Southern Italy is the cradle of Mediterranean drama—Greek theaters and Baroque churches, steaming volcanoes and luminous seas. You’ll thread from Naples’ renowned pizza and Roman ruins to the Amalfi Coast’s cliff‑hugging beaches, sleep in Matera’s ancient caves, swim Salento’s crystal bays, and sip granita under Taormina’s Greek Theater with Etna looming purple at dusk.

History here is tangible: Pompeii and Herculaneum preserved mid‑eruption; Matera’s Sassi cave districts reborn into design hotels; Lecce’s honey‑colored Baroque; Sicily’s layers of Greek, Arab‑Norman, and Spanish style. Fun fact: Italy’s second‑largest Roman amphitheater is not in Rome—it’s in Lecce, hiding in plain sight in the main square.

July is peak season—expect brilliant sun, warm seas, and crowds. Book beach clubs, ferries, and headline restaurants 1–3 weeks in advance, carry SPF 50, and plan siestas from 1–4 pm. Trains are efficient, but coastal roads and island ferries demand patience; pack light, avoid ZTL (limited traffic) zones, and lean on local lidos for stress‑free beach days.

Getting Here from Auckland (Pre‑Trip Tips)

Days 1–2: Fly Auckland → Naples (via Rome/Milan)

Fly premium economy from Auckland to Naples or Rome/Milan with one or two stops (typical routes via Singapore, Doha, Dubai). Door‑to‑door travel time runs ~26–32 hours depending on layovers. For broad options and fare comparisons, search flights to or from Europe on Omio.

If you have a spare day before departure and want to stretch your legs in Auckland, these two local experiences are stellar warm‑ups:

• Auckland Dolphin and Whale Watching Eco-Safari Cruise

  

  Head out on the Hauraki Gulf to spot dolphins, whales, and seabirds—a nature hit before your Mediterranean immersion.

• Taste of Waiheke Food and Wine Tour

  

  Wine, olive oil, and island views—consider it your palate’s prologue to Southern Italy.

Naples

Days 3–9: Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mount Vesuvius

Naples bristles with energy: baroque chapels, alleyway shrines, and the world’s most storied pizza. Use it as your launchpad for Pompeii, Herculaneum, and your hike up Mount Vesuvius.

• Top sights: National Archaeological Museum (glorious Pompeii mosaics), Sansevero Chapel (the Veiled Christ), Spaccanapoli’s lanes, Castel dell’Ovo at sunset.
• Vesuvius hike: Take the train to Pompeii, then shuttle to the crater trailhead (timed-entry required; book ahead). The final path takes ~40–60 minutes roundtrip on cinder switchbacks; carry water, sun hat, and grippy shoes.
• Beach time near Naples: Day trip to Procida’s Chiaiolella (gentle, golden) or Miseno in Bacoli (long sandy arc). For snorkeling, try Gaiola Underwater Park (reserve slots in high season).

• Eat & drink: Pizza at L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele (expect queues) or Gino Sorbillo Lievito Madre al Mare (seafront pies). Rustic fun at Trattoria da Nennella; seafood spaghetti at Osteria dei Sapori. Sfogliatella at Pasticceria Attanasio; espresso at Gran Caffè Gambrinus.
• Cafés for slow mornings: Caffè Mexico (classic Neapolitan roast), Birdy’s Bakery (brunch with a view), Leopoldo for taralli and coffee.

• Stay: Browse apartments and stays on VRBO Naples or compare hotels on Hotels.com Naples.
• Getting there: From Naples Airport or Rome, use Omio to compare Italian trains and buses into the city center.

Sorrento (Amalfi Coast)

Days 10–18: Sorrento base, Amalfi & Positano villages, and Capri boat days

Sorrento is the hassle‑free base for the Amalfi Coast: frequent ferries, scenic trains, and sunset terraces sweetened by limoncello. Your partner gets sandy bliss; you get cliff towns, Roman villas, and active adventures.

• Capri day: Morning ferry (50–80 minutes; book on Omio Ferries). Boat circuit to Faraglioni, snorkel at the Green Grotto, chairlift to Monte Solaro in Anacapri, and a lemon‑scented dinner at Da Paolino.
• Amalfi & Positano: Ferry hop to Positano (Fornillo for easier access; Arienzo Beach Club for a splurge). Continue to Amalfi for the striped Duomo, then Santa Croce beach by boat shuttle.
• Sorrento swims: Lidos at Marina Piccola (Leonelli’s, Marameo) or the wild cove at Bagni Regina Giovanna under a Roman villa. Expect €25–€60 per day for two beds and umbrella in July.

• Eat & drink: Seafood at Bagni Delfino (harbor views) or Da Emilia in Marina Grande. Wood‑fired classics at Trattoria da Gigino; farm‑to‑table at O’ Parrucchiano (birthplace of cannelloni). Gelato at Raki; limoncello tasting at I Giardini di Cataldo.
• Breakfast & coffee: Bar Fauno (piazza people‑watching), Il Leone Rosso Bakery (sfogliate still warm), Pasticceria Monica (tiny, excellent).

• Stay: See VRBO Sorrento and Hotels.com Sorrento. For a Capri overnight, check VRBO Capri or Hotels.com Capri.
• Travel note: Naples → Sorrento by Campania Express in ~45–60 minutes (~€8–€15). Compare trains on Omio Trains and ferries on Omio Ferries.

Matera

Days 19–22: Live inside history—Matera’s Sassi and rupestrian churches

Matera feels otherworldly—honeycombed cave houses cascading into a ravine. By night, the Sassi glow with a thousand lanterns; by day, you’ll wander rock‑hewn churches and the vast underground cistern, Palombaro Lungo.

• Top experiences: Sassi Barisano & Caveoso walk, Casa Noha’s multimedia history, Santa Lucia alle Malve cave church, Palombaro Lungo beneath Piazza Vittorio. Drive or taxi to Belvedere Murgia Timone for the signature panorama.
• Beach break: If the sun calls, the Ionian coast is ~50–70 minutes away—Metaponto, Marina di Pisticci, or Policoro offer broad, sandy strands with mellow lidos.

• Eat & drink: Ristorante Baccanti (cave‑chic with Basilicata wines), Ristorante Francesca (orecchiette with cruschi peppers), Trattoria del Caveoso (homey and generous). Gelato at I Vizi degli Angeli; aperitivo and music at Area 8.
• Mornings: Caffè Tripoli for espresso and pane di Matera to go; Pasticceria Schiuma for pastries.

• Stay: Cave stays and apartments on VRBO Matera or hotels via Hotels.com Matera.
• Getting there: From Sorrento/Naples, fastest is direct coach (~4–5 hours, ~€20–€35). Check schedules on Omio Buses. Self‑drive takes ~3 hours from Naples.

Lecce (Salento)

Days 23–31: Baroque Lecce with Adriatic and Ionian beach‑hopping

Base in Lecce, “The Florence of the South,” then fan out to Salento’s twin coasts: dramatic Adriatic cliffs and Caribbean‑blue Ionian bays. This block is built for beach bliss with satisfying culture and food between swims.

• Adriatic side: Otranto’s old town and Baia dei Turchi; Torre dell’Orso’s twin stacks and a plunge at Grotta della Poesia (early mornings best). Coastal road to Santa Cesarea Terme and Castro for cliff swims.
• Ionian side: Gallipoli’s Spiaggia della Purità for sunset; Punta Prosciutto and Torre Lapillo near Porto Cesareo for lagoon‑clear water.
• In town: Basilica di Santa Croce, Piazza del Duomo at blue hour, the Roman amphitheater off Piazza Sant’Oronzo. Consider a Salice Salentino wine tasting at a local cantina or an olive oil tour at a masseria.

• Eat & drink (Lecce): Le Zie Trattoria Casereccia (home‑style Pugliese), Osteria degli Spiriti (polished, seasonal), 400 Gradi (Pugliese pizza). Pasticciotto at Pasticceria Natale; rustico and gelato at Caffè Alvino.
• Seafood on the coast: Laltrobaffo (Otranto) and Il Bastione (Gallipoli) for crudo and just‑off‑the‑boat catches.

• Stay: Townhouses and masseria suites on VRBO Lecce and Hotels.com Lecce.
• Getting there: Matera → Lecce via Bari by train or coach (~4–5 hours, ~€20–€40). Compare on Omio Trains and Omio Buses. A rental car unlocks beach variety; park outside ZTL zones.

Taormina (Sicily)

Days 32–39: The Greek Theater, Isola Bella beaches, and Mount Etna

Taormina is summer distilled: bougainvillea‑draped lanes, terrace bars, and a cliff‑top theater framing Etna and the sea. It’s also your base for the second volcano on your list—Europe’s most active, Mount Etna.

• Etna day: Ride the cable car from Rifugio Sapienza, then 4x4 and a guided crater walk. Summit‑area trips are weather‑dependent and require a guide; expect ~€70–€120. Pack layers—yes, even in July.
• Beaches: Isola Bella’s pebbly cove (reserve a lido in high season), Spisone for more space, Mazzarò via cable car from town. Consider a small‑boat coastal swim to Grotta Azzurra (Taormina).
• Culture & views: Teatro Antico at sunset; hike or taxi to Castelmola for almond wine and a bird’s‑eye view. Day trip to Siracusa/Ortigia for Greek heritage and golden‑hour piazzas.

• Eat & drink: Trattoria da Nino (local seafood and Nebbiolo‑length wine list), Tischi Toschi (Sicilian home cooking), Al Saraceno (panoramic grills). Granita and brioche at Bam Bar; pistachio cannoli at Pasticceria D’Amore.
• Winery options (Etna North): Gambino, Benanti, Planeta Etna—book tastings ahead.

• Stay: Browse terraces and sea‑view homes on VRBO Taormina or hotels via Hotels.com Taormina.
• Getting there: From Lecce, fly Brindisi/Bari → Catania (~1 hour flight; ~4–5 hours total with transfers). Compare options on Omio. From Catania Airport, bus to Taormina in ~1h15.

Catania (Wind‑Down & Departure)

Days 40–41: Lava‑stone streets, markets, and one last swim

Slip into Catania’s black‑and‑white grandeur—elephant fountain, lava‑stone palazzi—and graze through La Pescheria market. If you crave one last dip, the Cyclops Riviera (Aci Trezza/Aci Castello) offers rock platforms and startlingly clear water.

• Bites & sips: Arancini and pasta alla Norma at Savia (near Villa Bellini), seafood fritto misto at Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab, granite at Caffè del Duomo. For aperitivo, try First Lounge Bar.
• Stay: Overnight near the center for easy airport access: VRBO Catania or Hotels.com Catania.

Day 42: Fly Home to Auckland

Fly Catania → Rome/Milan → Auckland in premium economy. Check combinations and times on Omio, and allow ample connection time at the long‑haul gateway.

Suggested Multi‑Day Flow at a Glance

• Days 1–2: Fly AKL → NAP (optionally add an Auckland nature/wine day before departure).
• Days 3–9: Naples for Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius; beach day to Procida or Miseno.
• Days 10–18: Base Sorrento for Amalfi/Positano and a Capri day or overnight.
• Days 19–22: Matera’s Sassi and Ionian beach detour.
• Days 23–31: Lecce with Salento beach‑hopping (Otranto, Torre dell’Orso, Gallipoli, Punta Prosciutto).
• Days 32–39: Taormina for Isola Bella, Greek Theater, and Mount Etna.
• Days 40–41: Catania city tastes and Cyclops Riviera dips.
• Day 42: Fly home.

How to Move Between Bases

• Naples → Sorrento: 45–75 minutes by Campania Express/Circumvesuviana (~€4–€15). Trains on Omio. Ferries in summer from Naples/Positano on Omio Ferries.
• Sorrento → Matera: Morning coach from Naples (~4–5 hours, ~€20–€35) via Omio Buses. Driving: ~3 hours.
• Matera → Lecce: Train/bus via Bari (~4–5 hours, ~€20–€40) on Omio Trains or Buses. Driving: ~2.5 hours.
• Lecce → Taormina: Fly Brindisi/Bari → Catania (1 hour flight; ~4–5 hours total). Search on Omio. Then airport bus to Taormina (~1h15).
• Taormina → Catania: Regional train or bus ~1–1.5 hours on Omio.

Practical Notes for July

• Beach clubs: Reserve loungers 1–2 weeks ahead (especially Capri and Positano). Pack reef‑friendly sunscreen; rocky coves benefit from water shoes.
• Volcano timing: Start early (before 9 am) to beat heat and crowds; carry 2–3 liters of water per person on Etna. Vesuvius craters require timed entry—book in advance.
• ZTL zones: Old towns enforce camera‑monitored restricted zones. Park in signed lots at the edge; fines are automated.

Across six weeks you’ll pair languid beach days with world‑class archaeology, from Vesuvius’ ash‑frozen cities to Sicily’s living volcano. Come home with salt in your hair, ancient stories in your pocket, and a renewed appreciation for how the Mediterranean does summer.