Vantage World Travel

Grand Tour of Campania 6D/5N

Start in Naples, a spectacularly chaotic city of bustling streets and picturesque squares on one of the most famous gulfs in the world, dominated by Mount Vesuvius. The savory flavors of the elaborate Neapolitan kitchen, including pizza and delicious pastries will certainly satisfy the most discriminating palates. Boat to Ischia, known for its miraculous thermal waters and great seafood, before climbing Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano with spectacular panoramas and visiting ancient Pompeii. The archaeological excavations reveal a refined, vivacious civilization characterized by an expansive and beautiful center, shops and elegant villas, public places and temples. Then its is on to the Amalfi Coast, one of the most famous shoreline dotted with beautiful sites. Check the legendary shops of Positano, visit the liquor laboratories where prized lemons are made into sweet limoncello in Amalfi, the multi-colored ceramics laboratories in Vietri or relax looking out at breathtaking panoramas in Ravello. Taste true Mozzarella di bufala in Paestum along with a visit of the magnificent Greek temples in one of the richest and most important archaeological areas of the Magna Graecia civilization. Finally to Irpinia, able to surprise the gourmet with its high quality products such as wonderful cheeses, excellent wine, and local chestnuts.

Irpinia - The territory is largely mountainous, with an intricate network of hills and valleys and a predominantly limestone Karst topography. rpinia is centred on the section of the Apennines which runs from the Sella di Ariano to the springs of the Sele River, to the south are the Picentini Mountains, which include the highest peak of the region, Mount Terminio, and from which extends the Sorrentine peninsula. The name “Irpinia” derives from the Oscan word “hirpus”, which means wolf, and the wolf remains Irpinia’s symbol to this day. Oscan tribes of the Sabines, under demographic pressure, migrated towards this area in the 6th century from what is now Umbria. Taurasi and Taurasi riserva are red wines based principally on the Aglianico grape variety and produced in Irpinia. They were awarded DOC status in 1970 and DOCG status in 1993.

Amalfi Coast - This spectacular coastline which embraces the charming resort towns of Positano, Praiano, Amalfi and Ravello, where the narrow road laces its way around precipices defying gravity and which provides us with one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the world, invites us to imagine ourselves back in the sunny carefree days of the sixties - for here the beauty and romance of those times has not changed. Houses and hotels are perched in spectacular locations to capture the magnificent views.
The soft greens of hills and valleys, the azure sea and sky, and the warm, faded yellow-pink buildings all meld together in this palette of seductive colour. In small villages the air is heavy with the scent of roses and carnations. As you walk along the narrow, paved streets, the pink flowers of the oleanders hang over crumbling stone walls - and the effect is one of mellow beauty. Completely and utterly charming in its simplicity

Tour Operation

Transportation:

• Self Drive - For those wanting to explore this region at their own pace as it allows you to be mobile at all times, to stop whenever you want, to visit to your heart’s content. It is also the Best Value available as to cost
• Chauffeur Driven - When only the best will suffice, an exclusive chauffeur-driven limousine will provide the ultimate in service and luxury. Our English-speaking experienced drivers still know what it means to give polite and reliable service, you will find them responsible, caring, discreet and completely dedicated to your enjoyment.

Accommodation: A great variety of properties are available, from quaint small hotels to deluxe accommodation including boutique properties and castles, to suit every taste and budget. Our experts will suggest the best properties for you in each region as required by your itinerary.

Visits: You will have the opportunity to visit local companies and producers where the most distinguished regional specialties are produced and see where the most famous grapes have been grown, with the opportunity to walk among the vineyards - local producers and wineries will be suggested depending on your itinerary

Restaurants: We have carefully selected regional restaurants where you will have the opportunity to experience and taste the very best of the cuisine specific to each region.

Possible Visits on the program: La Fattoria del Casaro-mozzarella di bufala, Mozzarella di Bufala Tenuta Vannulo, Cantine Gran Furor, Vini Pietratorcia, Vini Villa Dora, Formaggio Agerolatte, Viticoltori de Conciliis, Cooperativa Val Calore, Vini Mastroberardino, Vini Caggiano, Formaggio Caseificio Gambone, Liquori e dolciumi Strega

Suggested Daily Itinerary by Area:

• Naples - After breakfast we will devote the entire day to Naples, a spectacular, chaotic city located on one of the most famous gulfs in the world. Looming overhead is Mount Vesuvius, the crucial point of reference in the landscape Only a guided tour will untangle us from the city traffic, thereby allowing us to enjoy the bustling streets, picturesque squares, splendid monuments and great cuisine. Castel Nuovo, the historical St. Charles Theater, the Gallery Umberto I, Piazza Pebiscito, the Royal Building, and San. Francesco da Paola relay a first impression of this expansive city A city both animated by Spaccanapoli, the Spanish Districts, and magnificent in its churches, Gesù Nuovo, the basilica of Santa Chiara and the Cathedral. Naples’s rich cultural past is presented by the fascinating Archaeological National Museum and the Museo di Capodimonte. The savory flavors of the elaborate Neapolitan kitchen, including pizza and delicious pastries will certainly satisfy the most discriminating palates. In the evening, we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
• Ischia - Famous for its miraculous thermal waters, Ischia has long been the favorite destination among German tourists. Its gastronomic specialty is the ischitana style rabbit, a very rare dish. However, fish dishes are also extraordinary here. In the afternoon we will leisurely enjoy one of the island’s famous thermal parks, relaxing in a variety of thermal water programs. In the evening, we will arrive at the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
• The Vesuvius and Pompei - It is impossible to visit Campania without having climbed Mount Vesuvius. This active, imposing volcano provides us with spectacular panoramas. In the afternoon we will visit ancient Pompeii, lying at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, which erupted in 79AC, burying the town in ashes. The archaeological excavations reveal a refined, vivacious civilization characterized by an expansive and beautiful center, shops and elegant villas, public places and temples, and streets and squares. The visit to the excavations in Pompeii, an excellent way towards understanding the culture of the region, concludes the day’s tour. In the evening, we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.



• The Amalfi Coast and its products - After breakfast we will departure for the picturesque Amalfi Coast. In the morning we will visit an excellent, quaint wine cellar built within rocks, located in the village of Furore. The rest of the day will be devoted to the beautiful sites along this famous shoreline. For example, Positano, with its legendary shops, is a town clinging on a rocky slope to the sea. Or Amalfi, with its splendid Cathedral, workshops where paper is crafted, and liquor laboratories where prized lemons are made into sweet limoncello, Then there is Ravello, with its splendid villas that dominate a breathtaking panorama. Many other attractive villages follow, until we reach Vietri, the town of multi- colored ceramics. In the evening, we will arrive at our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
• Mozzarella di bufala and Paestum - Hand-made or factory produced, mozzarella di bufala, is unique for its freshness, intense taste and wonderful consistency of its dough. After breakfast, we will drive to Paestum, an area well- suited for the production of this famous cheese. There, we will visit a well-known dairy which produces true mozzarella. After lunch we will visit the magnificent temples of Paestum, which is located in one of the richest and most important archaeological areas of the Magna Graecia civilization. In the evening, wewill return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
• Taurasi and caciocavallo - Irpinia is able to surprise the gourmet with its high quality products such as wonderful cheeses, excellent wine, and local chestnuts. During the morning we will visit the abbey of St. William al Goleto, a monumental complex that sparkled throughout the Norman-Hohenstaufen and French Age. Despite the inevitable damage from the ruinous 1980 earthquake, the charm of the abbey is still intact. Irpinia is also home to great wines. We will visit one of the most prestigious wine cellars producing Taurasi and later have a guided tasting. In the afternoon Montella offers a blend of taste and art, and in one of its local dairies, we will learn about the production of caciocavallo podolico (a type of cheese made from cow’s milk and made in an elongated or round shape). Nearby is the the impressive church of San Francesco a Folloni, which guards the 15th century sepulcher of Count Diego, the first. Cavaniglia. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Contact us for your Own Itinerary

We know each region inside out and can prepare “the” specific itinerary you desire with the exact services you need.

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