Positano, Ischia & the Amalfi Coast – Premier Collection

Itinerary

• Day 1
  Fly to Naples - Start your Premier Collection escape with a flight to elegant Naples, where your friendly local tour manager will be waiting to welcome you. Board a coach from the airport and travel across the Campanian countryside to the seaside town of Agerola, the ‘Green Terrace’ of the Amalfi Coast, where you’ll be free to settle in at leisure.   This evening, return to the hotel’s restaurant for a first dinner as the sun sets over the glorious Sorrentine Peninsula.
• Day 2
  Day at leisure - Enjoy a leisurely start to your first full day on the Amalfi Coast with breakfast at the hotel and spend the rest of the day as you see fit. If you’d prefer to relax, the hotel’s Panorama Pool offers the perfect spot to cool off in the Sorrentine sun, and you can soak up the region’s delightful vistas from the bar or its private terraces.   If you’d prefer a more active day in the south of Italy, there are bus services from Agerola to the port cities of Sorrento and Salerno, with stops in several charming coastal towns, from Praiano to elegant San Lazzaro.   However you choose to spend your day, reconvene at the hotel for dinner and perhaps an evening cocktail looking out over the Tyrrhenian Sea.
• Day 3
  Included tour of Ischia - Get ready for one of the highlights of your week, a fascinating tour of idyllic Ischia, with breakfast at the hotel and head west to Sorrento for a hydrofoil (small boat) sailing to the island’s eastern shores.   Dock in Ischia Porto, the bustling harbour town capital of the island, and travel along the coast to the magnificent Aragonese Castle, an island fortress which cuts an imposing figure out of the ocean. Cross the castle’s medieval stone bridge, which has connected the two islands for more than 600 years, and uncover the dramatic local legends, love stories and battles which underpin its history with an expert local guide. Here, you’ll find the fascinating remains of monasteries, churches and convents nestled amongst lush gardens and centuries-old ramparts that offer panoramic views over the Gulf of Naples. There’s also a gallery and museum area which showcases traditional Ischian culture and the work of local artists.   After exploring the castle, cross the causeway to Borgo di Ischia Ponte, a fascinating sprawl of ancient churches, noble houses and fishermen’s houses. As you wander the village’s winding alleys, you’ll be perfectly placed to experience life in modern Ischia, accompanied by the sights, sounds and scents of its bustling street markets.   This afternoon, you’ll have a few hours at leisure to discover the island’s four major towns, starting with Barano d’Ischia, where you’ll find the island’s earliest traditions still lovingly preserved by locals. Next will be Serrara Fontana, which promises unobstructed views over sacred Mount Epomeo, the island’s largest volcano, and the vast Bay of Naples. Continue to Forio, the crown jewel of Ischia’s West Coast, and discover the popular Poseidon Thermal gardens and La Mortella, a colourful oasis established in the 1950s, before ending the day in Lacco Ameno. This elegant resort town is renowned for its world-class spa areas and looks out over Il Fungo, a peculiar mushroom-shaped rock stack.  Later this afternoon, return to Ischia Porto for the sailing back to the Italian mainland and return to the hotel for dinner.  
• Day 4
  Included visit to the Royal Palace of Caserta and wine tasting - An unexpected highlight of your time in Campania awaits today with a full-day visit to Caserta’s spectacular Royal Palace. Once you’ve had breakfast, join your tour manager for the scenic drive north through the Campanian countryside.   As you approach the palace from its ceremonial avenue, you’ll enjoy your first few glimpses of its sprawling Versailles-inspired gardens and the building’s grand Baroque design. As the largest European palace built in the 18th century, this grand building is the legacy of Charles II of Bourbon, who commissioned its construction, and has inspired visitors and locals alike for generations.   Accompanied by an expert local guide, you’ll explore the Royal Palace’s remarkably well-preserved chambers, complete with their original furniture and artwork, and its spectacular throne room. Among these opulent halls, watch the region’s royal history come to life, and after your tour, you can venture into the palace gardens. While in Caserta, be sure to visit the English Garden, which is home to more than 220 floral species, and the Via d’Acqua, a three-kilometre track of waterfalls, basins and intricate marble fountains.   Next, head to a wine farm on the outskirts of Caserta for a tasting session of the region’s fine local labels and watch the sun set over Campania. Arriving back in Agerola later this evening, you can enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.  
• Day 5
  Day at leisure or optional Ravello and Amalfi excursion - Once you’ve had breakfast this morning, you’ll be free the rest of the day as you wish.   If you’d like to add a little more excitement to your day, an optional excursion, taking in the colourful, cliff-side towns of the Amalfi Coast, will also be available. Starting with a scenic drive south, you’ll stop first in Ravello, an elegant village built more than 1,200 feet above sea level. Nestled amongst the towering limestone cliffs for which the region is known, this hilltop town was once a refuge for noble families fleeing the Doge (Duke) of Amalfi. While here, be sure to visit Villa Cimbrone, with its famed Terrace of Infinity, and the 13th-century Villa Rufolo for the best views of the Amalfi Coast.   You’ll then continue to the colourful town of Amalfi. While here, the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle is a must-see, with its spectacular striped Byzantine facades, frescoed inner cloisters and collection of ancient Christian relics. Also of interest nearby is the Paradise Cloister, a Moorish garden with fascinating frescoes and carvings. This historic town was also the seat of Italy’s oldest maritime republic, and you can learn more about its role as one of the Mediterranean’s strongest medieval trading powers at the Ancient Arsenal.   Return to the hotel for the rest of the evening at leisure and enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers. 
• Day 6
  Included tour of Positano and Sorrento - Watch the sun rise over the Tyrrhenian Sea this morning with breakfast at the hotel and continue your exploration of the Amalfi Coast with excursions to Positano and Sorrento.  Your first stop today is Positano, a world-renowned nest of pastel-hued houses which are steeply layered along the nearby cliff faces. The town is considered one of Southern Italy’s most enchanting spots and has become a popular retreat for the rich and famous. In the centre of town, you’ll find the captivating Church of Santa Maria Assunta, with its enthralling majolica-tiled dome. Inside, you can view a famous Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary, amongst the church’s intricate tiled cloisters. You can also see the Roman Archaeological Museum or soak up life on the seafront with some time on the town’s popular marina.   Continue to Sorrento, a charming maritime hub overlooking the Bay of Naples, where you’ll have a few hours to explore under your own steam. The town is officially recognised as the birthplace of Limoncello liqueur, and you can pick up a bottle of your own or a traditional Campanian handicraft on the Corso Italia (main street). If you’d prefer a more laid-back day in Sorrento, you can watch the world go by from one of Piazza Tasso’s delightful cafés and pavement-side trattorias. The energetic can also venture out to the Bagni Regina Giovanna, a secluded lagoon crowned by an ancient Roman villa.    This evening, return to the hotel for dinner and the rest of the evening at leisure.
• Day 7
  Optional morning cooking class and included afternoon Pompeii visit - Enjoy an easy-going morning or learn how to cook like a local with an optional masterclass at a local kitchen. Here, guided by an expert chef, you’ll learn how to make a number of regional delicacies across the morning, before settling in to taste the fruits of your labour over lunch.   This afternoon, you’ll head out on a guided tour of the breathtaking ruins of Roman Pompeii in the company of a local guide for a walking tour. Destroyed, and yet miraculously preserved, by the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in 79AD, Pompeii lay buried and forgotten for hundreds of years. The lost city was rediscovered in the 18th century, and since then, excavations have continued to reveal more of this ancient wonder. As you explore the villas, temples and frescoed houses under the guidance of your tour manager, you’ll get a vivid insight into Roman life.  Afterwards, return to the hotel for dinner and the rest of the evening at leisure. 
• Day 8
  Return to the UK - Bring your Campanian getaway to a close this morning with a final few hours at leisure in Agerola and breakfast at the hotel, before heading back to Naples for your return flight to the UK.