Kings and queens, emperors and aristocracy once roamed the cobblestone-framed loggias and marbled hallways of preserved villas and opulent palaces across Italy. Follow in the footsteps of Bourbon royalty and witness the lavish collections of nobility in the Genoese Republic. Bask in the sunlight on private boats for views of the coastline and delight in the culture of secluded towns carved into the sloping maritime mountains. Your custom tailored tour immerses you in the luxuries of the faded...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Levante – Finding the Castle
The Italian Riviera radiates beauty along the Mediterranean coastline and encompasses a lavish history of nobility from before the Republic of Genoa. Your flight lands at Cristoforo Colombo Airport in Genoa, where you meet your private transfer. Outside of Genoa, you reach the fairytale-like town of Levante. Pastel colored homes border the lush hillside and press against the edge of the sea. Boats wade in the marina with their masts drifting from side to side, imitating the trees rustling in the breeze. Vineyards stretch across the hillside terraces, and cobblestone streets wind between the colorful buildings.
The Bay of Silence contains a stretch of sandy beach east of the pedestrian lanes of the old city. Locals linger in the sunlight, basking in the warmth and the shade of their striped umbrellas. Gelato stands set beside elegant boutique shop windows on Via XXV Aprile offer the aroma of sweet and creamy treats, from strawberry to unique blends of nutella and banana. Your accommodation is situated in a former castle first erected in the 11th century. With more than 50 rooms meeting the idyllic standards of luxury, your castle accommodation makes you feel like royalty, seamlessly blending the opulence of the Genoese Republic with the comforts of contemporary technology, within view of the indigo Mediterranean water.
What's Included:
Day 2
Levante – Images of the Republic
Day 3
Levante – Castle Towers on the Five Towns of Cinque Terre
Day 4
Rome – A View of Imperial Grandeur
Day 5
Positano – The Sheer Magnificence of the Kingdom of Naples
Day 6
Positano – The Royal Experience on the Amalfi Coast
Day 7
Positano – Regal Collections
Day 8
Positano – The Royal Wave
Trip Highlights
- Enjoy a private scenic boat ride along the Amalfi Coast to visit the villages, towns, and landscape spread across the Gulf of Salerno
- Sip a zesty and sweet lemon-based liqueur known as limoncello during a tasting and making class in Positano
- Wander the ancient cobblestone streets of Imperial Rome during a private tour of the Roman Forum, Colosseum, and Palatine Hill
- Explore the opulent halls and galleries of Caserta Palace, home of the Bourbon kings and heads of the Kingdom of Naples
- Witness the majestic artifacts representing the history of classic Greece and Rome in the Naples Archeological Museum
- Discover the noble history of the Genoese Republic by visiting the old city walls and aristocratic palaces erected between the 16th and 17th centuries
- Relish the luxuries and comforts of staying in renovated antique castles and palaces in Levante, Rome, and Positano
Detailed Description
Kingdoms and republics across Italy have risen and fallen over the course of more than two millennia. Your 8-day tour encompasses the beauty, prestige, and luxuries preserved through time and renovated over the centuries for an unforgettable exploration of the castles and palaces of the Italian Riviera and Amalfi Coast. Your journey begins in Levante, a hidden seaside enclave near the Ligurian capital of Genoa. Your private transfer meets you at the Genoese Airport and escorts you to the seaside town where you can enjoy the remainder of the day in the splendors of your accommodation inside an 11th-century castle.
The following day, your guide meets you at the hotel and leads you to Genoa for an introductory tour of the lavish boulevards and marvelous palaces erected during the height of the prestigious Genoese Republic. Visit the Palazzo Rosso and tour the elegant Old Port. Then, you step aboard a private boat to travel down the coastline to the Bay of Poets. Stop at secluded grottos hidden by mountain promontories and wander between the famous five celebrated towns of Cinque Terre. On the next day, you have the option of flying from Genoa to Rome or taking a scenic first-class train to the Eternal City.
Once you arrive, you settle into the magnificent luster of your 19th-century palace hotel. Your guide meets you in the hotel lobby and escorts you along an elaborate tour of ancient Rome’s ruins, including the remnants of villas interspersed along Palatine Hill. On the next day, you have a private transfer south to Naples, stopping at the awe-inspiring grounds of Caserta Palace, erected under the patronage of the Bourbon Kings with the intention of rivaling Versailles. Continue to the town of Positano, known as the gateway to the Amalfi Coast.
Bask in the beauty of the landscape, along with the sensational ambiance of your preserved 18th-century palace hotel. Next, you have a private cruise along the coast for a perfect panorama of the shoreline, as well as the ability to stop at the various towns on the coast, including Amalfi, Conca dei Marini and Vietri sul Mare. Spend the following day in Naples with a private tour of the city, beginning with the Archeological Museum. Visit the Naples Royal Palace before returning to Positano for a limoncello tasting and liqueur crafting class. On the final day, your private transfer meets you at the hotel and escorts you to Naples Capodichino Airport for your flight home.
Starting Price
$7,800 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.89 stars based on 5481 reviews.
Reviewed By Robyn W.
Reviewed By Laura L.
Reviewed By Bridget B.
Reviewed By TRACEY U.
Reviewed By Cheryl S.
Reviewed By Cyndi D.