of the stay will allow us to enjoy the "OLD ROME ", the second part the area of Sorrento as a starting point to explore the surroundings places, from the spectacular Amalfi coast where nature is the mistress, to the fashionable island of Capri, without forgetting Pompeii one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world and finally relax walking through the alleys of Sorrento , the third part is Sicily land of conquest of the Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans under whom the Kingdom of Sicily was born with Frederick II, and finally the Bourbons, becoming the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

MONDAY: ROME (OVERNIGHT IN ROME)

Arrive at Rome airport/failway station. shared (grouped) transfer to the hotel in Rome. Overnight in hotel.

TUESDAY: COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM & PALATINE HILL (INCLUDED)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a day of exploration. Today, you will visit the COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM & PALATINE HILL. Your transfer to the meeting point is included, where you will meet your guide, receive earphones, and have access to the Colosseum without waiting in line. Inside the Flavian Amphitheater, you will walk through the same places where Ancient Romans once gathered to watch various events, such as gladiatorial contests and animal hunts. You will also learn about how Romans spent their leisure time. Afterward, you will explore the Palatine Hill, the birthplace of Rome and the former residence of Roman emperors, offering a spectacular view. You will then visit the Roman Forum, the bustling center of ancient Roman life, where well-preserved ruins from that era can still be seen. Overnight at the hotel.

*For reservations at the Colosseum, it is compulsory to provide the date of birth for each guest.

WEDNESDAY: VATICAN MUSEUM (OPTIONAL)*

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you are free to visit Rome, or if you prefer, you can book an OPTIONAL excursion to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. In this case, enjoy a guided tour with an expert guide, skipping the line with a fast entry ticket to the Vatican Complex.

Optional excursion: VATICAN MUSEUM with guide. Optional shared (grouped) transfer from hotel to meeting point.

After meeting your guide, you will be given a headset and taken to the entrance of the Vatican Museums. You will tour the gallery, visiting all the main spots you've heard about such as the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Borgia Apartments. The guide will provide you with information about the Raphael Rooms and their exceptional frescoes, including The School of Athens. They will then lead you to the Sistine Chapel, where the ceiling is considered one of the cornerstones works of High Renaissance art. The tour would not be complete without a visit to St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, which houses several pieces of fine art such as the canopy designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and the Pietà by Michelangelo. To end the tour, you will be able to admire the majestic St. Peter's Square, an open space redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, considered an architectural masterpiece of the Baroque age. The afternoon is free.

In the afternoon, we suggest a walking tour starting with a visit to the parks of Villa Borghese and up to the Pincio belvedere, offering a fantastic view of Rome. After a photo stop, continue towards Piazza del Popolo and Via Margutta (famous for being featured in the film 'Roman Holiday' starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn), then proceed to Piazza di Spagna until you reach the Trevi Fountain. The Galleria Colonna is worth a visit, as well as the inner courtyard of the Galleria Sciarra, the Church of Sant'Ignazio, the Elephant Obelisk in Piazza della Minerva, and the Pantheon. Next to the Pantheon, the Giolitti family has been making homemade ice cream for three generations, which I highly recommend. Then head to Piazza Navona, famous for Bernini's fountain, and Ponte Sant'Angelo, adorned with 10 statues of angels pointing the way to Castel Sant'Angelo. Finally, walk down Via della Conciliazione to the majestic and immense Piazza San Pietro. Overnight at the hotel.

*For reservations at the Vatican Museums, it is compulsory to provide the date of birth for each guest.

THURSDAY: TRAIN TO NAPLES - POMPEII (OPTIONAL) (OVERNIGHT IN SORRENTO AREA)

Breakfast at hotel. shared (grouped) transfer to the train station for departure to Naples by train. Transfer to a hotel in the Sorrento area; an optional excursion to Pompeii or free afternoon.

Optional Excursion: Pompeii. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the famous archaeological site of Pompeii with the entrance Ticket included to get inside the ruins! Pompeii has been submerged by a torrent of lava and mud during the explosion of the Volcano Vesuvius and remained hidden till the beginning of the excavations in the XVIII century... many treasures are still awaiting to be unerthed. Walk along the ancient “cardini” and “decumani” and explore the remainings of the prosperous Romans. Overnight in the Sorrento area.

FRIDAY: POSTANO & AMALFI (INCLUDED)

Breakfast in the hotel. This day you will spend your day in the Amalfi coast, one of the most spectacular coastlines of Europe. Pick-up in hotel by Mini van and enjoy the Amalfi Coast drive which is arguably the world’s most beautiful and thrilling sightseeing road. Your English or German speaking driver, along the journey, will give you general information including how to spend your free time for each of the 3 stops programmed:

Positano is a true paradise, developed vertically within a tangled overlay of streets, alleys and shops that expose the colorful Positano fashions well-known all around the world. In the town center is the Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta that shows up with its large dome, tiled in majolica and sheltering some precious works like polychrome marble altars.

It’s nice to get lost in Positano... To fully embrace the beauty of the town it’s probably better to walk without a precise destination; You will be able to enjoy the streets, the little shops, the restaurants, the monuments, the churches, the beaches.

Amalfi, a picturesque interlacing of alleys and stairways overlooks the sea with all its extraordinary colors reflecting the enchanting landscape of Amalfi, the town whose name blesses the entire coast. Dominated by the majestic Cathedral dedicated to Sant’Andrea (St. Andrew), Amalfi proffers innumerable testimonies of its glorious past as a Maritime Republic.

Ravello, another pearl of the coast, an elegant and refined village, dipped in green and characterized by luxurious villas. Ravello is famous all around the world for its Festival, in the garden of Villa Rufolo, where an evocative setting and the emotion of listening to great music create an experience of extraordinary intensity. The heart of Ravello is represented by Piazza Vescovado, framed by the architecture of Palazzo Rufolo and the Cathedral with its magnificent portal (the first ever made with this innovative mould technique) and 10-feet-high bell tower.
Dinner and Overnight

SATURDAY: CAPRI (OPTIONAL)

Breakfast in the hotel. Today you are free to visit Sorrento on your own, or if you prefer, you can book an OPTIONAL excursion to Capri by boat

Optional excursion: CAPRI BOAT CLASSIC. This day you will enjoy a full day excursion in Capri. No holiday here in Sorrento would be complete without a trip to the evocative island of Capri. Sail across the Bay of Naples for the start of an unforgettable day.
Pick-up from hotel, transfer to the port and departure to Capri, sailing along the Sorrento Coast. On board of our comfortable boats, we offer you an unforgettable and personalized trip discovering the beautiful island of Capri. Your English-speaking Captain, along the journey, will give you general information including how to spend your free time on Capri Island. Along the way you will admire: the ancient fishermen village of “Marina Grande”, the ruins of a roman villa near “Bagni della Regina Giovanna”, her interesting attractions along the coast. Arrival to Capri and tour of the island (if the weather conditions permit) by boat with the possibility to admire the Marvellous Grotto, the White Grotto, the Green Grotto; along the way you will admire the Natural Arch, the Villa Curzio Malaparte, the Faraglioni rocks and the Lighthouse of Punta Carena.
Disembark at Marina Grande in Capri with 5/6 hours free time to visit the Island. Dinner and Overnight

SUNDAY: DEPARTURE TO TAORMINA AREA

Breakfast in hotel, group transfer to the train station and departure to Taormina. Transfer to the hotel in Taormina area. Overnight

MONDAY: ETNA (INCLUDED) TAORMINA (OPTIONAL)

Breakfast in the hotel and departure with the tour escort to the Mt. Etna, the highest peak of Sicily and the most active volcano in Europe. The territory surrounding the volcano constitutes the “Park of Etna”, one of the largest protected areas in Italy: You will be astonished about the great variety of vegetation and landscapes that we will meet along the way before arriving at the “Silvestri Craters” (about 1.900 mt). From here on you will have the optional excursion by jeep and cableway (extra cost). After having tasted some local Sicilian speciality come back in hotel. Or have an optional walking tour in Taormina alone (or with a guide min. 12 pax) discovering the amazing town, hear tales about the history and the evolution of Sicilian culture. Pass by beautiful old buildings, including the 15th-century Palazzo Corvaja and an ancient Greek Roman theatre the 2nd largest classical theatre in Sicily (Admission fee not included). Discover the medieval area of the town with its narrow streets and old shops. Overnight in hotel.

TUESDAY: SYRACUSE (INCLUDED)

Breakfast in the hotel and departure to Syracuse, one of the most interesting archaeological sites of the Island with its Archeological Park, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Greek Theatre, the Ear of Dionysus, the Cave of the Cordari, Island of Ortigia, the most ancient nucleus of the city with its stunning cathedral. Entrance fees are not included. Re-entry in hotel in the late afternoon. Overnight.

WEDNESDAY: CATANIA AIRPORT AND DEPARTURE

Breakfast in the hotel, optional group transfer to airport and end of our services, or possibility to stay in Taormina hotel

The order and schedule of the excursions may vary due to the need of the tour operator

Package rates are per person for the whole program, valid with Min. 2 pax; if 1 pax there will be a transfer supplement because the rate has been calculated on a minimum of 2 persons

The rate includes:

• Group Transfer from Rome Fiumicino airport/railway station to the hotel and v.v. maximum waiting time of 40 minutes (airport) and of 20 minutes (train station)
• 3 nights on BB basis in 4 stars hotel in Rome
• 3 nights on HB basis in 4 stars hotel in Sorrento area
• 3 nights on BB basis in 4 stars hotel in Taormina area
• 1 excursion COLOSSEUM, ROMAN FORUM & PALATINE HILL with guide + entrance ticket and transfer one-way from the hotel. If the guest wishes to change the Colosseum excursion to a Vatican excursion, it will be possible for an additional charge of € 50 per person.
• 1 excursion “Postiano & Amalfi”
• shared (grouped) transfer from hotel in Rome to Rome rail station
• Train/coach from Rome to Naples train station
• Shared Transfer from Naples station to the hotel in Sorrento
• Train from Naples to Taormina
• Shared Transfer from Taormina rail station to hotel in Taormina area
• 1 excursions “Etna”
• 1 excursion “Syracuse”
• Multilingual local speaking guide (English, German; other languages on request)

(*) For organisational reasons and/or possible closures, the order of the visits may be changed, always respecting what is indicated in the program

Selected Hotels 4*:

• Rome: Hotel Pineta Palace or similar (*)
• Sorrento Area: Panorama Palace Hotel or similar (*)
• Taormina area: Antares Complex or similar (*)

(*) The hotels indicated may be replaced with others of the same category. Accommodations are located in the indicated towns or in a different cities where will be possible to realize the program. The name of the hotel will be sent to you 21 days before the arrival.

Optional excursions (on request):

• Vatican Museum with entrance ticket and audioguide from € 48,00
• Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilic with ticket and guide from € 144,00
• Capri Boat € 108,00 p.p. (*) Transfer Pick-Up included
• Pompeii € 102,00 p.p
• Walking in Taormina English guide € 34,80 p.p. (min. 10 pax)

Optional shared (grouped) transfer (min. 2 pax):

• Optional transfers from hotel to the meeting point excursion “Vatican Museum” (min. 2 pax) euro 42 p.p.
• Group transfer from hotel in Sorrento area to Rome airport on request

Important informations:

• *For reservations at the Vatican Museums and Colosseum, it is compulsory to provide the date of birth for each guest.
• Entrance Tickets are non-refundable, in case of cancellation a penalty of €50 per person is required.

Early booking offer:
5% discount for reservations received within 31.12.25

The rate does not include:

• Lunches
• Drinks
• Tips and extras of a personal nature
• Porterage service
• City tax to be paid on spot
• Entrance to monuments and archaeological parks
• Club card compulsory 10.05-14.09 euro 6,00 per day per person from 4 years old to pay in hotel in Taormina Area (to be paid on the spot)
• Anything not expressly indicated in “the rate includes”

General Conditions

Important informations:

• Tours are guaranteed with a minimum number of 2 passengers;
• The hotels shown in the programs may be replaced by others of the same category;
• It is advisable to book optional excursions when booking
• Some trips could be a combination of multiple Norma Vacanze tours. You should expect some group members to join or leave the tour between tour segments.
• We try to carry out the tour as in the programs but a change in emergency or bad weather conditions could be possible with alternative programs.
• The tour programs could undergo variations, with respect to what has been published, for reasons of technical or logistical orders, without however substantial changes to the program itself.
• Norma Vacanze is entitled to change the itinerary of the excursion if it considers it appropriate or due to force majeure.
• Norma Vacanze is not responsible for accidents, delays, damage or loss of luggage or personal belongings, nor for damages caused by third parties or others like floods, storms, landslides, earthquakes, political unrest, epidemic, terrorist attacks, strike.

Cancellation policy:

• Cancellations up to 120 days before departure with full refund.
• Cancellations from 119 to 15 days before departure, penalty of € 50 per person
• Cancellations from 14 to 8 days before departure, penalty of 30%
• Cancellations from 7 to 4 days before departure, penalty of 50%
• In case of cancellation within 3 days before departure, penalty of 100%
• There will be no refund for no shows or voluntary interruption of an already started trip

Admission Fees

• In order to skip the queues in the museums or in the archeological parks we need to make the reservation in advance: Pre-bookings of entrance tickets are mandatory on the first day of the tour.
• Tickets are non-refundable