Southern Italy vacation, 2 weeks

Planet

Our custom-designed journeys prioritize train travel, offering a seamless, scenic, and sustainable way to explore each destination. High-speed rail efficiently connects major cities, while shorter routes make for perfect day excursions from urban hubs. We intentionally avoid car rentals where excellent rail service is available, reserving flights only for islands or routes that exceed six hours by train. Within cities, we discourage driving altogether, instead providing travelers with resources for local transit and walkable routes that foster deeper cultural immersion. Train travel is not just transportation—it’s an integral part of the experience.

Each itinerary includes carefully curated dining recommendations featuring vegetarian, vegan, and vegetarian-friendly options, as well as authentic local cuisine. When meals are included with an activity, plant-based options are always available. For food enthusiasts, we design enriching culinary experiences, including guided tastings, farm-to-table dining, and private visits with regional producers.

We are proud to support Rewilding Italy, part of Rewilding Europe, an organization dedicated to restoring nature and wildlife and conserving wild landscapes through natural processes for the benefit of society. The Central Apennines is a landscape that has undergone rewilding initiatives.

We are also committed partners of TAP (Travelers Against Plastic), reinforcing our mission to promote sustainable and responsible travel.

People

All of our activity partners are locally owned, independent businesses. We work exclusively with guides and providers who specialize in creating intimate, authentic experiences deeply rooted in their communities.

In some regions, we also partner with small, family-run transportation companies—often just a handful of trusted drivers we know personally—ensuring that you’re supported by local experts at every stage of your journey.

On this trip through Rome, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Palermo, Taormina, Noto, Syracuse, and Catania, you engage with Italy in a way that supports the people who shape these regions. As you explore local markets such as Mercato dei Fiori in Rome, Capo Market

n Palermo, and the artisan workshops of Vietri, your visits help sustain small producers, makers, and family-run businesses. Guided experiences—like archaeological tours of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Sistine Chapel, a hands-on cooking class where you prepare Cacio e Pepe and Amatriciana, or a walk along the historic Path of the Gods—connect you directly with local experts who share their knowledge, traditions, and stories. Your time on the Amalfi Coast, whether kayaking in Praiano, hiking through terraced lemon groves in Minori, or enjoying wood-fired pizza in a family trattoria, supports coastal communities that rely on responsible tourism to protect their land and heritage.

In Sicily, visits to the Belvedere garden in Monreale, the narrow lanes of Vicolo Stretto in Taormina, coastal paths around Isola Bella, and the historic centers of Noto and Ortygia contribute to the preservation of cultural sites and the livelihoods of local guides, growers, and artisans. Throughout the trip, choosing regional cuisine, engaging with community-owned cable cars on Mount Etna, and exploring historic neighborhoods on foot helps reduce environmental impact while fostering meaningful connections with the people who care for these landscapes every day.