Rome & Sicily

Take a walk past Rome's most beautiful and unusual Baroque fountains. At the foot of the Spanish Steps, elegant cafes surround the central fountain. The water pressure here was so low that the artist had to sink the fountain into the ground to get any water going through it, so he went ahead and designed the fountain to look like a sinking ship. There's no shortage of water pressure at the nearby Trevi Fountain, a Baroque extravagance designed by master sculptor Bernini.

View the Trevi Fountain, where it is traditional to toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a safe return to the Eternal City.

We will spend some time in the Piazza Navona area. Built on the foundations of Domitian's Circus, this magnificent square was designed by Borromini in 17th century. It is full of life and is highlighted by one of Rome's most spectacular fountains, the Four Rivers designed by Bernini. The square is often filled with local artists. The surrounding neighborhood is also one of the best places in Rome to get a tasty tartufo or gelato ice cream

The ultimate symbol of Ancient Rome, the Colosseum still dominates the modern city. Tour the amphitheatre with your local licensed guide. Built by the emperor Vespasian in A.D. 72, the structure held almost 50,000 spectators but was so well organized that the entire place could be emptied within 15 minutes. Inside, the spectacles varied from gladiator battles to immense naval contests to wild beast shows, in which thousands of exotic animals like giraffes and ostriches were popped into the stadium through trap doors and left to fight Roman hunters. See the system beneath the floor that operated the trap doors and housed the animals, then continue on to the relative calm of the Forum. Ancient Rome’s commercial, religious and political center, the Forum held markets, temples and the Senate House. Near the Rostra, or speaker’s platform, you can still see game boards scratched into the marble by bored politicians--anyone up for a game of tic tac toe?

Tour the ruins and excavations of the Roman Forum, which features the remains of magnificent temples, basilicas, and triumphal arches that once formed the heart of the Empire.

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, with its vast colonnades that seem to embrace the world. Inside, admire Michelangelo’s soaring dome, rising 452 feet above the ground, and his renowned Pietà. Then step into the Sistine Chapel, where the artist reluctantly painted frescoes that today stand among the world’s greatest masterpieces. Please note that the Sistine Chapel portion of the visit is unguided and will be explored independently.

From the Bay of Naples the island of Capri is less than an hour away by boat. Weather permitting, you will take a boat to the Blue Grotto, where sunlight reflected from beneath the water bathes the cave in a silver-blue light.

Cameos, oval in shape and consisting of a portrait in profile carved in relief on a background of a different color, are often worn as jewelry. Stone cameos of great artistry were made in Greece dating back as far as the 3rd century BC, the oldest being the Hellenistic piece the Farnese Tazza. They were very popular in Ancient Rome, especially in the family circle of Augustus. Stop by a modern-day cameo studio and watch artisans carve them up close.

Stop to see the city where time stood still, literally. Once an important Roman city with 20,000 residents, Pompeii was frozen in time nearly 2000 years ago, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city under 30 feet of mud and volcanic ash. Forgotten for centuries after the eruption, Pompeii was discovered in the 1600s and is now completely excavated. On your tour you will learn how Romans of all classes lived their lives--not only from large public structures, but from details like political graffiti, bars, and street signs.

As unpredictable and exuberant as Vesuvius itself. Boisterous Naples holds Italy's most theatrical population, as the spontaneous public singing, performing, arguing -- and the inhabitants' flair for overly dramatic driving -- will be immediately apparent. Dive into the chaos and grandeur on a guided sightseeing tour of the third largest city in the country. The Maschio Angioino palace (built in 1282 by the Angevin monarchs and therefore called "The Little Angevin Baby") dominates the Piazza Municipio, while temporary art installations (which have included enormous salt pyramids and giant mountains of old furniture) often stand in the Piazza Plebescito, modeled after Bernini's piazza at St. Peter's. The imposing Castel dell'Ovo has a less imposing translation -- "Egg Castle." Neapolitan legend claims that Virgil hid an egg under lock and key in the basement of the castle, and if that egg ever breaks, calamity will befall all of Naples. The egg seems to be holding up well, though; Naples is as beautiful as ever.

Visit the National Archaeological Museum, one of the finest antiquities museums in the world. With its Roman and Greek sculpture, this museum contains one of Europe's most valuable archaeological collections, highlighted by the select Farnese acquisitions, and the mosaics and sculpture excavated at Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Explore the chaotic and vibrant capital of Sicily, where a mix of Italian, Arab, French, and Phoenician influences -- to name only a few -- has created a culture unique in all of Italy. Islamic filigreed windows throw intricate shadows on 17th-century Baroque cupolas; gold and marble mosaics sparkle in churches while leafy palm trees ruffle in ocean breezes outside. With a licensed local guide, start your tour of this energetic city at the Baroque Quattro Canti ("four corners"), Palermo's central intersection. Head to the Norman Palace, once home to the finest and most learned court in Europe. (Notice the halos on the statues -- they were added to the original Moorish statues when the Christian Normans arrived in 1072 and took over the building.) Step inside La Martorana, one of the few buildings remaining from the Middle Ages, for a peek at its glittering gold Byzantine mosaics. And don't miss the rows of pastry shops selling marzipan, a Sicilian specialty; the sweet almond-paste candy is sculpted and dyed to resemble realistic fruits, vegetables -- even shellfish!

Agrigento’s historic center is a captivating blend of winding alleys, sunlit piazzas, and architectural splendor. Its narrow streets are lined with centuries-old palazzi, their intricate balconies spilling over with vibrant flowers, while lively cafés bring a warm, welcoming atmosphere to cobbled squares. The city’s baroque churches, with their ornate façades and elegant interiors, stand as enduring symbols of Agrigento’s artistic and cultural legacy, each telling a story of craftsmanship and devotion.

The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is a breathtaking archaeological site, home to some of the most well-preserved Greek temples outside of Greece. Spanning a vast landscape with views stretching to the Mediterranean, this UNESCO World Heritage site transports visitors back to ancient times. The Temple of Concordia, with its towering columns, is one of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world, while the Temple of Juno and Temple of Heracles stand as impressive remnants of classical architecture. The Temple of Olympian Zeus, once among the largest temples of its kind, is known for its colossal statues called Telamones, which now lie scattered among the ruins.

An earthly paradise. From the ancient Greek theater on a Taormina hilltop, your eye wanders over the violet outline of Mount Etna dominating the skyline, through the almond and lemon groves releasing the fragrance of blossoms and marzipan and lemonade, across bright fishing boats bobbing on the ocean's blue waves to the distant misty view of the Italian mainland hovering above the water. With a licensed local guide, explore the views and history that have enchanted so many, from the ancient Greeks to the Romans to the Moors to the Normans to the Spanish to Francis Ford Coppola, who filmed scenes for "The Godfather" nearby.