Southern Italy

From Rome South, Everything Changes

Touring south of Tuscany into Southern Italy is like experiencing another country. Colors and scents intensify. Oak trees turn to palms, brilliantly colored bouganvillias replace stately geraniums, and wines seem almost to thicken from their sun-drenched grapes. Personalities warm with the temperatures. Our Adagio tours to the Amalfi Coast, the pizza capital of Naples, and across the island of Sicily allow plenty of time to appreciate all that is best about touring Southern Italy.

Some might even call it a bit chaotic, and we love Sicily for that quality! At the center of the Mediterranean, but on the edge of Europe, Sicily is a unique and distinct entity from the rest of Italy. Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman, and Aragonese conquerors have transformed the landscape, and Sicily's diverse history has left it with an abundance of archaeological remains. Our journey combines beautifully the rural and urban flavors of Sicily, with the first several nights spent in charming Erice and "must see" Agrigento. Palermo will be our home for the final four nights of our tour, allowing us time to acquaint ourselves intimately with Sicily's capital city. Not only its numerous historical sites, but its vibrant food markets and tiny hidden stores.

“A tavula si scordanu li trivuli”
At the table you forget your troubles—Sicilian proverb

Sicilian cuisine, one of Italy's most varied, has also been influenced by its unique location and the invaders it attracted. Eastern Sicily's Culinary Splendors takes guests on a journey of the exquisite food and wine of the eastern part of the island. The trip will be accompanied by prolific food writer Michele Scicolone, author of several cookbooks including two written for Williams Sonoma. During the trip guests will visit some of the island's spectacular Greek ruins, tour top wineries and dine in a private home and several superb restaurants.

"See Naples and die," goes the old saying about the place, alluding to the beauty of the city's incomparable setting in the shadow of its volcano and the blue waters of its enormous bay. "See Naples and eat pizza!" might be the slogan for those who cannot resist the warm, enticing aroma of a perfect pizza with a crisp crust topped with creamy mozzarella and juicy tomatoes. There's no better place to enjoy pizza than Naples and the Amalfi Coast, and no better way for pizza lovers to satisfy their appetite than our Pazzi per la Pizza tour, with pizza experts Charles and Michele Scicolone, authors of Pizza: Any Way You Slice It!.

Comments on our Custom-Designed Journeys: I have trouble expressing how well this trip went. I've done quite a bit of traveling, and have organized numerous trips myself, and this was the best ever. Thank you for all your insight and hard work. Tom S

Tasting the Lost Corners of Tuscany was a spectacular experience, where you [got] a true sense of the Tuscany of old. The food, accommodations and company were all delightful. I really felt like we were welcome and I made some great new friends. Evelyn P

How Was Your Day in Chianti with Adagio? [I]t was really the highlight of our trip... the day ... was fantastic, even/especially for people in their early to mid twenties. A wine tasting or two, a tour of Greve, a trip to a real cheese farm, and of course the best meal of our lives. I can't imagine that someone of any age would not be interested, especially if they enjoy learning about other cultures and food. [T]his trip is appropriate for someone who is interested about learning the history and lifestyle of Tuscany/the Chianti region and has an open mind, sense of adventure, and really enjoys eating. Rachel L.

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