Tour Highlights:
- Visits to the international jet-set island resort of Capri & Italy’s most famous stretch of Mediterranean Sea - the Amalfi Coast.
- "Foodie" excursions to a mozzarella producer, leading winery, the birthplace of pizza and an outdoor market brimming with organic produce.
- Pastry demonstration featuring the region’s specialties.
- Cooking class featuring traditional regional specialties using principles from the heart-friendly Mediterranean Diet.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, September 14: Viva Italia. The tour begins in Sperlonga, a post-card-perfect hillside village overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Once a famous resort of the Roman Emperors, this off-the-beaten-path jewel is frequented by Italians in-the-know. Located about an hour south of Rome, Sperlonga is reached by frequent train service from Rome. The day is free to unwind from jet lag. Relax at the beach…it’s one of Italy’s best. Or, explore the cobblestone streets of the charming old-town filled with an array of interesting shops. Evening: Special welcome dinner at a ristorante on the sea.
Day 2, September 15: Italian Pastry Lesson. Morning: What better way to kick-off the tour than to visit the local pastry shop? Located in the historic center of the hilltop village (thankfully, we have an uphill walk to help balance some of the soon-to-be-consumed calories). Pastry chef Filippo will explain the traditions surrounding the region’s pastry and desserts. Then, we’ll join Filippo in the kitchen to learn how to make a few of these specialties. Afternoon: Free. Evening: Tonight we’ll dine in the atmospheric old town at a ristorante known for its high quality cooking and its beautiful setting.
Day 3, September 16: Mozzarella, Outdoor Market and Olives. Morning: This area is famous for its production of prized mozzarella - produced from water buffalo milk. We will visit a producer to watch the process of making this delectable staple of the Italian diet. Then, we’ll visit the region’s popular weekly market where you’ll see a cornucopia of just-picked local produce, most of which is organic. The region is famous for its Gaeta olives which are coveted by chefs around the globe. Expect a vast assortment of olive products ranging from oil to cosmetics to magnificent items crafted from its wood. In addition, there will be a wide array of arts and crafts, along with antiques and bric-a-brac for sale (all at a fraction of what you would pay in Rome). Afternoon: Free. Evening: Seafood dinner on the beach.
Day 4, September 17: Pizza’s Birthplace and Vino. Morning: No food lover’s trip to Italy is complete without a visit to the town where pizza was invented. We’ll dine on a lunch of scrumptious wood-fired pizzas and salads of garden-fresh tomatoes, arugula and local mozzarella di buffalo. Afternoon: Afterwards we’ll visit the region’s leading winery that has been producing award-winning wines for several generations. Evening: Dinner on the sea in Positano, the Amalfi Coast’s most exquisite village. This amazing cliff-hanging town will be our home for the next four nights.
Day 5, September 18: Bella Positano! The entire day is free in spectacular Positano. Known for its fashionable boutiques, this is a shopper’s paradiso. Nature lovers will feel in heaven with the luxuriant flower-draped mountains cascading to the sea. If you’re a people-watcher, la dolce vita (“the sweet life”) doesn’t get any better than this. You are very likely to spot a movie star hiding behind those large sunglasses & hat, or a well-known model on a photo shoot. Dinner: Sunset dinner at a mountain-top restaurant with superb cooking and breathtaking panoramic vistas.
Day 6, September 19: Unforgettable Drive Down the Amalfi Coast. Morning: Today we’ll follow the sea road down the most spectacular drive in Italy, the Amalfi Coast. Afternoon: We’ll stop for lunch at a dramatically perched mountain village for a glorious view of the coastline. Enjoy a stroll through its traffic free streets past stupendous villas, or visit the shops that are filled with dazzling local ceramics. Evening: Dinner at a local trattoria known for its home-style cooking using recipes that have been passed down through the owner’s family for centuries.
Day 7, September 20: Magical Island of Capri. Morning: Bid your goodbye to Positano. Today, we’ll see the awesome Amalfi Coast from the sea as we boat to the world renown Capri, located just miles off the mainland. We’ll lunch in an ancient grotto overlooking the water on traditional delicacies from the island. Afternoon/Evening: Free. Suggest a mind-blowing stroll to the beautiful panorama overlooking the famous Faraglioni Rocks, a visit to the gardens of Augustus, or simply chill out at a sidewalk café for some of the best people watching in Europe. Wherever you go, you’ll likely run into paparazzi chasing a Hollywood actor, international rock-star or some simple some celebrity tycoon who has ventured off his mega-Euro yacht.
Day 8, September 21: Cooking Class. Morning: Cooking class of local Caprese specialties reflecting the healthy Mediterranean Diet: garden fresh organic vegetables, home-made pasta and fish just-plucked from the sea - all prepared with extra virgin local olive oil. Lunch will then be served from the courses prepared in the class. Afternoon and Evening: Free.
Day 9, September 22: Gelato Nirvana. Your last day is free to soak up Italy’s best. Don’t forget to have a gelato at one of Capri’s numerous ice-creameries featuring home-made products in every imaginable flavor. Last minute shopping? No problem…the island has all the designer stores, as well as less costly boutiques filled with irresistible items to bring home. Evening: Farewell dinner at a restaurant with a mesmerizing view of the island.
Day 10, September 23: Ciao and Arrivederci! Morning: Trip concludes. You have an option to stay an extra day (or two!) in this special paradise, or head back to the mainland on one of the many boats making the 1 hour trip to Naples. In Naples, there is an airport, as well as frequent rail connections to other parts of Italy.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices Includes:
- All activities listed in the itinerary such as wine tastings, food purveyor visits and seminars
- Double occupancy accommodations with private baths
- Daily breakfasts, 3 lunches and 6 dinners with wine
- Ground transportation in motor coach to all events listed in the itinerary with a professional driver; boat to Capri
- Porterage of main suitcase
- Hotel, restaurant and guide taxes and gratuities
Price Excludes:
- Airfare to and from Europe
- Personal items (e.g. phone calls, room service, laundry, mini-bar)
- Porterage of all hand luggage
- Single room supplement of ($993)
Also see tour packages in:
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