On this leisurely
tour we stay in a traditional, charming, four-star hotel in Sorrento for ten nights and
travel by day to explore the Bay of Naples Region and
the Amalfi Coast.
Day One : Evening departure from Toronto on Air Canada to
Naples (via Frankfurt).
Day Two : Arrive Naples and transfer by private bus to our
hotel in
beautiful Sorrento (about 1 hour). Welcome Prosecco and orientation. Dinner at the hotel.
There is always a four course meal with three choices.
As one would expect in Italy, food is a primary
concern and meals at the Tramontano are "bonissimo"
.
Day Three : Explore Sorrento. We start at 9.30 for a
half-day walking tour. Our hotel is just a few minutes walk
from the central Piazza Tasso, named after the wayward
sixteenth-century Italian poet to whom the town was home. We
wander through the streets that feed into the square, some of
which are pedestrianised for the lively evening passeggiata. The
name "Surrentum" derives from the ancient myth of siren mermaids
whose singing lured seamen. According to the legend, Ulysses and
his comrades escaped them by plugging their ears. The mermaids,
so humbled, were turned into rocks which today are in Positano.
The afternoon is free to enjoy the hotel gardens or to
explore Sorrento. Sample the wonderful gelato or stop
at a cafe for an espresso.
Day Four : Isle of Capri - For centuries this island has attracted
visitors because of its natural curiosities, the beautiful
architecture and the flora and fauna. A funicular railway climbs
from the harbour to Capri Town and we visit Axel Munthe's Villa
di San Michele, a Swedish cultural institution in Italy.
The villa is a nature reserve where Queen Victoria of Sweden escaped
from royal life and where musicians were inspired by
Capri's symphony of sounds.
Augustus Caesar called Capri the "Island of Sweet Idleness"
which today means lazy walks, lovely views and sipping drinks
on flower-decked terraces. We visit the Certosa San Giacomo and
the Giardini di Augusto (Gardens).
Day Five : Guided visit to Naples. The Archeological
Museum in Naples contains sculpture from ancient times
as well as artifacts such as gladiator equipment and an
eleven piece table service from a household in Pompei
which was found covered in ash after being buried in
79AD. The upper floor
of the museum contains many of the wall paintings and mosaics
found at Pompeii and Herculaneum. With an expert guide,
this gives us a fascinating look into everyday life
2000 years ago and prepares us for our visits to the
sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Day Six : Free Day - Optional visit to the
magnificent Roman villa at Stabaie that has recently
opened to the public. Another option is a visit to a spa near the hotel or
perhaps you would prefer to just relax in the lovely
hotel gardens or explore the shops and cafes of
Sorrento.
Day Seven : Tour the Amalfi
Coast including the quaint town of Amalfi, famous Positano and then Ravello, an
enchanting town high above the coast. The main attractions at
Ravello (other than the views) are the quiet lanes and two romantic
villas. The Villa Cimbrone is known for its lovely wild gardens.
Villa Rufolo was the inspiration for Wagner's opera Parsifal and
today is a centre for classical concerts in a spectacular
setting overlooking the sea. In the evening we have dinner
at a restaurant in the town of Sorrento.
Day Eight : Full day tour to Pompeii with an expert guide
- Pompeii was settled as
early as the 8th century BC and by 79 AD it was a
thriving commercial centre
with a population of 20,000. Vesuvius erupted and buried the
city under a blanket of ash six metres deep. Over the centuries
Pompeii was forgotten but in 1748 excavations were started and
since 1911 all finds of furnishings and household utensils have
been left where they were found, giving a fascinating insight
into everyday life in 79AD. The walk around Pompeii includes all
the major sites such as the Forum, the Amphitheatre, temples and
well preserved homes. Dinner at a sea-food restaurant at the
harbour.
Day Nine : Free day. Optional visit to Vesuvius.
This trip by local train and bus takes one to near the
top and from here it is possible to walk to the rim of the crater.
Day Ten : Tour to Paestum with a stop in Salerno.
Paestum’s ancient Doric temples surpass even those in Athens for
noble simplicity and preservation. Founded by Greek colonists
around 600 BC, there are three temples and a museum containing
many items found during excavations. The superb Temple of
Neptune, built in the 5th century BC, is intact except for the
roof and a few interior walls. In the evening we have an early
dinner and then attend a lively performance of Italian
music and folk-dance at the Teatro Tasso (including a
glass of wine or Prosecco).
Day Eleven : Today we visit Herculaneum (Ercolano) which suffered the same fate as Pompeii although it
was buried in deeper ash which preserved it better with
buildings two and three storeys high. Herculaneum was a chic
residential suburb of Pompeii before it was entombed in 79 AD.
We see the gymnasium, the bathhouse and a 2,500 seat theatre as
well as luxurious houses such as the House of the Deer with its
elegant gardens and statues. We then continue to Villa Oplontis, thought to have belonged
to the second wife of Nero. Excavations only discovered it in
1964 after being buried in ash since 79AD.
Day Twelve : Depart for Naples Airport for return flight. |
