2006 Tours > Travel with DVA • Taste of Italy • Fantastic Florence • Southern Treasures • Italian Wedding • Sail Italia • Travel notes and links

September 18 - October 1, 2006

SOUTHERN Treasures

 
 
 
 
 

The “SOUTHERN TREASURES” adventure is all about unforgettable beaches and unbelievable history…

The breathtaking scenery of the AMALFI COAST, picturesque Positano, creamy gelato, Capri caves, historical Pompeii and Paestum. SICILY and the volcanoes, the islands, Greek influences, Mount Etna and more beaches. The bay of bella NAPOLI, the archeological museum, Baroque churches and the authentic pizza. The eternal city- ROME, the gladiators, the Vatican and the angels in the Sistine Chapel, a piazza and a fountain around every corner...
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HIGHLIGHTS…

  • Tour begins Day 1/September 18, at the Naples Capodichino Airport
  • Tour ends Day 14/October 1, after breakfast at our Rome Hotel
  • $2,460 to $2,580 tour price covers:
  • All 13 nights accommodations in centrally located 3 star hotels: 
    • 4 nights in Positano, Amalfi Coast (ocean view rooms)
    5 nights in Taormina, Sicily (main pedestrian street in town center)
    3 nights in Rome (5 minutes from Pantheon and Trevi fountain)
    1 night ferry crossing (1st class double cabins with shower)
  • All admission fees and over 15 site visits with “licensed” local guides to:
    • Ancient cities of Pompeii and Paestum,
    Sicily’s town of Taormina, the Greco Roman Theater, the Aeolian Islands, Mount Etna, Palermo’s Duomo and Monreale’s Cathedral
    Naples city, Archeological Museum, and various churches
    Rome’s Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Coliseum and Roman Forum.
  • All transport by private bus, large ferries, small boats and chairlift to itinerary events.
  • All taxes and tips (guides, drivers, dinners, hotel staff etc.)
  • All daily breakfasts, plus 4 lunches and 5 dinners, all with wine.
  • Full time services of bi-lingual guide.
  • Group size of 16 to 20 travelers

Adventure price is “Land Only” and based on selected accommodation (superior or standard, all with private bath and full 3 star amenities)

Dolce Vita will gladly assist with flight arrangements.

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DETAILS…

MONDAY 18 / DAY 1:
TOUR BEGINS, NAPLES AIRPORT/POSITANO
We’ll meet at the Naples Capodichino Airport and from there drive south down the incredible Amalfi Coast to beautiful Positano, a colorful fishing village dotted with geranium pots and lemon trees.  There’s time to relax and enjoy the ocean view from your private terrace before this evening’s Benvenuti dinner at Luigi’s beachfront ristorante. (D) (Night 1 of 4 in Pos)

TUESDAY 19 / DAY 2:
POMPEII/RAVELLO/POSITANO
After breakfast we’ll visit the fascinating ancient buried city of Pompeii (AD 79). Our expert local guide, Raffaele will vividly bring to life the Roman life of 2,000 years ago. Afterwards, we’ll drive up to the stunning hilltop town of beautiful Ravello for a delicious late lunch at Villa Maria. We’ll walk off lunch with a stroll through the fuscia and rose filled gardens of Villa Cimbrione, and venture out to the Terrace of Infinity to marvel at the towns and coastlines below. Back in Positano by late afternoon and the evening’s yours to explore. (B, L) (Night 2 of 4 in Pos)

WEDNESDAY 20 / DAY 3:
CAPRI/POSITANO
Today we’ll head to the famous island of Capri where we’ll take a private boat tour around the island to view the famous Faraglioni rocks and the many luminous caves. Have your bathing suits ready for a quick jump in Capri’s incredibly clear blue waters! Back on the island we’ll take a private ride up to Anacapri for a fun chairlift to the highest peak giving us a full 360-degree view of the island. Free time in Capri before our late afternoon boat back to picture perfect Positano. (B) (Night 3 of 4 in Pos)

THURSDAY 21 / DAY 4:
POSITANO
Free day to explore and enjoy, maybe a visit to the next town of Amalfi to find the best limoncello flavored gelato? Or maybe a day at the beach?  Tonight we’ll enjoy a feast of a dinner at our friend Enzo’s. (B, D) (Night 4 of 4 in Pos)

FRIDAY 22 / DAY 5:
PAESTUM/SICILY/TAORMINA
After breakfast we’ll say arrivederci to Positano and continue our journey south. Our first stop will be another step back in history to Paestum (5th century BC), where our knowledgeable wonderful guide Silvia will share the story and meanings of the massive Greek temples still standing today. Coincidentally, this area is also known for its mozzarella, so we’ll have to stay for lunch before traveling further down the boot, along the unspoiled coastline of Calabria. In San Giovanni we’ll take a short ferry ride over to the exotic island of Sicily, and magical hill top town of Taormina. (B, L) (Night 1 of 5 in Tao)

SATURDAY 23 / DAY 6:
TAORMINA
Wake up to the sounds of an Italian morning and the aromas of the café’ down the street, wake up in the very heart of ancient and enchanting Taormina. We’ll begin our morning with a walk through town on main street Corso Umberto. We’ll end up in the audience seats of the Greco Roman Theater (3rd century BC), mesmerized by Signor Fanara’s stories of Phoenician, Greek and Roman centuries of influence and struggle. By noon you’ll be eager to explore this magnificent town on your own. (B)
(Night 2 of 5 in Tao)

SUNDAY 24 / DAY 7:
AEOLIAN ISLANDS/STROMBOLI/LIPARI/TAORMINA
We’ll meet after your free morning and venture north, where we’ll board a boat for a day’s tour of the volcanic Aeolian Islands. We’ll have various stops in Lipari and Volcano, for shopping, swimming and exploring. Tonight’s dinner will be on board the boat, with a showy background of Stromboli’s volcanic eruptions, glowing like fireworks in the night sky. (B, D) (Night 3 of 5 in Tao)

MONDAY 25 / DAY 8:
TAORMINA
A free day for you to explore and enjoy ~ maybe a cable car ride to the towns below to search for more marzipan and almond wine? Or maybe just another day at the beach? (B) (Night 4 of 5 in Tao)

TUESDAYS 26 / DAY 9:
MOUNT ETNA/ZAFFERANA/TAORMINA
Today’s excursion will take us up the still active Mount Etna. These are views of nature unlike anything you’ve seen before. You can walk around the 2 “smaller” craters, the cafés and shops – or you can grab your sweatshirt and join me for the optional cable car ride (20 minutes) higher up the volcano for a “walk on the moon.” On the way back from Mount Etna we’ll stop at a lovely Sicilian wine estate for a late lunch and some wine tasting. During our scenic bus ride Mr Fannara will again regale us with fascinating stories of his land, from the real Mafia beginnings to the current political state today – it beats reading the book! (B, L) (Night 5 of 5 in Tao)

WEDNESDAY 27 / DAY 10:
PALERMO/MONREALLE/FERRY CROSSING
After breakfast we’ll leave Taormina and cross the width of the island headed for the capital, Palermo. Signora Laura will point out the city’s unique mix of styles- Moorish, Norman, Spanish Baroque and more, the Teatro Massimo (remember the Godfather?) and a visit to the impressive Duomo. We’ll leave the city and go to the nearby smaller town of Monrealle to view its unforgettable 12th century cathedral, filled and gleaming with golden mosaics. Time to relax in the little piazza and find a panino! Early this evening we board our overnight ferry (first class cabin accommodations with private showers) and cross the Tirrenian sea like pirates and explorers centuries before us, except we’ll be enjoying a nicer dinner, a piano bar, karaoke, playing poker and writing postcards... (B, D) (Night 1 of 1 on ferry)

THURSDAY 28 / DAY 11:
NAPLES/ROME
If you’re lucky, you’ll wake at dawn- in time to take a photo of the sun rising behind Mount Vesuvius as we pull into the beautiful Bay of Naples. What a treat to start the day in one of Naples’ oldest Cafés, with fresh out of the oven hot “sfogliatelle” and a creamy cappuccino. Carolina will meet us for breakfast and take us around the heart of Bella Napoli to see the most beautiful Italian churches, the glorious art and colorful streets. We might have time for the famous life-like marble Veiled Christ at San Severo. Next is the elegant shopping district around the Royal Palace and San Carlo Theater where we’ll eventually meet for lunch of an authentic Neapolitan pizza! Before leaving, a brief visit to the amazing Archeological Museum for the classical sculptures and Pompeian artifacts. Board the bus and settle in for a ride to Rome. When we arrive, we might need to stretch our legs, maybe a walk to nearby Piazza Navona for a late night gelato (B, L) (Night 1 of 3 in Rome)

FRIDAY 29 / DAY 12:
ROME HISTORY
Buon giorno, you’re waking up in the eternal city- Caput Mundi- Roma! Today we’ll combine several incredible sites with one goal in mind- an easy to digest Roman Empire lesson spanning thousands of years. Easy, with the help of a fantastic art-historian guide, Elizabeth. We’ll start at the Roman Forum, the Circus Maximus and walking with the gladiators at the Coliseum. After a lunch break we’ll cross the Tiber river to visit the Vatican, Saint Peter’s Basilica (the largest, richest church in the world), the “Pieta”, the Raphael Rooms, and of course the unforgettable ceilings of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The evening’s yours. (B) (Night 2 of 3 in Rome)

SATURDAY 30 / DAY 13:
ROME
The perfect way to spend your last day of vacation, a free day to wonder the streets of Rome, throw your leftover coins in the Trevi fountain, “refine” your passeggiata and your new appreciation for “la dolce vita”…. At tonight’s arrivederci dinner we’ll plan our next trip! (B, D) (night 3 of 3 in Rome)

SUNDAY 1 / DAY 14:
END OF TOUR AFTER BREAKFAST 
I’ll be available to help with your easy transfer to the Rome Airport, train station or for any other extensions and travels. Buon viaggio! (B)

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