A Taste of Italian Isles & the Amalfi Coast - WDBJ7

We arrive in Naples where you will meet your fellow travelers and Italian guide. From there, we drive to Pozzuoli and ferry to the island of Ischia where we check in at the Hotel Tritone Terme for a four-night stay.

We ferry to delightful Procida for a half-day visit. Located in the Bay of Naples, this special place has previously been crowned Italy’s Capital of Culture, the only island to ever win this coveted award. The Bay of Naples' smallest island and best-kept secret, we explore this refreshingly authentic hidden gem. Enjoy time at leisure in Ischia this evening.

Today we explore Ischia’s island paradise on a guided tour, featuring a beautiful botanical garden and famous Sant’Angelo. La Mortella Gardens were created by the masterful landscape architect Russell Page who creatively integrated volcanic rocks and exotic plants in this unique garden overlooking phenomenal views of the Bay of Forio. This garden is split into two parts, The Hill and The Valley, connected by steps, footpaths, streams, and waterfalls. You’ll also have access to three incredible greenhouses: Victoria House, Orchid House, and Temple of the Sun. There is also the Thai House for meditation and a Nymphaeum. This 16,000-square-meter area has over 500 species of plants.

This morning we ferry to the Marina Grande port of Capri Island where we are bussed to the tranquil towns of Capri and Anacapri. These charming places offer a variety of attractions. We stop at famous Piazzetta and enjoy some relaxation in its bright cafes. World-class shopping is available at Via Camerelle, and the zig-zagging Via Krupp is a fun hike from Anacapri up to Monte Solaro featuring breathtaking views of the bay and Faraglioni Cliffs. Art and architecture enthusiasts will love to visit Axel Munthe’s villa, the Church of San Michele, and the lovely Gardens of Augustus. We ferry back and return to our Ischia hotel.

Our ferry ride today takes us to Pozzuoli. On arrival, we drive to Naples where we have some time at leisure. Enjoy an included pizza lunch in Naples before we make our way to Pompeii for a guided tour of Pompeii Archaeological Park. A private guide leads us through these ruins, explaining the city's history and cataclysmic destruction by the infamous Mount Vesuvius volcanic eruption of 79 AD. Tonight we transfer to Sorrento and check in to our hotel for three nights.

The wonderful Amalfi Coast awaits us today on a narrated sightseeing tour. Enjoy views of its sunny scenery and the welcoming locals that add extra charm to this classic excursion. The coast’s cliffs plunge poetically into the brilliantly blue Tyrrhenian Sea. Rich vegetation and little towns dot the narrow main road that winds along the Sorrentine Peninsula, its villages rising vertically in colorful bursts that are mirrored in the water. Ancient trails lead upwards to paths such as “Walk of the Gods” that feature heavenly views of the Gulf of Salerno below. Along this route are the artsy resort towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. We stop in Positano, nicknamed “The Vertical City,” famous for colorful buildings built into the mountainside. We finish our excursion with a limoncello tasting, the sweet Italian liqueur locally produced with lemon zest.

We wake up today for a tour of Sorrento. This town is perched over the Bay of Naples, offering stunning views and tiny pedestrian streets filled with local shops, inviting restaurants, and, of course, the magnificent coast. Following, we have a farm tour in Sorrento that features gorgeous gardens and a traditional mozzarella cheesemaking demonstration, plus a cooking class where we learn how to make a typical Italian dinner with wine and limoncello tastings. We enjoy an included dinner at the farm before returning to our hotel.

Today we return home with fond memories of our spectacular Italian vacation.