Tailormade tour Naples to the toe of Italy and Sicily fly-drive touring holiday Italy

After arriving in Naples, spend your first day in the city. Embrace the vibrance and uproarious noise, as the rest of this tour will be focused on relaxation. Explore the Gothic Cattedrale di San Gennaro with its charming white façade, the Royal Palace built under Spanish rule still reflected in the intricacy of the interior decoration, the irregular Castel Nuovo, and the extensive Paleo-Christian Catacombs of San Gennaro. The Archaeological Museum is not only a vital insight into the city’s Greco-Roman past and the destruction left by Vesuvio, but is a remarkable pink-hued building in its own right. Your hotel, the Grand Hotel Cocumella, is in the small seaside settlement of Sant’Agnello, which merges with Sorrento to the west. Its coastline rises from the sea in the form of immense grey cliffs, lined with the remains of houses from years ago, with small harbours and marinas stretching out into the sea. For the active visitor, this landscape is ideal for bracing hikes and long walks. Sorrento offers more in the way of historical and tourist attractions. Its historic centre is comprised of a complex network of narrow alleyways, perfect for an afternoon of stimulating exploration, while its famous Piazza Tasso is lined with small cafes ideal for a light lunch. The Chiesa di San Francesco dates back to the 14th century and is adorned with a beautiful, peaceful cloister. Sorrento and Sant’Agnello mark the beginning of the Amalfi Coast, or the ‘Footpath of the Gods,’ with the town of Amalfi itself just an hour’s drive away. Positano, closer to Sant’Agnello than Amalfi, is a similar seaside village of white houses with terracotta roofs built into the tumbling hillside that overlooks the stunning azure sea. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta is a hub of quirky architecture, with its majolica-tiled dome and 13th century Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary. The Sorrentine Peninsula and the villages of the Amalfi Coast are built on volcanic soil, which enables local producers to create distinctive local wines and olive oil. Stop off at one of the local oil mills or wineries to taste the produce. The Casavecchia wine, for example, dates back to the time of Pliny the Elder and features in his writings, though it was thought to be extinct for a number of years. While in Positano or Amalfi, try the Limoncello, made from the famous Amalfi lemons, or the regional Mozzarella di Bufala, and pick up some of the local speciality ceramics. Choose from the hotel’s three restaurants, and dine either in the fragrant garden, by the poolside, or on the terrace overlooking the sea.

From Sant’Agnello, drive back north to Pompei and take the inland road through Campania to the short coastline of Basilicata. La Locanda delle Donne Monache sits at the very top of the village, with a mountainous backdrop, and was once occupied by nuns. Its religious history can still be observed on the exterior as the building has been faithfully maintained. Explorers of the village will find crumbling buildings and overgrown lanes that hark back to an older Maratea. Follow the flow of these little lanes lined with fractured archways and grottoes, and eat lunch in one of the outdoor cafes on the Piazza Buraglia. Take time to visit most of the 44 churches, each endearingly individual. The most striking is the Chiesetta del Calvario. In the summer the streets come alive with everything from jazz concerts to food tastings, while down at the Maratea Porto, local art is displayed on the walls of the lanes and cafes around the marina. The Grotta delle Meraviglie are a series of atmospheric and mesmerising caves, dripping with stalagmites, and offer another viewpoint from which to see the varied Basilicata landscape. Travel along the shoreline dotted with ruined castles until you reach the small exclusive beaches around Castrocucco, or relax on the La Secca beach or Spaggia Macarro closer to the hotel. Nearby Santa Caterina offers scuba-diving opportunities with the Centro Sub Maratea. High on the peak of Mont San Biagio in the Cliento National Park is Maratea’s answer to the statue of the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. It is, however, deliberately more joyful and youthful than its Brazilian counterpart. Reaching 22 metres high, the statue is one of Maratea’s most popular attractions, and certainly worth hiking up to, especially due to the picturesque village nestled on the mountaintop beside it. The hotel’s restaurant, Il Sacello, draws on the traditional flavours of Lucania, and cooking lessons can be organised in advance.

Leave Maratea after breakfast, and drive south along the coast to Tropea. Situated on the Costa degli Dei, or Coast of the Gods, Tropea, and the Villa Paola where you will be staying for two nights, is characterised by its beautiful crystal-clear turquoise waters. Explore this intriguing Calabrian town, perched high up on the fledgling cliffs that line the shore, dining in the hidden squares that belong to the many restaurants, tasting the local seafood, and Tropea’s speciality sweet red onions. This region is also well-known for its hot and spicy food. The headland of this area forms the heart of the town, encased in the remains of the old fortifications. While here, partake in the local tradition of Passeggiata, walking down the Corso Vittorio Emanuele until you reach the metal railings that line the cliff edge as it looks over the sea, and then walking back up and stopping in one of the small cafes. This is an excellent way of getting a feel for Tropea, and the way of life of its residents. For a taste of Tropea’s history, be sure to look around the Norman cathedral, and the Palazzo Vescovile, or Bishop’s Palace, now used as a museum. Various religious festivals happen in Tropea at different times of the year, involving processions through the town carrying the icon of the Madonna of Romania, their patron saint. The crowning glory of Tropea, however, has to be the Santa Maria dell’Isola, a picturesque monastery on a large verdant rock that used to form its own island. Whether you admire this stately building and its position from the high edge of the town, or by climbing up the steps of the rock to capture the magnificent views, the monastery offers an unusual, and beautiful, new perspective on the town. On your second day, you may wish to take a boat trip out into the tranquil waters in the hope of seeing some marine life, or simply to enjoy the sunshine and magnificent surroundings. If you have time on the afternoon of your last day, drive to nearby Capo Vaticano for the watersports opportunities, moonlit cycle rides, and the views from the military lighthouse. Or drive east to the lovely town of Pizzo, rich in local history, with castles, a beautiful town centre, and the Piedigrotta Church, built half into the ground. In the evenings, return to the red façade of the Villa Paola and relax on one of the terraces or in the pool, which, even from its high position, seems to stretch into the sea.

Cross over the short stretch of water that are the Straits of Messina that separate mainland Italy and Sicily, and continue south to Taormina, overlooking the Bay of Naxos. The Hotel Villa Belvedere is situated in one of the greenest parts of Taormina, with a yellow-ochre façade that seems to help it blend in to its floral environment. The rooms are luxurious and chic, and outside are terraces and gardens for you to enjoy before heading out into Taormina to explore its historical delights. Locate the impressive Teatro Antico di Taormina, the second largest Greco-Roman theatre in Sicily, and the source of much local debate as its origins are currently undetermined. Taormina’s history as a Greek Polis does, however, indicate Grecian beginnings. The theatre hosts the Taormina Arte festival, which lasts all summer and features a vibrant abundance of cinema, ballet, theatre, and music. See the influence of Arabian and Norman art on the Gothic Badia Vecchia, formerly Taormina’s abbey, and the Palazzo Duca di San Stefano. Observe the extent of the Arabian influence in the architecture of the Palazzo Corvaja, built in the style of the first temple Abraham built in God’s name. Wander through the Corso Umberto and pick up some of the hand-made ceramics, fine leather, Sicilian wines, and wrought iron and wooden products so prevalent in the area. Stroll around the botanic gardens of Villa Comunale, just a short walk from the Villa Paola, or admire the white-stone medieval Palazzo Ciampoli and its quaint adjacent square. To break up your days of exploration, have a light lunch under the citrus trees that grow by the poolside and the restaurant. One afternoon, drive out to the Alcantara River Park and its gorges, riddled with lava coves and waterfalls. And make the most of the Italian waters on this final stop of your touring holiday, by partaking in the local sports of wind-surfing, sailing, fishing, scuba-diving, canoeing, or snorkelling. Consider also taking a boat trip or hydrofoil to one of the nearby Aeolian Islands, such as Lipari and Salina. One and a half hour’s drive from Taormina is Syracuse, the sight of the largest Greek-Roman theatre in Sicily. The Ortygia, or ‘old town,’ is the home of a beautiful Duomo, the Temple of Athena, extensive catacombs, the Ear of Dionysus, and breath-taking seaside bays, making Syracuse a must-see day-trip for history enthusiasts and those looking for a relaxing day alike. Finish your days by sampling the famous Marsala, Zibibbo, and Primitivo Sicilian wines, or the range of locally-produced liquers, in either the Hotel Villa Belvedere’s restaurant, or in a restaurant in Taormina.

You drive to the airport in Catania, just under an hour from Taormina, return your hire-car and take your flght back to London.