Treasures of Southern Italy

Stylish Milan is eye-catching at every turn – whether you’re perusing designer labels in the trendy fashion district of Quadrilatero d’Oro or staring in awe at Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece The Last Supper, which graces Santa Maria delle Grazie. With a full day to explore the city, you will also have time to admire the vaulted glass shopping arcade of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the glorious Gothic pile of Duomo di Milano, Italy’s largest cathedral. As well as craning your neck at the colonnaded interior, it’s actually outside, on the Rooftops, that this extraordinary building really takes your breath away, with no fewer than 135 spires bristling with statues and gargoyles. Overnight Milan.

From Milan, enjoy a relaxing five-hour rail journey south through Tuscany and Rome before arriving in Naples for the next two nights. You might want to start your sightseeing at Caffé Gambrinus, famed for the city’s best gelato and pastries. Strolling along the canyon-like Spacconapoli (a pedestrianised street that literally ‘splits Naples’) you’ll discover authentic pizzeria, cafés and shops selling masks, clay nativity scenes and pasta. Historic sites include Castel Nuovo (its ramparts offering views across the Bay of Naples to Mt Vesuvius), the Royal Palace of Palazzo Reale, the San Gennaro Catacombs and the peaceful garden-framed cloister of Santa Chiara. Overnight Naples.

Join your private guide for a tour of Herculaneum, destroyed in the same eruption that sealed the fate of Pompeii. Buried under a deep pyroclastic flow, the buildings and mosaics at Herculaneum were better preserved than those at Pompeii. Walking around the compact grid of streets, you’ll gain a vivid sense of Roman life, abruptly snuffed out nearly two millennia ago. Highlights include the Hall of the Augustales (a meeting place for the emperor’s priests) and the House of Neptune and Amphitrite (with its wine rack, wooden balcony and wall mosaics). In the evening, back in Naples, relax over a traditional Neapolitan meal, such as pizza margherita or spaghetti alle vongole with clams, garlic and olive oil. Overnight Naples.

Spend the day exploring Mt Vesuvius and Pompeii. Walk up to the crater rim of the infamous volcano, enjoying far-reaching views along the coast, then spend time exploring Pompeii with a private guide. Your guide will explain what happened on that fateful day in AD79. Such was the ferocity of the eruption, it petrified the town under 6m of pumice and ash. Excavated ruins have uncovered everything from cart tracks and carbonised bread to temple remains and – most poignant of all – the human figures of victims cowering under the volcanic onslaught. Both sobering and spellbinding, few places offer a more startling glimpse into life in Roman times nearly 2,000 years ago. After the tour, your driver will transfer you to the beautiful coastal town of Sorrento.

Spend the day exploring Sorrento – a compulsory stop on the ‘Grand Tour’ immortalised by the poet Byron. The famous resort hugs plunging cliffs, its fine hotels and villas facing the sparkling expanse of the Bay of Naples. Wander through Piazza Tasso, stopping to enjoy a cup of coffee or an ice-cold limoncello; visit the old town and the cathedral – or alternatively join a cookery class to learn the secrets of authentic Italian cuisine, either privately or in a small group (additional cost). Overnight Sorrento.

Transfer to Positano by car or take an optional boat tour via the Island of Capri, where you will have a private guide to introduce you to this beautiful island. From Roman nobles to celebrities in super yachts, the idyllic island of Capri has long been an irresistible beauty spot. Arrive at this legendary town, famous for its dramatic, cliffside setting – row upon row of pastel pink and yellow houses seemingly stacked one on top of the other. Steep, narrow streets and stairways lead you to restaurants, cafés, boutiques and galleries. Following three nights in Positano.

With two full days to enjoy Positano, you’ll have time for a mixture of sightseeing and relaxing – with an iconic hike thrown in for good measure. In Positano itself, visit the beautiful church of Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta with its majolica-tiled dome and 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary. Positano’s ancient history is revealed in the Museo Archeologico Romano, while the town’s beach – Spiaggia Grande – is a hotspot or celebrities. On one of your days, we recommend exploring the Amalfi Coast. A coastal road snakes along the mountainside, offering spectacular views of cliffs, hidden beaches and fishing villages. You can travel with a private guide or take a scheduled bus from the main road. Visit fashionable Praiano and the main resort of Amalfi before reaching Ravello, which has the best views along the entire coastline – especially from the gardens of Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. You can also stretch your legs on the Amalfi Coast by hiking the Path of the Gods – a rewarding way to appreciate the breathtaking scenery. Walk up the 1,600 steps from Positano to Nocelle to reach the starting point of the hike, or take a local bus or taxi. The trail takes you high into the mountains with glorious views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. When you reach Bomerano, enjoy a well-deserved drink and lunch before heading back (downhill) to Nocelle. Allow 3-5 hours for the round trip. Although there are some steep uphill sections, the hike is suitable for anyone of average fitness. Both nights in Positano.

A private transfer this morning takes you east through the remote and wild region of Basilicata to the intriguing town of Matera where you spend the following three nights. Perched on the edge of a ravine, Matera has a split personality: the upper, bustling district of Barisano and the lower, ‘silent’ neighbourhood of Sassi, renowned for its cave-dwelling heritage. You will have two full days to explore this extraordinary place, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and declared European Capital of Culture in 2019. The unique complex of cave dwellings carved into the river canyon at Sassi di Matera was home to people for thousands of years. From as early as the 8th century, monks are thought to have taken refuge here from the Byzantine empire. Chapels were carved out of the rock and many cave dwellings gradually evolved into fine houses and convents. By the mid-1950s, however, poverty led to Sassi’s inhabitants being rehoused and the district fell silent. Some of the dwellings have now been either preserved as museums or renovated as restaurants, hotels and small shops. Overnight Matera.

On your first full day in Matera, explore the cave settlements of Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano, where rock-hewn palaces, caves and churches form terraces that act as roofs for the building below. Learn about the history and archaeology of Sassi di Matera’s subterranean world and how people adapted to cave life through the centuries. Your second day, perhaps visit the Palombaro Lungo, a huge water cistern gouged from the rock in the 16th century directly beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto. To understand the old way of life in Matera, visit Casa Grotta del Barisano, a preserved cave dwelling that was inhabited until 1960. Both nights in Matera.

Join your private guide on a tour of Apulia. Tucked into the heel of Italy, this fascinating region of rocky limestone hills, olive groves, orchards and vineyards is full of surprises. Perhaps the most arresting sight is Alberobello’s swathe of over 1,000 trulli – tiny, conical-roofed houses sprouting from narrow streets like stone toadstools. Passing the wonderful hill-top town of Locorotondo with commanding sweeping views across the Valle d’Itria, you’ll arrive in the dazzling ‘White City’ of Ostuni with its whitewashed houses and the labyrinth of narrow streets in Cisternino. At the end of the tour, your guide will transfer you to the city of Lecce where you spend the following two nights.

Dubbed the ‘Florence of the South, Lecce boasts some fine architecture. Today, you will want to explore the old town centre, admiring the bishop’s palace (Pallazzo Vescovile) and adjacent cathedral (Santa Croce) – adorned with a stunning rose window surrounded by intricately sculpted columns and friezes. Don’t miss the ancient Roman amphitheatre and a chance to sample the famous ice cream and pastries at Gelateria Pasticceria Natale. In the early evening, join local families on the traditional Italian passeggiata, when streets, cafés and bars fill with people enjoying the cool evenings and meeting up with friends. Overnight Lecce.

Begin your homeward trip north by taking the train to Bologna. The seven-hour journey is a chance to relax and reflect as you follow the Adriatic coast, passing historic Puglian ports like Bari and Trani. On through the provinces of Abruzzo and Le Marche, still hugging the Adriatic, you pass close to San Marino before heading inland to Bologna. Wander into the city’s historic centre where grand piazzas are flanked by churches and palaces. Overnight Bologna. Alternatively, fly back to the UK from Bari or Brindisi.

Continuing to Zürich, via Milan, today’s 6.5-hour train journey passes through some of Europe’s most beautiful mountain and lake scenery. In Zurich, stroll along the River Limmat, soaking up the history and culture of the old town, where you will also find an excellent choice of restaurants and bars. Overnight in Zurich.

The rail journey from Zurich to Paris takes just over four hours. Upon arrival in Gare de Lyon take the Paris PER to Gare du Nord where you have time for lunch or an afternoon snack before boarding the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.