Italy for Second Timers: Puglia and Amalfi Coast Itinerary

This was possibly the best trip of my life!

Once I arrived in Venice and put myself in the hands of Zicasso’s tour company, I was supremely well taken care of.

I left my passport on the plane, so I was held up in the airport for probably two hours. This was the first time I used the emergency number (or the chat app). The communication was answered immediately and we were able to let my first guide know I was being held up. I thought the first person who helped me was just someone to get me to the hotel, but she was also a guide in the sense that she described many of the things we saw on the way to the hotel. A very pleasant and gracious guide who made sure also that I was prepared for where to be the next day. It was a very great first experience of the tour company’s service.

Throughout this adventure, the guides were outstanding, the hotels were located practically on top of the interesting sites (especially in Rome) and very pleasant to be in.

Also, I continued to use the emergency number or the chat app multiple times. They were very responsive, very pleasant, and perfectly helpful each time. I don't know if I was high-maintenance compared to other clients the tour company has had, but though I felt like it in my mind, I was treated completely graciously each time.

I loved every destination and I loved having a structured tour, combined with a good portion of free time to explore on my own. Perfect.

I was very well guided on each travel day, being met by drivers to drop me off and to pick me up, and the train travel was very fun.

I think there was only one guide who I thought was just going through the motions, but all the other guides were the height of professionalism. I loved being met by our guides at Doge's Palace, which was absolutely outstanding. Walking around old Florence was great fun! The drive out to San Gimignano and Siena was well-planned and well-guided! In Rome, the guide who took us to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill was outstanding, and it was a great outing. (I had also already pretty much visited all the sights since my hotel was practically in the middle of it all.)

The trip to the Vatican was a whole other story. Unfortunately, I forget that guide's name. This guide was also excellent—entertaining, informative, approachable, and professional. The trip to the Amalfi Coast was a long train ride, followed by a very long car ride, but it was worth it. What a beautiful setting! My trip to Capri was absolutely fulfilling and I was a little sad to say goodbye to the guide—we connected with him so well. The next day was our boat tour from Sorrento to Amalfi and Positano. I absolutely enjoyed being guided by our guides! On the way back after that beautiful excursion, we were just cruising along the water, 1970s music playing, wind rushing by and I had a peak moment of happiness. Truly.

This trip was as if the tour company had read my mind and provided even more than I had imagined. I come away deeply grateful.

We had an incredible time in Italy! Thank you to Zicasso’s travel company! You thoughtfully planned our time in Sorrento and Rome to ensure we had the best experiences, while allowing for some free time to explore.

Our day-trip boat ride around Capri was beyond perfect. The boat captain and guide were very professional and truly charming. He gave us options on how to take in the sights and provided great commentary about the history and culture of the island. We selected to go to Marina Piccola for lunch, which was a great experience. The view from the restaurant was enchanting and the food was delicious. The grottos, Faraglioni rocks, and swimming in the Mediterranean were experiences of a lifetime.

We spent a day driving along the Amalfi Coast. We had a great driver on the mountainous winding roads. We visited charming Positano and beautiful Ravello. Our driver had great advice about where to visit and what to see. We enjoyed an amazing lunch, with a beautiful view, in Ravello.

On day three we enjoyed free time on the beach in the morning. Then we headed out for our limoncello experience! And it was a wonderful experience. The people we met in Schiazzano were very special. We loved the goal of the family businesses to keep and honor their traditions. Our pickup was prompt and we were served a drink at their general store. It is very touching that they began the tour in their church and shared the pride in their community. Then we were off up the hill, along narrow streets to the lemon groves. We learned about farming lemons from two enthusiastic young farmers, we smelled the lemon zest, and they served us fresh lemonade. Then we all got an exciting tuk-tuk ride up and down the very narrow streets to the hilltop farm, where we tasted olive oils, had a cheese-making demonstration, and tasted all the phases of cheese. Then we tasted the limoncello! We really enjoyed the spectacular view. Last, but certainly not least, we enjoyed making our own pizza using tomato sauce that was prepared by grandma that morning using freshly picked tomatoes. We tossed our pizza dough and used fresh mozzarella. The wood-fired oven cooked the pizzas perfectly. We enjoyed eating every bite. When we were planning our trip, I asked for limoncello tasting, but this experience was so much more!

We also had a wonderful time in Pompeii and at the Vatican, Colosseum, and Forum in Rome. All the history is so fascinating. There were many tourists in Pompeii and Rome, and all of our guides were terrific, energetic, and skilled at navigating the crowds.

All of the private transfers, train travel, and hotels were perfect. Thank you for your help and expertise with planning this once-in-a-lifetime trip!

We hope to travel to Italy in the future and would love to work with this travel company again to help us plan that next trip.

Our family of six just returned from the trip of a lifetime and we owe it all to our incredible Zicasso travel specialist. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to simply relax, explore, and make unforgettable memories together.

Our journey began in Rome, where we stayed in beautiful hotels and were greeted by professional, reliable drivers who made every transfer seamless. From there, we traveled south by train to experience Mount Vesuvius, a truly breathtaking day that combined history, adventure, and spectacular views. Next came the Amalfi Coast, where we stayed in a stunning waterfront hotel. Waking up to the beauty of the Mediterranean each morning felt like something out of a dream. Every recommendation was perfect, from the accommodations to the transportation and, of course, the local restaurants.

One of the most meaningful parts of our journey was traveling to Moliterno, the hometown of my wife's family. Visiting the place where her family story began was an emotional and unforgettable experience. Our private driver made the journey comfortable and enjoyable, allowing us to fully appreciate the beautiful Italian countryside. From there, we continued to the ancient city of Matera, where we spent several incredible days exploring one of the most fascinating and beautiful places we've ever visited. Finally, we departed through Bari, enjoying one last glimpse of Italy's stunning Adriatic coast before heading home.

Throughout the entire trip, every hotel was exceptional, every driver was punctual and courteous, and every transition was effortless. The itinerary struck the perfect balance between iconic destinations, hidden gems, relaxation, and meaningful family experiences.

This wasn't just a vacation. It was a journey our family will treasure for the rest of our lives. We cannot thank our travel specialist enough for creating such a seamless, personalized, and unforgettable experience. If you're looking for someone who truly listens, plans with care, and delivers beyond expectations, look no further. We give our highest recommendation and are already dreaming about our next adventure together.

Zicasso’s travel company helped us plan and execute a vacation to the Amalfi Coast. The travel specialists suggested sites and arranged hotels, ground transport, and guides. It was all accomplished flawlessly; we had a perfectly paced itinerary.

Not only were the drivers well experienced with the incredible labyrinth of roads along the coast and in Sorrento and Positano, where we stayed, but they were also great sources of local colorhighly experienced with the incredible labyrinth of roads along the coast and in Sorrento and Positano, where we stayed, but they were also great sources of local color and conversation, and, above all, they conversation, and, above all, showed their love for the country and region.

We had several guides who were spot-on, including an archaeology graduate for Pompeii and Herculaneum, and an incredible historian on a walking tour of Naples.

The hotels were wonderful, with experience and professionalism throughout.

The drive along the coast to Amalfi and Ravello was spectacular!

Our trip to the Amalfi Coast, arranged by Zicasso's travel specialist, could not have been more perfect! All our travel ran so smoothly. It was so nice not to worry about arranging pick-up and transportation. We were even met right as we got off the plane in Rome! All the drivers and guides were excellent, sharing helpful tips that ensured we used our time wisely to see the most interesting sites.

The hotels were all wonderful, with perfect locations, beautiful and spacious rooms, and breathtaking views. Our food journey was inspiring, with lots of fish, buffalo mozzarella cheese, pasta, and even a wonderful cooking class at an organic farm for my birthday! A team member made sure all our restaurant reservations were secured and even tipped us off to a transit strike in Italy so we could arrive early at the airport.

The travel specialist's suggestion that we visit a winery on Mount Vesuvius and visit Pompeii was excellent, so fascinating! The travel specialist and her team also arranged boat rides for us in Capri and in Sorrento to Ischia, which were extra-special. Our Sorrento boat captain even brought a delicious chocolate cake to celebrate my birthday!

Thank you so much for arranging such a special birthday trip and for making our travel so effortless, a truly relaxing retreat!

My husband and I were thrilled with our recent trip to Italy that Zicasso’s travel designer put together. We began by attending a family friend’s wedding, held in Ravello, on the Amalfi Coast. Due to my husband’s mobility issues, we were met by a driver and headed to the Amalfi Coast. The driver was first class and the trip was very comfortable.

After the wedding festivities, we were able to have the most wonderful experiences visiting the towns of Amalfi and Positano, and our base for one week was in beautiful Sorrento. We attended a cooking class and enjoyed eating what we prepared. We had in-depth learning opportunities in Naples and Sorrento. Every guide we had spoke excellent English and was so knowledgeable. We especially enjoyed Pompeii! A super-fun day was had on the small group tour of Capri. The crew was fantastic and very accommodating in consideration of my husband’s mobility issues.

From beginning to end everything went well. The use of a messaging app was great for making sure everyone was on the same page.

The only thing that was a disappointment was the pizza in Naples. It wasn’t the best.

The hotel in Sorrento was phenomenal - it couldn’t have been better. The view of Mt. Vesuvius from our balcony helped create memories we will have forever. The hotel in Rome was also very nice. It was right in the middle of the main attractions.

We are very happy with our experience with this travel company and would not hesitate to recommend it!