Southern Italy Travel Guide

With a collectively complex history, the southern Italy arguably includes seven regions, stretching from the stunning beaches of Sicily to the commercial centre of Naples. Southern Italy exemplifies the best of all countries that once occupied its shores, transforming the food and creating a diverse range of architecture thanks to its maritime trade. 

Southern Italy has many opportunities for a city break with top locations such as the Baroque city of Lecce in Puglia, known as the heel of Italy’s boot; the Amalfi Coast, the naturally dramatic coast that was once the capital of the maritime Republic, and Pompeii, the ancient city frozen in time that was uncovered near Naples. What’s fascinating is that many of the more southern Italian regions used to be separate Kingdoms, such as Sardinia and Sicily, resulting in many different traditions, cultures and identities to discover on your travels to Italy. 

Whether you are looking to go on your honeymoon, or you want to take the family on holiday to Italy, in the south, there is a beach for everyone. For those looking for a romantic getaway for two, the beaches around Cefalu are some of the finest in Sicily. Meanwhile, in Puglia, you’ll feel at ease on beaches such as Lido Pineta, as you relax on a sunbed while the kids enjoy numerous activities!

Southern Italy strikes a balance between history, culture and beach paradise that the north will never be able to match. Whether you are looking to fall in love with the coastal towns or eat your way through the islands, one of our Local Designers in Italy will have whatever you are looking for. 

With a typical Mediterranean climate, the best time to travel to southern Italy all comes down to what kind of holiday you are looking for. If you want to see the sites and explore the culture and history of the region, the best time to travel would be between April to June and September to October. At this time, temperatures are comfortable, so you’ll be able to walk around with ease.

From June to September, you’ll find that it is best to stay by the sea so that you can jump in it at any time, with the temperatures peaking through Summer.

Explore the Mighty Herculaneum

Found within Ercolano on the outskirts of Naples, Herculaneum is associated with Pompeii as it met the same fate in the wrath of Mount Vesuvius, left covered and impeccably well-preserved in volcanic ash. Herculaneum is great for those who do not feel that they have enough time to visit Pompeii as the archaeological site can be explored in just a few hours, without missing on the finer details

However, the level of preservation of this site is far superior to that of Pompeii, which makes it worth visiting even if Pompeii is one of the main destinations of your travels to Italy. While wandering this extraordinary site, you’ll find houses with the interiors perfectly preserved, including items such as jewellery and even food frozen in time. 

Southern Italy’s Gem, Positano 

One of the first stops and one of the most beautiful towns along the Amalfi Coast, Positano’s quaint and colourful seaside charm is enough to stop anyone in their tracks. 

Believed to have been founded around a Benedictine Abbey in the 9th century, Positano was a popular place for the Romans to build villas, which you can still see the ruins of. Its history will continue to fascinate you as you spot the fortifications that peak out between the elite modern villas of today. When not climbing the steep hills and rustic streets, Positano offers the chance to relax on the southern Italian beaches while perhaps spotting the odd celebrity at the same time.

Marvel at the Beauty of Basilica of Santa Croc

Among the limestone narrow streets of Lecce, the Basilica of Santa Croc is one of the greatest examples of Baroque architecture in southern Italy, if not in the country - a staggering building that centres the city. While wandering the streets of Puglia’s most beautiful city, the ornate 17th-century facade and surrounding sculptures of the basilica will stop you in your tracks. It’s regarded as the masterpiece of the region.

You can stop-by the Basilica of Santa Croc while exploring Lecce and other cities in southern Italy, although, the basilica is very much an addition to the highlights of Lecce, the town itself is rustic and architecturally stunning.

Visit Sicily’s First Coastal Resort, Taormina

Having been a travel destination since the 17th century, Sicily has a long-established history of tourism of which, the coastal city of Taormina was the first resort.

With stunning beaches and Greek and Roman ruins that look out to Mount Etna, despite its 300-year history as a resort town, Taormina retains its Sicilian charm, surrounded by castle ruins and displaying its fascinating history in the medieval quarter. 

Walking through the streets of Taormina during your trip to Southern Italy, you’ll feel traces of its history come to life. From the Romans to Arabs and Baroque to Renaissance; the entire city is a testimony to the multitude of people that have settled on Sicily.

Gaze in Awe at the Galleria Umberto I 

An iconic symbol of the city, Galleria Umberto I was repurposed to become a shopping gallery in the late 19th century, with the agreement of King Umberto I who made it part of a project to reinvent the city of Naples. The Gallery was originally a Masonic Lodge, of which traces can still be seen from the images that are on the dome of the Gallery.  

The facades of the buildings inside the Gallery exude its grandeur; it was one of the finest creations of the rebuilding of the city after World War I. Parts of the Gallery are reminiscent of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. Walking through here is close to the top of the list when visiting Naples, which can be incorporated with other top cities when on a southern Italy tour. 

Explore the Streets of Polignano del Mare

An iconic image of southern Italy, Polignano del Mare put this stunning region on the tourist map for all the right reasons. White-wash buildings lining the streets contrast the tranquil waters that this area is famous for. Separated by white pebbled sands of Cala Porto, Polignano del Mare has a picturesque setting that can only be found in southern Italy. 

The beach of Polignano del Mare is one that sets the scene, but isn’t great for a day of relaxing on soft sands; the pebbles make it impossible to lie on! However, if you are feeling adventurous, numerous low cliffs prove to be good for jumping off - all you have to do is follow the locals for the best spots! Interestingly, there’s an annual competition for this. If jumping off cliffs and hoping for the best is not your thing, the rustic charm of this town will sweep you off your feet.

Aside from its natural surroundings, Polignano de Mare is known for its creativity; you’ll find poetry, art and music everywhere you go. If this sounds like heaven to you, then you could incorporate it into an adventurous honeymoon trip through Puglia and perhaps even Rome.

Accommodation in Cefalu, Sicily

The scenic sunsets and the inviting stretch of beach that lines the coast of Cefalu create the perfect setting for a family summer holiday in Sicily. Although busier in Summer months, you’ll never feel like the town is too overcrowded as there is an idyllic balance of culture and history that must be explored.  Cefalu is great for children as the main beach has lots of water activities and many hotels also cater to their needs. While in Cefalu, you’ll have the opportunity to take day trips to Trapani, Palermo and the equally child-friendly beach of San Vito lo Capo nearby. The town caters for both budget and luxury travellers with a range of accommodation options that are close to the seashore. 

Accommodation in Sorrento

Travelling couples looking to discover the towns of the Amalfi Coast will find that Sorrento is the most well-connected of the towns, as well as being accommodating to budget and luxury travellers. It almost goes without saying that the closer to the sea you are, the more tourism is prevalent and therefore, prices are higher. If you wish to stay in a local and cheap area, inland accommodation is recommended.

Accommodation in Lecce

For solo travellers, Lecce makes a great base for exploring Puglia on a southern Italy tour. There are not a significant number of activities around the city, which makes it great for this purpose. You will feel you have taken in all there is while going to get dinner or doing a little shopping. To make the most of this vantage point, stay in the historic quarter of the city to be right in the middle of it. 

The Heart of Southern Italy, Naples
Pizza

No matter where you are from in the world, at one time or another, you have probably heard of Neapolitan-style pizza. This reputation is very much held in Italy too; Naples is known for having some of the best pizza you can get your hands on. The dough, the sauce, the fresh cheese, it’s a delight from beginning to end, and you can try it anywhere!

The style of Napoli pizza is different from others as it focuses on fresher ingredients as opposed to a rich, slow-cooked sauce and aged cheeses. While this style is still delicious, you’ll understand why Neapolitan-style pizza is in a league of its own.

Amalfi Coast’s Prettiest Town, Positano
Fish and Seafood

The Amalfi Coast is known for its beautiful coastlines, so it’s recommended that you eat what comes from it! Whether you are big on seafood or love the catch of the day, you’ll adore the restaurants of Positano. Cooked in a variety of styles and often to your liking, the seafood and fish in these restaurants are fresh off the boat, and you can taste it.

Puglia’s Prized Gem, Lecce
Pasta

The food in Puglia is simplistic in the best possible way. Here, the ingredients are the star of the show. In Puglia, you eat seasonally; the quality of food is everything meaning you’ll never have a bad meal. 

Lecce is known for its pasta and its fresh garden flavours. You may have never had something so fresh in your life! There is a multitude of pasta that you can choose from including troccoli, orecchiette or gruessi - each is just as delicate yet robust in texture and flavour as the other. 

The Birthplace of Cannelloni, Sorrento
Cannelloni

Sorrento is known as the birthplace of cannelloni. The first restaurant where this light, delicious meal was made is still open, so we can look no further when thinking where to try it!

O’Parrucchiano is a restaurant that has made Italian history for creating the original “strascinati”, which is now internationally known as cannelloni. This stunning restaurant is set in amidst lemon trees, creating a beautiful atmosphere for you to taste the flavours of Sorrento. 

Sicily, The Ultimate Foodie Destination in Southern Italy
Granita e Brioche

Sounds simple, right? It is, but that is what is so magical about this dish. The simple notion of eating frozen yoghurt topped with fruit and accompanied by brioche for breakfast started in Sicily, and you can taste the difference! 

Homemade, freshly cultivated yoghurt with fresh-baked pastries for dipping is a mouthwatering combination when done the Sicilian way. 

Your trip to southern Italy will vary dependent on;

• Length of your trip
• The season you want to travel in
• Type of accommodation
• Number of places you visit
• Number of activities
• Number of meals included

Your customised trip could be your most significant purchase of the year, so to ensure it is one of the most memorable yet, contact one of our Local Designers in Italy who are ready and waiting to make it so. 

Everyone one has a different idea of what makes a perfect holiday, whether you want to hop from site to site or sit on a beach, you are the only one that can decide. When thinking of your custom trip, this is all you need to think about; our Local Designers will do the rest. Covering everything from your airport pick up to restaurant suggestions and everything in between.

The cost of a tailor-made southern Italy tour varies greatly depending on this choice.

As an example of a luxury trip to Puglia in Italy, this 11-Day Rome, Matera and Alberobello Luxury Journey costs around $5,295 per person and features:

• 5-star accommodation
• 10 guided activities
• Airport transfers and transport by private car
• Domestic flights
• Travel insurance
• 10 breakfasts and 1 dinner

The cost of a tailor-made Amalfi Coast trip starts at roughly $2,000 per person for a 7-day trip. As an example, this 9-Day Pompeii, Amalfi Coast & Sorrento trip starts at under $1,000 per person and includes:

• 4-star hotels
• An assortment of guided activities and day tours
• Transport by private car

By adjusting parts of a trip, you can create a more budget-friendly trip: travelling by bus from one town to another will make your trip cheaper than travelling by private car; staying in less popular but equally delightful towns will also reduce the cost; and choosing to join group tours rather than individually guided tours will create a more budget trip. 

On the flip side, adding Michelin-starred dining opportunities, unique customised experiences and 5-star boutique hotels creates a luxury custom trip.

Everyone has different interests, priorities and preferences when it comes to planning a trip to Italy or anywhere in the world for that matter. With Designer Journeys, you can browse our range of fully-customisable Italy trips and tailor any one of them to your preferences with an expert Local Designer. Or better yet, select what you want out of a trip using the 'Design your Own Trip' function and let a Local Designer design your perfect trip. 

Greek Theatre Festival, Syracuse

Many Italian festivals focus around past events, and the Greek Theatre Festival in June and July celebrates the history of entertainment in Syracuse. From mid-June, this famous theatre is used as it was centuries ago, as Greek plays, as well as famous Classics are reenacted.

The plays sell out very fast, as this is one of the most popular festivals in Sicily.  We suggest booking in advance or ask one of our Local Designers in Italy to see what they can do!

Notte Della Taranta, Salento

Translating to mean “The Night of the Tarantula”, this music festival, held in August, is dedicated to Pizzica, a popular kind of folk music that is unique to Apulia. Although the festival takes place throughout the region, the most scenic place to experience this music is Salento. 

Carnevale, Everywhere

You may have heard the rumours, and yes, they are true. Carnevale is celebrated in Catholic countries all over the world, and southern Italy is one of the best places to experience the craziness! The week before Lent, locals take to the streets to party, eat and drink. No matter where you are in the south of Italy in mid-February, this is a fun time to be around!

Madonna Bruna Festival, Matera

Another one for Virgin Mary, on this day in Matera, She is carried in a spectacular procession through the streets. This southern Italy festival is a celebration of an apparition that dates back to the medieval era. Madonna Bruna Festival has been an annual event on the 2nd of July, in Matera since 1389 which includes the high priests of the churches throughout the city. The grand finale is one not to be missed, as there is a spectacular firework display. 

San Biagio Festival, Salento
February

Celebrating the saints of Italy, San Biagio is celebrated throughout southern Italy. 

Celebrating with the locals in Salento will give you a unique opportunity to discover what a true Italian festival experience is like. San Biagio, held in February, comes complete with the obligatory firework display as the grand finale that no Italian festival is complete without.