Pompeii, Capri and the Bay of Naples

The Sorrento peninsula and the Bay of Naples is simply one of the most beautiful corners of Europe, attracting visitors for centuries in search of its outstanding scenery, tranquillity and some of the most wondrous ‘sights’ from throughout history.

Indeed in the immediate area we have a selection of places to see and visit which stand comparison with almost anywhere in the world.

It has a long and violent history, and invasions by the Greeks, Phoenicians and Saracens have all left their mark – but none more so than the Romans. Even 2000 years ago the attributes of the region were well known with the Emperors Tiberius and Augustus, together with countless members of the ruling elite, having villas here.

Sorrento came to real fame during the late 18th century when many of Europe’s aristocracy came to spend their winters here, attracted by its mild climate and outstanding natural beauty. Sumptuous houses and grandiose hotels were built along the cliff-tops and today Sorrento is everything you expect an Italian town to be: tiny cobbled streets and quaint squares with flowers decorating almost every building, tubs of geraniums, dark blue morning glory climbing up pastel coloured, almost crumbling walls, with pink Oleander, Bougainvillea and roses in almost every open space. Mouth-watering aromas drift from the numerous restaurants and bistros, some humble and homely, some grand and ostentatious with pavement cafés serving fine cappuccino on seemingly every street corner.

Explore the legendary Amalfi coast, with every guidebook proclaiming Europe’s most beautiful, and when you see it, you cannot disagree! Limestone mountains covered with pine forests plunge dramatically into the calm blue Mediterranean. Next it’s Capri, which possesses a deserved reputation as a veritable Garden of Eden – it is no surprise why so many celebrities live here.

The Bay of Naples' skyline is dominated by the majestic and still active volcano Vesuvius, rising loftily to over 4000 feet and it has erupted in spectacular fashion several times in its history. The most famous of course, was in 79AD when Roman Pompeii, together with many of its inhabitants, were entombed and whose state of preservation today is little short of remarkable.

All in all there can be few places you will find which combine together so much of interest in an area of such outstanding natural beauty as the Bay of Naples.

What's Included:

• 7 nights in three to four-star accommodation
• Return flights & transfers from various UK airports
• Programme of daily tours & visits
• Breakfast & dinner
• Hotel Michelangelo is on a B&B basis
• Checked luggage
• Expert Tour Manager
• All local taxes

Highlights:

• Full-day visit to the stunning island of Capri
• Walking orientation tour of Sorrento
• Guided tour of Pompeii
• Full day tour of the breathtaking Amalfi coast
• Visit the beautiful Rufolo Gardens with stunning views over the coastline
• Enjoy an authentic farm lunch in the Sorrento countryside

Day 1: Arrive in Sorrento

Arrive at the airport for your flight to Naples. On arrival we transfer by coach to Sorrento, where you have a choice of carefully selected hotels to stay for seven nights.

Day 2: Walking Tour of Sorrento

Our first day in this centuries-old resort is at a suitably relaxed pace, beginning with a short walking tour. The Romans appreciated Sorrento’s many qualities and the area is dotted with the remains of elegant shops selling luxury leather goods and shoes, and cosy restaurants nestling in tall buildings with faded facades in typically Mediterranean shades of ochre, yellow and magenta.

The region has a long history of lemon cultivation, with highly prized Sorrento lemons given their own protected IGP (Indicazione Geografica Protetta) status in the same way as Parma ham or balsamic vinegar from Modena. Sixty percent of lemon production goes into making limoncello liqueur, but in Sorrento it seems that anything can be made from the local citrus fruit, including soaps, cosmetics and, of course, ice-cream.

The rest of the afternoon is free to explore at your own leisure.

Day 3: Pompeii

Most people know the story of Pompeii and its fate, but today this site is so much more than a collection of ruins. Our guided tour of the Roman town highlights its astonishing state of preservation – even if you aren’t especially interested in history, you can’t fail to be impressed by its scale – streets, temples, baths and even the amphitheatre remain largely intact. Much of our knowledge about the Roman way of life, their habits, social structure, class system and domestic arrangements has come from Pompeii. Many buildings still have murals and mosaics, while others inscribed with graffiti describing political events, romantic entanglements and even gossip of the time. You can even see traffic-calming measures and a one-way system! Although endlessly fascinating, Pompeii is also slightly eerie, particularly when you see the pained facial expressions of Vesuvius’s victims preserved for eternity.

Day 4: Capri

The island of Capri is renowned the world over, and today we take a short boat ride to discover its charms. It has long been the most desirable part of the Bay of Naples, attracting Roman emperors – Tiberius made it his home and ruled the empire from here – writers such as DH Lawrence and George Bernard Shaw, Hollywood stars and numerous other luminaries who have sought inspiration here. It’s easy to see why Capri is so adored; as we approach you’ll see small fishing boats bobbing on the water, with whitewashed shops and restaurants lining the busy quayside against a backdrop of towering cliffs.

The main town is perched on a hill looking down on the quaint harbour below and you’ll have some free time to explore the island, maybe join a boat trip around the island, explore the island at your own will or make your way to the famous Blue Grotto – the large sea cave that takes its name from the incandescent blue light that bathes the cavern.

Day 5: Free day

Today is a free day to spend at leisure in Sorrento, perhaps to browse the numerous boutiques or enjoy a leisurely lunch in one of the many restaurants that Sorrento has to offer.

Day 6: Amalfi Coast and Rufolo Gardens

Today you’ll have a chance to experience the sublimely beautiful Amalfi coast at first hand as we wind around spectacular pine-clad cliffs that tumble down into the turquoise Mediterranean. Our coastal drive takes us above the exclusive resort of Positano … haunt of celebrities, we continue our drive just inland to the stunning village of Ravello, with its awe-inspiring location perched like an eagle’s nest on a shelf above Amalfi affording amazing views. It has an ambience all its own, with an enchanting main square, a 13th-century cathedral and the Villa Rufolo, which was once the centre of a city-state and is now an interesting collection of medieval buildings, statues and terraced gardens (it was also the inspiration for elements of Wagner’s opera Parsifal).

We’ll then the historic Rufolo Gardens, located in the centre of Ravello, one of the most popular destinations on the Amalfi Coast. Stroll round the Villa’s impressive gardens with stunning views of the coastline stretching towards Salerno and the beautiful blue bay. Dating back to the 13th century, the villa and gardens were built for the prominent Rufolo family, who were wealthy merchants. Over the centuries, the villa fell into disrepair until it was restored in the 19th century keeping much of its striking medieval architecture. Here you can follow pretty pathways and uncover beautiful, original structures dotted around the gardens, as you draw closer to the famous Belvedere overlooking the coast towards the seaside towns of Minori and Maiori.

Day 7: Authentic farm lunch and the Sorrento countryside

Escape the hustle and bustle of Sorrento town and enjoy an immersive day exploring the surrounding countryside, rich in olive and lemon groves. Today you will be able to enjoy the tranquil countryside setting and take in the views looking down towards the Mediterranean sea and the Bay of Naples, before experiencing an authentic farm lunch using delicious locally produced ingredients in a rustic, family-owned working farm. Here you will also learn how mozzarella is made using traditional techniques, you will also be able to enjoy a tasting of locally produced olive oil, plus of course the local limoncello.

Day 8: Return home

After breakfast, we'll head to the airport for your journey home to the UK.