Pleasures of Southern Italy: Rome, Ischia Island & Amalfi Coast Tour

Rome is a city that highlights its past as it also maintains its contemporary culture. Artistic riches fill museums and line the streets in the form of fountains, ruins, and elegant palaces. Cafes fill with locals as they enjoy an afternoon espresso under the shade of the broad umbrellas. Byzantine churches contain elaborate mosaics and Renaissance frescoes dazzle passersby in museums and inside grandiose private homes. You will arrive at Fiumicino Airport, and your private transfer will greet you at baggage claim. Settle into your luxurious hotel located in the heart of the city before you meet your guide in the lobby.

The city bursts to life around you filled with the glories of the past and the thriving lifestyle of contemporary Rome. The city contains a Mediterranean Rhythm as people indulge in the sweetness of life, from the brioche to the pasta. Your guide will lead you on a remarkable introduction to the city to take in the classic beauty of the architecture and piazzas, from the Spanish Steps to the Piazza Navona. The end of your tour brings you across the flowing Tiber River to the Castel Sant’Angelo.

The structure was originally built under the guidance of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd-century AD, but the threat of Germanic raiders soon had the powers of Rome turning the mausoleum into a defensive stronghold. Popes used covered passages to connect the castle to the Vatican Palace in the 13th-century. Four large bastions adorn the castle’s corners to look out to the streets to add another layer of protection to the grounds. The castle now contains 58 rooms, some of which include elaborate murals and models that depict the evolution of the castle through its more than 1,500 years of existence.

In the morning, the sunlight washes over the original central piers of the Ponte Sant’Angelo, the bridge that connects central Rome to the Castle Sant’Angelo. The ten angels that flank the structure were created in the 17th-century to the specifications of Bernini’s designs. After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the lobby ready to show you the splendors of Vatican City, the smallest independent country in the world. Michelangelo designed the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, which crowns the dramatic structure that fills the square.

The original church was erected in the 4th-century under Emperor Constantine, but the current edification of the cathedral’s construction began in the 15th-century. The spectacular museum includes captivating works of art from masters and lesser-known artists who have celebrated faith and knowledge through the centuries. The polished marble floors and gilded window frames highlight the palatial atmosphere of the grounds. In the Appartamento Borgia, you can see Pope Alexander VI’s private residence, decorated from floor to ceiling with remarkable frescoes painted by Pinturicchio in the late 15th-century.

The scenes combine Christian subjects with ancient myths, along with the humanist themes of the Renaissance. Your guide will point out the tales told through each frame that drapes across the apartment. After your tour of the Vatican, your guide will lead you through the Baroque charms of Piazza Navona. You will join the artists to paint the colorful square and capture an image of the piazza’s light and life. You may choose to capture Neptune’s Fountain, which was designed in the 16th-century as your paints are all set out for you to relax in the beauty of Rome and enjoy one of life’s sweet moments.

The scent of fresh brioche will accent the aroma of frothy cappuccinos in the morning. Your private transfer will meet you in the lobby of your hotel after breakfast and escort you south to the city of Naples. The Harbor is rich with historical palaces and chic pizzerias. Sailboats and fishing boats weigh anchor along the depths of the marina as you board your ferry and set out for the gorgeous island of Ischia, often considered the entryway to the Bay of Naples. The island is rich in beauty and history with elaborate necropolises buried into the hillsides and glowing the emerald forests that rise behind the cobblestone streets of the terraced towns.

The breeze carries and blends the sea with the herbaceous fragrance of the trees. Make your way to the town of Forio on the west coast and pass the stunning gardens of La Mortella where exotic flowers blossom with pink, blue, and purple petals. Stop to stroll along the terraces that overlook more than 1,000 rare plants from around the world. Palm trees rustle in the breeze and add a soothing sound to the trickling fountains situated around the gardens. In the spring and autumn, orchestras provide a perfect blend of classical music with classical scenery to add another layer of wonder to the veritable Eden, which spans nearly five acres.

Wake up to the marvelous view of the cobalt water of the Mediterranean that stretches to the horizon. Orange trees shade the walkways of your hotel near the pool, and the scent of citrus is as refreshing as the aroma of fresh morning espresso. Your guide will meet you in the lobby after breakfast ready to show you the wonders of the island paradise, beginning with the Castello Aragonese. The 15th-century edifice stands on a rocky isle over an ancient Syracusan fortress built in the 5th-century BC. The entrance of the castle stands at the base of the rock face as you ascend on a series of paths that wander around the lush gardens and buildings that lead to the castle gate.

The sea breeze whisks by as the rising sunlight flickers off of the water. Stucco ruins of a 14th-century cathedral peek out of the lush trees as beneath the castle structure stands an 11th-century crypt with preserved sections of 14th-century frescoes. The tunnel that leads into the castle has large openings for the natural sunlight to fill the covered hall. The beauty of the structure emanates from its dominant image on the outside, as well as from the collection of historical structures inside the castle complex, including the hexagonal Church of Saint Peter, which was once used as a prison during the 19th-century movement of Italy reunification.

The charms of Ischia span from the sandy beaches to the rugged rural hills at the heart of the island. After breakfast, your private transfer will escort you to the marina to board your ferry to the famous island of Capri, known to movie stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age and Roman emperors, such as Augustus and Titian. The cliffs of Capri are more dramatic than those of Ischia and reach a height of 200 feet above the sea, as it was once an extension of the mountainous Amalfi peninsula. The ferry takes you to Marina Grande where the colorful homes line the promenade that overlooks the moored fishing boats.

The day is yours to experience the splendor of the charming island, from the chic boutiques of Capri Town to the elegant gardens of ancient Roman villas. A funicular takes you to the plateau that overlooks the Marina Grande, where you can stroll along the cobbled streets of Capri Town. For a perfect view of the sapphire water, you will board the Monte Solaro chairlift from the town of Anacapri. The lift whisks you over the mixture of craggy boulders and spritely trees, and the beautiful view opens as the delicate breeze carries the earthy aroma of the mountains. The summit rises to a height of nearly 2,000 feet above sea level for a sweeping panorama of the Bay of Naples, Ischia, and the entire Amalfi Coast.

The shoreline of the Amalfi Coast contains rugged cliffs and vibrant forests as the villages emerge from the hillsides covered with terraced streets and medieval churches. Wake up in the quiet town of Amalfi, which was once a maritime power during the Middle Ages, and the day is yours to explore the virtues of the coastline and enjoy the scenic drive that overlooks the Mediterranean for up to 28 miles. The Cathedral of Sant’Andrea was first erected in the 9th-century and contains Arab-Norman architectural design with elements of Romanesque and Byzantine décor. The Byzantine elements were constructed during the 13th-century when Amalfi and Constantinople engaged in heavy trade with on another. The black and white striped façade draws your eye to the gilded fresco adorns the central tower.

The bronze doors were cast in Constantinople and brought to the cathedral in the 10th-century. The grandeur of the church rises above the beauty of the main square that leads down to the water. After you explore the coastline, meet your private instructor in Positano to learn the secrets of cuisine in the Campania region. Your instructor has fresh ingredients with herbs taken straight from her garden. The olive oil will sizzle in the pan, and the scent of rosemary will fill the kitchen as you collect the knowledge of Italian cooking passed down through generations of cooks.

In the morning, you will find locals sitting in the open piazza of Amalfi to sip their frothy cappuccinos in the early light. The umbrellas cast pleasant shade over the café tables as you hear the Mediterranean lapping at the seawalls on the edge of town. After breakfast, make your way to the marina and board a luxurious sailboat to cast the sails in the sea breeze and cruise along the crystal clear water. The scent of the sea surrounds you as you look back at the craggy shoreline with the cliffs that tower above the pastel colored homes.

Once free of the marina, your captain will call you to help him raise the sails. The cloth will raise the masts as the breeze blows against your cheeks. The sails will catch the wind as the boat moves forward with grace and ease. The captain will steady your course before you take the wheel for a few minutes and guide the boat parallel to shore. The cliffs open to secluded inlets and private beaches and fishing boats pass with smiling fishermen that wave hello. Your captain will point out the Tower of Scarpariello near Ravello. The interior contains a private residence with views to the sea complete with vintage furniture and armor on display, but the exterior maintains its dramatic antique appearance. Return to shore with your newfound sea legs ready to search the land along the trails that connect the villages of Amalfi Coast.

In the morning, a man pushes his granita cart down to the beach before the sun settles at its zenith. As the day warms, people pass the cart excitedly to grab a refreshing treat as they wander along the picturesque streets of Amalfi. The scent of lemon drifts from the cart, as the man mixes crushed ice with fresh juice squeeze from his stack of lemons. Take the time to relish in the small satisfactions of the day, from a sweet granita to the feeling of warm sun on your skin as your last morning in Italy passes. You have taken the time to enjoy the little moments and the big adventures while in Italy, so will fully appreciate these last moments of your journey. After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you to Naples for your flight home from the Naples International Airport.