Amazing Amalfi: A Truly Italian Luxury Experience

Arrive in Naples with private transfer to Positano and to your hotel for the next 5 nights, the Covo dei Saraceni where you will have a beautiful Oceanview Jr Suite with Balcony. The rooms are all beautifully furnished in traditional Mediterranean style with large windows which form immense picture frames around a unique seascape. The open air terrace also looks out over the sea and serves delicious seafood, while the breakfast room offers a sumptuous buffet. The pool is located on the highest floor of the hotel with a fabulous view out over the sea and the town of Positano. Drinks and light lunches are served at the pool bar. The restaurants and shops of Positano are a short walk away.

Enjoy the day at leisure to explore Positano.

Depart from Positano Port at 11.00am on a full day boat trip along the Amalfi Coast. You will travel slowly, stopping at the most attractive bays for a swim and admiring all the inlets and grottos, some of which are only accessible by boat. Pass in front of Praiano, the fiord of Furore, Conca dei Marini for the emerald Grotto (visit if desired), and the ancient maritime republic of Amalfi. Proceed to a small cascade of fresh spring water. Here you can have a really refreshing swim! If there is still time, you will go on past Maiori for a swim in a nearby cave.
Next stop, lunch at a small seaside restaurant built on stilts over its own private beach for a memorable 3 course meal with lots of local wine before heading back to Positano by 5.00pm.

The list of mythical resorts along the spectacular winding corniche that runs along what is, quite simply, Europe's most magnificent stretch of coast - Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello - conjure up an irresistible mixture of glamorous celebrity hideaways and breathtaking natural scenery. Situated a thousand feet above the sea, perched on a craggy cliffside, Ravello commands the ultimate panorama over the Amalfi coast, a magical location that the French poet, André Gide, evocatively described as "between the sky and the sea".

Spend an afternoon exploring a unique landscape that has inspired the likes of composers Richard Wagner and Edward Grieg, the painters William Turner and Miro, and authors, D.H. Lawrence, Tennessee Williams and Gore Vidal, who spent part of their lives here. Greta Garbo successfully sought refuge from the crowds and prying paparazzi in Ravello, and ever since it has been a favorite haven for Hollywood stars. Ravello is a very important historical and cultural center. Among the various places of outstanding interest are: Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. This evening, we could prebook tickets for a classical music concert which will be held on a stage over-hanging the sea at 9.30pm.

On this day at leisure you might like to visit Pompeii, just 50 minutes’ drive north. Pompeii is a ruined and partially buried Roman town-city in the Italian region of Campania. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed, and completely buried, during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in 79 AD. The volcano collapsed higher roof-lines and buried Pompeii under 60 feet of ash and pumice, and it was lost for nearly 1,700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1748. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire.

Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with over 2 million visitors a year. Be sure to explore the Forum, the Thermal Baths, Vetti's House and the Lupanare brothel. You can choose to climb Mt, Vesuvius (approx. 45 minutes) and walk around the crater at 3,900 feet. From the summit you'll have panoramic views of the picturesque Bay of Naples from east to west. Peering down into the depths of the crater, you may see plumes of steam issuing from the sleeping, but still active, volcano.

After a final breakfast at Covo Dei Saraceni, you will head to the port in Positano to take the hydrofoil to Capri, and to your hotel - JK Place, to spend 2 nights in a Junior Suite. A dazzling white villa on the cliffs above Marina Grande, ultra-chic J.K. Place Capri is set in manicured gardens with astounding views over the Bay of Naples. The sleek interior, large infinity-edge pool, delightful cuisine and an intimate spa combine to make the perfect Mediterranean island retreat.

The view from the unbleached teak terrace makes it easy to see why Capri is so seductive; emerald-green waters lap rocky bays and Mount Vesuvius shimmers in the distance. Inside is stylish yet fun with columns and shining lacquered floors contrasting with fur-trimmed curtains, zebra-print stools and nautical blue and white décor. Indulge in a salt scrub and massage in the wellness area followed by a boat trip to the Blue Grotto. Spend time exploring the town’s boutiques and then complete your day with a delightful sunset cruise.

So many wonderful things to do in Capri. From Piazza della Vittoria you can take a breathtaking chairlift to the top of Mount Solaro, the highest point on Capri at 1,932 feet and look back at Mt. Vesuvius and other spots on the mainland. When you descend, enjoy a true pizza at the small restaurant to your left. When you walk the path to Axel Munthe's Villa Casale, stop and accept all free samples of Limoncello to better enjoy your day. The must-see attraction on Capri is the magical Blue Grotto, where visitors take a boat ride through a natural cavern that is filled with an ethereal and eerie light reflecting on the (very blue) water. Also, you can’t miss I Faraglioni Rocks - The extraordinary and rugged beauty of Capri is signified by these timeless rock formations jutting from the sea. As soon as the day-trippers go home in the late afternoon, Capri is transformed into the paradise you have always dreamed about.

This morning, you will take the hydrofoil to Naples to catch the train in first class to Rome. Upon arrival in Rome, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a 2 night stay at the Majestic in a Superior Room. The Hotel Majestic, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, is located on the famous Via Veneto, in the center of Rome. The hotel is within walking distance of the Trevi Fountain, the Villa Borghese Gardens, the Spanish Steps, and the elegant Via Condotti with its haute couture boutiques and shops. The hotel’s fame and fortune reached its peak during the Twenties, when high-society members used to choose this hotel for their stay in Rome.

At the Majestic, royal princes, princesses and Hollywood stars can find luxurious details together with modern comforts in addition to the thrill of being in a town of ancient civilization. In 1990, after an accurate restoration and technical upgrades, the hotel regained all of its past splendor. The hotel restaurant Filippo La Mantia features a personal interpretation of the Sicilian food culture and tradition. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner, as well as an elegant Sunday brunch. The American Bar La Ninfa is the right choice for a quick bite or for an after dinner get together gathering.

After lunch meet your guide to enjoy a 3 hour small group tour of the main sections of the Vatican. Aside from being the center of Catholicism and the home of the Pope, the Vatican also houses one of the largest privately owned art collections in the world. This tour covers its highlights; the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Square. Go inside the the walls of the Vatican, a 44 hectare independent country within the city of Rome. You'll get to hear about the lives of the artists while surrounded by the works that inspired them. Discover the history of the church in relation to politics, power, paganism and see some of the most beautiful architecture and art ever created.

This morning, enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel, then meet your guide for a 2½ hour small group tour of Ancient Rome. If there's one thing everyone wants to see in Rome it's the Colosseum. This tour will show you the highlights of the ancient city center; the Roman Forum and Colosseum.

See Ancient Rome from the city's mythological birth, through the republic, to the rise and fall of the empire. You will be taken back to a time when Rome ruled the world. Covering everything from its legends and history to gory death matches, neurotic emperors and the just downright bizarre. Uncover the secrets behind one of the world's greatest ancient civilizations, both good and bad.

This afternoon have lunch in Trastevere. While Rome entices with its extraordinary monuments, Trastevere, one of its many distinct neighborhoods, captures the traveler's heart. Trastevere, is the perfect place to glimpse a bit of the old world while still enjoying the lifestyle of today's Romans. Often described as Bohemian, homes bedecked with flower boxes and clinging ivy intertwine with coffee bars, restaurants, street markets, street performers, and one-of-a-kind boutiques. Buildings in terracotta, maize, and wine cast a glow, like a daylong sunset. From the cobblestone streets to the overhanging laundry lines, senses are pleasantly awakened with every step.