Amalfi Coast Walking Tour Itinerary 2015

Transcription

1 Amalfi Coast Walking Tour Itinerary 2015 Day 1 Travelling South to the Amalfi Coast We meet in Rome at the central train station (Roma Termini). From here we start our journey south. After a few hours we make an interesting stop at Caserta for a visit to the palace, the Reggia di Caserta. The palace was the royal residence for the Bourbon kings of Naples, and is incredibly ornate and lavish. Following the visit we have lunch in a good pizzeria adjacent to the palace. After lunch we continue south to our destination, Amalfi, after winding our way along the stunning coast road. We stay for the next three nights in the charming historic centre of this town, and having the hotel right here in the heart of Amalfi means you get to really appreciate all that this vibrant town has to offer much more than you would during a fleeting visit during the day. The restaurants and cafes are waiting to be enjoyed, and the beach is perfect for sunbathing and cooling off. Our 4 star hotel gives you a comfortable base for relaxing and recharging. The Reggia di Caserta Sunset in Amalfi Tonight we dine together, having our first introduction to the cuisine of this area. Meals: Lunch and Dinner Accommodation: 4 star hotel, Amalfi Day 2 Walking through the terraces to Ravello This is our first walking day, and the trails that we follow are based around the town of Ravello. In the morning we follow paths winding through well Amalfi

2 tended vineyards and orchards, passing through several small villages where life still revolves around working the land through the seasons. As we are quite high up we have frequent photo stops so you can capture the rugged beauty of the coastline below us. Around late morning we reach the charming town of Ravello. Here we have lunch, following which you are free to explore Ravello independently during the early afternoon. Ravello is a fascinating town, with layers of history to be seen. Of particular note are the buildings and gardens of Villa Ruffolo, and the cathedral. Ravello is also famous for vibrant hand painted ceramics and for the excellent local wine, both of which can be found in the specialty shops here. Later in the afternoon we continue our walk, winding our way downhill through terraces of lemon trees, grown on a trellising system in the way they have been cultivated for hundreds of years. Tiny chapels cling to the rugged cliffs. We pass through the coastal town of Atrani, where the lifestyle is relatively untouched by tourism. From the popular beach of Atrani, it is a short walk around a headland to our hotel in Amalfi. Walking near Ravello Lunch in Ravello Villa Ruffulo Accommodation: 4 star hotel, Amalfi Day 3 Walking through 'The Valley of the Mills' Today s walk takes in the Valley of the Mills, a narrow valley that was historically a hive of industry, with paper mills and iron works. Today it is largely back to its natural state, but it is fascinating to see the Ravello

3 remains of these historic buildings. Our trail takes us along one side of the valley heading inland, which gives us a quite different landscape and flora from the previous day s walk. The head of this valley is a nature reserve, with a series of waterfalls and lush forest wedged between dramatic limestone cliffs. Once we have arrived at the upper reaches of the valley we then follow the river back towards the coast. Lunch is picnic style, next to an old stone aquaduct which was once part of an iron mill. Following the river down the valley we then come across a series of old paper mills, which was an important industry here from the middle ages. We are back in Amalfi by mid afternoon, so there is plenty of time to explore here independently. Or just find your nearest café, put your feet up and sample the local specialty limoncello! Walking to the Valley of the Mills The river running through the valley Accommodation: 4 star hotel, Amalfi Day 4 Experiencing the 'Path of the Gods'! From our hotel we drive up to a high point above Amalfi, and from here we start today s walk which has the grand title 'The Path of the Gods' (Sentiero degli Dei ). This is one of the more popular trails on the Amalfi Coast, and walking along this path high above the sea you ll see why it has gained such renown. It commands fantastic views over the sparkling Amalfi Coast, down to tiny bays along the coast and right out to the island of Capri. The trail takes you through a mixture of wooded areas as well as typical Mediterranean countryside, Atrani Walking the Path of the Gods

4 rocky with wild herbs, flowers and scattered olive trees. Goat herders are often seen on the grassy terraces tending their flocks, and peregrine falcons soar high above. Near the end of the trail we stop for lunch in a local trattoria, before continuing on a short distance to the delightful town of Positano. You are free to wander the winding streets and seafront of Positano for the remainder of the afternoon, exploring the chic shops and cafes lining the bougainvillea shaded streets. Or have a swim to refresh yourself after the mornings walk. Late afternoon we travel on to our next hotel in Sorrento, on the other side of the Amalfi Peninsula. Sorrento is situated on the Bay of Naples, with view out to Naples and Mt Vesuvius. Walking the Path of the Gods Bougainvillea shaded terrace, Positano Accommodation: 4 star hotel, Sorrento Day 5 A coastal walk to Massa Lubrense Our walk today starts from Sorrento and takes us along the coast to a small fishing village, Massa Lubrense. This is an easy walk of about an hour and we spend some time exploring Massa Lubrense and browsing the shops stocked with local specialties. From Massa Lubrense we continue on foot up through the fig and pomegranate trees to a nearby farm where we have a real kilometre zero food experience for lunch. Most of the produce comes from the farm, or from the fishing boats that we ve just passed at Massa Lubrense. From our vantage The beach at Positano Shopping for limoncello

5 point looking out over the Bay of Naples, we enjoy a variety of courses such as grilled aubergines, swordfish, pasta and a range of cheeses, all washed down by wine made from the vines out the front of the restaurant. We return to Sorrento mid afternoon. Sorrento is a bustling centre, good for shopping and with great gelati. Our 4 star hotel here has great views and is a good spot for watching the sunset, with a glass of Amalfi Coast wine in your hand! The Bay of Naples from Sorrento Accommodation: 4 star hotel, Sorrento Day 6 A Trip to Capri From the port in Sorrento, we take a ferry out to the glamorous island of Capri. On Capri, there are several options. We offer a guided walk to some stunning areas along the coast of Capri, or alternatively you can independently spend the day browsing the boutiques in the town centre. Our walk starts and finishes from the piazza of the town of Capri. Passing a series of luxury villas and gardens, our circuit takes us to three impressive natural features. Firstly the Arco Naturale, a dramatic limestone arch high above the turquoise sea. Onwards along the coast we pass the Grotta Matermania, a spring transformed in Roman times to include mosaics dedicating it to the gods. Finally we reach the Faraglioni, the towering rocks emerging from the sea which are such a distinctive feature of Capri. An alternative to taking this walk is to simply enjoy the elegance and class of Capri, taking in the views and admiring the houses of the wealthy. There are Fishing boats in Massa Lubrense Walking on Capri Capri seaside restaurant

6 also some excellent gardens that can be visited. We return in the late afternoon by ferry to Sorrento. Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Accommodation: 4 star hotel, Sorrento Day 7 All Roads Lead to Rome This is the final day of the tour, returning to Rome in the afternoon. The Faraglioni, Capri On the way back we stop in for a visit to the war cemetery of Montecassino. This is at the site of a major World War 2 battle, and today there is a welltended cemetery with the Abbey of Montecassino on the hill above. We reach Rome around late afternoon. Montecassino