Romantic Getaway to Amalfi Coast, Naples, Capri Itinerary

At breakfast, the refreshing aromas of freshly baked pastries and delicious espresso fill the dining room of your hotel accompanied by the stunning view overlooking the Bay of Naples. Your private driver greets you in the lobby eager to whisk you around the bay to reach the captivating preserved ancient city of Pompeii. The homes, streets, and art of Pompeii fell beneath layers of pumice and ash in 79 AD after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The massive archeological complex encompasses 170 acres and was home to approximately 11,500 people at the time of the eruption.

Frescoes depicting scenes from Homer’s Iliad catch your eye along the colonnade before finding an inscription on the neighboring house celebrated for its romantic notion stating in Latin, “lovers, like bees, wish life to be as sweet as honey.” Continue to Naples for deeper insight into the marvels of the ancient world at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. The galleries possess one of the largest collections of Greco-Roman artifacts in the world with many objects inherited from the treasured Farnese collection, as well as from excavations at Herculaneum and Pompeii.

In the evening, you will meet your private chef for a foray into the specialty of Naples, pizza. As your chef guides you in the proper way to make Neapolitan dough, you can learn the origins of traditional pizza that go back to the 19th century when the baker Raffaele Esposito served a pizza with ingredients celebrating the colors of the newly minted Italian flag, with tomato sauce for red, mozzarella cheese for white, and basil leaves for green. Queen Margherita of Savoy preferred the colorful pizza best, thus having the dish, “pizza margherita,” named after her.

The Amalfi Coast is one of the many jewels of Italy with a 25-mile long road stretching from Positano in the west to Vietri sul Mare in the east. The treasured ambiance of the collection of small towns dotting the coastline emanates from the radiant colors of the homes that climb the promontory with a mixture of hidden coves and public beaches nestling against the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Your private driver meets you in Sorrento before leading you to the beginning of the narrow road for which the coastline is famous, navigating between the soaring craggy cliffs and the steep plunge into the Mediterranean. Positano is a charming town instantly welcoming you with an air of romance.

Homes with pastel facades wind around narrow cobbled roads and vertical stairways connect the hills with the beaches. The scent of lemons and oranges emanate from the terraced orchards while the shops display cheery ceramics featuring images of lemons surrounded by blue and white geometric designs. A historical sandal-maker on via della Tartana continues to craft footwear by hand while visitors wander around the ascending paths free of cars. The town of Ravello reflects a different side of the Amalfi Coast atop the mountains.

Ravello stands above the coastline at an elevation of 1,200 feet offering stunning views over the water and protruding mountains for you to enjoy. The tranquil charms emanating from the 11th-century cathedral and cafes lining Piazza del Vescovado have seduced the likes of Virginia Woolf, Greta Garbo, and Richard Wagner. Take a seat atop the tower connected to Villa Rufolo, a 14th-century mansion bedecked with Moorish and Norman influences and providing a marvelous terrace along the cliff’s edge overlooking the coastline.

The morning breeze sweeps through the streets of Sorrento carrying the aroma of the sea and the scent of freshly baked lemon delight, a specialty of Sorrento made of sponge cake soaked in limoncello cream and covered with an icing of lemon cream. After breakfast, you take the ferry to the legendary island of Capri, whose beauty has captivated the likes of Roman emperors, world-renowned artist, and famous Hollywood stars. The sea cliffs rise over 200 feet above sea level growing larger as you approach Marina Grande. A funicular takes you from the harbor up to the main public square, Piazza Umberto.

The clock tower casts a slight shadow over the cobblestones and bustling cafes. The scent of fresh espresso overtakes the briny aroma of the water with shops along Via Camerelle including elegant boutiques, charismatic pottery, and lavish locally-made perfumes. Take a boat ride to the Blue Grotto after exploring the streets of Capri Town to see how the flooded cave has a small opening to the sea where sunlight pierces the interior causing an ethereal blue glow to shimmer off the water. You may need to duck down as you pass through the opening reaching barely over three feet tall. The motion of the water and flickering light are hypnotic as your guide explains how the Romans once believed the cave home to sea nymphs.

Morning on the island is quiet and beautiful with the intoxicating aromas of lemon and chocolate filling the streets. The island comes back to life with the shops opening along the main street of Via Camerelle. In the morning, you make your way to Villa San Michele, the former home of a Swedish doctor who collected priceless artifacts from ancient Roman, Egyptian, and Etruscan settlements. Vines drape over the pergolas near glinting marble statues in view of the stunning gardens glowing with blossoming flowers.

The mansion was erected over the ruins of a Roman villa creating a more tranquil ambiance. In June and August, the gardens fill with the sounds of invigorating music with classical concerts in the cool evening air. A granite sphinx gazes out over the entire island from the comforts of the manicured garden. The blend of culture and history sheds a different light on the beauty of Capri. Meet your private chef in the afternoon to uncover the classic flavors of Capri accentuated by the beauty of a fascinating villa.

The island’s traditions derive from the cuisine of the Mediterranean as your chef helps define the cuisine by guiding you through five classic dishes including Ravioli alla Caprese, pasta stuffed with cheese and dressed in a delicious tomato sauce. For the final dish of the day, you mix sugar and butter to form a creamy consistency before adding eggs, almonds, vanilla, and chocolate to prepare the dough for the indulgently rich chocolate cake known as Torta Caprese. Biting into a piece of the cake celebrates the historic flavor of the decadent dish dating back to the 1930s developed by two Austrian women stranded on the island and wishing to marry the flavors of the Mediterranean and Byzantine traditions with northern tastes.

The sunlight washes over the façade of Anacapri’s Chiesa di San Michele. The light filters through the windows and shines on the colorful mosaic depicting the biblical story of Adam and Eve. After breakfast, you have the remainder of the day at your leisure before returning to Sorrento. For a special exploration around the Bay of Naples, you venture to Procida, a neighboring island alight with a colorful fishing village and restaurants serving fresh seafood. The charming ambiance derives from the authenticity as the lack of crowds allows the island to remain a special gem along the coast with gorgeous beaches and local children dipping fishing line into the sea. Families stroll along the cobblestones and fishers mend their nets alongside the small marina.

The southern tip of the island, known as Solchiaro, rewards hikers with a stunning view of villas, gardens, and the glistening waters of the sea touching mainland Italy.  On returning to Sorrento, you notice the splendors of the city emanate from the spirited ambiance of the central Piazza Tasso nestled beneath the palatial hotels and charming shops. In the evening, the warmth and activity return to the streets as locals enjoy the nightly passeggiata, after-dinner stroll.

In the morning, the doors to the Museo Correale di Terranova open to the public to display an assortment of arts and crafts made between the 16th and 19th centuries. The galleries focus mainly on Neapolitan works but also contain Japanese, Chinese, and European ceramics, as well as fans and carvings. After breakfast, your private transfer greets you in the lobby of your hotel. You will travel once more around the Bay of Naples passing through the shadow cast by the peak of Mount Vesuvius for one last look at the infamous volcano and the sweeping beauty between Naples and Sorrento. You arrive at the airport with plenty of time to check in to your flight bringing an end to your luxurious week in Italy.