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 [email protected] Vico del Fico al Purgatorio 1, Naples Italy Cell Italy (011) + 39- 393-95-65-903 Skype: audgepodgeitaly
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