Southern Italy & Sicily

Villa Angela , Taormina / Days 2-5 / Superior First Class

Overlooking the Mediterranean with panoramic views of the sea and Mount Etna, Villa Angela offers modern comforts and Sicilian ambience. Hotel amenities include a restaurant and bar, outdoor swimming pool, and a terrace facing Naxos Bay. Each guest room has its own terrace facing the bay, as well a private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, mini-bar, TV, and phone. The hotel offers a shuttle service to the center of Taormina.

Locanda di San Martino , Matera / Days 6-7 / First Class

This 32-room hostelry recalls millennia of cave dwellings – but with contemporary comforts and modern amenities. Passageways cut into the rock, external staircases, and elevators connect all four levels of the hotel. This hotel is in the heart of Matera's Sassi historical district, close to the city center. The hotel has a bar; air-conditioned guest rooms have private bath with hair dryer, Internet access, and TV. Please note that because of the unique nature of the hotel, room sizes and views vary.

Patria Palace Hotel , Lecce / Days 8-10 / Superior First Class

A former palazzo, the Patria Palace Hotel is superbly located in the heart of Lecce’s historical center, opposite Santa Croce Basilica. The 63-room hotel boasts many of its original flourishes, though it has been artfully refurbished in an art deco style with Lecce stone and original frescoes. Hotel amenities include a restaurant and bar, solarium, and Internet access. Individually-styled guest rooms with decorative paintings have private bath with hair dryer, air conditioning, in-room safe, TV, and phone.

Hotel Antiche Mura, Sorrento / Days 11-14 / First Class

This historic hotel sits in the heart of Sorrento on Piazza Tasso, the main square, close to shops and restaurants. Amenities of the intimate 53-room hotel include an outdoor swimming pool, solarium, lovely gardens with a citrus grove (which supplies all of the oranges and lemons used by the hotel), lobby bar, outdoor snack bar, and breakfast room. Art nouveau-style guest rooms have private bath, in-room safe, mini-bar, Internet access, TV, and phone. Air conditioning is available from May through October; heat from November through April.

Empire Palace Hotel , Rome / Extension / Superior First Class

A well-located hotel just a two-minute walk from the Via Veneto, the 110-room Empire Palace is an actual palace, built in 1870 and completely refurbished and converted to a hotel that offers a restaurant and bar, fitness center, Internet access, and laundry service. Air-conditioned rooms feature private bath with hair dryer, in-room safe, mini-bar, TV, and phone. Please note that because of the unique nature of this hotel, room sizes vary.