ENCHANTING SOUTHERN ITALY 7 DAYS by Melody Hagerman at Travel the Horizon
Summary
NAPLES, CAPRI & THE AMALFI COAST The Bay of Naples was once a great centre of classical Roman civilisation. Today, we are offered a glimpse into this lost world at the excavated remains of Pompeii. This tour will also visit the white marble Greek temples at Paestum and the island of Capri. Travel along dramatic stretches of the Amalfi Coast and have the opportunity to taste local delicacies including buffalo mozzarella and limoncello. Stay four nights in sleepy Minori, one of the Amalfi Coast s hidden gems Enjoy a limoncello tasting Prepare your own traditional Campania lunch, using fresh farm produce on a working country estate Explore Pompeii and Paestum with local guides who will bring these important historical sites to life Other Departure Date: 27 Aug -02 Sep 2017 31 Aug - 06 Sep 2017 03 Sep - 09 Sep 2017 10 Sep - 16 Sep 2017 17 Sep - 23 Sep 2017 24 Sep - 30 Sep 2017 28 Sep - 04 Oct 2017 01 Oct - 07 Oct 2017 $2465.25 per person 08 Oct - 14 Oct 2017 $2465.25 Per person What's included? Tour Inclusions 6 nights' accommodation tour leader Driver & mini-coach transportation Local guides in Naples, Pompeii, Ravello and Paestum European breakfast daily 3 x evening meals, 2 x lunches Ferry to the Island of Capri Italian cooking class at Tenuta Seliano Wine, mozzarella & olive oil tasting Limoncello tasting Included Entrances: Cappella Sansevero, Pompeii, Paestum, Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone, Capri Funicular & Royal Palace of Caserta. Price and Payment Information
$2750 $2750.25 per person plus your international airfare. Small Group 10-15 Price is based on double occupancy, but is subject to change until reserved. Single Supplement applies to private room To reserve your space call or email Travelthehorizon@hotmail.com for an application form and terms and conditions.
Naples, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy On Sunday, 11 June DAY 1 NAPLES Bright, buzzing and echoing with tales from millennia of history, Naples is your springboard for exploring Southern Italy. Arrive in your own time and get yourself settled in. This evening, meet your tour leader and fellow travellers for a welcome drink as excitement about the days ahead begins to bubble. Overnight Paestum, Province of Salerno, Italy On Monday, 12 June DAY 2 NAPLES POMPEII PAESTUM Our local guide takes us intothe labyrinthine streets of the historic centre in search of the Cappella Sansevero, home to the Veiled Christ one of the finest sculptures in the world. The afternoon transports us deep into the distant past as we visit archaeological wonder, Pompeii. This famous Roman city, destroyed by earthquake and ash when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, left behind a fascinating complex of ruins. A local expert opens a one-of-a-kind window into everyday Roman life as we walk around key sites including the Basilica, the Forum and the Amphitheatre. From Pompeii we travel to our delightfully rustic accommodation near Paestum, where we sit down to a traditional meal together. (B, D) Overnight
Minori, Province of Salerno, Italy On Tuesday, 13 June DAY 3 PAESTUM MINORI This morning we have an appointment at Tenuta Seliano an authentic farm-inn (or agriturismo) where we visit the buffaloes and help owner Cecilia Bellelli Baratta make light, fresh mozzarella. Our trip off the tourist trail continues with a visit to UNESCO listed Paestum. With crumbling marble temples against a mountain backdrop, this village is a littleknown treasure waiting to be discovered. We return to Tenuta Seliano to a kitchen piled high with local produce, such as mozzarella and ricotta, fruits and vegetables, goat and buffalo meat, and fresh pasta. It s time to learn the art of traditional Campania cooking our hard work rewarded when we get to eat what we ve prepared at lunch with the family. Our hunger well satisfied, we continue on to charming Minori on the Amalfi Coast. (B, L) Overnight Minori, Province of Salerno, Italy On Wednesday, 14 June DAY 4 MINORI RAVELLO AMALFI POSITANO MINORI Glimmering with their own unique character, culture and histories, it s easy to see why the villages of the Amalfi Coast are known as pearls. So today, we dive in to see what we find. In Ravello, that s blessed with spectacular views, we visit Villa Rufolo with its gorgeous gardens that inspired the setting of Wagner s opera Parsifal. Then we unleash our inner silver screen stars at Villa Cimbrone. Crowning rugged cliffs in what s surely the most captivating location of the Amalfi coastline, Greta Garbo famously fell in love here. Our journey takes us on to the eponymous Amalfi, a village where tightly packed houses cascade down the hillside from the Cathedral of St Andrew. To round off our day, we drop by the striking fishing village of Positano famous for its handmade pasta and just-offthe- boat seafood. (B, D) Overnight:
Minori, Province of Salerno, Italy On Thursday, 15 June DAY 5 MINORI CAPRI MINORI The high life beckons today as we sail to the island of Capri, off the Sorrento Peninsula. Lapped by the inky blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Capri has been apopular resort since the days of Ancient Rome. Enjoy a ride on the charming funicular railway from the port, which whisks us through bright, fragrant lemon groves. Then there s time to see and be seen among the exclusive boutiques, cafes and restaurants of Capri town, before returning to Minori in late afternoon. (B) Overnight Minori, Province of Salerno, Italy On Friday, 16 June DAY 6 MINORI VIETRI SUL MARE MINORI Today we add more pearls to our collection with visits to Maiori and Cetara. Back in the 1st century, these villages were the exclusive summer sojourns of noble Roman families. But today, they re famed for exceptional cuisine and silky smooth liqueurs. After exploring Cetara, a small yet perfectly formed fishing village with traditional houses clustered around the port, we drive to Vietri sul Mare. Here, craftspeople create hand-painted, vividly coloured ceramics. Journeying around the Amalfi Coast is thirsty work, so we pause among the lemon groves of a coastal plantation for a spot of limoncello tasting. Back in Minori, how you spend the rest of the day is entirely up to you. Take the plunge with a swim in the sea or simply relax on the terrace with a refreshing drink. This evening, we come back together for our final dinner. (B, D) Overnight:
Naples, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy On Saturday, 17 June DAY 7 MINORI PALACE OF CASERTA SANT AGATA DEI GOTI NAPLES We bid the Amalfi Coast a fond farewell and drive to the Royal Palace of Caserta, built in the 18th century and the last great creation of the Italian Baroque. Although we can t visit all 1,200 rooms, the ones we will see are as extravagant as they are exquisite. From the royal to the rustic our next stop is a farmhouse in Sant Agata dei Goti where we taste Aglianico wines produced from black grapes grown in the Basilicata and Campania regions. Then there s time for a last, leisurely Italian lunch before we return to Naples, where our adventure ends. (B, L)