Tutta Italia and Sicily with Aeolian Islands

Welcome to Europamundo! Transfer to the hotel and free time. You will be provided with the information required for the beginning of the trip in the afternoon; otherwise, the information will appear on the information panels at the hotel reception area.

IMPORTANT:- Remember that hotels check-in time is usually at 14:00 hrs. If you require more hours of room availability, consider booking an additional night at the beginning of your trip.
- IF YOU REQUESTED ADDITIONAL NIGHTS upon arrival at the hotel, you would have your room booked, but your trip guide would normally contact you at the beginning of the included activities. At the reception you can also find an informative sign, indicating the telephone number and hours of assistance of our staff. YOUR TIME THEREFORE BEFORE THIS MOMENT IS FREE. The hotel staff can help you with all the information you need.


Note: The schedules that you will find in this itinerary are indicative. The guide, depending on the situation and in order to improve the development of the trip, may adjust the schedules.

08.30hrs- In the morning, we have a 2-and-a-half-hour sightseeing tour of the capital of Italy, one of the most influential cities in Western civilization. Our visit, by coach, adapts to the rigid control system of tourist buses that circulate in Rome established by the city council. During the city tour you will see the ancient Rome called Imperial Rome: Colosseum, Arch of Constantine, Piazza di Venezia with its monument to Italian unification, Quirinal Hill with the Palace of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Theater, Capitol Hill, Roman Forums , Circus Maximus, Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin with the mouth of truth, Republican Temple, Termas de Caracalla, Aureliana Wall, Basilica di Santa María Maggiore and Archbasilica of St. Johm Lateran, Church of Santa María in Dominica (Navicella), Cestia Pyramid , San Paolo Gate, Lungo Tevere avenue with the Jewish synagogue of Babylonian style, Tiberina Island in front of the Castel St. Angelo.

This tour finishes at St. Peter´s Square in the Vatican. The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, so, if you are interested, we recommend you to do it at this time. For the most curious travelers, our guide will offer you, after the city tour, an optional visit, during which you will be able to see in more details the most notable rooms of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica of St. Peter. Free time in the afternoon. Optionally, our guide will offer you a tour of squares and fountains.

18.30 hrs.- In the evening we provide a transfer to the Trastevere area, where you will find restaurants serving Italian, Indian, Chinese and interna­tional food.
20.30 hrs - Return to hotel.

Free time the whole day to keep exploring the city. Today we suggest you take an optional excursion to Naples, Capri and Pompeii.

Total distance covered: 295 km.

Countryside: Pretty countryside in Lazio, Umbría and Tuscany: hills, very picturesque villages.


07:30 hrs - Rome –Departure-. We leave Rome northbound for Umbria.
09:15 hrs - Orvieto -Arrival in this mediaeval city that dominates the hill. On arrival, we first of all go to the marvellous viewpoint that allows us to admire the whole city behind its walls. After this, we will include the cable car to the medieval center, where the cathedral stands out, a masterpiece of Italian Gothic art. The city has a network of visitable underground tunnels that were used as shelters and water reserves during times of war. After that you can walk through its streets that transport us to another era.

11:30 hrs - Orvieto –Departure-. We go into the region of Umbria.
13:15 hrs - Castiglione del lago –Arrival-. Next to Lake Trasimeno, Time to have a stroll and for lunch in this historic and picturesque village with spectacular views over the lake.

15.00 hrs - Castiglione –Departure for Tuscany.
16:30 hrs - Siena. – Arrival in this magnificent artistic city that bears witness to mediaeval times. Free time in the centre to enjoy its narrow streets, its towers and palaces, its famous Piazza del Campo and its Cathedral before going to the hotel at 19.00 hrs.

Total distance covered: 110 km.

Countryside: Pleasant scenery the whole way. Hills of olive groves and vineyards where the famous Chianti wine is produced.


08:30 hrs - Siena -departure. We travel through Tuscany inland.
09.00 hrs - Monteriggioni –Arrival-. A small mediaeval walled village full of magic.


10.00 hrs - Monteriggioni –Departure- lands of vineyards of the Chianti region.
10:45 hrs- San Gimignano. -Arrival -. A charming small town with its high mediaeval towers and its magnificent perfectly preserved mediaeval centre. Time to have a stroll and for lunch.


13:30 hrs - San Gimignano -Departure.
14:45 hrs - Florence –Arrival-. We stop to take a photo from the Michelangelo viewpoint, where we get one of the most beautiful views of the city. We suggest that people more interested in art should today visit the Uffizi Gallery (one of the most important museums in Italy) or the Galería de la Academia (with the original David masterpiece of Michelangelo), magnificent museums that closes on Mondays.

09.00 hrs -We include a city tour with a local guide to Florence, one of the most famous cities of art and history in the world, the city of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli and Raphael. You will admire the Gothic cathedral (duomo), the ancient Stone Bridge (Ponte Vecchio) with its goldsmiths´ shops and the Signoria square - the political heart of the city with the town hall in a medieval building. Approximate duration two hours.

You will have a lot of free time today, in which we suggest you to have a walk through the artistic center of the city, visiting the Ponte Veccio with its commercial galleries, its elegant squares, etc.

Total distance covered by road: 317 km.

Countryside: Today is a day by the sea. The Ligurian coastline presents one of the prettiest sceneries and maritime corners of Europe.


07:30 hrs - Florence -departure.
09:15 hrs - Pisa –Arrival-. We are obliged to leave you in the car park for tourist coaches. From here, we include the tourist train to take you to the monumental complex. Time to visit the impressive monumental complex of Pisa with its leaning tower, Baptistery and Cathedral.


11.00 hrs - Pisa –Departure-. We continue travelling along the Mediterranean coast. The mountains where Carrara marble is produced look snow-covered.
12:45 hrs- Levanto –Arrival-. In this town we take a train to one of its charming towns, usually Vernazza, although on busy tourist dates, it could be Manarola or Corniglia, very similar towns but somewhat less crowded. The departure time of the train is scheduled for 13:05 hrs. (modifications possible) which, through long tunnels next to the sea, takes us into the Cinque terre region, which is impossible to access by buses due to its difficult geography of mountains that fall into the sea. The area remained isolated and preserved its traditions today it is a region declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

13:30 hrs - Vernazza- Arrival by train. Arrival in one of the 5 villages of the Cinque terre region, which maintains its maritime appearance. Its church of St. Mary stands out, built in 1318 on the seashore. Time for lunch.
15:44 hrs - Vernazza - Approximate departure of our train from Vernazza (timetables may change). We continue by train to Levanto, where our bus awaits us to continue on our way along the coast towards Genoa.


NB: The train to Cinque terre is a regular local railway service and not a tourist service. Places cannot be booked and sometimes the trains are full and passengers have to travel standing.
On some dates, due to excess tourism, we can take it in another nearby town, or in Levanto, but there may be long waits to board it. In these cases we suggest walking to the monumental site (approximately 900 meters).

17:45 hrs -Genoa –Arrival-. The city, where Christopher Columbus was born, time to see its monumental center.

Total distance covered: 170 km.

NB: By boat, we reach the enclave of Portofino. It is recommendable to have some warm clothes to hand to be able to enjoy the trip on deck.


08:30 hrs - Genoa –Departure-. We travel along the Italian Riviera.
09.00 hrs - Sta Margherita Ligure –Arrival-..

10:15 hrs - We take a boat for a 20-minute crossing to PORTOFINO, one of the most exclusive places in Europe. Time in Portofino, a beautiful town.

12.00 hrs - we return to Santa Margherita, a very pleasant coastal town. Time to have a walk and lunch.
NB: Sometimes the boat to Portofino is not running due to weather conditions. In these cases urban micro-buses will be used to get to the town (poor quality service, sometimes lengthy waits).

14.00hrs - Santa Margherita –Departure-.
16:30 hrs - Milan -Arrival. - Free time until 19:30 hrs. We recommend to have a walk around its historic center full of commercial life, and where its Gothic cathedral stands out.

Total distance covered: 360 km.

Countryside: We will see the beautiful region of the Italian lakes; the mountain scenery with snow peaked summits and large Alpine lakes surrounded by beautiful villages are unforgettable.
NB: Have some warm clothes to hand, you may need them to enjoy the boat trips included.
NB: On days of bad weather, the stop in Stressa may be shorter.


07:30 hrs - Milan -departure. We take the motorway to the great lakes. We first of all travel to Lake Orta; its rather more isolated position and its smaller size give it a special charm.
09.00 hrs - Orta de San Giulio -Arrival. A beautiful intact mediaeval town by the lake. In the centre of the lake, we will immediately see the Island of San Giulio with its monastery. On a small tourist train we reach the town where we have hired launches to sail across the lake to the island. Time to see the town and its island.


11.00 hrs - Orta de San Giulio -departure. We travel to Lago Maggiore.
11:45 hrs - Stressa. - Arrival in this tourist town by Lake Maggiore. Time to have a stroll and for lunch. If you want, there is time to take a boat trip to the Borronean Islands which face the town.

15:45 hrs . Stressa –Departure-. We will leave the mountains and travel through the industrious areas of the Poo Valley.
19:30 hrs - Verona –Arrival-

Distance covered: 130 km. Scenery: A pretty entrance to Verona over its large bridge.

Verona - Time to stroll in the city of Romeo and Juliet.
11:30 hrs - Verona –Departure-.
NB: depending on the time of year, the sunlight and the traffic on the way, sometimes we will see Verona on arrival from the lakes. In these cases, there will be an earlier start for Venice.


13.00 hrs - Venice –Arrival-. We include a boat transfer to Saint Mark’s Square, the place where, after time for lunch, a local guide will take us around Saint Mark’s Square, the Basilica, the Campanile, etc.; we will also see a popular Murano glass factory, where we can admire the technique of working with glass. Free time. Do you fancy a ride on a gondola?

19.30 hrs- Transfer to the hotel in the evening (normally in the area of Mestre / Marghera).

At the time your guide says, we will make a transfer to the airport to catch a domestic flight includedin your trip. On arrival at destination we will give you another hotel transfer. Your guide will contact you at the end of the afternoon or you can consult the information in your hotel reception.

NB: remember that on domestic flights, the luggage normally allowed is one suitcase of up to 20 kg in the hold. Passengers must pay for all excess luggage directly to the airline

Total distance (by road): 95 km.
Scenery: landscapes of the volcanic Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Note: We recommend that you wear comfortable shoes and swimwear if you want to experience the mud on Vulcano. We also recommend bringing a jacket to enjoy the deck of the ferries.
Note: due to the variation in ferry schedules, our agenda may be variable based on the schedule of the boats.


Our day will be full of emotions as we will travel to the mythical islands that will take us back to the Greek gods and heroes. Aeolus, God of the winds, gave its name to the archipelago. We will visit two of the islands of the Aeolian archipelago, declared World Heritage Sites for their continuous volcanic activity.

09:00 hrs. - After breakfast we go to the port to take a ferry to Lipari. Departure scheduled at 09:30 hrs. Enjoy your journey.
11.45 hrs. – Lipari - We are on the largest of the Aeolian islands, which got the name after the son of Aeolus. We will have time for lunch and a walk around the most pleasant city of the archipelago, with its historic center, its castle and its tourist life.

14:30 hrs. – Lipari - departure. We will take another ferry that in less than half an hour takes us to a second of the Aeolian islands, Vulcano.
14:55 hrs. – Vulcano - Arrival at the place, where Hephaestus, the forger of Zeus´s lightning bolts and Poseidon´s trident, had his forge. We will be impressed by the smell of sulfur that permeates the entire island and the active fumaroles. On this island, dominated by its crater, we will admire its hot water beaches. We recommend trying baths in the sulfurous thermal waters (its mud is considered very beneficial for the skin). Don´t miss this unique experience.

17:50 hrs. - Vulcano – Departure. We will take a ferry to return to the island of Sicily.
19:30 hrs. – Milazzo - after arrival, we continue our way to Taormina.

21:00 hrs. – Taormina - Arrival at the end of the day.

Note: In summer or on special dates, accommodation may be provided in Messina instead of Taormina.

Total distance: 320 km.
Scenery: Inland Sicily, Mediterranean mountainous landscapes.


After breakfast time to walk through the wonderful city of Taormina, at the foot of the Etna volcano, which was defined by Churchill as the most beautiful place on earth. Its old town is full of life, its Greek theater dominates unforgettable landscapes.

11.00 hrs. - Taormina, departure. We continue our route towards the center of the island.
12.45 hrs. – Caltagirone - Time to walk and have lunch in this city declared a World Heritage Site for its great Baroque legacy. We include a ride on a tourist train to listen to the explanations of the city and learn about its main points. The city is the center of ceramics in Sicily, as witnessed by its numerous shops and workshops and some of its emblematic places, the best known, the staircase of 142 steps, each decorated with different tiles.

15.00 hrs. – Caltagirone - departure.
15:45 hrs. - Villa Romana del Casale (admission included). Time to get to know this World Heritage Site. Villas, in the Roman Empire, were the symbol of agrarian exploitation. El Casale not only it has the architectural configuration of the 4th century been preserved, but, due to their abundance and quality, the mosaics that adorn almost all the rooms are the most beautiful in the Roman world.

17.15 hrs. - Villa Romana del Casale - departure. We continue crossing the mountainous center of the island.
19:30 hrs. – Palermo - arrival at the end of the day.