Cruise to the village of Amalfi along the beautiful coastline. Author John Steinbeck once described it as “a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.” UNESCO agreed and declared the Amalfi coast a World Heritage site for its great physical beauty and natural diversity. The boat will afford you the ultimate up-close, front-row seat to observe the spectacular coastline. During free time in town, be sure to see the Cathedral of St. Andrew. Built in the early 1200s, it contains the relics of St. Andrew, which are kept in a subterranean crypt decorated with Baroque murals. The cathedral was constructed alongside an earlier one from the 9th century, and they are now joined into one, six-nave building. Also, leave time for shopping and a quick snack. Fried seafood in a hand-held cone makes a good choice for street food.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise to the village of Amalfi along the staggeringly beautiful Amalfi coast.
• Spend free time exploring Amalfi’s boutiques and grab a snack, if you wish.
• Peruse the architectural splendor of Amalfi’s extraordinary 13th-century cathedral.

Spend hours of free time in Pompeii exploring the areas that sound most intriguing to you. Be sure to ask the guide for recommendations during the drive, so you can maximize your time at the famed archaeological site. At the entrance to Pompeii, you will pause to watch artisans hand-carve beautiful cameos using time-honored, traditional techniques. You will then be free to meander through the ruins at your own pace. During the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, the entire city was buried under ash and pumice, which preserved it for centuries. Now excavated, the ruins offer an accurate picture of life 2,000 years ago, as the residents had little warning of the catastrophe to come or time to flee. Many of the buildings are largely intact and everyday objects are scattered about, just as they were when the volcano erupted. In all likelihood, you will also see macabre plaster casts of some of the victims.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• See the still-active volcano Mount Vesuvius looming in the distance on the way to Pompeii. • Watch artisans hand-carve cameos in a studio near at the entrance to Pompeii. • Spend hours meandering through the ruins at your own pace with no schedule to follow. • Explore the areas of Pompeii that sound most interesting and linger in them, if you choose.

OVERVIEW

Watch a fascinating woodworking demonstration in Sorrento and wander through the ruins of Pompeii, which reveal ancient life in a surprisingly candid way. The craftsmen will demonstrate the art of intarsia or wood inlay, which has long been associated with Sorrento. During free time that follows you might browse the boutiques and dine on your own. If you stop for lunch, be sure try a glass of chilled Limoncello, a sweet lemon-flavored liquor that has been produced locally for more than a century. You will then head to Pompeii, a Roman town forever known for the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius that buried it under ash and pumice in 79 AD. After watching artisans hand-carve classic cameos, you will meander through the excavated ruins. The buildings are largely intact, frescoes adorn the villas and everyday objects are scattered about, just as they were when the volcano erupted. Expect to see ancient baths, temples and residences with intricate mosaic floors.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch woodworkers demonstrate the art of intarsia or wood inlay, a specialty in Sorrento.
• Browse Sorrento’s museums and boutiques or dine on your own during free time.
• See the artistry behind the making of traditional cameos in Pompeii.
• Walk through the ruins of Pompeii for an eye-opening look into ancient life.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy an enlightening tour of Naples and folded pizza, a classic Neapolitan treat. Your panoramic drive will present views from affluent Posillipo Hill and of the imposing Castle Nuovo. The castle’s five towers make it one of Naples’ most recognizable landmarks. You will also see the Egg Castle, which holds a commanding position on the sea. In time, you will reach Spaccanapoli, a long street whose name means “Naples splitter,” a reference to it somewhat dividing the city in two. Here, you will visit the Jesuit church Gesú Nuovo and the Church of Santa Chiara, which was founded in 1310 and features an austere Provencal-Gothic style. To delve even deeper into daily life, you will walk through the narrow streets of Old Town, which UNESCO has declared a Cultural Heritage site. As you will discover, there is no better setting for an espresso and portafoglio or folded pizza, as the dish was invented in Naples.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Drive through Naples taking in the panoramic views and passing key landmarks. • See two castles and several churches among the architectural highlights. • Walk through Old Town and pause to enjoy folded pizza, a treat invented in Naples.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours independently exploring Positano and pause to snap photos of other extraordinarily beautiful places while driving along the dramatic Amalfi Coast. Hailed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Amalfi Coast is physically beautiful, naturally diverse and emotionally moving all the way to Positano. A humble fishing village until it became popular in the 1950s, Positano spills down the side of a steep cliff and couldn’t be more photogenic. During free time there, you might browse the smart boutiques for cotton clothing, linger over a glass of wine or simply take in the spectacular views. On the return drive along the Amalfi Coast, brief stops will be made at iconic spots such as the narrow inlet at Furore. The road is a joy to travel as it threads the high rocky sea cliffs and passes through one pastel-hued village after another, all clinging precariously to the rugged coastline.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for a panoramic drive along the rugged Amalfi Coast to cliffside Positano.

• Spend free time in Positano, browsing the shops and perhaps dining on your own.

• Appreciate the coast’s natural beauty, the reason UNESCO named it a World Heritage site.
• Pause for photos at dramatic lookouts such as the one at the Fjord de Furore.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Settle in for an immensely scenic drive to the medieval town Tufo, where you will enjoy an inspired wine tasting and a traditional Campanian lunch. While driving through the bucolic countryside, you will gaze out over one breathtaking landscape after another, punctuated with vineyards blanketing the hills. Upon reaching Tufo, within the district of Irpinia, you will sample a selection of locally produced wines. One in particular – made from the white grape Greco di Tufo – is revered over the others. It may be the centerpiece of your tasting as this Protected Designation of Origin wine is so characteristic of the local terroir. Wine will also be served with the lunch that follows at a restaurant in the shadow of Tufo Castle, which perches atop a spike of volcanic rock. Although the menu changes seasonally, it may include fusilli topped with sausage and aubergine or tagliatelle with a hearty wild boar sauce.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sample a selection characteristic Irpinia district wines such as the revered Greco di Tufo.
• Learn about the terroir that produces many Protected Designation of Origin wines.
• Enjoy a traditional Campanian lunch in a restaurant near Tufo Castle.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Travel and explore the graceful city of Sorrento, which perches on a cliff overlooking the sea with a stop at a local limoncello factory for a demo. Enjoy free time Sorrento, after first watching a demonstration of intarsia or wood inlay, a craft long associated with the city. While you might prefer indoor activities such as browsing the museums and boutiques, be sure to meander down the Corso Italia, Sorrento’s vibrant pedestrian shopping street. Then after ensuring a pit stop before departure along the impossibly circuitous, magnificently scenic road that follows the Amalfi coast. The road is a joy to travel as it threads the high, rocky sea cliffs along the Amalfi coast drive. The views are so spectacular and the landscape so definitively Mediterranean that UNESCO deemed the coast a World Heritage site.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive along the staggeringly beautiful Amalfi coast
• Explore Sorrento on your own, including the Corso Italia shopping street, if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Naples and Salerno, many of them iconic attractions that define the cities. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie tutor will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways. You will enjoy free time in Naples and Salerno to explore on your own.

As you walk and ride through Naples and Salerno, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:

• Galleria Umberto I
• Francesco da Paola Church
• Castel Nuovo
• Castello di Arechi
• Cattedrale Santa Maria degli Angeli
• Piazza Sedile di Portanova

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Naples and Salerno.
• Follow tips from your selfie tutor to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Walk to Piazza Sedile di Portanova and enjoy free time before returning to the port.
• Panoramic visit to Castello di Arechi overlooking the city and coastline.
• Gaze upon historical landmarks in Naples, including the 13th-century fortress Castel Nuovo.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

OVERVIEW

Explore a royal palace so extraordinary that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site, in particular for the way the sumptuous complex blends so beautifully into its natural setting. A triumph of Italian Baroque architecture, the Royal Palace of Caserta was built in the late 18th century according to the wishes of Charles of Bourbon. He wanted a palace that would rival Versailles and, as you will discover, the resulting royal residence – once the world’s largest – exceeded his expectations as a symbol of Bourbon power and wealth. While meandering through the lavish interior, which contains 1,200 rooms, you may see the ceremonial Staircase of Honor, the royal family’s private chambers and the Palatine Chapel. Free time follows during which you can stroll through the grounds, a combination of natural woodlands and manicured gardens. The English Garden, considered one of the greatest of its kind, holds a variety of exotic plants that showcase Bourbon’s interest in botany.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit an 18th-century royal palace so grand that it rivals Versailles.
• Walk through the Palace of Caserta’s lavish interior, which holds 1,200 rooms.
• Spend free time exploring the palace gardens on your own.
• Gain an understanding of why UNESCO declared the palace a World Heritage site.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See the quintessential landmarks that define the heart of Naples followed by hours of free time to focus on other attractions that sound appealing. Being the third most-populated city in Italy, Naples is always buzzing with activity. That irrepressible energy and the spectacular backdrop of architectural gems and panoramic views give Naples its charm. While walking through downtown with the guide, you will stroll the grand Piazza del Plebiscito – the city’s largest public gathering place – and along Via Toledo, a pedestrian-only shopping street. You will also pass through the Galleria Umberto I, an absolutely gorgeous shopping arcade in a late 19th-century building with a domed glass-and-steel roof. While you could stay and shop, there are plenty of other attractions nearby, including the San Carlo Theater, a world-class opera house that has become a revered symbol of Naples. You could also visit the 13th-century fortress Castel Nuovo, another famous city symbol.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an enlightening guided walk through Naples that passes countless landmarks.

• Spend hours of free time in Naples, exploring your choice of attractions.

• Pass through two famed shopping areas, both of them pedestrian-only.
• Get an authentic look at local life while strolling through the city’s largest public plaza.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in Sorrento, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Selfie sticks are also available. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you walk through Sorrento, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:: • Villa Comunale Park on the Bay of Naples
• Locales with Mt. Vesuvius as a backdrop
• Lively piazzas
• Hidden alleyways draped in bougainvillea
• Landmarks you discover during free time

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive the immensely scenic coastal road that passes Amalfi and Positano.
• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Sorrento.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Pause in Villa Comunale Park overlooking the Bay of Naples.
• Enjoy free time in Sorrento.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

See the remarkable ruins in Herculaneum, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, much like its famous neighbor Pompeii. Fortunately for archaeologists, Herculaneum was buried under a huge volume of volcanic ash and mud, which preserved it. After pausing to watch artisans hand-carve classic cameos, your immersion into the ancient world will begin. Herculaneum was rediscovered by accident in the early 1700s when a well was dug there. Over the centuries, excavations have unearthed countless treasures that reflect the wealth of the residents. You can expect to view elaborate bath houses decorated with mosaics and frescoes, luxurious residences such as the House of the Black Salon and a food distribution center for the poor. In the somber House of Skeletons near the marina, volcanic gases and ash trapped more than 125 people. Scientists and anthropologists have learned much about the past residents’ lives, diet and health by studying their bones.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through the ruins of Herculaneum, which a 1st-century volcanic eruption destroyed.
• Realize the affluence of the ancient residents as you browse their luxurious homes.
• Discover what scientists have learned by studying the site and bones of the past residents.
• Watch artisans hand-carve cameos that reflect scenes of the ancient world.