Authentic Italy Spring 2022 Travel Itinerary
The Magnificent Cilento and Amalfi Coasts of Italy!
There are many ways to visit Italy but experiencing authentic Italy can be rare. If boarding a bus at dawn each day, seeing tourist attractions and returning home exhausted is not what you are looking for, then this travel itinerary is for you. With this in mind you can experience Italy with a well-traveled guide – Me – Italian speaking citizen of Italy!
Spring 2022 features a visit to the amazing Cilento Coast of Italy located south of Naples in the region of Campania. This magnificent coast offers a true representation of the wonderful Italian lifestyle. Learn more about the Cilento coast here. Highlights from the 2021 visit to the Amalfi Coast can be seen here.
Daily Itinerary
April 26, 2022 – Depart for Naples Italy – either from Chicago O’Hare or other airport depending on your location
27 April Arrive Naples Italy – We will meet in Naples at mid-day for group transportation to the hotel.
Naples is Italy’s third largest city; founded by the Greeks and developed by the Romans, is a melting pot of culture and art. The Neapolitan approach to life is decidedly carefree. Its wonderful sweeping bay, music and food are at the center of life. You will quickly be won over by the soul of the city!
Once we have gathered our baggage our comfortable motorcoach takes us to the beautiful Grand Santa Lucia Hotel. After check-in, we will enjoy a typical Neapolitan pizza lunch at a small trattoria – a short walk from the hotel. We will have a short “meet and greet” at the trattoria and have a chance to meet one another.
Take a little time to settle in at the hotel. Dinner on your own at one of the local sea front trattorias easily walkable on the lungomare (traffic free promenade for walking.) Zi Terese is highly recommended!
Visit Greek Ruins, An Elegant Agritourismo, and Arrive at San Marco on the Cilento Coast
28 April – After a leisurely and elegant breakfast at the hotel our motorcoach awaits as we depart for Cilento Coast of Italy. We will have stops along the way where we will visit ancient and preserved Greek ruins in the city of Paestum. Following our tour of the ruins we will stop at the beautiful agritourismo, San Salvatore Dispenza, for a late lunch, glass of wine or a snack. Once we arrive at San Marco, we will check in at Approdo Hotel and Spa (located directly on the sea) in San Marco Italy. Dinner on your own. You may want to check out an optional spa treatment or your choice while staying at the Approdo.
Medieval Village and tour of Castellabate and Acceroli
29 April – Following a leisurely breakfast at a table by the sea we will tour of the medieval city of Castellabate perched at the top of the mountain. This ancient city (developed in 1123) has not changed since medieval times but is home to the population of 10,000 people. Next, we will move on to Acceroli, one of three villages studied extensively to learn more about the extreme longevity of the area’s population. A walking guide will assist with history and knowledge of this area. Dinner on own at one of the typical trattorias in San Marco or at the hotel.
The Famous Village of Pioppi, Guided Tour of the Ancel Keys Museum
30 April – We will visit the village of Pioppi with a guided tour of the the Ancel Keys Museum. Pioppi is famous for the place where Keys lived and conducted his research for 40 years and is the discoverer of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle of longevity. Keys work and is the most published and studied among all research on nutrition and diets. Following the tour of the museum we will enjoy either a cooking demonstration or visit a vineyard. Dinner on your own.
Discover the Cilento Coastline by Boat – Lunch prepared onboard with our own Chef
1 May – We will tour the Cilento Coastline by boat! A personal chef will accompany us and will cook and serve our lunch onboard our boat!
Enjoying the Countryside of Italy, A Stop at Vietri Sul Mare and Arrive at Maiori on the Stunningly Beautiful Amalfi Coast of Italy!
2 May – Mid Morning (or Late Morning) after our leisurely breakfast by the sea we will transfer by comfortable motorcoach from the Cilento Coast to Maiori Italy. Enjoy the ride and the views of the open countryside of Italy! Once on the Amalfi Coast we will stop along the Amalfi Coast in Vietri Sul Mare. You will have time to explore this small village with its exquisite ceramics, coffee bars and trattorias. We will then check-in to Hotel San Francesco, settle in, take a brief guided walk of the city center followed by a specially prepared group dinner by the Neapolitan chefs in the evening.
Enjoy a Free Day for An Optional Tour of Your Choice
3 May Following a leisurely breakfast on the terrace overlooking the sea at the Hotel San Francesco you will have a free day for optional tours – Pompeii, Positano, Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello, or other sights you may want to take in. We will arrange these once we are at the hotel and based upon your preference.
A Day on the Island of Capri
4 May – Following a leisurely breakfast on the terrace of the Hotel San Francesco we will travel by boat to visit to the Island of Capri. After a fascinating day on the island of Capri enjoy a specially prepared group dinner in the beautiful dining room at the San Francesco hotel.
We Depart from this Wonderful Experience Only to Return Again One Day
5 May – Following our leisurely breakfast and saying our goodbyes to the wonderful staff at the hotel, we will depart for Naples airport in the morning only to promise to return in the future. You will take with you more than souvenirs but a new perspective on a life well lived!
Recap of What’s Included and The Amazing Pricing
Per person $3500.00 Double Occupancy
Single Supplement is an additional $500.00
Price includes all land transportation, first night hotel in Naples, four nights at the Approdo Hotel and Spa on the Cilento Coast, three nights at four-star hotel San Francesco in Maiori Italy. All breakfasts, welcoming pizza lunch and meet and greet at a Neapolitan trattoria after arrival, specially prepared lunch on board our tour of the Cilento Coast, three specially prepared dinners by Neapolitan chefs, all tours museum and everything listed in the itinerary above.
Experience authentic Italy with your well-traveled guide – Me – Italian speaking citizen of Italy!
Contact me here if questions or to reserve your place. (carol.carolina.danca@gmail.com)
Airfare costs:
Airfare varies depending on how soon (or late you reserve your flight.) I will have a proposed itinerary soon. We usually travel on United with Lufthansa as its partner for best pricing and service.
A $500.00 deposit holds your spot – payable by check, Venmo or Zelle. Final payment is due in January 2022.
Note: This is a small, personalized travel experience with a limited number of travelers – 20 or less. If interested, please do not wait until the last minute to reserve your place.
Pace of the trip.
In contrast to many “tours” this is not a trip where we will be up at dawn, looking at tourist attractions all day and returning at night exhausted. We will fully experience authentic Italy at a pace allowing us to absorb the beauty, culture, food, the people while enjoying the Italian lifestyle.
Experiencing Italy requires walking.
With that being said, Italians walk, and we will be walking a lot. Streets in Italy are not smooth and paved, escalators do not exist, may times there are steps. Moreover, we will not be taking taxis. In fact, they are rare on the Amalfi Coast. Experiencing another country as Italy requires to live like a local. If you are not a fan of walking this likely is not the trip for you. I will be happy to speak with anyone that has questions about the amount of walking ensuring expectations are met.
