Southern Italy is a tapestry of ancient civilizations, volcano-sculpted coastlines, and cuisine that reads like poetry. Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish all left fingerprints here—from Amalfi’s maritime republic domes to Palermo’s golden mosaics and Matera’s cave dwellings carved into honey-colored rock.

Across 30 days, you’ll linger rather than rush. Naples is your gateway: a city of Baroque chapels and alleyways perfumed with pizza Margherita. Matera follows with its mystical Sassi cave districts and rock-hewn churches. Then sail across time to Palermo, a seat of Norman kings, boisterous markets, and beaches framed by limestone cliffs.

Practical notes: spring and fall offer mild weather and lighter crowds; summer is vibrant but hot. Trains and buses connect most hubs, ferries link the islands, and short domestic flights save time. Expect hearty plates—pizza, ragù, peperoni cruschi, pasta con le sarde—and unforgettable sweets: sfogliatelle, granite, cannoli.

Naples & the Amalfi Coast

Naples is all grit and grandeur: Caravaggio in quiet churches, laundry-lined lanes in the Spanish Quarter, and the world’s most storied pizza culture. It’s also your ideal base for Pompeii, Vesuvius, Capri, Procida, and the Amalfi Coast.

Arrive by air into NAP or via high-speed rail from Rome. For flights to/from Europe and within Italy, search Omio Flights. For trains, use Omio Trains; for buses, Omio Buses; and for ferries to Capri/Procida, Omio Ferries. Rome–Naples takes ~1h10–1h20 by high-speed train (~€20–50).

Days 1–4: Historic Naples and Pizza Pilgrimage

• Centro Storico & Spaccanapoli: Trace a 2,000-year street plan past San Gregorio Armeno’s nativity workshops and the Gothic Santa Chiara cloister. Detour underground at Napoli Sotterranea to see Greek-Roman layers beneath the city.
• Museo Archeologico Nazionale (MANN): Behold exquisite frescoes and mosaics from Pompeii and Herculaneum—context before your ruins day.
• Iconic bites: Pizza at L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele (paper-thin, blistered crust; go early), Starita a Materdei (montanara-fried then baked), or Pizzeria Da Attilio (the “cartwheel” pie). Try cuoppo (paper cone of fried seafood) at Il Cuoppo. For sweets, sfogliatelle at Sfogliatella Mary.
• Coffee & aperitivo: Espresso at Caffè Mexico (distinctive orange cups) or Belle Époque vibes at Gran Caffè Gambrinus. Evening craft cocktails at L’Antiquario; wine and small plates at Enoteca Belledonne.

Days 5–8: Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mount Vesuvius

• Pompeii with an archaeologist: Maximize your visit with a small-group, expert-led tour.

Pompeii Small Group Tour with an Archaeologist

• Herculaneum (Ercolano): More intimate than Pompeii, with preserved wood and frescoes. Combine with the crater rim at Vesuvius for lunar views over the Bay of Naples.
• Lunch & dinner picks: Trattoria Da Nennella (lively, home-style plates), Tandem Ragù (slow-cooked ragù Napolitano), Mimi alla Ferrovia (old-school elegance). Seafood lovers: La Cantina dei Lazzari.

Days 9–12: Amalfi Coast, Capri, or Procida Day Trips

• Capri: Ferry from Naples (~50–80 minutes, ~€25–45 each way). Explore Anacapri’s Villa San Michele, stroll Via Camerelle, and take the chairlift to Monte Solaro. If seas are calm, boat around the Faraglioni.
• Procida: Pastel-perfect island with a slower rhythm; Marina Corricella is a postcard. Ferries ~30–40 minutes (~€15–25).
• Path of the Gods (Amalfi Coast): Catch a morning bus to Bomerano and hike to Nocelle (2–3.5 hours), with cliff-edge views over Positano. Reward yourself with lemon granita and a swim at Fornillo or Marina Grande.
• Where to eat on the coast: In Positano, Da Adolfo (beach shack classics; arrive by boat) or Lo Guarracino (sea views, grilled fish). In Amalfi, Trattoria Da Gemma (regional pastas) and gelato at Pasticceria Pansa by the Duomo.

Where to stay (Naples): Browse apartments near Piazza del Plebiscito or the historic center on VRBO Naples and hotels on Hotels.com Naples. Quartieri Spagnoli buzzes with life; Chiaia is elegant and quieter; seafront Santa Lucia offers bay views.

Travel to Matera (morning departure, Day 13): Easiest is a direct bus (~4–4.5 hours, ~€15–25) from Naples to Matera; search schedules on Omio Buses. Alternative: train to Salerno then bus onward (~4 hours total). Expect scenic hill-country views.

Matera & Basilicata

Matera is otherworldly. The Sassi districts—Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano—are a honeycomb of cave-houses, monasteries, and rupestrian churches etched into a ravine. By dusk, the city glows like a lantern.

The cave-city’s renaissance has brought thoughtful boutique stays, refined kitchens, and a compelling story: from poverty to UNESCO World Heritage and European Capital of Culture.

Days 13–16: Sassi, Rupestrian Churches, and Murgia Views

• Sassi orientation: Walk Via Fiorentini and Via Madonna delle Virtù to grasp the cliffside topography. Step into a restored cave dwelling museum to understand historic life.
• Rock churches: Santa Maria de Idris and San Pietro Barisano reveal Byzantine frescoes and monastic austerity.
• Belvedere Murgia Timone: Cross the suspension bridge and hike the Murgia plateau (1.5–3 hours). The ravine views back to Matera are cinematic.
• Food & drink: Ristorante Francesca (romantic cave dining, seasonal Basilicata dishes), Il Terrazzino (oven-baked orecchiette with views), Dimora Ulmo (fine dining tasting menus), and Osteria Pico (hearty local fare). Try peperoni cruschi (crunchy sun-dried peppers), crapiata soup, and the famed bread of Matera.
• Cafés & sweets: Morning cappuccino and cornetti at Caffè Schiuma; artisan gelato at I Vizi degli Angeli.

Days 17–20: Day Trips into the Hills

• Altamura & Gravina in Puglia: Sample DOP Altamura bread, visit the cathedral, then peer into Gravina’s ravine and Roman bridge.
• Alberobello & the Valle d’Itria: A photogenic spin through trulli towns (Alberobello, Locorotondo, Martina Franca). Best with a driver or car for flexibility.
• Craco (with local guide): The atmospheric “ghost town” of Craco Vecchia tells a story of landslides and abandonment—haunting and memorable.

Where to stay (Matera): Consider a cave-suite in the Sassi or a terrace-view apartment near the Cathedral. Compare options on VRBO Matera and Hotels.com Matera.

Travel to Palermo (morning departure, Day 21): Fastest: bus Matera→Bari (~1.5–2h, ~€6–10) then flight Bari→Palermo (~1h15; ~€40–120). Search Omio Buses and Omio Flights. Alternative: long scenic train+ferry via Salerno/Villa San Giovanni to Palermo (~9–11h; ~€40–70) using Omio Trains.

Palermo & Western Sicily

Palermo is a feast for the senses: Arab-Norman cathedrals, Byzantine gold mosaics, and markets where vendors chant like poets. It’s your springboard to Monreale, Cefalù’s beach, Greek temples at Segesta, and the cliffs and coves of the Zingaro Reserve.

The city’s flavors tell its story—saffron and citrus, pine nuts and raisins, ricotta and pistachio. Save room for the legendary seven-layer Setteveli cake.

Days 21–24: Palaces, Mosaics, and Market Culture

• Palazzo dei Normanni & Cappella Palatina: Gold mosaics shimmer under wooden muqarnas ceilings—an extraordinary fusion of cultures.
• Cathedral and Quattro Canti: Climb to the Palermo Cathedral terraces for rooftops and mountain views; then cross Baroque stage-set corners at Quattro Canti to Piazza Pretoria’s fountain.
• Markets: Snack through Ballarò, Capo, and Vucciria: panelle, arancine, grilled swordfish, and pane cà meusa for the adventurous.
• Dining: Antica Focacceria San Francesco (historic street-food canons), Ferro di Cavallo (lively trattoria classics), Osteria Ballarò (Sicilian tastes and local wines), Bisso Bistrot (bookish vibe, budget-friendly). Dessert at Pasticceria Cappello (famed Setteveli) or Brioscia (gelato-stuffed brioche).
• Cafés & aperitivo: Caffè del Kassaro for morning ritual; aperitivo at Bocum (mixology) or Taverna Azzurra (old-school, bustling).

Days 25–27: Monreale, Cefalù, and Segesta

• Monreale Cathedral: A short bus ride brings you to one of Europe’s greatest mosaic cycles—Christ Pantocrator presiding over a golden universe.
• Cefalù: Medieval lanes, a broad sandy beach, and a Norman cathedral with luminous mosaics. Swim, climb La Rocca for a sunset panorama, then seafood by the old harbor.
• Segesta: A solitary Doric temple and hilltop theater set in wild countryside—timeless Sicily.

Days 28–30: Zingaro Reserve, Erice, and Coastal Flavors

• Riserva dello Zingaro: Hike coastal trails linking pebbly coves of turquoise water (pack water and snorkeling gear). Stop for a swim at Cala Capreria or Cala dell’Uzzo.
• Erice: Ride the cable car up from Trapani to a stone village in the clouds. Taste almond pastries at a traditional pasticceria.
• Seafood & sips: Trattoria Scaldasalvagente (fresh catch), Osteria Mercede (contemporary Sicilian plates), and wine browsing at Enoteca Picone (legendary bottle shop).

Where to stay (Palermo): Choose a historic-centre palazzo near the Teatro Massimo, a seafront retreat in Mondello, or an apartment by the Kalsa district. Compare on VRBO Palermo and Hotels.com Palermo.

Getting around Sicily: Palermo–Cefalù trains run ~45–60 minutes (~€6–10) via Omio Trains. To Trapani/Erice and Zingaro, consider regional buses (Omio Buses) or a hire car for flexibility.

Departure: Fly out of Palermo (PMO) with Omio Flights, or ferry/flight back to Naples or Rome to connect onward. Ferries and trains are searchable via Omio Ferries and Omio Trains.

In one month you’ll savor Naples’ energetic streets, cliff-carved Amalfi vistas, Matera’s ancient cave-scape, and Palermo’s layered palaces and markets. It’s a Southern Italy itinerary that balances deep history with seaside leisure—and a feast of local flavors you’ll dream about long after you’ve returned home.