The Wonders of the Gulf

The tour will begin with our arrival in Naples, a city with a thousand faces forged by centuries of history. After settling into our hotel, we will set off to discover the colours, sounds and atmospheres that characterise the Neapolitan city. A free lunch awaits us in the bustling historic centre, where we will stroll through streets and alleyways that, chasing each other between churches and noble palaces, will welcome us with all their cheerfulness and liveliness. On this occasion we will be able to immerse ourselves in a food tasting experience, enjoying the famous Neapolitan street food, which encompasses a wide variety of products, from savoury to sweet to the inevitable coffee, experiencing authentic and surprising flavours. After exploring the city and admiring its buildings and famous cultural attractions we will dine at a local restaurant, experiencing the flavours of Neapolitan cuisine.

Lunch at

Cibarè or equivalent

Hotel planned for days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

B&B Napolart or equivalent

The Phlegrean Peninsula and the Gulf of Pozzuoli await us, to welcome us in a dimension rich in historical evidence and natural beauty. We will leave for Bacoli, where we will visit with a guide the Piscina Mirabilis, the imposing Roman cistern dug entirely out of tuff (second in size only to the Byzantine cistern in Istanbul). We will admire this majestic work of hydraulic engineering called "the Cathedral of Water" (precisely because of its size), which supplied the Roman fleet at Miseno and numerous neighbouring cities. We will then stop at the hamlet of Baia, where we can visit the Aragonese Castle overlooking the sea and the 18th-century Casina Vanvitelliana, a small jewel of Bourbon architecture surrounded by the waters of Lake Fusaro. After a free lunch, our day will conclude with a return to Naples for dinner in a local restaurant serving Neapolitan cuisine. We will return to the hotel for an overnight stay and prepare for another day full of discoveries.

Dinner at

Cibarè or equivalent

We will dedicate this day to discovering Procida - Capital of Culture 2022 - which we will reach in the morning leaving from the Port of Naples by hydrofoil. While we are at sea, just a few minutes from the landing, the island will immediately be admired in all its bright colours and the unmistakable silhouettes that characterise its typical architecture. Once we arrive, we will visit the historic centre that has not lost its authentic appearance as a small fishing village, and we will cross stairs, arches and courtyards belonging to dwellings and buildings of different shapes and colours. We will then visit Palazzo d'Avalos (a nobleman's palace that later became a Bourbon hunting lodge and then a prison, now disused) which with its imposing forms dominates the island from Terra Murata, the highest point in the area; here we will embrace Procida with our gaze and see it open up to us in all its uniqueness. Lunch is planned in a local restaurant where we will sample typical island dishes; finally, in the afternoon, we will return to Naples and enjoy a free dinner in town.

Lunch at

King Ferdinand or equivalent

We will leave for Herculaneum, where a guided tour awaits us at the picturesque archaeological site that, together with Pompeii, Torre Annunziata and other neighbouring towns, suffered damage from the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city, hidden for centuries as a result of being buried by mud and debris carried downstream by the eruption, is precisely the place from which - in 1748 - excavations began that brought to light treasures, riches and extraordinary frescoed representations that still allow us to immerse ourselves in a real Roman city of the 1st century AD. Here we will forget our surroundings and will be projected into a dimension outside time, strolling among ancient public buildings such as baths and shops that alternate with villas and private dwellings, different in their decorations and architectural conformations. Afterwards, we will move to a winery located on the slopes of Vesuvius, a fertile land and perfect ecosystem for growing vines and other territorial specificities. We will immerse ourselves in the flavours that characterise the enogastronomic tradition of this area, savouring its typical products, accompanied by a tasting of local wine. After a day spent in the Vesuvian atmospheres of the past and present, we will return to Naples in the afternoon for a free dinner followed by a return to the hotel.

Lunch at

La Cantina del Vesuvio or equivalent

We will depart from the port of Naples by hydrofoil to Capri, one of the most exclusive destinations in the entire Gulf. Here we will begin our visit to the towns of Capri and Anacapri among the picturesque alleyways with their flowering pergolas, among the white houses crossed by arches and terraces and among the slarghi overlooking the sea, we will enjoy the suggestive view of the Faraglioni with their unmistakable and world-famous silhouettes; We will make a stop at the famous Piazzetta Umberto I, which takes us back to the characteristic atmosphere of the 1950s, and head to Anacapri, with the possibility of visiting Villa San Michele, the historic residence of the famous Swedish doctor Axel Munthe who, having fallen in love with the island's views and environment, lived here for more than 56 years, collecting numerous archaeological finds in his elegant home. After a free lunch, we return to Naples where an excellent dinner awaits us at the hotel.

We will move on to Ischia, the largest of the Phlegrean islands, made up of no less than six municipalities spread over its territory and characterised by its thermal baths and rich and luxuriant nature, which has earned it the nickname 'Green Island'. We will be able to acclimatise ourselves to the island atmosphere during a free lunch, after which we will stroll along the Porto area and move on to the Ischia Ponte area for a visit to the Aragonese Castle. The castle (which is actually built on an earlier construction dating back to the 5th century B.C.) is structured as a veritable citadel and stands on the highest part of an islet connected to the mainland by a bridge. On the citadel, among narrow streets, stairways and buildings attached to the main body of the castle, we will explore this nucleus that retains to all intents and purposes the characteristics of a fortified village. Afterwards, we will dine in a characteristic local restaurant, where we can immerse ourselves in the typical gastronomic tradition of Ischia, and finally return to our hotel.

Hotel planned for days 6 and 7

hotel neptune or equivalent

We will begin the day with a visit to the Bay of Sorgeto, which represents a peculiar and identifying place on the island, and is the full expression of the volcanic nature of the area and its thermal vocation. The Bay, in fact, hosts a fresh thermal (hot) water spring that flows directly into the sea. The two waters mix in a meeting of currents, where it is possible to immerse oneself in total relaxation and experience the benefits. Next, we will visit Borgo Sant'Angelo (in the municipality of Serrara Fontana), the area of the island inhabited mainly by fishermen and characterised by the islet that stands out in front of it. Here we will find the typical Mediterranean village made up of colourful houses directly overlooking the sea and breathe in an authentic atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, elements that dominate the entire area, which is reserved exclusively for pedestrian traffic. After a free lunch and an afternoon spent strolling around the island, we will dine in a typical restaurant and then return to the hotel.

Dinner at

Trattoria da Peppina or equivalent

After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Naples by hydrofoil. Once we arrive at the port, we will go to the airport, and say goodbye wishing to see each other again soon for the next tour!