Archaeological Institute of America

Hiking Southern Italy: Archaeology, Volcanoes & Cuisine
2025-05-11 - 2025-05-22
Welcome to an extraordinary springtime journey through the rich ancient history, breathtaking volcanic landscapes, and legendary food and wine culture of southern Italy and Sicily. Travel and hike with archaeologist Cris Corrado and local guides among active and dormant volcanoes, delight in picturesque landscapes and sea views, and explore fascinating archaeological sites. Italy is home to mainland Europe’s only active volcanoes—Mount Vesuvius, Stromboli, and Mount Etna—and on this tour you will hike on all three of them. On this well-paced tour you will rest at distinctive, four-star hotels, spending four nights in Naples, one on a comfortable ferry from Naples to Lipari, three on the Aeolian island of Panarea, and two in the heart of Mount Etna Park, Sicily. An expert tour manager handles all of the logistics, so you can relax, enjoy, and learn. On all but one of the seven hikes, an extra guide will allow us to split into two groups, so that you may choose either a longer or shorter excursion.
Highlights include:
1. Pompeii, one of the world’s most extraordinary archaeological sites, destroyed (but also preserved!) by the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79
2. Hiking the trail of Vesuvius National Park to the crater, with amazing views over the whole Gulf of Naples
3. A breathtaking hike along the “Path of the Gods,” on the Sorrento Peninsula, with views of the Tyrrhenian Sea
4. A ferry ride to the fabled island of Capri to hike along fragrant trails to Roman Emperor Tiberius’ Villa Jovis
5. A visit to the Naples Archaeological Museum, which houses one of the world’s finest collections of Greco-Roman art and artifacts
6. A private boat ride to Stromboli, the most active volcano in Europe, erupting at intervals of approximately 15 minutes
7. A hike up Mt. Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, with panoramic views of Sicily’s eastern coast
8. Wine tastings at vineyards on Mt. Vesuvius, Salina, and Mt. Etna
This tour requires an elevated level of fitness.
