Easyjet and Ryanair have dozens of no-frills flights into Rome Ciampino airport. Or, if you prefer you can land elsewhere: London to Milan or Pisa., and come to Rome by train or car. Here’s a thought: Fly to Rome; rent a car; drive southeast to Campobasso in Molise, then to Naples, along the Amalfi coast, then head south toward rugged Cosenza, Basilicata (amazing hilltop towns: Melfi, Rivello, Acerenza) finally to Reggio, where you take the ferry to Messina. From Messina, drive west toward Palermo. This idea can also been translated into train travel, but the deeper inland you go (off the tourist route) the more dicey the train connections. An alternative is driving east toward colorful Puglia (Foggia, Bari, Taranto, Lecce) in Italy’s heel.