Italy – Amalfi Coast

Join us to the famed Costiera Amalfitana with its stunning coastline that winds down the western coast of Italy, along rugged mountains, from Sorrento to Salerno. Explore enchanting towns, explore Naples and Pompeii

8 Days • 10 Meals

Day-By-Day
• 10 meals (6 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners)
• Airport transfers when air is provided by Mayflower
• $40 in Mayflower Money

Day One
• Transatlantic flight to Naples, Italy

Day Two
• Tour begins with arrival in Naples and transfer to your hotel in Sorrento for six nights
• Orientation tour of Sorrento
• Welcome dinner at the hotel

Day Three
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Full day excursion of the Amalfi Coast including Amalfi and Ravello
• Dinner at the hotel

Day Four
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Full day at leisure or take an optional tour to Capri

Day Five
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Full day excursion to Naples and Pompeii, including lunch

Day Six
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Sorrento on your own or join an optional tour to Paestum

Day Seven
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Enjoy your last day in Sorrento at leisure
• Farewell dinner at the hotel

Day Eight
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Transfer to the Naples airport for flights home

Description
Welcome to the Amalfi Coast
It is little wonder that Italy is one of the world’s best loved destinations with its cultural heritage and scenic landscapes. The famed Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast) is a stunning coastline that winds down the western coast of Italy, along rugged mountains, from Sorrento to Salerno. Miles of hairpin turns offer spectacular vistas of the changing landscapes from rocks plunging vertically into the sea to charming fishing villages in the quaint harbors.

Sorrento

This charming town is wonderfully situated between the mountains and the Mediterranean, amongst steep white cliffs, offering fantastic views of the Bay of Naples.

Majestic Mount Vesuvius lies across the bay, with Pompeii and Naples at its base. Sprinkled with lemon and olive groves, this ‘gateway to the Amalfi Coast’ has an unspoiled historic quarter, a lively main shopping street and a spectacular cliffside setting. The kindness and hospitality of its people are a combination that is handed down from one generation to the next. For 2000 years visitors from all over the world have been attracted to Sorrento by its charm and breathtaking sunsets.

Amalfi Coast

Explore enchanting towns along the picturesque Costiera Amalfitana on an included full day excursion from Sorrento. As you drive along the coast, renowned for its rugged terrain, diversity and scenic beauty, notice how the Mediterranean Sea twinkles far below. Enroute to Amalfi you’ll see Positano from above and glimpse its buildings that appear to be clinging to the rocks! You reach Amalfi, whose origins date back to both the Roman and Byzantine Empires. It once rivaled Genoa and Pisa in its maritime importance and still retains its fishing traditions today. Enjoy a visit to the Duomo, one of the town’s greatest attractions, which dominates the central piazza. The 9th century cathedral has been remodeled over the years with Romanesque, Byzantine, Gothic and Baroque elements.

Continue on to Ravello, perched high on the cliffs above Amalfi, for a leisurely walking tour of this mountaintop village. The romantic cityscape is defined by medieval alleyways, stylish villas and Moorish elements. In the heart of town is the market square with San Pantaleone Cathedral, consecrated to the city’s patron of the same name. Its beautiful bronze doors were built by Barisanus of Trani from Apulia in 1179. Visit the 13th century Villa Rufolo, the former residence of the aristocratic Rufolo family, which has a wonderful courtyard and a fantastic terrace from which there is a spectacular view of the Bay of Salerno. Return to your hotel in Sorrento after experiencing Italy’s “coast with the most”.

Capri

Join an optional full day tour to the picturesque island of Capri. Made famous as the vacation hideaway of Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius, Capri is a breathtaking area of natural beauty in the Bay of Naples. Transfer by coach to Sorrento’s harbor for your journey to Capri by high-speed boat. Upon arrival to the port of Capri, transfer by minibus to Anacapri, the highest town on the island, with splendid views of the harbor below. Olive trees, grapevines, and flowers give this town a Mediterranean charm. You’ll have free time to explore the area or visit Villa San Michele on your own, the home of Swedish doctor and writer Axel Munthe. Return to Capri for lunch on your own. In the early afternoon, stroll through Augustus’ Gardens. Free time is available to see the Blue Grotto on your own– the most fascinating of the island’s many caves where the refraction of sunlight into the cave makes an iridescent blue light in the water.

Pompeii/Naples

Enjoy an included visit to Pompeii, Italy’s most famous and unique archeological site. Frozen in time when the city was buried under 30 feet of hot mud and volcanic ash by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79, Pompeii is now a World Heritage Site. Its excavation has provided a picture of what life was like over 2000 years ago during the height of the Roman Empire. After touring Pompeii, continue by coach to Naples, the capital of the Campania region and one of the oldest cities in the world. Enjoy an included lunch in a typical Pizzeria before visiting the historical center of Naples, which is the largest in Europe and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. At 448, Naples has the highest number of historical and monumental churches of any city in the world. On a walking tour, see the Old Town, the residential quarter of Posillipo, the main square of Piazza del Plebiscito and the San Carlo Theatre before returning to your hotel in Sorrento.

Paestum

Originally called Poseidonia (in honor of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea), Paestum is an ancient Greco-Roman city in the Campania region. Serenely situated and surrounded by fields and wildflowers, it is one of the most famous and important archaeological sites in Italy. During this optional excursion, see one of the best collections of Greek temples, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are among the best preserved monuments of Magna Graecia, the Greek colony that once covered much of southern Italy. Other impressive ruins include the splendidly preserved city walls, the amphitheatre and the Via Sacra. In addition to its cultural heritage, the area is also famous as a producer of Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese. A stop is made at a local farm where the buffalo are raised. You’ll have the opportunity to see how the cheese is made and sample the final product.

Accommodations

Days Two through Seven – Bristol Hotel, Sorrento, Italy

Dates and Rates
2012 Departure Dates Per Person Twin Single Room Add
March 29 $1,699 $589
November 8 $1,699 $589

Call for air rates and schedules from your city toand from Naples, Italy