Discover Ancient History and Classic Scenery of Rome & Amalfi Coast Tour

After breakfast, your private transfer will meet you in the hotel lobby and escort you south to the Naples harbor, situated on the Bay of Naples. The bustling city has ancient ties to the water since Greek settlers landed in the area in the region in the 8th century BC. Sailboats and fishing boats wind in and out of the waterway with yachts moored to the wooden docks. Cafes set out their tables and chairs along the shimmering Mediterranean Sea to offer patrons a meal or an espresso in view of the passing ships and historical palaces. The aroma of freshly made pizza lingers in the sea breeze, and you will board a high-speed ferry bound for Capri and set sail.

The brief ride will offer you a pristine view of the Bay of Naples, a signature port of Italy, and a coveted port of kingdoms throughout the ages. The dramatic figure of Mount Vesuvius, the volcano infamous for covering Pompeii and Herculaneum in ash, rises above the bay to the shoreline to the south. The cliffs of Capri soar in the distance, some promontories reaching as high as 200 feet above sea level. The ferry docks at Marina Grande where your private transfer will wait for you to disembark.

The sun casts a different light over the island of Capri than it did over Rome. The land and sea come to vibrant life around your hotel, glowing with the verdant greenery and the turquoise water. The aroma of fresh espresso blends with the sweet breeze that carries the aroma of the Mediterranean as cafes set out tables along the small piazzas and narrow lanes of Capri Town. After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel eager to show you the splendor of island life on Capri beginning with the northeast corner of the island that contains the remains of Villa Jovis, a grand estate once belonging to Emperor Tiberius.

Ruins overrun the terraces that stretch across the hillside. The structure was erected in 27 AD and encompasses more than 19,3750 square feet. A stairway behind the villa leads visitors up to Salto di Tiberio, a 1,082-foot tall cliff, which offers unprecedented views to the horizon. The gardens feature immaculate baths fed by the cisterns, whose large remains were once filled with rainwater essential for drinking and bathing. Your guide will lead you on a short trail walk outside of the villa to see the Arco Naturale, a rock arch shaped by the wind and sea over thousands of years.

The lingering image of Anacapri drifts through your mind in the morning as the 500 stone steps rise to the plateau and continue to glint in the passing sunlight. The 18th-century church of San Michele had radiant majolica tiles that dressed the floor to depict the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden in delicate detail. The natural beauty of the island informs the art and architecture, accentuating the splendor of the landscape as if in a natural cycle.

After breakfast, you will have a private transfer to the ferry that takes you back to the Bay of Naples with a stop in the gorgeous town of Sorrento. The jagged edge of the Sorrento Peninsula borders the town to the southwest, and the Marina Grande welcomes you with bright hues that burst from the facades of the fishermen’s homes. The small boats moored against the breakwater radiate with similar colors and the imposing historical walls continue to circle the harbor with foundations dating back to the 5th century BC, first laid by the Greeks.

Your guide will meet you at the dock ready to show you the charms of Sorrento, a town that inspired the likes of Byron and Keats. The 15th-century Cathedral of San Filippo and San Giacomo includes a stunning Renaissance door crafted in 1474. The aroma of lemon groves and olive orchards sweeps down from the hills as your private transfer will escort you through the meandering mountain pass to lead you from the Peninsula of Sorrento to the beginnings of the Amalfi Coast at Positano.

A narrow scenic road hugs the winding cliffs of the seaside to form the celebrated 43 miles of Amalfi coastline. The mountains have separated the villages and towns along the shore for millennia, causing locals to utilize thin trails or boats to reach their neighbors. The town of Positano cascades up the cliffs with colorful homes that match the sweet citrus aroma that emanates from the thriving lemon trees. Cobblestone streets twist and turn up the hillside between the supported homes that overlook the sea.

Over breakfast, you will sink deeper into the charms of the Amalfi Coast with your view of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. The boutique shops open their doors and present elegant window displays of local fashions. On Via Pasitea, a sandal maker crafts gorgeous footwear to a customer’s liking while the customer waits or wanders around town shopping. The quiet fishing village of Conca dei Marini is often overlooked by visitors, which allows you a glimpse of the traditional life of locals nestled between the mountains and sea.

Cream-colored houses fill the base of the cliff as boats float around the small bay beneath the emerald brush that grows from the seaside boulders. A 16th-century watchtower continues to guard the town from Saracens and pirates, and a steep stairway leads down to the water where you will board a small paddleboat. Your skipper will lead you to the edge of a cavern where at low tide the boat can enter the mouth of the cave, leading you into a 100-foot tall grotto referred to as Grotta dello Smeraldo, the Emerald Cave.

In the morning, you can watch the fishing boats return from the sea to moor at the small marina of Positano and the riot of colors clashes against the indigo water. At breakfast, you can sit leisurely to sip a frothy, semisweet cappuccino and bask in the flavor as it lingers in your mouth. The region of Campania has a deep-rooted connection with coffee and cuisine, most notably in Naples and the surrounding towns, so it is worth savoring.

Your private transfer will then meet you at your hotel to whisk you through the mountain pass to reach the Bay of Naples once more. The road will take you along the base of Mount Vesuvius as the crater continues to puff with streams of steam and fumes which connects the volcano to its infamous past. This thought will follow you to the entrance of Pompeii, a symbol of a decadent Roman city and you will see the full impact of the volcanic eruption. Entering the grounds is an engrossing experience that feels as though you have stepped into a living piece of art. The ash and pumice coated the city, which protected the art and homes from the decrepitude of time.

Begin your explorations with Casa del Fauno, the size of which encompasses a city block and features two atria. It is the largest private home uncovered to date, named for the delicate bronze statue of a dancing faun rising out of the rain tank. The geometrically patterned marble floor flashes with bright colors in the passing sunlight and engages your senses easily. After your time in Pompeii, you will make your way back to Rome to continue with your discovery of Italy’s historical features, including an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums.

When all roads lead to Rome, you cannot help but notice the presence of the ancient monuments that have withstood the tests of time. From the former Roman city of Pompeii to the breathtaking size of the Colosseum, the fingerprint of ancient Rome is inescapable. After breakfast, your private guide will lead you to the remnants of the ancient city at the Roman Forum, across the cobbled boulevard from the Colosseum. The Arch of Septimius Severus hovers above the symbolic center of Rome at the height of 75 feet. The elegant structure was erected in the 3rd century AD in commemoration of victorious generals and emperors, and four marble reliefs depict episodes of the wars with the Parthians.

The 330-foot long public hall known as the Basilica Fulvia Aemilia contains a two-story portico face erected in the 2nd century BC. The splendor of the Forum remains and highlights the civic, religious, and political heart of the empire. Eight granite columns remain from the colonnade of the Temple of Saturn, which once doubled as the Rome’s treasury. Rome’s former splendor continues at the Colosseum as the four-storied exterior reaches a height of 157 feet. The arena could hold up to 50,000 spectators, each one eager to see the gladiatorial games at the heart of the stadium.

In the morning, the flowers in the Campo die Fiori radiate with bright petals in the marketplace as florists showcase the glowing colors in bouquets all around the market. The church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola was decorated with a Baroque trompe l’oeil fresco in the 1680s and it continues to captivate the imagination today. The piece uses masterful perspective to create the illusion of space where little exists. A marble disc set in the nave floor marks the perfect spot to view the fresco, and you can crane your neck to see that the ceiling extends, lifting you up to the heavens in an impressive display of the fantastical, brimming with color and imagination. Whether visiting ancient sites or utilizing the past for the present pleasures, Rome is unmatched. When you are ready, your private transfer will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Rome Fiumicino Airport for your flight home.