YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE® Italy’s Western Coast & Islands: A Voyage from Rome to Valletta 2022 Small Groups: 20-25 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 22) Overseas Adventure Travel ® The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled 1 Dear Traveler, At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. And the O.A.T. Italy’s Western Coast & Islands: A Voyage from Rome to Valletta itinerary you’ve expressed interest in will be a wonderful way to resume the discoveries that bring us so much joy. You might soon be enjoying standout moments like these: I love to eat in Italy (who doesn’t?) and nothing compares to the fresh ingredients of the Aeolian Islands. You’ll see what I mean when you sit down with the owners of a small-scale caper farm for a farm-fresh lunch. First, you’ll spend A Day in the Life of this farm located on the island of Salina, where you’ll have a chance to get to know your hosts and come to learn the history of their farm. Then, you’ll learn about their organic and traditional farming practices during a stroll through their gardens followed by a savory lunch. After witnessing the beauty of Italy and its people, it saddens me to hear about darker chapters enmeshed in this vibrant culture. You’ll hear them, too, when you meet meet with survivor and advocate Francesco Zanardian to discuss how the Vatican and the Italian authorities have handled the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandal. His story is difficult to hear, but this conversation will shed light on an important topic that is more often than not swept under the rug in Italy, where the Church is deeply revered—and more or less immune from government oversight. While there is still so much work to be done, he will share his firsthand experience about how victims are overcoming the obstacles that stand in their path. In fact, Francesco created an organization, Rete L’Abuso, dedicated to helping survivors overcome challenges in their way, including legal support and documentation of abusive clergy. The way we see it, you’ve come a long way to experience the true culture—not some fairytale version of it. So we keep our groups small, with only 20-25 travelers (average 22) to ensure that your encounters with local people are as intimate and authentic as possible. It’s also why your O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader will be a resident “insider” who can show you the culture as only a local can. To ensure that your adventure is truly unique, put your own personal stamp on it. You can arrive early and stay later, add a pre- or post-trip extension, spend time in a Stopover city, or combine two or more trips. Plus, your itinerary offers ample free time so you can pursue your own interests. So until the day comes when you are off to enjoy your Italy’s Western Coast & Islands: A Voyage from Rome to Valletta adventure, I hope you will relish the fun and anticipation that this O.A.T. Adventure Travel Planning Guide® will inspire. Should you have further questions, feel free to call our Regional Adventure Counselors at 1-800-955-1925. Love and peace, Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman, Overseas Adventure Travel P.S. For further peace of mind, please know that we are EXTENDING our Risk-Free Booking Policy through 12/31/21. Learn more at www.oattravel.com/risk-free-booking. USA Today “Best Tours” 10Best Readers’ Presented by Choice Awards Solo Traveler 2 CONTENTS A Letter from Harriet Lewis ................................................................2 The O.A.T. Difference......................................................................4 The Freedom to Personalize Your Experience ................................................6 Grand Circle Foundation...................................................................8 The Leader in Solo Travel ..................................................................9 ITALY’S WESTERN COAST & ISLANDS: Aboard Your Ship: Cabin Features, A VOYAGE FROM ROME TO VALLETTA Dining & Services on Board ............... 65 Your Adventure at a Glance: M/V Athena, M/V Artemis & M/V Arethusa ... 65 Where You’re Going, What it Costs, Ship Specifications ...................... 68 and What’s Included ..................... 10 Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary ........ 12 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS: Optional Tours .......................... 31 CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE Pre-Trip Extension ....................... 32 Italian and Maltese Culture .............. 70 Post-Trip Extension ...................... 38 Rome in Brief............................ 75 Deck Plans .............................. 41 Malta in Brief............................ 77 Dates & Prices ........................... 43 Florence in Brief ........................ 78 Shopping: What to Buy, Customs, ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION Shipping & More ........................ 80 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. 44 No Visas Required ....................... 44 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY Rigors, Vaccines & General Health ......... 46 Italy . 83 Vaccines Required ....................... 47 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ........ 83 Money Matters: Local Currency & Italy: A Brief History ..................... 84 Tipping Guidelines....................... 49 Sicily ................................... 85 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch ..... 53 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ........ 85 Optional Tours .......................... 54 Sicily: A Brief History .................... 86 Communicating with Home from Abroad . 55 Malta................................... 87 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . 56 Facts, Figures & National Holidays ........ 87 Suggested Packing Lists .................. 58 Malta: A Brief History .................... 88 Electricity Abroad ....................... 60 Climate & Average Temperatures .......... 62 RESOURCES Suggested Reading ...................... 90 Suggested Film & Video .................. 93 O.A.T. Health & Safety Measures.......................................................... 99 Notes.................................................................................. 100 Map ................................................................................... 103 3 EXPERIENCE THE O.A.T. DIFFERENCE in western Italy & Malta This adventure not only showcases iconic sights, but takes you beyond them to experience the culture through unique activities, engagement with the natural world, and authentic encounters with local people. Since our founding in 1978, O.A.T. has become America’s leader in personalized small group journeys on the road less traveled. SMALL GROUPS: 20-25 TRAVELERS LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION (AVERAGE OF 22)—GUARANTEED To see the world like the locals, you should The world feels more intimate and engaging travel like one. Our small group size allows when your experience of it is also personal us to take the roads and waterways that are and genuine. That’s why our groups never less traveled, and we often follow them using exceed 25 travelers. This gives you access to the same unique modes of transportation people and places larger groups simply can’t that the locals use—be it a canoe, a camel or a reach. More authentic interactions. Deeper vintage cab. bonds with your travel mates. Personal service from your Trip Experience Leader. Smoother UNIQUE LODGINGS transitions. And a far more satisfying Our lodgings reflect the local character, experience than any traditional tour offers. from smaller family-run hotels and historic manors to comfy inns. Occasionally, larger THE BEST TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS hotels closer to city centers are used. Wherever Your English-speaking, O.A.T. Trip Experience you stay, you’re assured fine comfort and Leader is a resident of the region you are visiting, hospitality. so you will get a true insider’s perspective that brings each place alive—the stories, food, OUR WORLDWIDE OFFICES customs, hidden treasures and more. With 36 regional offices around the world, we are perfectly poised to leverage our local AUTHENTIC CULTURAL CONNECTIONS relationships to deliver an excellent experience Engage with local people through visits to and value. During this trip, you’ll be supported farms, factories, markets, and artisans’ by our team in Rome. studios; school visits; Home-Hosted meals; and more. Enjoy a Home-Hosted Lunch in Sorrento, Italy Explore the ruins of the ancient city of Paestum 4 THE PILLARS OF DISCOVERY Enriching. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These features form the foundation of your Italy’s Western Coast & Islands adventure. GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) VISIT you in the heart of a community where you’ll GCF was established in 1992 to help change meet various people where they live, work, people’s lives in the world where we live, work, and play; visit the neighborhood school; lend a and travel. To date, we have pledged or donated hand with daily chores; and break bread with $200 million worldwide. our hosts. A Day in the Life You’ll see GCF’s work in action when you meet This adventure includes two activists who are taking care of children at experience of a small-scale caper farm located the Spazio Liberato (freed up space), supported on the island of Salina. This included feature in part by Grand Circle Foundation, where provides an opportunity to venture into the you’ll have the chance to meet the children and workplace of local residents and witness the visit the theater where they learn about the art time-honored methods they use to cultivate a of stage performance. beloved ingredient. During our visit, we’ll get to know our hosts