Italy: Amalfi Coast to Puglia

Begin in Naples, a vibrant mecca for locals and travelers alike. Volcanic landscapes give way to medieval architecture and Grecian lanes, creating a unique culture exclusive to Naples. Settle into your new home for the next 2 nights and admire the view of crashing waves and bobbing boats. Toast to the start of your Italian getaway over dinner, looking out over the deep blue Bay of Naples to Mt. Vesuvius looming in the distance. (D) Stay: Royal Continental Hotel (2 Nights)

Explore Naples' exuberant historic city center (UNESCO) and underground ancient ruins with a local guide. Visit the Sansevero Chapel, home to the Veiled Christ statue, rumored to be created by alchemy due to its carved flowing cloth. During your afternoon at leisure, consider visiting the nearby National Archeological Museum and peruse relics from Pompeii.

Tonight's Impact Moment comes in the form of a private concert, performed by the Napulitanata social enterprise, which supports Italian heritage and abates the city's high unemployment. (B)

Feel the ghosts of the past as you wander through Pompeii with a guide.

After you've explored the public baths and private villas, get a new perspective on the volcanic countryside with a visit to a nearby winery. Layers of ash have transformed the timeworn soil into a fertile vineyard. Enjoy a wine tasting with lunch before continuing to the beloved Amalfi Coast. Watch the sun fade along the horizon in coastal Minori, your new home for the next 4 nights. (B/L/D) Stay: Hotel Villa Romana, Minori (4 Nights)

A fishing village of terraced lemon groves, Minori exudes the quintessential Amalfitana vibe. Start your morning in a garden and learn about sfusato lemons, used in limoncello. Sample this fragrant liqueur in a pastry shop before hiking along the coast. You'll trek the rugged Path of Lemons - an ancient, hilly route that links Minori with the nearby town Maiori. Explore on your own before returning by boat. The remainder of the day is yours. (B)

Journey by boat to Amalfi, the rocky coast's namesake town. Formerly a maritime republic, Amalfi puts a historic spin on the seaside hubs, containing cobblestone piazzas and towering mosaicked cathedrals.

After a few hours on your own, ferry past tumbling cliffs and pastel-colored houses on your way to Positano. Enjoy a free afternoon in this resort town, perhaps browsing the posh boutiques or resting along the beach. Return to Minori by ferry. (B)

Look down upon the Amalfi Coast from Ravello, a picturesque village with the best vantage point of the winding coastline. Then, it's your choice! Visit the gardens of Villa Rufolo, making your way through a latticework of hedges and flowers to gaze out at the azure waves below -OR- hike the half-mile trail down to the remote gardens of Villa Cimbrone before returning to Minori for an afternoon at leisure. (B/D)

This morning, discover one of Italy's delectable cheese products during a visit to a dairy farm. Taste freshly made mozzarella for lunch before continuing south to Matera (UNESCO), whose inimitable scenery has been featured in blockbuster films. Experience the town's cave dwellings, your home for the next 2 nights. Each cave is unique, half-excavated and half-carved from the land. In these unparalleled accommodations, connect with the Italian landscape like never before. (B/L) Stay: Locanda di San Martino Hotel (2 Nights)

Note: The 8 Oct 2024 departure has alternative sightseeing on this day and stays at La Suite Hotel (2 Nights)

Hike into Matera's 9,000-year-old history on a guided walking tour along its hillside caves, narrow passages and steep alleys known to locals as the Sassi. The afternoon is yours to explore more of Matera's heritage. Perhaps you'll visit the remarkable Palombaro Lungo underground water cistern or head out of town for a hike through the surrounding countryside dotted with prehistoric caves and medieval rock churches. (B)

Cross into the Puglia region and pause at an olive grove to learn about the different kinds of oil before continuing to Lecce, a Baroque powerhouse of limestone. Get to know the city with a local expert and take in its iconic architecture and papier-mâché craftsmanship. Dine your way around Lecce in the evening with a multi-stop dinner in the city center. (B/D) Stay: Santa Chiara Suite Hotel, Lecce (2 Nights)

The day is yours. Lose yourself in the city's charismatic ambience - full of winding lanes, sun-kissed piazzas, and hidden cafes. Perhaps you'll join an optional excursion to Otranto and a nearby winery, featuring a tasting of wine from the region's dark-purple grapes. No matter how you spend the day, reconvene in the evening for a private folk music and dance performance, highlighting the traditional pizzica e taranta. According to legend, spider bites cause the women to dance with feverish energy. (B)

Stop in Ostuni, a whitewashed town surrounded by olive trees. Zoom through the town like a local in the backseat of an open-air Ape Calessino, a traditional 3-wheeled car. Enjoy time on your own before arriving in Alberobello. Make your way to your personal room, a converted house that will serve as your home for the next 2 nights. Make the most of a free evening to independently discover the town's secrets. (B) Stay: Trulli Holiday Albergo Diffuso, Alberobello (2 Nights)

Say “buongiorno” to Alberobello (UNESCO), a whimsical city that hosts a collection of cone-shaped trulli homes. Meander through a labyrinth of these gnomish houses, sometimes featuring symbols with superstitious connotations. The afternoon is yours to explore. As the day draws to a close, wish Italy goodbye at a farewell dinner. (B/D)

Depart for home with treasured memories of rocky shores and cobblestone streets. (B)