Visit imposing Mt. Etna and learn how Sicilians coexist with this active giant.

With ApuliA & the AmAlfi CoAst

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Taormina (Catania), Sicily

Day 2: Taormina Arrive in Catania on Italy’s autonomous island of Sicily then transfer by motor-coach to Taormina and the boutique hotel overlooking the Ionian Sea. Tonight gather for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)

Day 3: Taormina Take a walking tour of this delightful medieval town including the spectacular ancient Greek theater dating to the 3rd century B.C., the popular 13th-century cathedral, and grand Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. This afternoon is at leisure; perhaps to relax by the hotel pool; visit a lovely Taormina beach; or stroll along Corso Umberto, lined with shops and restaurants. (B)

Day 4: Taormina and Agrigento Visit the “Valley of the Temples,” the architectural zone of Agri-gento, whose Doric temples and sanctuaries date to Greek rule in the 5th century B.C. Known in its heyday as the “most beautiful city of mortals,” Agrigento’s highlight is the stunning, well-preserved Temple of Concordia (c. 430 B.C.). A visit to the museum here lends context to our explorations. Return to the hotel and enjoy dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Taormina and Mount Etna Venture to Europe’s largest active volcano. The ancients believed Mt. Etna to be the forge of Vulcan, god of fire; today, modern-day Sicilians have a very personal relationship with the volcano, which frequently erupts but is seldom destructive. Midday enjoy a small group highlight: lunch at a family-run working farm amidst acres of lemon and kiwi. After returning to the hotel mid-afternoon, the remainder of the day is at leisure. (B,L)

Day 6: Taormina and Matera Depart Sicily today for the mainland region of Basilicata, a day-long transfer that includes a ferry ride from Sicily to Calabria. Reach Matera, whose historic troglodyte churches and dwellings (Sassi) have been designated a World Heritage site and where the hotel is a renovated cave dwelling in the city’s historic district. (B,D)

Day 7: Matera Explore this city of art and folklore, with its unique ancient urban structure still intact. Home to more than 100 rock churches, Matera resembles ancient Jerusalem and has been used by international film directors as a stand-in for the holy city. Following a guided walking tour, the remainder of the day is at leisure to explore independently before dinner tonight at a local restaurant. (B,D)

15 days from $5,667 total price from New York ($4,995 air & land inclusive plus $672 airline taxes and departure fees)

Delight in a special exploration of Italy’s southern climes, from striking Sicily and

the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to unheralded Apulia, the alluring “boot heel” where a vivid history, unique architecture, distinctive tradi-tions, and bountiful plains join the sun and sea in creating a prized (and crowd-free) region. Add Italian hospitality, outstanding cuisine, and notable lodgings for la dolce vita, small-group style.

Southern Italy & SIcIly

Your Small Group Tour HighlightsSpend four days visiting Sicily’s intriguing cultural and historic heritage … Visit the “Valley of the Temples” in Agrigento ... Tour the active volcano, Mt. Etna … Enjoy lunch at a work-ing Sicilian farmhouse … Stay in a renovated cave dwelling in Matera … Learn about Alberobello’s medieval white-washed buildings … Take part in a Neopolitan cooking demonstration and dinner … Tour Lecce, the “Florence of the South” … Enjoy drives on the stunning Amalfi Coast … Tour the ancient ruins at Pompeii (a World Heritage site) … Explore the cozy isle of Capri … Enjoy well-located, small-group style hotels …

Day Itinerary Hotel Rating 1 Depart U.S. for Taormina (Catania)

2-5 Taormina Villa Angela Sup. First Class

6-7 Matera Locanda di San First Class Martino

8-10 Lecce Patria Palace Hotel Sup. First Class

11-14 Sorrento Hotel Antiche Mura First Class

15 Depart Naples for U.S.

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

Avg. High (°F) Apr May Sep OctTaormina 64 72 79 71Lecce 66 75 81 71Amalfi Coast 64 72 81 73

NaplesSorrento Matera

Lecce

Catania/Taormina

ITALY Adriatic Sea

Mediterranean Sea

DestinationMotorcoachEntry/Departure

Map Legend

Learn more about Southern Italy and Sicily at SmithsonianJourneys.org /Sicily-Amalfi-Coast

Guaranteed small group of no more than 24 Smithsonian travelers per departure

EUROPE

26 On The Web

Day 8: Matera, Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce Departing Matera this morning, stop in Alberobello, whose 400 or so trulli – whitewashed conical houses with grey-stone roofs – rank as a World Heritage site. Take a walking tour along the pristine cobble-stone alleys, stepping inside an artisan’s workshop or trulli tipici, a recreation of an inhabited home. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Ostuni, the “white town” known as an architectural gem for its tightly packed whitewashed homes high on a hill above the Mediterranean. Arrive in Lecce, capital of Apulia’s southern Lecci province, in time for dinner together at the hotel. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Lecce Discover the “Florence of the South”, so named for the unique decorative style for which Lecce is known: barocco leccese, the ornate and intricate sandstone carvings. See Palazzo Vescovile (c. 1632), the exuberantly decorated church of Santa Croce, and the duomo with its lovely piazza. This afternoon is at leisure; tonight dine in the gardens of Lecce’s Palazzo Tamborino. (B,D)

Day 10: Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli Today’s excursion takes you to the beau-tiful walled town of Otranto, over looking the Adriatic. On a walking tour here see the impos-ing 15th-century

Aragonese castle with its traditional moat, and the Romanesque cathedral whose impressive wall-to-wall mosaic floor was created in 1166. Continue to the fishing port of Gallipoli, the “Ionian Pearl” perched on a rocky island in the Gulf of Taranto. Return to Lecce mid-afternoon; dinner tonight is on your own. (B)

Day 11: Lecce, Polignano, Sorrento Depart by coach for Polignano a Mare, a historic coastal town set on limestone cliffs above the Adriatic.

After lunch at a trattoria, travel to Sorrento, over-looking the Bay of Naples. (B,L)

Day 12: Sorrento and Pompeii Visit the evocative World Heritage site of Pompeii for a guided tour of the city frozen in time by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79 (the city was accidentally rediscovered in 1749). Gather for a hands-on Neopolitan cuisine cook-ing lesson, followed by dinner to savor the fruits of our labors. (B,D)

Day 13: Sorrento and Capri Travel by hydrofoil to the storied Isle of Capri, a popular resort since Roman times. Explore cozy Capri town; visit the terraced Gardens of Augustus with stunning views of the azure sea; then enjoy free time for lunch and to explore on your own before returning to Sorrento early afternoon. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 14: Sorrento and Amalfi Coast Embark on a breathtaking drive along the winding, cliff-top Amalfi Coast between Sorrento and Amalfi above the glistening Tyrrhenian Sea – with stops for photos along the way. This afternoon is at leisure; tonight bid “arrivederci” to Italy and your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 15: Depart for the U.S. This morning trans-fer to Naples airport and connect with your return flight to the U.S. (B)

Your Tour Price Includes• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities• 13 nights accommodations in Superior First Class and

First Class hotels• 25 meals: 13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 8 dinners• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all

entrance fees• Services of a professional Tour Director• Lectures by a Smithsonian Expert• Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip• Luggage handling for one bag per person• Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room

servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Medieval Matera, a World Heritage site, boasts more than 100 rock churches.

2014 Tour Dates and Pricesincluding international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Apr 24 Sep 28

New York $5,667 $5,967

Boston, Philadelphia $5,867 $6,167

Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland,

$5,967 $6,267

Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Washington, DC

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis,

$6,067 $6,367

Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

Land Only $4,595 $4,895

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, fuel surcharges, and departure fees of $672, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,195 Apr; $1,495 Sep. All 2014 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, fuel surcharges, and departure fees) are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip transatlantic flight: $3,995 per person (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking uphill and on uneven or cobblestone streets, and at sites of ancient ruins. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to its fullest.

Temple of Concordia, Agrigento

Smithsonian ExpertChristina Penn-Goetsch is a professor of art history at Cornell College with a B.A. from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Her doctoral work on the Italian Baroque led her to live in Rome

and complete research at the city’s State Archives and the Vatican Secret archives. As the director of a pre-architecture curriculum in Cornell’s archae-ology program, Christina also focuses on urban planning and comes with the experience of regu-larly introducing students to “The Eternal City” with a study-abroad course examining the city of Rome from Julius Caesar to Mussolini. She will lead the April departure. The September departure will be led by a comparable expert.

rome – on your own4 days/3 nights for $869 total price

($795 air & land inclusive plus $74

airline taxes and departure fees)

Single Supplement: $395

Explore the Eternal City at your leisure.

Post-Tour Extension

Your Tour Price Includes• Air transportation Naples/Rome• 3 nights accommodations at Empire Palace Hotel

(Superior First Class)• 3 meals: 3 breakfasts• Transfer to/from airport

27Call 1-877-338-8687 or visit SmithsonianJourneys.orgTo Register