Rome, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

The trip starts today in the Italian capital Rome. With a history spanning over two and half a thousand years, the city is packed with iconic ancient sites, exhilarating architecture and artistic treasures. Its picturesque piazzas, neighbourhood cafes and bars make for excellent people watching. With so much to see and do you could easily spend many days here, so if this is your first visit, we strongly recommend arriving early and booking additional hotel nights before the trip starts. Your trip Leader plans to meet everyone at the hotel for a welcome meeting today at 6pm and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner afterwards for your first taste of Roman cuisine. There are no activities planned before the group meeting at 6pm tonight, so you can arrive any time before then. Should you miss the meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) which is around 45 minutes to an hour from the city centre depending on traffic conditions. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, put on a pair of comfortable shoes and head out to explore. Walking is the best way to see Rome. Flicking a coin in the Trevi Fountain and marvelling at the vast domed roof inside the ancient Pantheon are just two things every visitor to the city should experience. If you wish to visit the Vatican, Rome's most popular attraction, you should book tickets to the Museum tickets online in advance. Note the Vatican is closed to visitors on Sunday with the exception of the last Sunday of every month when entry is free although it can get very busy. Check the Vatican website (vatican.va) for updated information on opening times. Tickets for the Vatican Museum can be booked online at: biglietteriamusei.vatican.va. Please note that pre-booked tickets are not required if you just want to visit St Peter's Basilica.

We're up early today to beat the crowds, heading out on a walking tour to immerse ourselves in the life and soul of the city. Our first stop is the iconic Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre in the world and symbol of the Roman Empire. Built by Flavian Emperor Vespasian, the mighty arena could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators, all attracted by gladiatorial contests, mock sea battles and executions. Heading along the Via Sacra (Sacred Way) we arrive at the Roman Forum, the scene of public meetings and law courts, it was lined with shops and open-air markets and was the site of many of the city's most imposing temples and monuments. Forty metres above the Forum, Palatine Hill is the most central of the Seven Hills of Rome and considered the birthplace of the city, having been inhabited since 1000 B.C. The afternoon is left free for you to continue exploring. Make sure to find the time to stop along the way to join the locals for an essential espresso at a street side cafe or perhaps indulge in a delicious gelato.

A fast train this morning takes us to Naples. A city of diverse contrasts it evokes enormous pride among the locals. Its rich history, staunch Catholicism and endless charm make it one of the most engaging cities in Italy. Our tour leader will take us on a short walking tour of old Naples; through the old city streets, open air markets and narrow alleyways that give us a captivating insight into the city's heart, which has gone unchanged in essence for generations. For lunch today you might like to try the most famous Neapolitan cuisine, pizza. The traditional pizzas served here aren't as crispy as in most parts of Italy. They tend to be thinner in the centre so that the fresh tomato sauce collects and soaks into the base. It's normally then topped with a drizzling of olive oil, mozzarella and fresh basil. This afternoon our charter bus takes us on a trip to Mount Vesuvius. Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland and dominates the skyline between Naples and Pompeii, rising up from the flat, fertile landscape. Since the mighty eruption of AD 79, it has had another 18 violent eruptions. The last one, in 1944, surprised the Allied forces and destroyed an entire squadron of 88 B-25 bombers belonging to the American Air Force. From the car park at around 1000 metres the walk up to the volcanic crater rim at 1,120m is along a well-graded cinder track and the round trip takes around an hour. From the top there are remarkable views down to Naples, the coastal plain and the glistening bay. It's a short journey from here on to our hotel in Pompeii.

We're up this morning in time to get to the archaeological site of Pompeii for opening time. A guided walking tour takes us around this fascinating and remarkably well-preserved example of a provincial Roman city. The town once housed 15,000 people and was an important commercial centre, as well as a favourite residence of wealthy Roman patricians. Of course, on one fateful day some 2,000 years ago, this all changed when the powerful eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius buried the city, preserving the city and its citizens in layers of ash and pumice. On our tour, we will see the extensive colonnaded forum with its Temple of Jupiter and the magnificently-decorated villas, such as that of the Vetii. Human casts of some of the victims trapped by the eruption give an emotive snapshot of this catastrophic event. In the afternoon we take the inland route across the hills to the wonderful Amalfi coast. Our plan is to visit Ravello en route. A tranquil spot located high on a rocky promontory overlooking the azure coastal waters. The architecture here is a glorious mix of Moorish flair and aristocratic excess, and the town's captivating charms have attracted artists and writers to its enchanting streets for generations. Continuing on we reach our hotel in the small resort town of Maiori which has the largest beach along the Amalfi Coast, backed by a pleasant waterfront promenade.

We head out on foot from our hotel this morning along the spectacular Sentiero Dei Limoni (Path of the Lemons), with some great views towards Capri and along the Amalfi Coast. The route passes through terraced lemon groves, up and down ancient staircases and through alleyways to the neighbouring village of Minori. It's not a long hike; we expect the 2.5 kilometre walk to take us around an hour or so with plenty of stops along the way to admire the scenery. From Minori we'll catch the ferry along the coast to Amalfi. A great maritime power since the Byzantine era, Amalfi went on to reach its pinnacle during the Middle Ages, when it was an independent trading republic rivalling those of Venice, Pisa and Genoa. The beautiful 11th century Cathedral of Saint Andrea dominates the town - a magnificent combination of Romanesque and Saracen design, with an impressive set of bronze doors that hail from Constantinople. At the far end of the town lies the Valley of the Mills, a once important centre of Amalfi's paper industry, that today echoes with the ghosts of its past glories. The rest of today has been left free to explore Amalfi or perhaps head to the beach either here or back in Maiori. You could also choose to head over to Positano (approximately 15 km) by either public bus or ferry. A poor fishing village until the 1950s, Positano has grown into a chic town that is still a favourite with Hollywood stars.

We take the Amalfi Coast road to Sorrento today, a spectacular route with incredible views that hugs the cliffs and coves of the Tyrrhenian Sea, twisting its way past pastel-painted villages. On the Northern side of the Peninsula that takes its name, Sorrento perches atop the cliffs and overlooks the Bay of Naples. The historic centre is a warren of narrow alleys that's home to the Chiesa di San Francesco, a 14th-century church with a tranquil cloister that boasts a garden terrace with sweeping views over the bay. The centre and Piazzo Tasso (Central Square) are home to many quaint shops featuring the work of the local artisans and also restaurants where you can sample home-grown cuisine. The city is rich in historical and religious places of interest, including the remaining four gates of the old city walls. Upon arrival in Sorrento we'll head to a local lemon grove to learn about the cultivation of the famous lemons of the region and enjoy a tasting of home-made lemon products including flavoured olive oils and limoncello.

Today you are free to relax on the Sorrento Peninsula or perhaps to visit the island of Capri. It's just a short walk to the Port of Sorrento to board a hydrofoil ferry across to the island of Capri, which takes about 20 minutes each way. There are then multiple ways for you to explore the island, but we'd recommend taking a private bus excursion to the main sights of Anacapri and Capri. From Anacapri you could walk to the delightful museum and gardens of Villa San Michele and to the Villa Jovis - the ruins of the Roman Emperor Tiberius' cliff top palace with impressive views over the island. Alternatively you can take a boat to the famed Blue Grotto, which is a sea cave where the sunlight shines through it in such a way that it illuminates the waters and makes them appear bright blue. Go into the cavern to witness this natural spectacle.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Sorrento. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Sorrento at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Naples Airport (NAP), which is about an hours' drive from our hotel.