Amalfi with Pleasure

Day 1: TRAVELLING TO THE AMALFI COAST

We meet in Rome and from here at 10am we start our journey south toward the Amalfi Coast with a few interesting stops along the way.

Our first stop is at Montecassino, site of the major WWII battle, where we visit the Allies cemetery.

A short drive after lunch takes us to the start of the Amalfi Peninsula and the town of Vietri Sul Mare. This is where the famous coloured ceramics are produced, using the maiolica method. We visit a manufacturer where we can see the ceramics being produced and painted, continuing a tradition that started in the 1500s. We see the incredible array of colours and designs of their finished product.

Following a drive along the stunning Amalfi Coast road, with hairpin bends and amazing views in equal measure, we reach the town of Amalfi, where we stay for the duration of the tour.

Our 4 star hotel is wonderfully situated on the waterfront in the centre of town, making it easy to come and go as you please. On one side you have uninterrupted sea views, and a few steps the other way you have ‘la dolce vita’ of Italian piazza life.

In the evening we have a Welcome Dinner, and our first taste of the superb cuisine of this region.

Day 2: AMALFI CUISINE, THE SECRETS REVEALED!

The Amalfi Coast cuisine is renowned for the combination of traditional techniques and superb fresh ingredients. Today we learn how it’s made with a hands-on cooking lesson.

For the cooking lesson we travel to Ravello, which has long been a favourite destination for both musicians and well-heeled travellers.

We meet our charming chef and start our culinary experience. On a terrace with a view out over the Tyrrhenian Sea, you could well linger here for the morning. Here we work through the preparations for our lunch, which we then enjoy overlooking the coast.

First we get hands-on making fresh mozzarella, with the ‘casaro’ (cheesemaker). This will later be an ingredient in our antipasto. Then we work through the preparations for our lunch, which we enjoy overlooking the coast.

After lunch we visit the famous Villa Cimbrone. The villa was built originally in the 11th century as a residence for a noble family. The grounds are beautifully kept, and the terrace adjacent to the formal garden offers the best views in Ravello, looking down over terraced lemon groves to the sparkling waters below.

We spend the remainder of the afternoon in Ravello with some free time. You may choose to visit the Villa Rufolo, another noble residence which famously inspired the composer Wagner. Or simply wander through some of the lanes and relax around the piazza area where there are numerous shops and cafes.

Day 3: SPECTACULAR VIEWS AND SPECTACULAR WINE

In the morning we visit the cathedral in Amalfi. This is more than just a church. Rather it is a complex of different buildings from different era and is the heart of Amalfi. From the evocatively named ‘Cloister of Paradise’, with elegant marble colonnades, frescoed private chapels and an ancient Roman sarcophagus; the Romanesque style Church of the Crucifix to the 13th century Crypt of St Andrew, down below the church where Saint Andrew is buried. And finally into the main cathedral, with its elaborate baroque decorations.

By moving through the sections of this cathedral complex you get a feeling for the illustrious history of Amalfi, from ancient Roman times, through to the Marine Republic years and on to more modern times.

Late morning we drive to a small town in the hills above Amalfi where we visit a wine producer. On the drive up to this winery you’ll be glad we have hired a professional driver, such are the tight turns. On arrival at the winery you also see during our vineyard visit how difficult this land is to work, and the ancient vines that they are custodians of.

We have a guided visit through the vineyards and the winery. This winery is family run, and after our visit they prepare for us a lunch – including the excellent salami that they also produce.

During our lunch we enjoy a number of their reserve wines. Some of the varieties used to make these wines are unique to the Amalfi area.

Day 4: LIMONCELLO AND POSITANO – CHIC AND STYLISH BY THE SEA

This morning we are taken into a valley beyond Amalfi, nestled into the hills, where the famous Amalfi Coast lemons are produced. We are shown around a family company who for seven generations have been producing limoncello. This is called ‘vertical farming’ – lemons are cultivated on terraces on a steep hillside. The back of this valley is a type of heat trap, the hillside lemons gaining excellent sun exposure. After seeing how the lemons are grown, we are shown how their limoncello is made. Of course, we sample their excellent product too!

Today we visit Positano, famous for elegant fashion boutiques and seaside charm, this has been a holiday destination since Roman times.

Positano has an enviable combination of a good beach with a broad seaside promenade, with cafes and chic boutiques jostling for position in the pastel coloured buildings. This is a good time for a swim.

We meet Positano for lunch, in a restaurant overlooking the beach. After a relaxing lunch we have some free time in the afternoon. You can spend some of the afternoon exploring the narrow back streets lined with bougainvillea, or just find your nearest café, put your feet up and sample the local gelato.

To return to Amalfi we go by boat, and cruising along the coast reveals a new perspective on the area, with some incredible houses tucked away and tiny hidden beaches.

Day 5: ISLAND TIME IN CAPRI

Today we travel to Capri, a favoured destination for the rich and famous in recent times, but also with an interesting history stretching back beyond ancient Roman times.

On Capri we take the funicular railway up to the town centre, where top fashion boutiques jostle for space alongside locals selling fruit and vegetables.

Starting from the centre of town we first visit a monastery that many visitors to Capri do not enter. This is a fascinating place, with the remains of excellent frescoes in the chapel. The monastery also has a view looking out to the Faraglioni, the towering rocks emerging from the sea which are such a distinctive feature of Capri.

We then have a lunch break before heading out to the Villa Jovis. Passing a series of luxury villas and gardens, you pass through the outskirts of town and reach the ancient Roman site.

The Villa Jovis was the largest and most sumptuous of the island’s 12 Roman villas and Tiberius’ main Capri residence. A vast pleasure complex, now reduced to ruins, it famously pandered to the emperor’s debauched tastes, and included imperial quarters and extensive bathing areas set in dense gardens and woodland.

The stairway behind the villa leads to the 330m-high Salto di Tiberio (Tiberius’ Leap), a sheer cliff from where, as the story goes, Tiberius had out-of-favour subjects hurled into the sea. Today Tiberius’ Leap is worth a look for the view.

Later in the afternoon you’ll find Capri has plenty of scope for simply browsing the shops and enjoying the ambience. Stroll down to the Gardens of Augustus for some more great views.

We return by ferry to Amalfi late afternoon.

In the evening we have the final dinner, enjoying the best of Amalfi cuisine and celebrating the week we’ve had in this special part of Italy.

Day 6: ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

By now you know the local barista by name – and he knows which coffee you order – but we must say ‘arrivederci’ to Amalfi and return to Rome.

En route we visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Here we have a guided visit, where we see evidence of the lifestyle of the inhabitants of this Roman city, as well as the destruction caused by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79AD. Even for those who have visited Pompeii before, having a specialist guide provides an in depth experience that is very revealing.

We enjoy a final lunch together in Pompeii, having our last chance to enjoy regional cuisine, before heading north to Rome.

We reach Rome early evening.