10 Days Off the Beaten Path Tour of Southern Italy and Sicily

We had a fabulous trip to Italy, including to Sorrento, Taormina, and Rome. Zicasso’s travel specialist made sure every detail was taken care of, including stays in beautiful, well-located hotels and excursions that were interesting and fun for our family.

For example, she arranged for an airport host to assist us with our arrival to and departure from the Rome airport, and she was simply amazing, whisking us through the airport and eliminating stress for our family.

Aside from the delay because of the time change, working with Zicasso’s travel specialist was great. She took care of all arrangements in Sicily once our decisions were made. She confirmed with every hotel, driver, and guide, making sure our travel was effortless.

The guides were great, adding so much historical information to our attractions. Our drivers were friendly, providing us with clean, comfortable vehicles, safe driving, and interesting conversation about modern life in Italy. Our hotels were high-end, in city centers, with amazing breakfast buffets and professional, kind staff.

We used a reputable tour group for our first week of mainland Italy travel, but our experience with this travel specialist far surpassed the tour group experience and our expectations. I would not hesitate to use her again for any travel plans in Italy. She checked in with us pre-, mid-, and post-travel. There wasn’t one hiccup with the plans she made for us.

Zicasso’s travel company helped us plan a trip that exceeded our expectations. From the hotels to the guides to the scheduling of events, things could not have gone smoother. We visited all the sites and did all the things we wanted to do, and still had free time to roam on our own. This team is top-notch and we highly recommend them.

Our recent trip to Rome, Florence, and Venice, planned by Zicasso’s travel specialist and her team, was nothing short of exceptional. Every detail was handled with care, precision, and an obvious commitment to excellence. The hotels were truly top rate, perfectly located, and impeccably chosen to enhance the experience of each city. The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate, adding depth and context that made each destination come alive.

What truly set this trip apart was the level of service. From seamless transfers to on-the-ground assistance, everything felt effortless. The recommendations and tips provided along the way were incredibly useful and allowed us to experience each city with confidence and ease. The assistants who helped guide us through logistics and navigation were attentive, professional, and reassuring, making the entire journey feel like true white-glove service from start to finish.

The travel specialist and her team exceeded every expectation. Their planning, responsiveness, and attention to detail transformed an already incredible itinerary into an unforgettable experience. I would recommend them without hesitation to anyone looking for a flawlessly executed, high-end travel experience.

Zicasso’s travel company was amazing to work with! They really took care of every detail for a worry-free experience! They were very responsive during planning and the trip. All of the locations and accommodations were exactly what I wanted. I cannot recommend them enough!

This was my third customized trip with Zicasso. I previously worked with Zicasso to plan and take mother-daughter trips to Iceland and Croatia. They are the perfect company to help your dreams for a personally unique adventure come true!

This time, I traveled with my daughter, son, and daughter-in-law to Italy. My hope was for my daughter and son to see the towns where their great-grandfather and great-grandmother emigrated from in the Abruzzo region, in the towns of Roccamontepiano and Bugnara. My research had an address for where their great-grandfather was born. Our driver found the address and we took photos of us standing in front of the house, which could now be considered a real fixer-upper. Just the same, it was a moment never to be forgotten. Thank you to our driver and his wealth of information!

Our home base was in Pescara, where we enjoyed a walk on the beach, excellent local cuisine at a local restaurant, and seafood at another local restaurant. These were recommended by our local travel agent and were clearly favorites of the locals.

We had a wonderful tour in Chieti, an historic and cultural gem, with our guide. She too was a gem of a guide!

We then traveled to Venice, which was far less crowded with tourists than in the high season. Upon arrival, a private gondola ride during dusk and at sunset was a surreal way to be welcomed to this beautiful city.

The next day we had a magnificent tour of St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace. Our guide was so engaging and knowledgeable, and eager to share ideas about other things to see while in Venice. We followed our tour with lunch at a historic restaurant, home to the invention of the Bellini. Yum! After lunch, we took the elevator to the top of the tower across from the basilica, with its spectacular panoramic view of the city and surrounding islands. Then our group splintered off—two of us did a Grand Canal boat ride and the other two headed to the isle of Murano to search for glass souvenir treasures.

Our next stop was Lake Como, with a one-hour unexpected stop in Verona. Thank you to our driver for suggesting the stop! Who knew there was a Roman arena and some to-die-for hot chocolate in Verona!

Then off to Lake Como. We had time before we could check in to our hotel, so we did a walkabout to acquaint ourselves with the city. We took a ride on the funicular for another delightful panoramic view and enjoyed cocktails while surveying the lake and city below. That evening, we traveled up into the mountains and had a marvelous meal at a mountain trattoria. We were just us and one other couple in the restaurant, and we watched the chef prepare our local food specialties from our table in front of the wood-burning fireplace. The mantel was adorned with trophies and photos of the local bocce teams over the decades. Again, if you want to travel for cibo delizioso, go to Italy!

The next day, we had a three-hour boat ride on Lake Como. Our skipper and guide made certain to point out and give some history on the villages dotting the coastline and the famous villas.

The following day we traveled north to Domaso for an afternoon at a family-run vineyard and restaurant with views of Lake Como and the Alps! Bellissimo! A family member gave us a wonderful tour of the history and the winemaking facility, as well as the many wines we sampled. We were treated to local charcuterie and ravioli that was made fresh while we were busy sampling. When we received the wine we ordered and shipped back home, they threw in extra gifts for us, with wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Then we were off to Milan for a chance to try our luck at making our own pasta, sauces, and gelato at a cooking school. Our chef instructor guided us as we made tagliatelle with a pesto sauce and pumpkin ravioli with a cream sauce. Of course, there were wine pairings! He made certain our creations were delicious!

That evening, we donned our fancy apparel and headed to La Scala to take in the opera, "Così fan tutte." The modern take on the comedy was refreshing and the venue was a must-see!

The next day, we were met by our guide, who shared the history of the UNESCO site of Santa Maria delle Grazie and Leonardo da Vinci’s "Last Supper" with expertise and reverence, while keeping us engaged. She likewise inspired us as we toured the Duomo di Milano, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, and the controversial Il Dito sculpture outside the city’s stock exchange.

That evening, we experienced a delightful meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant. The chef, from Naples, created and explained a never-to-be-forgotten bite-sized sampling plate highlighting the tastes of Naples on a plate shaped like the region, with its various borders.

Before leaving Milan, we had a tour of La Scala and its adjacent museum with our guide. She provided us with a history lesson that was quite interesting. That night, we dined at a local seafood restaurant, another treasure clearly favored by the locals. Our waiter was a gem and sent us off with the gift of a bottle of wine.

Our final stop was Turin. Once again, we divided—two of us visited the National Museum of Cinema and the panoramic lift housed in the museum. At the top, we gained a wonderful sense of the city,and the cinema museum was a fun surprise! Our other two toured the Juventus Museum and Stadium, and they thoroughly enjoyed their experience as well.

Our final day, we met our guide, who spent the entire day with us, with only a short break, beginning with a gourmet food tour of traditional Piedmont dishes. Along the way, she shared insights into the history and cultural significance of the foods. Later in the day, she guided us through the Royal Palace of Turin, including the Holy Shroud Chapel, Armory, and Museum. Once again, we were treated to a knowledgeable and entertaining guide.

We departed the next day, leaving with priceless memories of our Italy adventure.

Thank you so much to Zicasso’s travel agent. You helped make our trip come true with such care. Grazie mille!