Rome, Naples and the Highlights of the Amalfi Coast

Day 1  Rome          
Arrive in Rome and spend the afternoon exploring the City of Seven Hills. Stroll along its bustling streets, stopping to admire the many architectural gems, before spending the evening dining alfresco.          

Days 2-3  Rome  
Spend the next two days exploring this fascinating city. Skip the line at the Colosseum and enjoy your guide’s tales on visits to the arena floor and the Gladiator’s Gate. You’ll also get a further insight into ancient Rome visiting Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. Spend the rest of your time indulging in mouth-watering pizza, pasta and gelato, admiring Rome’s many timeless landmarks from the Trevi Fountain to the Pantheon, or by ambling through the city’s maze of back streets.              

Day 4  Rome to Naples          
Make your way to the station and take your comfortable high-speed train down to Naples where you will settle into your central hotel. Familiarise yourself with this enchanting city, perhaps wander along the picturesque waterfront of Chaia neighbourhood, or explore the charming narrow streets of the Spanish Quarter, full of tasty street food on every corner, there’s plenty to choose from for your evening meal.  

Day 5  Naples          
Begin your day with a fantastic walking street food tour and feel like a local as your guide shows you all the best dishes whilst also sharing fascinating stories about Naples and its history. The tour takes you through the historic city centre and gives you a chance to savour some wonderful Neapolitan specialties such as frittattines, Arancini’s and the traditional Pizza fritta! After having eaten to your heart’s content, tick off some more cultural sites with visits to the dramatic Duomo di Napoli, the Royal Palace and the Basilica of San Francesco. For your final evening in Naples soak up the atmosphere in Naples’ main square, the Piazza del Plebiscito.          

Day 6  Naples to Bomerano      
Transfer to the airport, the start point of your exciting group tour, and travel to Bomerano – a tiny village on the west side of the Agerola Valley. Your hosts for the week are Giovanni and Nicola Acampora, the charming owners of Hotel Due Torri. Surrounded by vineyards and orchards, their family-run property has a pool and fabulous views of the Lattari mountains; an ideal spot to escape the crowds. You will rendezvous at the hotel in time for dinner and a welcome briefing.

Day 7  Amalfi          
Today you will leave the Agerola plain and descend by private bus to Amalfi, the oldest maritime republic in Italy. Quintessentially Mediterranean, Amalfi’s townscape is a cluster of little white houses and buildings, narrow alleyways and shady porticoes, dominated by the large cathedral with its brightly coloured tiles typical of the region. You’ll spend the morning sightseeing, relaxing in one of the sun-filled piazzas, or perhaps visiting the interesting paper museum. Later, continue by fast boat to Positano. En route, enjoy the enchanting views of the sheer cliffs and rugged shoreline dotted with small beaches that have drawn people to this stunning coast for centuries. There is no better way of approaching Positano for the first time than from the sea, as the contrast of this near-vertical town of colourful buildings against the verdant cliffs and blue waters will leave you mesmerised. Why not spend a few hours to explore this chic, picture-perfect village on foot before returning to your hotel in the late afternoon by boat and private bus.          

Day 8  Herculaneum & Pompeii
Today, travel to the Bay of Naples by private bus, where you will join local guides to tour two of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, Herculaneum and Pompeii. Both towns and their people got buried under the ash and magma of Mount Vesuvius in the 79 CE eruption, but they were only rediscovered through excavations in the 18th century. The eruption affected the sites in different ways: while Pompeii is home to a more extensive collection of Roman homes, stores and bathhouses, the ruins, frescos and recently discovered 300 skeletons along the seashore at Herculaneum are much better preserved. Return to the hotel late afternoon to enjoy a delicious dinner and cooking demonstration.    

Day 9  Path of the Gods          
Start the day by walking a section of one of the finest trails in the world. From your doorstep, it’s a short stroll through the quiet village of Bomerano. Here you’ll drop into a local cheesemaker to see how the delicious local mozzarella is made. And, yes, you will get to taste some. Then join the Path of the Gods, which runs all the way to Positano. Luckily, having already visited Positano earlier this week, you can skip the hard part and the 1,700 steps downtown, and take a linear walk of 4km instead, offering some equally fantastic coastal views along the way. Please be aware that some parts of the trail are rocky and there are frequent ups and downs, which can be a little hard on the knees. With breaks for water and snacks, this short hike is of Level 2/3 (Moderate) difficulty but doable for all those in good fitness, and the challenge will no doubt be repaid by the magnificent views. A rewarding regional lunch awaits you back at the hotel.      

Day 10  Amalfi          
Enjoy a free day on the Amalfi Coast. Why not visit Sorrento for a seafood lunch and sweeping views over the Bay of Naples. Pedestrian lanes, little boutiques, limoncello shops, and restaurants make it an enjoyable place to spend a day at leisure. Alternatively head to Naples, the capital of the Campania region. A trip up the slopes of Mount Vesuvius to peer into the crater, followed by a wine tasting at a renowned local winery right below the majestic volcano may also be possible. Ask your tour leader about tour options.    

Day 11  Capri          
This morning, leave the hotel after breakfast and take the bus down to Amalfi and board a boat to Capri. The journey along the Amalfi Coast is spectacular with small coves and bays of azure water overlooked by towering cliffs. The time spent on Capri is unguided and you are free to explore independently. Your tour leader might recommend avoiding the hassle of public transport on the island and make the most of your time by arranging an excursion by private bus and cable car. A beautiful walk will take you up to Capri town and along a network of small pedestrianised streets to visit the remains of Villa Jovis, the former home of the fearsome Roman emperor Tiberius. A walk around the spectacular coastline is recommended and allows you to see a natural rock arch and the Faraglioni – rock stacks that stick vertically out of the sea. There is also time to peruse the boutique shops before returning by boat and bus to your hotel.    

Day 12  Ravello          
Today, visit the romantic hilltop town of Ravello for some of the best views of the Amalfi coastline. Ravello also has a grand cathedral, but Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo are the real gems of the town. Set amid elegant gardens, the villa balconies stand at the edge of the cliffs offering stunning views described by French author André Gide as ‘closer to the sky than the seashore’. There is time to wander, enjoy a coffee and soak up the atmosphere before returning to the cooler climes of Bomerano in the afternoon. The remainder of the day is free for relaxation, before a farewell dinner in the evening.  

Day 13  Bomerano          
You have explored one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in the world. Now it’s time to make your way home, but not before one last breakfast at your hotel which may feel like a second home by now.