Naples •Amalfi Coast •Mt. Vesuvius

Retracing the Ancient Traditions of Southern Italy through

Agriculture, History, Culture, and Local Food

•Learn the sea and the land through guided excursions along the Amalfi Coast and

Mt. Vesuvius with geologists and plant specialists, local farmers and fishermen

•Learn the food visit the countryside to see the water buffalo and cows that

produce the famous cheeses of Campania: DOP bufala mozzarella, ricotta, &

provolone. Learn techniques of Italian bread making and visit farms of the Sorrento

peninsula and Amalfi Coast to participate in seasonal harvests and planting.

• Learn the history Explore the important archaeological sites of the Bay of Naples

including Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Herculaneum, and the city of Naples with expert

local guides. Draw parallels between ancient culture and modern day

•Learn the culture of Southern Italy in the company of locals who introduce us to

their deeply rooted traditions of food, craft, dance, music, and local markets.

• Meet the people –local farmers, artisans, winemakers, archaeologists, musicians,

fishermen, artists, and many others who will share with you the history, culture, and

invaluable wisdom of the century-old traditions of Southern Italy.

10 DAY TOUR

The following are example excursions from past programs. We are open to suggestions to visit new sites iand

explore different themes of the culture, art, and history of the Naples region.

Day 1- Arrive in Naples by 12 noon

At lunch on the farm Excursion to the countryside of Benevento, the most

important area in Campania for olive and wine production. Welcome lunch

with the Carone family and tour of their farm followed by performance of

traditional Neapolitan folk music in the vineyards and olive groves.

Overnight : Naples

Day 2 Naples - Entire day walking tour of Naples labyrinthine side streets, alleyways, and curiosity shops.

Highlights include but are not limited to: Naples archaeological museum, the Duomo, the underground

Roman amphitheater of the Emperor Nero and 3,000 yr old Greek aqueduct. Lunch in one of original

pizzerias such as Da Michele featured in “Eat, Pray Love,”or Sorbillo along the historic Via dei Tribunali

street where the famous pie was invented. Afternoon sunset walk to Castel dell’Ovo for panoramic view of

the city. Overnight: Naples

Day 3 Theater – From Totò to Eduardo De Filippo, theater in

Naples has played a very significant role both historically and

in the artistic expression of everyday life. On every street

corner, you can see the theatrical way Neapolitans converse

amongst one another. Depending on the season, we will enjoy

a performance at one of the historic theaters: San Carlo Opera

House or Teatro Bellini (shown left)- exquisite examples of

Baroque architecture where Mozart played and dazzled the

Neapolitans. Performances will be announced closer to

departure date and depend on the season. Overnight: Naples

Day 4 Sailing the Bay of Naples Experience the role the sea plays for

the city of Naples and surrounding towns. Visit the bustling fish

markets located near the main train station in Naples, then set sail

with a local fisherman and a skipper from the Naples port for a tour

of the Naples coastline, dotted with castles, fortress towers, and

villas. Overnight: Naples

Day 5 Ancient Pompeii OR visit Sorrento peninsula- Private guided tour of the ancient Roman ruins of

Pompeii with local archaeologist or participate in cooking lessons in Sorrento. Availability also depends on

the season (Fall: wine production, olive collection and olive oil pressing, Spring: the making of a traditional

Neapolitan Easter Feast). Overnight: Sorrento Coast

Day 6 Hike Mt. Vesuvius and Volcanic wine - Morning hike to the crater of Mt. Vesuvius with guide and

afternoon at organic winery, Cantina del Vesuvio located on Mt. Vesuvius. The Vesuvian land has been

cultivated for wine production since the Roman times and today still continues to produce the Lacryma

Christi (Tears of Christ) and Falanghina that are staples at every dinner table. The winery owner and

vintner, Maurizio Russo, will explain the characteristic effervescence

that distinguishes Vesuvian wines as a result of the fertile soil and

mineral deposits from Vesuvius’ eruption. Overnight: Sorrento coast

Day 7 Foraging in the Mediterranean (Guided Hike along Amalfi Coast)

Guided hike with plant specialist and geologist along the Walk of the

Gods, the breathtaking trail that connects the mountain villages of

Agerola with the Amalfi Coast. The path has been important for

farmers, villagers and shepherds for centuries due to the plethora of

Mediterranean medicinal herbs and edible plants. Lesson in local

foraging and plant/herb identification. Hike followed by lunch in

Positano. Overnight: Sorrento coast

Day 8 Paestum and Mozzarella - Located a few miles east of the Amalfi

Coast, the Tenuta Vannulo is the only organic farm that produces real

bufala mozzarella in Italy. Their cheese is even consumed by the Vatican

in Rome! We will tour the farm with a veterinarian, learn how the buffalo

are mozzarella cheese is made and sample the cheese produced before

our eyes. Afternoon visit to Paestum to experience the Southern Italy’s

Greek past and explore the ancient temples of Magna Grecia. Highlights

of the large site include the standing remains of three temples dating

from the first half of the 6th century BC, dedicated to the ancient Greek

gods Hera and Athena. Overnight: Sorrento coast

Day 9 Slow Food day Meet the Sorrento chapter of the Slow Food

association and participate in hands-on workshops and cooking lessons.

ARRIVEDERCI! Overnight: Sorrento coast

ACCOMMODATIONS

We choose to stay in small centrally located pensions, renovated monasteries for the Naples-based excursions and family-run bed & breakfasts or restored farm villas for excursions in the countryside. For more information, please contact: Audrey Fastuca Audrey.fastuca@gmail.com Vico del Fico al Purgatorio 1, Naples Italy Cell Italy (011) + 39- 393-95-65-903 Skype: audgepodgeitaly