Italy: Amalfi Coast to Puglia

What's Included

• Accommodation

  Stay in unique accommodations including cave dwellings in Matera and trulli homes in Alberobello.

• Guided Tours

  Experience guided tours in Naples, Pompeii, Matera, and Alberobello.

• Wine Tasting

  Sample wines just outside of Pompeii, created from the fertile volcanic countryside.

• Local Experiences

  Zoom through Ostuni in a 3-wheeled Ape Calessino car and enjoy a private folk music and dance performance in Lecce.

• Transport

  Travel through Italy with a mix of transportation modes including local guides, a 3-wheeled Ape Calessino car ride in Ostuni, and ferry rides along the Amalfi Coast.

What's Not Included

• Flights

  International flights to and from Italy are not included.

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.

• Optional Excursions

  Optional excursions and activities not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.

Experiences

• Zoom through Ostuni like a local - in the backseat of a 3-wheeled Ape Calessino car.
• Experience the Italian landscape like never before and spend 2 nights in a unique cave-dwelling accommodation.
• Impact Moment: Discover traditional Neapolitan songs and music during a private performance at a local social enterprise.

Culinaries

• Sample wines just outside of Pompeii, created from the fertile volcanic countryside.
• Make your way through Lecce's city center with a multi-stop dinner.
• Gaze out at the deep blue Bay of Naples and looming Mt. Vesuvius as you dine on regional specialties.

Must See

• Venture through Naples' historic city center (UNESCO) overflowing with local life and eccentric monuments.
• Explore a sfusato lemon grove and hike the Amalfi Coast's ancient Path of Lemons.
• Make the most of a free afternoon in the popular resort town of Positano.

Choice Highlights

Naples Naples is the third largest city in Italy and a cultural and political hub of the Campania region. The city sits at the base of Mount Vesuvius overlooking the Bay of Naples. The city was the home of the last Spanish King who ruled over the Kingdom of Two Sicilys from his massive castle that is located near the port. Today the city center is a mix of post WWII era modernity and a few historic treasures that survived the bombing. The crazy traffic of the city has become a symbol of the modern Naples and its vibrant streets.

Impact Moment Discover traditional Neapolitan songs and music during a private performance at a local social enterprise.

Pompeii The Roman city of Pompeii is located in the southern region of Campania, near Naples. The city was covered by volcanic material in 79 AD and forgotten for centuries. When the city was excavated, archeologists found the city to be intact as it had been prior to the eruption. Today visitors walk on the original streets, complete with chariot ruts. The city was made up of a variety of different buildings including theaters, homes, shops, thermal baths and temples — all of which can be visited today. In addition, every-day objects and precious artifacts have been preserved along with original mosaic and fresco decorations.

Wine Tasting Gain a new perspective on the volcanic countryside with a visit to a winery near Pompeii. Layers of ash have transformed the timeworn soil into a fertile vineyard. Enjoy an exclusive wine tasting with lunch, where you can relax and take in the landscape.

Minori A fishing village of terraced lemon groves, Minori exudes the quintessential Amalfitana vibe. Start your morning in a garden and learn about sfusato lemons, used in limoncello. Sample this fragrant liqueur in a pastry shop before hiking along the coast.

Amalfi The rocky Sorrento Peninsula stretches into the Tyrrhenian Sea separating the Bay of Naples to the north from the Gulf of Salerno to the south. On the south of the peninsula is the famed Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi Coast features the 32 mile long coastal drive that hugs the cliff at is passes through the picturesque fishing villages of Positano, Amalfi, and Minori (among others). The coast is famed for its breathtaking views, local cuisine, and drinks like limoncello.

Positano Ferry past tumbling cliffs and pastel-colored houses on your way to Positano, where you’ll enjoy a free afternoon in this resort town. Perhaps you spend time browsing the posh boutiques, or taking a moment to relax and rest along the beach.

Ravello Ravello is a small village perched on top of a mountain overlooking the Amalfi Coast and Tyrrhenian Sea. It is famous for these views from the many Villas and their gardens. One of the most famous is Villa Rufolo. The terraced gardens of the villa overlook the dramatic Amalfi Coast and gave inspiration for the composer Wagner when writing his operas. The village is also home to several small shops and cafes.

Choice on Tour Visit the gardens of Villa Rufolo, making your way through a latticework of hedges and flowers to gaze out at the azure waves below -OR- hike the half-mile trail down to the remote gardens of Villa Cimbrone.

Matera Matera is a community in southern Italy that is home to the unique Sassi of Matera. The Sassi of Matera are a unique urban structure of cave dwellings that are carved out of the local tufa stone ravines. The community of stone dwellings were inhabited by nearly 15,000 people until the 1950s when the Italian government forced everyone to leave for hygienic purposes. Today, the Sassi are being rehabbed into modern homes, hotels and tourist attractions. The site is also home to a number of ancient stone churches.

Lecce You’ll have a free day to lose yourself in Lecce’s charismatic ambience – full of winding lanes, sun-kissed piazzas, and hidden cafes. Perhaps you’ll join an optional excursion to Otranto and a nearby winery, featuring wine from the region’s dark purple grapes.

Tarantella Folk Music & Dance Performance

Ostuni Stop in Ostuni, a whitewashed town surrounded by olive trees. A place inhabited since the stone age, Ostuni is famous for olive oil, wine, and the “Old Town,” a section of the city built on a hill, topped with a citadel and surrounded by ancient walls.

Ape Calessino Tour Zoom through the city of Ostuni like a local in the backseat of an open-air Ape Calessino, a traditional 3-wheeled car. You’ll get an incredible overview of the entire city during an unforgettable tour unlike any other as you’re whisked through the streets.

Alberobello Alberobello is a small town in the southern Italian region of Puglia. The town is famous for its unique stone homes called trulli. The trulli of Alberobello look like something out of a cartoon. Each trullo is constructed using slabs of local stone with a conical roof made without mortar. The city center of Alberobello is home to nearly 1500 trulli and is designated as a UNESCO Heritage Site. Visitors can walk through the streets that are lined with trulli that are used as homes, B&Bs, shops and restaurants.

Mode of Transport

Travel through Italy with a mix of transportation modes including flights, local guides, and unique experiences like a 3-wheeled Ape Calessino car ride in Ostuni and ferry rides along the Amalfi Coast.

Accommodation

Experience unique accommodations with stays at the Royal Continental Hotel in Naples, Hotel Villa Romana in Minori, and the Locanda di San Martino Hotel in Matera. Enjoy a night in a cave-dwelling in Matera and a converted trulli house in Alberobello.