Compare A Week In... Naples, Capri & Amalfi 2022 by Tauck vs Seductive Southern Italy by Culture Trip
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| Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 7,290 | $ 1,579 |
| Price Per Day | $ 911 | $ 175 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Rediscover the luxuries of Naples, Capri and the Amalfi Coast with an authentic look at la dolce vita... inviting you to experience life in southern Italy and Campania as a local, with stays at accommodations in the Leading Hotels in the World. |
Discover clifftop villages, secluded beaches and authentic Italian cuisine on this 10-day journey across southern Italy. Starting in Naples, you’ll venture south to Salerno, gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Your trip continues inland towards Puglia, stopping in Matera en route – a city renowned for its network of ancient cave dwellings carved into a hillside. After a night in the atmospheric beach town of Polignano a Mare, you’ll move on to Lecce – often labelled the Florence of the South due to its gorgeous array of baroque architecture – for the final leg of your adventure. |
Day 1 Arrive Naples
Tour Begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Vesuvio. A transfer is included upon arrival from Naples International Airport or Naples train station to the Grand Hotel Vesuvio, ideally located in Naple's pedestrian area of Santa Lucia, overlooking the enchanting Bay of Naples, the island of Capri and Mount Vesuvius. Enjoy views of the sea during your three-night stay at this celebrated hotel, boasting a legacy of service and setting that made it a favorite for such famous guests as opera singer Enrico Caruso, who called it his "Neapolitan" home. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Grand Hotel Vesuvio
PORTOFCALL : Naples, Italy
Day 2 Neapolitan Delights
Culturally rich with historic treasures that date back millennia to the days of the Greeks and Romans, Naples invites discovery at every turn. Begin the day with a guided visit to the Naples Archaeological Museum, whose exhibits include ancient mosaics found under the ashes of Mt. Vesuvius. Then a late-morning walking tour leads you through the "Spaccanapoli" – the narrow, "split" backstreets that cut Naples in two – where the character of the Old Town comes alive in alleyways lined with artisan workshops, cafés, squares, ancient churches, merchants' shops and balconied apartments where neighbors greet passersby. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant renowned for its pizza – a dish which is said to have been invented in Naples. The rest of the day is free to explore as you wish, with many restaurants conveniently located steps from your hotel, for dinner as you please.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Grand Hotel Vesuvio
PORTOFCALL : Naples, Italy
Day 3 The island of Ischia
Board a high-speed ferry bound for the island of Ischia across the Gulf of Naples today, where a locally guided sightseeing tour includes a visit to the medieval Aragonese Castle. Dating back to 474 BC, the castle sits atop a rocky island peninsula and reigns over the sea in a mix of ancient watchtowers, churches and monasteries steeped in romance and regal lore. Next, enjoy a lovely coastal drive en route to a farmhouse lunch at a local agriturismo near Forio. Continue on to the picturesque fishing village of Sant'Angelo for some free time to explore as you wish. From Forio, head back via high-speed ferry to Naples; spend the remainder of the day and evening just as you please in Napoli.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Grand Hotel Vesuvio
PORTOFCALL : Naples, Italy
Day 4 Herculaneum & A Ferry to Capri
Visit the ash-covered city of Herculaneum today, learning firsthand about this ancient Roman town that was frozen in time when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. A city of some 4,000+ inhabitants, well-preserved Herculaneum was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for providing "an authentic picture of society and daily life at a specific moment in the past that is without parallel anywhere in the world." See multi-storied homes, complete with doors, staircases and furnishings, vivid frescoes and mosaics, as you explore the archaeological site with an expert guide. Drive back to Naples, viewing iconic piazzas and historic buildings representing the former Kingdom of Naples. Ride a high-speed ferry to the island of Capri. Private convertible cars will be waiting to chauffeur you to your historic villa hotel, your elegant home for the next two nights.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Grand Hotel Quisisana
PORTOFCALL : Capri, Italy
Day 5 Charms of Capri and Anacapri
A private convertible car will drive you like a VIP today up to Anacapri for a guided walking tour of the town, highlighting the local specialties of the island, from perfume to colorful ceramics and sandals. Visit Villa San Michele, built by Swedish doctor Axel Munthe at the turn of the 20th century atop the ruins of Roman Emperor Tiberius' ancient villa; the elegant villa itself, its beautiful gardens decorated with ancient artifacts, and its incredible views of Capri and its harbor are stunning – you'll also have an opportunity to enjoy them from the water on a cruise around the island. Spend the remainder of the day experiencing the charms of Capri at your leisure.
MEALS : B
LODGING : Grand Hotel Quisisana
PORTOFCALL : Capri, Italy
Day 6 Via Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast
Ferry back to the mainland today en route to a two-night stay in Amalfi. After lunch at a restaurant in Sorrento, drive along the incomparable Amalfi Coast to the 19th-century cliffside Hotel Santa Caterina, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, built on a rock overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Spend the afternoon and evening luxuriating in the setting and views of your hotel; with a private beach club, heated saltwater pool and two seaside restaurants, it is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a true taste of la dolce vita.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Hotel Santa Caterina
PORTOFCALL : Amalfi, Italy, Sorrento, Italy
Day 7 Breathtaking Sights of Amalfi & Ravello
Prepare to be awed today with scenic beauty that takes your breath away as you explore the lemon-scented towns of the Amalfi Coast. Enjoy time to soak in Amalfi, a maritime powerhouse in the 11th century, and the Piazza Duomo, taking the opportunity to ascend the 62-step stairway to the cathedral if you're game. Drive along a narrow winding road, past olive and lemon trees, up to the glamorous 5th-century village of Ravello; founded as a sanctuary for barbarian invaders, today it is a haven of sophistication and style. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before strolling through the gardens at 13th-century Villa Rufolo, overlooking the sea, that inspired Richard Wagner's dream garden in his opera, Parsifal. Return to Amalfi for a relaxing late afternoon, followed by a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Hotel Santa Caterina
PORTOFCALL : Amalfi, Italy
Day 8 Journey Home
Tour ends: Naples. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi to Naples International Airport or the Naples train station. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check in at the airport.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Amalfi, Italy
Day 1: Arrive in Naples
Accommodation: Hotel Palazzo Salgar
Activities Included: Welcome dinner
Touch down in Naples and make your way to the hotel where you’ll be greeted by our Local Insider, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. At 6pm, join your fellow travellers for a welcome drink. Later on, head out for a three-course Neapolitan meal together – an ideal opportunity to get to know each other. After that, you might be tempted by a nightcap in a local bar – otherwise head back to the hotel for a good night’s rest ahead of your first full day.
Day 2: Join a street food tour of Naples
Accommodation: Hotel Santa Lucia, Minori
Activities Included: Naples street food tour
Learn all about the history of Neapolitan food and its importance to the city culture on a street food tour. Naples is of course synonymous with pizza and pasta, but there are many other local specialities such as sfogliatelle (a flaky, shell-shaped pastry typically filled with sweetened ricotta) and aubergine parmigiana (aubergine baked with layers of tomato sauce and mozzarella), which are well worth trying. Explore the city at leisure in the afternoon before taking a private transfer to the Amalfi Coast – your next stop.
Day 3: Cruise along the Amalfi Coast
Accommodation: Hotel Santa Lucia, Minori
Optional Activities: Amalfi Coast private boat tour
Today, the choice is yours. You could embark on a private boat tour of the Amalfi Coast to explore one of the most alluring stretches of coastline in Europe – or take the public ferry to either Amalfi or Positano and spend the day as you wish. Think pastel-coloured fishing villages set against the backdrop of dramatic cliffs and forests overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Whether you want to swim, relax on the beach or wander leisurely around the streets and piazzas of these picturesque villages, you won’t be short of options. Return to Minori in the evening.
Day 4: Explore the winding streets of ancient Matera
Accommodation: Corte San Pietro
Activities Included: Matera walking tour
Today we cross into the Basilicata region to reach Matera – known for its ancient hillside cave dwellings in the Unesco-listed Sassi area. Weave your way through the narrow, winding streets on a guided walking tour and discover why it was crowned 2019 European Capital of Culture. You may well recognise it from the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die.
Day 5: Cycle through the Itria Valley by e-bike
Accommodation: Cala Ponte Hotel
Activities Included: Alberobello guided tour, Locorotondo visit, Itria Valley e-bike tour
You’ll continue eastwards into the Itria Valley – a particularly scenic part of the Puglia region. Marvel at the extraordinary trulli (traditional limestone dwellings with conical roofs) on a guided tour of Alberobello, and navigate the labyrinth of whitewashed alleyways and piazzas in Locorotondo, often regarded as one of the most photogenic towns in Puglia. Keen cyclist? You’ll also have the opportunity to hop on an e-bike and glide through a dreamy patchwork of olive groves and vineyards. Refuel with lunch in Locorotondo before heading to Polignano a Mare on the Adriatic coast – your home for the next two nights.
Day 6: Relax on the beaches of Polignano a Mare
Accommodation: Cala Ponte Hotel
Today is yours to spend as you wish. After a leisurely breakfast, why not head into the old town and soak up the laid-back atmosphere with a coffee in the main square, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II? If you fancy catching rays, pack your beach towel and sprawl out at Lama Monachile (also known as Cala Porto), a secluded white-pebble beach sandwiched between craggy cliffs and bordered by a Roman-era bridge. As evening rolls in, make your way to the Pietra Piatta or Balconata sul Mare for wonderful views of the town and Adriatic Sea.
Day 7: Visit the Castellana Caves and taste Puglian olive oil
Accommodation: Arthotel & Park Lecce
Activities Included: Castellana Caves visit, Olive oil tasting & Ostuni walking tour
Wave goodbye to Polignano a Mare as you travel down the heel of the Italian boot to Lecce. Your first stop is at the Castellana Caves for a guided tour of karst chambers 70m (230ft) underground. You’ll then continue to Il Frantoio olive farm where you can taste the area’s famed olive oil from the source, before visiting the nearby hilltop town of Ostuni, nicknamed La Città Bianca (the White City) for its whitewashed buildings. Here, you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour followed by lunch at a masseria (traditional Puglian farmhouse).
Day 8: Explore Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca
Accommodation: Arthotel & Park Lecce
Activities Included: Otranto private tour, Santa Maria di Leuca private tour
Your day starts with a guided tour of the Salento peninsula – the southernmost part of Puglia, home to some of the best beaches in Italy and baroque towns. First, you’ll be shown around Otranto, a city that bears strong Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Norman architectural influences; highlights include an 11th-century cathedral with an elaborate mosaic floor and the Aragonese Castle. It’s then time to explore Santa Maria di Leuca, known for its hilltop lighthouse and the Basilica De Finibus Terrae. Bring your camera to these vantage points to capture panoramic views of the town and coastline, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas merge.
Day 9: Admire the extravagant architecture of Lecce on a walking tour
Accommodation: Arthotel & Park Lecce
Activities Included: Lecce walking tour & Farewell dinner
Begin the final full day of your southern Italy adventure with a walking tour of Lecce, nicknamed the Florence of the South due to its honey-coloured baroque churches and palaces, with elaborately decorated façades, dotted throughout the old town. Spend the rest of your day at leisure, exploring independent craft shops, street cafés and cosy wine bars, as well as a superb selection of authentic Puglian restaurants. Come nightfall, cap off your trip with a memorable farewell dinner in the company of your fellow travellers.
Day 10: Depart from Lecce
It’s time to bid farewell to your new friends as your trip comes to an end. Check out of the hotel and make your way to Salento Airport to catch your flight home – or choose to extend your stay and experience what else Italy has to offer.
