Amalfi is a picturesque town in the province of Salerno, in the Campania region of Italy. With its incredible views, it is the main town that makes up the very famous and UNESCO awarded Amalfi coast (Costiera Amalfitana). Amalfi sports some impressive medieval architecture, including its Cathedral of Sant'Andrea (St. Andrew), the church tower, and the convent of the Cappuccini, founded by the Amalfitan Cardinal Pietro Capuano. They richly represent the artistic movement prevailing in Southern Italy.
Optional Activities:
Amalfi – Fascinating Pompeii, with a “Whisper”: This land adventure is the opportunity to enhance your visit to the incredible site of Pompeii. A local guide speaks to you directly through the use of an audio headset, referred to as a "whisper". It allows you to listen to the wonderful detailed commentary of your excellent guides without straining to hear over other visitors and noises. From the ship quay in Amalfi, travel along the panoramic coastline and peninsula roads to the remarkably well-preserved ruins of Pompeii. Originally settled by indigenous people before the 8th century BC, and later ruled by Etruscans, Greeks, and Samnites, Pompeii became a thriving commercial center under Roman rule. It was a city full of shops, markets, and town houses, with paved streets, wide sidewalks, a stadium, two theaters, temples, and baths. Then, shortly after noon on August 24 in 79 AD, live cinder and ash from Mount Vesuvius covered the entire city. The community of 30,000 people was effectively embalmed. The material thrown out by the volcano was lighter than lava and enabled the city to be covered, with architectural detail, furnishings, household articles, and even foodstuffs and artwork preserved intact. Walk through the streets rutted by chariot tracks, past the ancient forum, the homes of the wealthy, and the shops of the common man. Caught in the moment of death, view body casts of the eruption's victims seemingly come alive in their struggle for breath, their desire to protect loved ones and their doomed attempts to escape. Those who visit Pompeii cannot help but be amazed and moved by this remarkable ruin and the story it tells of a city captured at the height of its power and the moment of its death.
Duration: 5 hours
Amalfi – Scenic Ravello: Enjoy a panoramic drive climbing up from the harbor in Amalfi to Ravello, one of the most famous and popular locations on the UNESCO awarded Amalfi coast. Ravello has long attracted writers, artists and celebrities, among them Greta Garbo, Gore Vidal (current resident), Richard Wagner, and D.H. Lawrence, who was inspired to write Lady Chatterley's Lover here. The winding route along the famed Amalfi Drive brings you to Ravello's main square, where you set eyes on the Duomo whose linear Romanesque facade is graced with a valuable bronze door made in 1179 by Barissano da Trani. To the right stands the 13th-century bell tower. Visit Villa Rufolo, a spectacular complex formed by the main palazzo and built in the second half of the 13th century, and various buildings in Arabian-Sicilian style on a wide terrace facing the gulf. Having entered the smaller 14th-century tower, continue along a small avenue flanked by cypresses and reach the Moorish courtyard, decorated with friezes and arabesques. Passing the knight's room, the picturesque belvedere opens up, a luxurious garden with pines, cypresses, and exotic plants. After exploring the villa, enjoy some free time to browse and shop among the friendly inhabitants of Ravello before returning to the pier in Amalfi.
Duration: 4 hours