Southern Italy boom
COLLETE’S Southern Italy and Sicily tour has seen an incredible 42% year-on-year spike for 2017 bookings. The tour company believes the strong growth is “primarily due to the value for money” that the itinerary offers. “While all of Italy is doing well for us, this is above the average growth we are seeing,” Collette’s Australia business manager Alison Mead said. Mead noted another major drawcard of the 11-day tour priced from $294 per day is the way it showcases the local life and culture. “A great example is the street food tasting included in Palermo. We visit a market and afterwards guests have a taste of the food that has made Palermo one of the best places to eat street food in the world,” she explains. The journey takes in the historic hilltop town of Taormina before making a stop at a local winery for an agriturismo experience, complete with wine tasting and a dinner featuring regional specialties. The journey also includes stop offs at Alberobello, Mt. Etna Volcano National Park, Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and Pompeii. “It’s a perfect itinerary for those who have perhaps visited the north and are looking to explore further in Italy”.