Sicily, Puglia & the Amalfi Coast

Arrive in Palermo, Sicily's lively capital, and transfer to your hotel located in the city's historic centre. Sicily has a long history of stubborn independence from the political forces of mainland Italy, and today remains an autonomous region with its own distinct history and culture. Join your Resident Tour Director tonight for a welcome dinner. Stay: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa (D)

Join a local guide for a walk through a ninth-century Norman Royal Palace with its glittering, mosaic-laden chapel. Still in use today as the headquarters of Sicily's Parliament, the palace is the oldest royal residence in all of Europe. Then, journey to the hillside town of Monreale and enter its extravagant cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating from 1170, it is perhaps the finest surviving example of Norman architecture anywhere in the world, and its mosaic-lined walls are breathtaking to behold.

Return to Palermo with the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore more of this unique port city. Later, enjoy an A&K-exclusive visit to the beautiful Palazzo Francavilla for a private tour and an apéritif with the owner. Stay: Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa (B)

Today, travel across Sicily's rugged, mountainous countryside to the southern coast. Stop in the small village of Corleone, birthplace of several Mafia bosses (including fictional characters in The Godfather). The Mafia — or, as its members call it, Cosa Nostra (literally, “our thing”) — has vexed Sicily for well over a century, thriving in this land so famously resistant to official authority. Learn more about this troubled aspect of Sicilian history from a local expert.

Proceeding to coastal Agrigento, discover the ancient Valley of the Temples, which includes the Temple of Concord, a superb example of classical sacred architecture. Explore the ruins before checking in to your hotel in nearby Favara. Stay: Alba Palace (B/L/D)

Journey east to Piazza Armerina, a graceful countryside town, where you visit the incomparable Villa Romana del Casale. A prime example of a luxurious Roman villa, this UNESCO World Heritage Site houses breathtaking mosaics originally laid in the fourth century. Continue to the east coast of Sicily and up to the 1,828-metre-plus heights of smouldering Mount Etna, taking in panoramic views of the landscape and coast.

Later, arrive in charming Taormina, which has allured visitors since the 19th century with its sweeping beaches and rolling hillsides. Gather for a special dinner and cooking class, and savour arancini, a delicious Sicilian specialty of deep-fried stuffed rice balls. Stay: NH Collection Taormina (B/L/D)

Today, a local expert introduces you to the town's spectacular Greek amphitheatre, set high above the sea. Still in use as an arts venue today, its permanent “show” is its extraordinary view of Mount Etna, rising in the far distance beyond the stage. Later, relax or catch up on shopping with time at leisure. Stay: NH Collection Taormina (B)

Rise early for the journey to Messina, where you board a ferry to cross the strait separating Sicily from the “toe” of the Italian mainland. Disembark in Villa San Giovanni in Calabria, and drive into Basilicata and to Matera, the ancient Città Sotterranea (Underground City) carved right into the Appenine Mountains. Thought to be one of the oldest cities in the world, Matera is a jumble of stone dwellings built alongside (and, in some cases, on top of) each other, linked by narrow, jagged lanes. Settle in to your hotel in the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stay: Palazzo Viceconte (B/D)

Journey into Puglia to nearby Locorotondo, one of Italy's most beautiful towns, for a walking tour. Meet an olive oil producer for a private tasting, followed by a lunch featuring local products. Later, visit Alberobello and its rows of fantastic trulli houses, conical limestone dwellings unique to this province of Bari. Stay: Palazzo Viceconte (B/L)

This morning, depart for the sparkling Amalfi Coast area. Stop en route in Paestum, an ancient Greek city known for its well-preserved temples; see them after a tour and lunch at a nearby mozzarella-making farm. Arrive in Naples and check in to your hotel by the harbor. This evening, enjoy an iconic Neapolitan specialty at a traditional pizzeria. Stay: ROMEO Hotel (B/L/D)

Enjoy a morning tour of Herculaneum, an ancient Roman settlement that was destroyed by the spectacular lava flows of nearby Vesuvius in AD 79. Drive the stunning Amalfi Coast to the cliffside village of Positano, where you have time for exploration and lunch at leisure before returning to Naples. Stay: ROMEO Hotel (B)

Cruise by ferry across the deep blue Gulf of Naples to the sun-kissed island of Capri. Visit Anacapri and charming Capri town, where cool cafés, designer boutiques and grand villas have lured everyone from emperors to celebrities. Tonight, cap off your journey with a special farewell dinner. Stay: ROMEO Hotel (B/D)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)