Compare Amalfi and Capri Magnifica Walking Tour by Tourissimo vs A Week In... Naples, Capri & Amalfi 2022 by Tauck
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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4 | Great
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Duration | 7 days | 8 days |
Price From | $ 4,155 | $ 7,290 |
Price Per Day | $ 594 | $ 911 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
Activities |
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Meals Included |
6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 6 Dinners |
N/A |
Description |
There’s no other place in the world as magical as the Amalfi Coast and its satellite island of Capri. This Magnifica Tour will take you to this paradise on earth. The scent of its lemon groves and flowers, the light breeze of the Mediterranean Sea, the lush shady woods and the unique towns perched on the cliff slopes will bind you to this corner of southern Italy, much like the mythical Sirens’ singing enchanted Ulysses’ sailors in Homer’s masterpiece, “Odyssey.”
Our tour starts on the Island of Capri, a mecca for fashionable people and artists looking for a quiet place to live but also a window to showcase their creations to visitors coming from all over the world. We will visit Anacapri, a lesser-known part of the island, and discover its beautiful nature and views of the Amalfi Coast. The famous piazzetta, the little square in the center of Capri, will be the setting for an aperitivo, an Italian-style pre-dinner drink, with local appetizers and people watching! A boat ride to Amalfi will take us to the mainland for the second half of the tour. Amalfi was one of the Maritime Republics and a powerful trading port in the Middle Ages. |
Rediscover the luxuries of Naples, Capri and the Amalfi Coast with an authentic look at la dolce vita... inviting you to experience life in southern Italy and Campania as a local, with stays at accommodations in the Leading Hotels in the World. |
Day 1: Capri
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Capri (alternative Gatto Bianco)
Terrain: Flat
Hike: 1 to 2 hrs
After a boat ride from the mainland to Marina Grande, the main dock in Capri, a taxi will take you to the hotel where you will meet your guides. A light lunch together will allow your guides to give you an overview of the tour. In the afternoon you can enjoy a warm up walk on the paved streets of Capri to the Faraglioni, gigantic coastal rocks formed by erosion from sea waves. Enjoy the sunset over the Faraglioni and the Capri coastline before heading back to the piazzetta for our first aperitivo and a toast to the beauty of Capri.
Day 2: Anacapri
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Capri (alternative Gatto Bianco)
Terrain: Hilly
Hike: 2.5 to 3 hrs
After breakfast we will take a bus to the town of Anacapri on the opposite side of the island. An easy path will lead us to the top of Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island, in about one hour. Once at the top we will enjoy panoramic views of the island that include Marina Grande and Marina Piccola (the two ports of the island), the Faraglioni and Villa Jovis, on the top of a cliff. On a sunny day views extend to Naples and to Mt. Vesuvius. You can walk back down or take a chairlift right to the center of town where we can have lunch. Shopping time is mandatory in Anacapri to try on the Capresi sandals that are handmade by a craftsman following the old tradition. The shopping street of Anacapri is also the beginning of the path that will take us back to Capri, walking down the steps of the Phoenician Staircase, an old path that the islanders used to walk up and down before the road was built. In 1.5 - 2 hours we will be back to the hotel. A public bus is also available all day long should you wish to spend more time shopping or wandering through the town of Anacapri and inside some of its old palaces. One that stands out is Villa San Michele, a wonderful palace with gardens, built by a Swedish doctor and veterinarian, Axel Munthe, for his retirement.
Day 3: Capri
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Capri (alternative Gatto Bianco)
Terrain: Rolling
Hike: 3 Hrs
This morning we will walk to Villa Jovis, one of Tiberius’ villas, in about 1.5 hrs. A visit of this ancient Roman site is a great opportunity to see how good the ancient Romans were in constructing their noble mansions. They also created the forefather of the modern spa, the thermal baths, remains of which you can still admire at this villa. Our lunch stop will be on the way back to the center of Capri and in the afternoon we can take another short walk to visit the Augustus Gardens or spend some time shopping in Capri and relax before dinner.
Boat ride to the Blue Grotto (weather permitting). This is the most famous sight on Capri, where visitors from around the world form long lines to get a peek inside for just a few magical moments. This natural cavern is 25 meters wide and 60 meters long, with a tiny entrance less than a meter high. To enter, visitors lay back in wooden rowboats and glide through the low cave mouth. Once inside, the boats bob in the dark, suspended on the surface of water so blue that it seems dream-like.
Day 4: Amalfi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Rufolo
Terrain: Rolling
Hike: 2.5 to 3 hrs
Leaving Capri is never easy but we have to look ahead from the jet boat and to see our next destination: Amalfi. We will not regret this transfer on the mainland, since Amalfi will welcome us with its lively port and square and streets full of small shops and coffee bars. From Amalfi centre we will walk along La valle delle Ferriere and back to Amalfi. A lunch in Amalfi will be followed by visit to an old paper mill, now a museum, where each of you can make his own paper sheet in the old traditional way and using the original machineries! This will be our gift to be taken home with you. Don’t forget to taste a Delizia al Limone, a lemon spongecake, at the pastry shop next to the Cathedral square before starting our visit of the town with a local guide. The Cathedral and its cloister and treasure will be a highlight of the day! Some free time for shopping and to discover Amalfi on your own and then we will take a bus to Ravello. A pottery handcraft shop visit in Ravello is another interesting activity that we suggest to complete this rich day. In Ravello it’s possible to enjoy a classic music concert in Villa Rufolo. Check the program with the guides in advance.
Day 5: Positano
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Terrain: Rolling
Hike: 3 Hrs
Today we leave Ravello and we head north to Positano. A private transfer will take us to the town of Bomerano, near Agerola, where our hike starts. We will walk to Positano today, following Il sentiero degli Dei (The Path of the Gods) to Nocelle, just above Positano. The 7.8 km path is about 3 hours and has stunning views. Our lunch will be a picnic along the path with focaccia and mozzarella from Agerola, or a late lunch in Nocelle square, before taking the bus down to the center of Positano where we can rest at our hotel. A fish dinner in Positano with a view over the coast will be our reward for this long walk.
Day 6: Positano
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Palazzo Murat (alternative Poseidon)
Terrain: Rolling
Hike: 2 Hrs
A leisurely day in Positano. For our last day we suggest a short and easy walk to the old cemetery of Positano from where you can admire the entire town. On the way back to the hotel we can learn some of the history of Positano by visiting some of its quarters. Lunch will be in town by the sea and then enjoy some souvenir shopping and a good gelato al limone (lemon ice cream) before we get ready for our celebration dinner in the wonderful location of Furore, a canyon carved by the sea. A shuttle will take us there (and back) for a last night view of this incredible coast!
Day 7: Positano
Meals: Breakfast
Terrain: Departure
Ride: None
After breakfast a shuttle will take you to Naples airport or to another destination according to your travel plans.
Day 1 Arrive Naples
Tour Begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Vesuvio. A transfer is included upon arrival from Naples International Airport or Naples train station to the Grand Hotel Vesuvio, ideally located in Naple's pedestrian area of Santa Lucia, overlooking the enchanting Bay of Naples, the island of Capri and Mount Vesuvius. Enjoy views of the sea during your three-night stay at this celebrated hotel, boasting a legacy of service and setting that made it a favorite for such famous guests as opera singer Enrico Caruso, who called it his "Neapolitan" home. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Grand Hotel Vesuvio
PORTOFCALL : Naples, Italy
Day 2 Neapolitan Delights
Culturally rich with historic treasures that date back millennia to the days of the Greeks and Romans, Naples invites discovery at every turn. Begin the day with a guided visit to the Naples Archaeological Museum, whose exhibits include ancient mosaics found under the ashes of Mt. Vesuvius. Then a late-morning walking tour leads you through the "Spaccanapoli" – the narrow, "split" backstreets that cut Naples in two – where the character of the Old Town comes alive in alleyways lined with artisan workshops, cafés, squares, ancient churches, merchants' shops and balconied apartments where neighbors greet passersby. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant renowned for its pizza – a dish which is said to have been invented in Naples. The rest of the day is free to explore as you wish, with many restaurants conveniently located steps from your hotel, for dinner as you please.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Grand Hotel Vesuvio
PORTOFCALL : Naples, Italy
Day 3 The island of Ischia
Board a high-speed ferry bound for the island of Ischia across the Gulf of Naples today, where a locally guided sightseeing tour includes a visit to the medieval Aragonese Castle. Dating back to 474 BC, the castle sits atop a rocky island peninsula and reigns over the sea in a mix of ancient watchtowers, churches and monasteries steeped in romance and regal lore. Next, enjoy a lovely coastal drive en route to a farmhouse lunch at a local agriturismo near Forio. Continue on to the picturesque fishing village of Sant'Angelo for some free time to explore as you wish. From Forio, head back via high-speed ferry to Naples; spend the remainder of the day and evening just as you please in Napoli.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Grand Hotel Vesuvio
PORTOFCALL : Naples, Italy
Day 4 Herculaneum & A Ferry to Capri
Visit the ash-covered city of Herculaneum today, learning firsthand about this ancient Roman town that was frozen in time when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. A city of some 4,000+ inhabitants, well-preserved Herculaneum was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for providing "an authentic picture of society and daily life at a specific moment in the past that is without parallel anywhere in the world." See multi-storied homes, complete with doors, staircases and furnishings, vivid frescoes and mosaics, as you explore the archaeological site with an expert guide. Drive back to Naples, viewing iconic piazzas and historic buildings representing the former Kingdom of Naples. Ride a high-speed ferry to the island of Capri. Private convertible cars will be waiting to chauffeur you to your historic villa hotel, your elegant home for the next two nights.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Grand Hotel Quisisana
PORTOFCALL : Capri, Italy
Day 5 Charms of Capri and Anacapri
A private convertible car will drive you like a VIP today up to Anacapri for a guided walking tour of the town, highlighting the local specialties of the island, from perfume to colorful ceramics and sandals. Visit Villa San Michele, built by Swedish doctor Axel Munthe at the turn of the 20th century atop the ruins of Roman Emperor Tiberius' ancient villa; the elegant villa itself, its beautiful gardens decorated with ancient artifacts, and its incredible views of Capri and its harbor are stunning – you'll also have an opportunity to enjoy them from the water on a cruise around the island. Spend the remainder of the day experiencing the charms of Capri at your leisure.
MEALS : B
LODGING : Grand Hotel Quisisana
PORTOFCALL : Capri, Italy
Day 6 Via Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast
Ferry back to the mainland today en route to a two-night stay in Amalfi. After lunch at a restaurant in Sorrento, drive along the incomparable Amalfi Coast to the 19th-century cliffside Hotel Santa Caterina, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, built on a rock overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Spend the afternoon and evening luxuriating in the setting and views of your hotel; with a private beach club, heated saltwater pool and two seaside restaurants, it is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a true taste of la dolce vita.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Hotel Santa Caterina
PORTOFCALL : Amalfi, Italy, Sorrento, Italy
Day 7 Breathtaking Sights of Amalfi & Ravello
Prepare to be awed today with scenic beauty that takes your breath away as you explore the lemon-scented towns of the Amalfi Coast. Enjoy time to soak in Amalfi, a maritime powerhouse in the 11th century, and the Piazza Duomo, taking the opportunity to ascend the 62-step stairway to the cathedral if you're game. Drive along a narrow winding road, past olive and lemon trees, up to the glamorous 5th-century village of Ravello; founded as a sanctuary for barbarian invaders, today it is a haven of sophistication and style. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before strolling through the gardens at 13th-century Villa Rufolo, overlooking the sea, that inspired Richard Wagner's dream garden in his opera, Parsifal. Return to Amalfi for a relaxing late afternoon, followed by a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Hotel Santa Caterina
PORTOFCALL : Amalfi, Italy
Day 8 Journey Home
Tour ends: Naples. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi to Naples International Airport or the Naples train station. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check in at the airport.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Amalfi, Italy