Tour Of Italy From Naples

NAPLES, CAPRI & THE AMALFI COAST

Southern Italy arouses the senses. Step back in time in Naples, to the days of the Roman Empire. Tour ancient cities and marble temples, and explore pastel-hued villages on the Amalfi Coast, all while savouring exquisite regional cuisine.

Tour Highlights

Few destinations are as beguiling and as cosmopolitan as the Amalfi Coast. Starting in Naples, the tour highlights the iconic locations of Positano and Capri, as well as the ancient city of Pompeii.

It’s not all sightseeing on this tour though. In Italy, the food and the wine are as integral to the travel experience as the attractions. Take part in a cooking lesson at a country estate, attend a Limoncello tasting, and indulge in the regional cuisine.

Tour Of Italy From Naples

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 Back-Roads tour leader and fellow travellers for a welcome drink – as excitement about the days ahead begins to bubble.

Overnight: Hotel Art Resort Galleria Umberto (or similar)

Day 2 – NAPLES, POMPEII & PAESTUM

Our local guide takes us into the 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: Il Granaio Dei Casabella (or similar)

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 Palace (or similar)

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 Palace (or similar)

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 Palace (or similar)

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: Minori Palace (or similar)

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)

For departures on the 23rd April, 30th April and 8th October only:

Pick-Up & Drop-Off

• This tour commences from the Hotel Art Resort Galleria Umberto, Galleria Umberto I, 83, 80132 Napoli, Italy at 6.00pm. Please ensure you are at the meeting point at least 15 minutes prior to departure.
• The tour finishes at 5.00pm at the Hotel Art Resort Galleria Umberto, Galleria Umberto I, 83, 80132 Napoli, Italy.

For all other departures: 

Pick-Up & Drop-Off

• This tour commences from the Palazzo Turchini, Via Medina, 21/22, 80132 Napoli, Italy at 6.00pm. Please ensure you are at the meeting point at least 15 minutes prior to departure.
• The tour finishes at 5.00pm at the Palazzo Turchini, Via Medina, 21/22, 80132 Napoli, Italy.

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