Delights of Rome, Vatican City & Amalfi Coast Tour

The wonder of Rome’s history can be overwhelming at times as it is filled with magnificent art, meandering politics, and marvelously preserved monuments. In the morning, the aroma of fresh brioche and brewing espresso emanates from the cafes on the street corners. The city nearly glints from the gilded domes and spires of the churches that rise above the rooftops. Your guide will meet you at the hotel to bring you through the captivating exhibits of Vatican City, from St. Peter’s Basilica to the artistry shown in the Vatican Museums.

The Borgia Apartments were once the private chambers of Pope Alexander VI, and the interior is decorated with frescoes that drape the walls and sweep across the ceilings, each painted by the master Pinturicchio in the 15th-century.  Nearby the apartment is the Raphael Rooms with polished marble floors and gilded walls that shimmer with old glamour. Fake jewels and metal studs add an intriguing layer of artistry to the frescoes along the walls to make each story burst with dimension. Your guide will point out the variety of religious and historical themes in the frescoes, including the oldest known reference to the “New World,” in the fresco The Risen Christ, which was painted in the late 15th-century.

In the morning, the sunlight will spread over the Colosseum and bring a golden tint to the ancient stone. The towering structure continues to draw visitors’ attention to four stories of colonnaded walls that reach a height of 157 feet. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you south towards the city of Naples. En route you will stop at the stunning monastery at Montecassino, founded in the 6th-century AD. The structure holds the relics of Saint Benedict and as you approach the monastery towers over the surrounding landscape near the border of the Campania region. The building was rebuilt and refurbished after World War II.

The basilica fills with the scent of myrrh and contains beautiful mosaics that depict Biblical history. The relics of St. Benedict and his sister St. Scholastica survived the wartime bombings, and pilgrims visit the monastery from around the world to see the urns beneath the high altar that contain the saintly relics. The abbey museum provides an in-depth explanation of the history of monasticism, along with medieval artifacts and art. From the plateau, you will look out over the lush hills of the hillside that roll on into the horizon.

The beauty of the Amalfi Coast emanates from the forest-clad mountains as the sapphire water laps against the rugged cliffs. Charming fishing villages that once ruled the sea with maritime might now offer delightful beaches and quiet cobblestone streets that meander along preserved architecture. After strolling through the seaside town of Sorrento on the Bay of Naples, visit the town of Minori, located on the Amalfi Coast overlooking the Gulf of Salerno. The genuine Italian atmosphere stems from the pleasant beach and shopping streets filled with vibrant window displays as the pasta recipes date back to medieval times and fill the labyrinthine lanes with savory aromas of simmering tomatoes and roasted garlic.

A Roman noble built the Villa Roma Antiquarium in the 1st-century and the structure represents the typical holiday retreat that wealthy Romans constructed before Mt. Vesuvius erupted. The lower level highlights the preserved rooms with a floor mosaic that depicts a large bull. After exploring the genuine Italian culture and history of the Minori, meet with a local chef who specializes in the handmade pasta of scialatielli, a thick and short fettuccine noodle with rectangular cross sections. Dig your hands into the flour and learn the process to make the delicious cuisine special to the Amalfi Coast.

In the morning the sound of the waves against the pebbled beach drifts through the streets of Amalfi. The white and black stripes of the cathedral contrast with the gilded frescoes along the façade that overlook the town’s main square. Your guide will meet you after breakfast and escorts you along a scenic coastal drive before you head inland to the oldest Greek ruins on mainland Italy, at Paestum. The temples were erected in honor of Poseidon, the Greek god of the Sea, in the 6th-century BC by Greek settlers. When the settlement fell under Roman control in the 3rd-century BC, the name of the settlement once called Poseidonia, changed to its current nomenclature.

Wildflowers grow out of the meadow that leads to the towering limestone figures. The Doric figures conjure images of locals as they walk around the temple bases dressed in tunics and togas. The Temple of Athena was erected in the 6th-century BC in a transitional style to contain both Ionic and early Doric design. The temple was later converted to a Christian church as archeologists discovered three early Christian tombs in the floor.  The temple strikes an impressive figure against the meadows of Campania, yet the towering columns of the Temple of Hera dwarf the Temple of Athena. As you stand beside the structure, you will gain a real sense of its remarkable scale. On your way back to the coast, stop at a local mozzarella factory to see how the region’s celebrated buffalo mozzarella is made.

The town of Ravello has a refined ambiance that is filled with polished villas and an unforgettable view of the coastline that spreads across the Gulf of Salerno. In the distance, the cliffs of Capri rise out of the sapphire waters of the Mediterranean Sea. After breakfast, the day is yours to indulge in the beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Linger on the beach at Maiori or visit the island of Capri to enjoy the stunning views and chic décor of Capri Town. In Ravello, you will quickly understand the allure and the reasons why writers from Virginia Woolf to Gore Vidal sought refuge from the outside world along the town’s streets. Ravello stands nearly 1,150 feet above sea level.  On Tuesday mornings, Piazza Duomo fills with vibrant vendors that showcase their artisan wines, olive oil, and mozzarella all produced in the marvelous Campania region.

The elegant and secluded villas contain dreamy gardens with stellar views over the coastline. Composer Richard Wagner drew inspiration from the Villa Rufolo, and the grounds became the setting for Wagner’s opera Parsifal. The preserved frame of an 11th-century cloister continues to shape a unique ambiance through its Moorish style. The manicured flowers blossom beneath a collection of palm trees as the scent of large-leaved lime trees wash across the walkways and are overtaken by the bright petals of hydrangeas. The garden opens to a spectacular view of the coast as the sunlight spreads across the sapphire water to add a graceful gilded shimmer to colors of your day.

In the morning, the fishing boats will join the sailboats and yachts along the sapphire waters. The sailors look back to the shore to see the towering cliffs and the pastel homes contrast with the emerald forest that carpets the hillsides. Make your way out of Amalfi for a full day tour of the ancient city of Pompeii and the bustling city of Naples. The scenic drive along the coastline provides a stunning view of the water, beaches, and the edges of the fishing villages that rise up the terraced hills.

Enjoy a scenic drive to Pompeii and see the looming figure of Mt. Vesuvius on the opposite shores of the Bay of Naples. The volcano erupted in 79 AD to cast layers of pumice and ash over the ancient city of Pompeii and preserve the structures for millennia. Your guide will lead you along Via dell’Abbondanza to the more recently excavated structures as wall paintings and furniture continue to decorate the houses. Many contain balconies and loggias along the second stories to offer unfettered insight into the past.

The majority of the homes and shops in the district belonged to tradesmen in the latter days of the city. The dyer’s workshop at Fullonica di Stefano contains a restored pressing machine, situated near the election posters that decorate the walls outside. After your exploration of Pompeii, your guide will lead you to a winery on the foothills of Mt. Vesuvius. The vineyards sweep along the mineral-rich volcanic soil of the region and legend says that when the Roman wine god Bacchus saw the beauty of the Bay of Naples he wept, which caused the vines to sprout. Tour the trails and cellars of the old winery before you sample the inviting straw color of the wine. The aromas of pear and white peach drift from the glass and help to settle you in the gorgeous scenery.

The beauty of the Amalfi Coast is highlighted as the sunlight spreads across the land and sea. The scent of brewing espresso drifts along the cobbled lanes and accentuates the authentic charms of the coastline and town. Your private transfer will meet you at the hotel after breakfast and lead you into the heart of Naples to discover the remarkable history on display at the National Archeological Museum. The ground floor exhibits immediately captivate you with marble sculptures that tower above the polished floor. The natural light filters in through the windows and turns the white surface of each marble figure nearly translucent.

The Farnese Bull is an elaborate Roman copy of a Hellenistic sculpture created in the 3rd-century AD. The work depicts the myth of Dirce, wife of the King of Thebes. On the second floor, you can find Apollo Playing a Lyre, a bronze sculpture from the Peloponnese discovered in Pompeii. After your exploration of the museum, make your way onto the historical streets of Naples for lunch. Your private instructor will teach you the art of making Neapolitan pizza from scratch. Learn the basics of making dough to the proper flavors of the sauce before you delight in each bite after your creation comes out of the brick oven.

The morning in Rome brims with the aroma of blossoming flowers in the market at Campo di Fiori. Elegant and exotic flowers bloom alongside roses and carnations and the bright petals lead visitors to the open-air market filled with lush produce and artisan creations, from handmade pasta to celebrated jams. Local University students make their way to the Spanish Steps to lounge on the polished marble stairway that connects the church of the Trinita dei Monti to the Piazza di Spagna below. The students nibble on fresh brioche, sip frothy cappuccinos within walking distance of the famous Bohemian storefront of Caffé Greco. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you at the hotel and escort you to Fiumicino Airport for your flight home.