CULTURE

 

Caserta and Cassino

Departure in the early morning. A lovely drive along the coast and on the highway to Cassino. Ascent to Mount Cassino and visit to the renowned Abbey. The Abbey, mother church of the benedectine order and a centre of medieval, was founded in 529 by St. Benedict over the ruins of an ancient acropolis. By the 8th century it was an important centre of learning, and by the 11th century had become one of the richest monasteries in Europe. During the Second World War, in 1944, the Abbey was bombed and entirely rebuilt in the same style soon after. Visit to the adjoining British war cemeteries that commemorate the soldiers killed during this battle. Free time for lunch.

The tour proceed to Caserta. Visit to the enchanting Royal Palace, built for King Charles of Bourbon by the great architect Luigi Vanvitelli, is know as the Versailles of Naples. The palace has 1,200 rooms and a richly decorated interior. The palace was the last great building of the Italian baroque, and though you can't visit each of its 1200 rooms, the ones you will see are as extravagant as they are exquisite. The majestic main staircase, whose 116 steps were all carved from one gigantic block of stone, is a perfect combination of rich marbles and dramatic perspectives. It leads to the splendiferous 25 rooms of the royal apartments. The extraordinary gardens are 3 Km long and their crowning glory is the great cascade, a 75 metres high waterfall which can be clearly seen from the palace. A truly memorable day out.

Important notice: In order to be allowed into St. Peter’s Basilica you must have covered shoulders & long trousers.

 

Salerno

Guided visit of the historical city centre of Salerno and of the ancient Salerno Medical School passing through Corso, Piazza Portanova, Via dei Mercanti (medieval quarter), Duomo, Minerva’s Gardens (tea tasting), Verdi Theatre, Villa Comunale (City Park) where you can taste the famous lemon ice cream, Lungomare, Arechi Castle.

 

Naples

Naples is situated in one of the most famous gulf in the world in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. The history of the city is visible in every  angle of the ancient partheopen city as well as in its gastronomy and traditions. The artistic treasure of Naples to visit are too many to count; historical centre is patrimony under the tutelage of UNESCO. Thousands of year of city history left  the prints on beautiful and numerous monuments, palaces, churches and waterfronts.  

 

Sorrento and Herculaneum

Departure from the hotel by bus, driving along the untamed beauty of the Amalfi Coast, through the picturesque villages of Conca dei Marini, Furore and Praiano. Photo stop at the famous Belvedere in Positano. Arrival in Sorrento and visit to an inlaid wood-work shop, the typical Sorrentine production. Free time to discover the beauties of Sorrento: in the lanes of the old city centre, still untouched in spite of the progress and mass tourism, have survived churches and ancient monasteries, keepers of valuable memories. Centuries old palaces and Durazzo portals evidence the splendour of the noble families of Sorrento. Via S. Cesareo, the lively "decumanus", is the beating heart of the town, with its many-coloured shops, where tourists from every part of the world crowd. But the real architectonic jewel of the town is the fourteenth century Cloister of San Francesco, with crossed tuff arches of Arabian derivation, where the traditional concerts of the "Estate Musicale Sorrentina" take place. Optional lunch. In the early afternoon departure to Herculaneum, a residential town buried in ashes by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 a.D. Guided visit to the archaeological excavations. Herculaneum was destroyed along with Pompeii in 79 AD, and was rediscovered in 1709. Il was e residential town without Pompeii's commercial importance, surrounded by the villas of wealthy Romans. Wben the catastrophe of 79 AD occurred, Herculaneum was buried by a torrent of mud that hardened into a sof tufa (a kind of course rock) that preserved many of the wooden parts of houses and household objects which can b eseen today. A large portion of old Herculaneum is still buried under the modern town and even today excavations are going on to discover what treasures lie buried under the rock. Return in hotel in the afternoon.

 

Pompeii and Vesuvius

Pompeii holds an intense fascination for visitors today. Following the eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 A.D., Pompeii lay buried and forgotten for hundreds of years. The town is high on the list of the Wonders of the world and the excavation  begun in the 18th Century are still being carried out today. Pompeii can be considered the only archaeological site which gives the real image of roman city. Our guide will take you slowly through some of ancient streets of Pompeii where you can see Baths, Forums and Villas built by the prosperous Romans in the year 80 B.C. Marvel at the fabulously preserved frescos which adorned the walls and floors of the Villas. Even if your interests do not lie in history, this is an archaeological site that cannot fail to impress you. Free time to lunch.

Departure by coach to Mount Vesuvius up to 1000 meters of the top of the volcano and from here you can walk to the very top escorted by a specialized guide and admire the splendid panoramic view. Mt. Vesuvius is the best known volcano on earth and only active volcano in the mainland of Europe; it dominates the Bay of Naples with its characteristic cone. Proceeding along the rim of the crater, you can observe the whole extent of the southern part of the volcano and, during days with good visibility, it is possible to see the entire gulf of Naples, from the Sorrento peninsula to Cape Miseno, Procida and Ischia. On the journey back visit to one of the most prestigious cameo and coral factories, to see the typical production of cameos.

 

Pompeii and Herculaneum

Do not miss great occasion to combine the two most famous archaeological sites in Campania! Departure in the morning by coach to Pompeii. Visit to the archaeological excavations of the Roman city buried  by Vesuvius eruption  to discover the conditions and contexts of ancient life which were suddenly interrupted in the night between the 24th and 25th of August, 79 AD, when the eruption of Vesuvius buried, under five meters of lapilli and ash, this small city on the Campanian coast. Free time for lunch. Continuation to Herculaneum, the other city buried by Vesuvius with Pompeii. Visit of the archaeological excavations. Where Pompeii is an insight into a busy commercial centre, Herculaneum by contrast was a quaint residential coastal town. Not to be missed if you want to discover another side of life during the Roman Empire. Please not this tour is not suitable for unless mobile as is a very long day walking into excavations sites. On the journey back to Amalfi Coast stop to a famous cameo atelier of the area.

 

 

Ravello & Country side

We will drive trough the wonderful countryside of the Amalfi Coast with its local traditions. Departure to Ravello and visit of the fascinating Duomo, built in 12th century, and of the famous Villa Rufolo with its bell-tower and the enchanted place which gave the right inspiration to Richard Wagner for its music. Do not miss a photo on the Villa Rufolo Belvedere, the famous terrace where summer classical concerts are held! Free time for shopping. Our tour will continue to Tramonti, along a breathtaking road up to the mountains, to discover the different local activities with their own traditional crafts: visit to a limoncello factory and to a wine cellar to taste the typical limoncello liquor and the wine of the Amalfi Coast.

 

 

Paestum

Leave the hotel by coach to Paestum. Visit to the archaeological site: Paestum has been for a thousand years a romantic ruin in the midst of a solemn wilderness. Its Doric temples, hardly surpassed even by those of Athens in noble simplicity and good preservation, produce an incomparable effect of majesty and grandeur. The ancient site is set in a grassy field surrounded by gardens and hills. Although the site is small, it's so charming that you may want to spend time just relaxing here. Visit to the exceptional museum, that holds finds excavated from the site and around, including a set of archaic period Greek metopes. Here you will find the tomb paintings, one of which, the so-called "Tomb of the Diver", is a graceful and expressively naturalistic piece of work, the only existing example of Greek wall painting in Italy. Return to the hotel in the afternoon.

 

 

Rome

Rome, one of the most artistic and cultural centre in the world, leaves a deep impression on all who see it. The “Eternal City” blends history, culture, art and romance to create a truly magical atmosphere. A daily trip escorted by expert guides. Departure by coach via “Autostrada del sole”. Arrival in Rome at 12.30 approx. Free time for a light snack. Visit to the Vatican City with its monumental St. Peter’s Square, the masterpiece constructed by Bernini and the imposing Basilica, heart of the Roman Catholic Religion. Discover the city with our specialized guide! Sightseeing tour by coach: Castel St. Angelo, Villa della Farnesina, Sisto Bridge, Tiberin Island, Pyramid, Marcello Theatre,  Circus Maximus,  Piazza Venezia, Palatine Palace, Campidoglio, Via S. Gregorio, Costantine Arch. Visit to the Coliseum, the most important monument of the ancient Rome, where bloody battles between gladiators and against ferocious animals were once held. Continuation by coach admiring Santa Maria Maggiore, Republic Square, Via Nazionale, Quirinale Palace and Trevi Fountain where you will have free time for shopping. During the journey back dinner in Cassino. Arrival time at the hotel expected for midnight.

Rome is so rich and unique in history and so much more – it’s no wonder it’s the eternal city!

Important notice: In order to be allowed into St. Peter’s Basilica you must have covered shoulders & long trousers .

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