Tripology

Sightseeing

After arriving at the Naples Capodichino Airport, meet your tour escort and the rest of the group for a transfer to our seaside hotel in beautiful Amalfi. After checking in and getting settled, relax by the hotel pool, enjoy an appertivo on the terrace, swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea, or simply rest up before our welcome dinner this evening, a feast of traditional Southern Italian specialties. Tonight, fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean.

Adventure

Enjoy a traditional Italian breakfast at our hotel before heading out with our guide for a morning walking tour of the historic town of Amalfi. Its past as an important maritime republic can be seen in every aspect of the town. With our guide, we'll explore the narrow, winding alleyways to see how the locals live. We then continue our tour to an authentic paper factory dating back to the 14th century, to see first-hand how paper was made from cotton fiber. We end our tour at the Arab-Romanesque Cathedral of St. Andrew, which dates from the 12th century. Of course, all of this history demands that we get back to the business of vacationing, so we end our tour just in time for lunch-and perhaps a refreshing limoncello. The rest of the day and evening are yours to do as you please.

Adventure

This morning, we board the ferry for the enchanting Isle of Capri for an unscheduled day of exploration with your tour escort. Opportunities for adventure abound: Depending on the seas, you may choose to take a boat tour around the island and even venture into the famous Blue Grotto. If you're in the mood for a hike, set off on the pedestrian alleyways of Capri that lead to the ruins of Villa Jovis, the largest of 12 villas that Caesar Octavian Augustus had built on the island, in 30 AD. Sitting 1,000 feet above sea level, the villa was also the choice residence of his successor, Tiberius, who reportedly had his enemies thrown from the precipitous cliffs (hence the phrase "Tiberius's leap"). If you're in the mood for shopping, Capri will certainly make you happy. The main town of Capri is nestled between two mountains, with its houses connected by winding, hilly alleys that lead into the main square of Piazza Umberto, a shopper's paradise. Anacapri, the less-visited town on the island, is also not to be missed. Reachable by public bus over a winding road with gorgeous views, this small enclave is home to Villa Michele, small shops and restaurants, and is the gateway to the highest point on the island, Monte Solaro, accessible via chairlift. From there, you have spectacular vistas of the Faraglioni rock stacks and over to the Amalfi Coast. We return to Amalfi for a free evening.

Adventure

Today is a totally free day to take advantage of la dolce vita! Your tour escort can help you arrange any activity you would like to pursue. For instance, you may decide to take a full-day excursion to the UNESCO archaeological site of Pompeii, buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD; you could go on a luxury boat excursion along the Amalfi Coast; visit an award-winning winery for a wine-tasting lunch; or you may simply choose to head to the beach for some much-needed R&R.

Sightseeing

Many people envision the gorgeous pastel-colored vertical village of Positano when they think of the Amalfi Coast. Well, this morning, we'll explore this jewel on a guided walking tour with our local expert guide. Here, roads are replaced by steep steps, and you feel as if you've gone back in time. We'll visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, with its representative majolica tiled dome, and peek inside the many shops filled with high-end wares. After our casual picnic lunch of local meats, cheeses, bread and wine, we'll board a boat and head to Sorrento, the legendary home of the sirens that attempted to lure Homer's hero, Ulysses, to the dangerous rocky shore. Larger than Positano and Amalfi, Sorrento has a down-to-Earth and welcoming vibe. Take time to explore the myriad shops and discover the ease of the town. We return to Amalfi via boat for a free evening.

Adventure

After a hearty breakfast, we don our walking shoes and head by bus to the starting point of our half-day hike along the region's most famous ancient coastal path, the Sentiero degli Dei, or "Path of the Gods." We begin at the village of Bomerano, walking along steep mountainside, passing lemon and olive groves as well as vineyards delicately clinging to the cliffs beneath our path. The views along the Amalfi Coast from this vantage point are absolutely stunning. We come to the tiny and "untouched" village of Nocelle, inaccessible to cars, where we take a break for lunch at a family-run trattoria in the hills overlooking Positano. From there, we continue our hike to Montepertuso, perched 1,200 feet above the sea, and then eventually down to Positano. We return to Amalfi via public boat. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free.

Adventure

For our last full day on the Amalfi Coast, we head to the musical town of Ravello, home to the famous Ravello music festival and the inspiration behind Wagner's Parsifal opera. Perched high above the Tyrrhenian Sea, Ravello is indisputably beautiful. We visit the luxuriant gardens of the Villa Cimbrone, a 14th century villa whose grounds are filled with rare botanic species, statues, fountains and the Infinity Terrace, offering one of the most beautiful views in the whole world. We then embark upon a hike that descends to Amalfi, using the paths used by both man and animal to carry goods from Amalfi for centuries. We pass terraced lemon and olive groves that line the hillside to the small village of Atrani, eventually arriving in Amalfi through a labyrinth of arches and narrow pedestrian alleyways. We have free time to swim or relax before reconvening for our wonderful farewell dinner in Amalfi. We'll raise our glasses and cin cin to the hopes of returning to this paradise in the future!

Today we depart from Naples Capodochino Airport for home.