You will walk along paths and trails that have been used for thousands of years. You can almost hear the sounds of the Roman Legions as you travel the same roads and paths that they used.
You will visit the medieval remains in the city of Ravello and take a guided visit of the Villa Rufulo which has one of the best views of the Amalfi Coast.
You will walk to the ancient and medieval town of Scala. You will also visit the town of Amalfi. Amalfi was one of the four famous Italian Maritime Republics in the Middle Ages, and the town proudly claims that her navigators were the first to use the compass, invented by Flavio Gioia of Amalfi.
You will get an exclusive walking tour of the ruins of Pompeii, the Roman city destroyed by the eruption of the volcano of Mount Vesuvio in 79 A.D. Your guide will keep you well informed of the history and arts of the area. Naturally, the food is one of the highlights of this very special Italian walking tour.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Afternoon arrival at hotel Villa Giuseppina in Scala. Check in at hotel, free time at participant’s disposal before dinner and a short briefing about the next morning’s walk.
Day 2: Breakfast. Depart around 9:00 am for a guided walk through the alleyways and narrow streets to discover Scala’s medieval remains. You will visit the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the crypt, after which your walk continues to the Monastery of the Redemptor. Free afternoon for individual activities. Dinner at 8:00 pm. Walking time: 3 to 4 hours. Level: Easy.
Day 3: Breakfast. Depart around 9:00 am for a guided walk to and through the narrow streets and alleyways of Ravello to discover the medieval origins to the town. You will visit the square of San Giovanni del Toro and its church of the same name, after which the walk continues down a little characteristic lane to Piazza Fontana. You then return to the main square for a guided visit of the Villa Rufolo, venue of the Wagner Festival Concerts, with it breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast. Free afternoon for individual activities. Dinner at 8:00 pm. At 8:45 pm transfer by private mini-van to Ravello for a wine and pizza tasting – spend a delightful evening in Ravello, tasting some of the best of Amalfi Coast and Campania DOC wine with an assortment of great pizza! Top this off with a Limoncello tasting. Walking time: 3 to 4 hours. Level: Easy paths.
Day 4: Breakfast. Depart by mini-bus to Pompeii. At the excavations you will meet with an official guide whose experience and knowledge will take you back to the Roman times on your two hour walk through the town which was destroyed by Vesuvius in 79 AD. Transfer by car to Oplonti; the excavation area of Torre Annunziata which includes the villas of Cracus and Poppaea (the latter was Nero’s wife). Brought to light in 1964, the complex reflects the elegant taste of its owners. The private baths of the house can be seen, complete with calidarium (the hot room) and tepidarium (the warm room), as well as large gardens and porticoes. You will also view first century BC and first century AD wall paintings. These frescoes depict still life or scenes combining architecture and figures, in some cases with illusionist effects around the doorways and windows. Many of the rooms in the Villa of Cracus were used as storerooms or shops and many amphorae were found there. Return to Scala by minibus in the afternoon. Free afternoon for individual activities. Dinner at 8:00 pm. Excursion time: 7 hours. Level: Easy.
Day 5: Breakfast. You will walk through the alleys and lanes of Scala passing through Minuta to reach Pontone, which was once a defense stronghold for the surrounding towns during the Amalfi Republic. From Pontone the walk continues to the Torre dello Zirro, in which the unfortunate Duchess of Aragon was imprisoned. The town has one of the best viewpoints on the whole coast. Free time for individual activities. Dinner at 8:00 pm. Walking time: 4 ˝ hours. Level: More difficult.
Day 6: Breakfast. Free day for individual activities.
Day 7: Breakfast. Today you will have a guided walk through the noble town of Scala down to the medieval village of Atrani. The walk uses the old Roman road of Via Fiume. You will arrive in the main square which is dominated by the church Salvarore de Bireto. You will continue onto Amalfi. The Cathedral of Amalfi rises magnificently above the square of the same name in the center of the town. Amalfi was one of the four maritime republics, which were powerful during the middle ages, and the people of Amalfi are proud to claim that their sailors were the first to use the marine compass invented by Flavio Gioia, another illustrious Amalfian. Free time for individual activities. Return to Scala by local bus. Dinner at 8:00 pm. Walking time: 3 ˝ hours. Level: Moderate.
Day 8: End of tour and departure for your next destination.
2008 Dates: March 15-22, March 29-April 5, May 10-17, June 14-21, July 26-August 2, September 13-20, October 4-11, October 18-25.
Meeting Point: Salerno train station, Naples Airport. Transfers are not included.
Difficulty of Walk: Hills, foot paths and steps.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
$2,795 per person, shared; $500 single supplement.
Price Includes:
- 7 nights hotel accommodation
- 5 guided walking days
- Continental breakfast and dinner each day (drinks not included)
- Guided tour of Pompeii and Oplonti
- Wine and pizza party
- Guide
- Tax.
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