Tour Latium - Campania , Art and the Sea: from Rome to the Vesuvius

Of all Italy's historic cities, it's perhaps Rome which is the most compelling. There's more to see here than in any other city in the world, with the relics of over two thousand yeras of habitation packed into its sprawling urban area.
What the foreigners usually remember best about their Italian vacations is the people, the lifestyle, the local color and the food -and nowhere on the peninsula are these ingredients present in such undiluted quantities as in Naples. The city offers ornate Baroque churches, a world-class Royal Palace, two massive fortresses and a pair of superb museums but truly, the 1 Tourist Attraction in Naples is its streets, its shops and its people. Sorrento is located on a tuff coast and is reflected in the Gulf of Naples, fascinating tourists and visitors, attracted by breathtaking views and landscapes. From time immemorial Sorrento has exercised a particular charm which has attracted poets and literary men like Goethe, Stendhal, Byron, Ibsen, musicians like Rossini, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Wagner. Among the famous visitors of Sorrento we can remember also Enrico Caruso, Giacomo Casanova, Charles Dickens, Helman Melvill, Friedtich Nietzche ed Axel Munthe. Positano - exclusive haunt of many VIPs, with its houses clinging to the mountainside is a perfect example of the Amalfi Coast's attraction. Everywhere in the world, Positano is synonymous with romance and glamour. Its gleaming white houses seem to cascade down the steep hillside, crisscrossed with myriad sets of steep, narrow stairs. Boutiques abound, selling the unique clothing and souvenirs that make this special town a shopper's paradise. Ravello - a hill town facing the sea, known for its quiet and evocative charm. Amalfi - The legendary Amalfi coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world. No one who has ever seen it forgets its crystal blue waters, steep dark green hillsides, jewel-like hill towns and silent lemon groves. With its splendid past as a Marine Republic, has a splendid seafront and a Cathedral rich in sacred art. The island of Capri: this marvellous island offers lovely walks through its maze streets with fashionable boutiques and smart resturants. The strenght of the sea formed a rocky coastline around the island and created remarcable caves. It is a sea of emotions, a dream, a million charming secrets to discover: maybe Capri it really is an Enchanted Island.

ITINERARY

1 Day:
In the afternoon half day guided visit of Rome

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2 Day:
Full day guided visit of Rome the Eternal City: Piazza Venezia, the Campidoglio, the Colloseum, the Vatican.

3 Day:
Departure for the Campania region. Stop in Caserta for the visit of the famous Reggia. Continuing to Naples and short visit of the centre. You will see ornate baroque churches, a world-class Royal Palace, two massive fortresses, but the first tourist attractions in Neaple is its streets, its shops and its people. Then continue towards the Sorrento coast

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4 Day:
The entire day is dedicated to the visit of the island of Capri. This magical island offer spectacular views and dramatic scenary. In Anacapri visit of the Villa S. Michele and from this little village a chairlift lead to the top of Mount Solare from where a magnificent view of the sea can be enjoyed. Continue the trip to the village of Capri to relax in its famous "Piazzetta", the pulsing heart of the island.

5 Day:
Full day excursion along the Amalfi coast, the prettiest and most romantic coast of Italy, with a stop in Positano, Ravello and Amalfi. Ravello visit at the Villa Rufolo, where Richard Wagner found the inspiration for the Parsifal. Then on to Amalfi, one of the four sea faring Republics in Italy. Visit Piazza del Duomo, from where there is a splendid view of the 9th century cathedral.

6 Day:
Departure for Pompeii and visit of the excavations. Pompeii is the most visited archaeological site in Europe, located in a stupendous setting at the foot of Vesuvius. As you walk through the streets of ancient Pompeii you are catapulted back in time to before the 24th of August 79 AD when the fury of Vesuvius buried the flourishing city. The thick layer of volcanic material which submerged it, made up to a large extent of ash and lapilli. The city has remained intact until the present day, not only as far as its buildings are concerned, but also as regards the contents inside the houses and shops, providing an absolutely fascinating picture of "daily" life.

7t Day:
At disposal for optional excusions and departure

OPTIONAL VISITS / EXCURSIONS

Vatican Museums
Located in the Vatican Palace, they are the largest, richest, most compelling and perhaps most exhausting museum complex in the world.

Etruscan sites
In the surroundings of Roma there are several important Etruscan archaeological sites. These include Tarquinia, Cerveteri, Veio and Tuscania.

The Catacombs in Rome
The catacombs are underground corridors and passageways that were built as communal burial grounds.

Paestum
One of the enduring images of southern Italy is that of three Greek temples standing in fields of wild red poppies. The trio are among the best-preserved monuments of Magna Graecia, as the Greeks called their colonies in southern Italy and Sicily. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Ischia island
Although nowadays Ischia is especially loved by Germans, it was the Greeks who first colonised the island in the 8th century BC, calling it Pithecusa. Largely volcanic, it has long been noted for its thermal springs, which pull in the punters as much as the beaches.