Whispers of Antiquity: Unveiling Romance in Rome, Sicily, Athens & Peloponnese

Taormina

On day 4, you will have to bid adieu to Rome, but we promise you will have many more amazing adventures in the days ahead.

We will transport you from your hotel in Rome to the airport, where you will catch a flight to Catania in Sicily. At Catania, we will provide another private transfer to your new hotel in the charming village of Taormina.

The following day, you will head out for quite the epic adventure, as you’ll be taking a jeep tour up the slopes of Mount Etna! If you like the idea of a more rugged date with your partner, you will love this off-road excursion along the northern slopes of Europe’s tallest active volcano.

Here, you will drive by verdant pine forests, catch glimpses of old and new lava flows, and make your way to Piano Provenzana, where you will see the old Betulle hotel that’s been partially covered by lava since the 2002 eruption.

As long as it’s safe to do so, you will have opportunities to do some hiking on the mountain, and you will definitely get to enjoy a scenic lunch at a local restaurant before you return to Taormina for the evening.

Palermo

On the sixth day, you will check out of the hotel in Taormina, and we will transport you to your new hotel in Sicily’s captivating capital city of Palermo.

Upon check-in, we’ll let you spend the evening as you please: Go ahead and plan your own date night, or enjoy the evening and take your time getting ready for the next day.

The next morning, you will spend the day encountering a treasure trove of ancient Greek and Roman history!

From Palermo, you will get a comfortable and air-conditioned ride to Villa Romana del Casale, an expansive ancient Roman palace that has some of the most remarkable mosaics of the ancient Roman world, as well as several stunning frescoes.

You will also head to the Valley of the Temples, the largest archaeological park in Europe and the Mediterranean basin, where you will discover the remains of 7 Doric-style temples that provide a unique window into life in Magna Graecia (or the parts of Southern Italy where ancient Greek settlers moved) in the fourth century BCE.

Athens

On day 8, it’s time to make your way to the glorious city of wisdom and reason: Athens! At Palermo, we will provide a private transfer to the airport. Then, once you fly to Athens, we will provide another private transfer to your new hotel in town.

The next day, we will take you on our signature tour, where you can experience the best of Athens in a day. This will be a private city tour where you will roll in style in your own air-conditioned Mercedes minivan, and we will pair you with an expert guide and archaeologist so you can make the most of this day trip.

Your tour will include expedited entry to the Acropolis, so you can spend more time at amazing landmarks like the Parthenon, the Temple of Nike, and the Erechtheion.

After your lunch break, we’ll take you to more of Athens’ greatest locations, including the colorful Monastiraki flea market, the heart of modern Greek democracy at Syntagma Square, and the timeless elegance of the Plaka neighborhood.

Kardamyli

For your tenth day, you will have to depart Athens, but you still have many more adventures left to do on Greece’s gorgeous Peloponnese.

From your hotel in Athens, we will provide a private car transfer to the wondrous town of Kardamyli. Once you arrive, you will check into your new hotel, and you can spend the evening as you please.

The next day, you will head out for a guided hike around Kardamyli to discover the natural beauty and rich culture of the Mani peninsula.

Make sure to wear your best walking shoes, because you will hike along the old “royal street” that connected Kardamyli to Sparta, and you will discover many of the area’s top highlights, including Byzantine churches, fields full of local wildflowers, imposing mountain views, and multiple villages where old traditions are still part of everyday life.

Nafplio

For your final leg of this journey, we will pick you up at your hotel in Kardamyli and transport you to your new hotel in the town of Nafplio.

After you check in and get settled at the hotel, we will take you on a leisurely afternoon tour of the town, where you can get acquainted with this city that’s persisted from antiquity to Venetian rule during the Middle Ages, then from Ottoman rule to the establishment of modern Greece.

On day 13, the itinerary is all yours to develop and design. Feel free to plan a special date with your loved one in town, or perhaps take the opportunity to spend the day relaxing at the beach. 

Departure

We hope you enjoy the entirety of this amazing two-week tour of Italy and Greece. Though we’re sad to see you leave, we will do our best to provide you with a carefree and stress-free journey home.

Upon your checkout from the hotel, we will provide a private transfer to Athens Airport and make sure you have ample time to catch your flight. Thanks so much for traveling with us, and we hope to see you again soon!