Copyright © 2020 Erika Chiappinelli Tour Guide. All rights reserved.
Guided tours
Coast and islands
COAST AND ISLANDS
- Sorrento - the land of lemons
- Amalfi Coast
- Capri - the blue island (Capri and Anacapri)
- Capri with Villa Iovis
- Ischia - the green island
- Procida - the postman's island
Sorrento - the land of lemons
Despite first impressions, Sorrento, one of the pearls of the coast of the Gulf of Naples, preserves traces of antiquity: the Greco-Roman urban layout, the Valley of the Mills, the cloister of San Francesco, the cathedral of San Filippo and Giacomo. The city is also known for being the birthplace of Torquato Tasso - the author of Jerusalem Delivered - to whom one of the main squares is dedicated. We will start right there to visit the charming town: during the guided tour, you can taste limoncello, one of the typical products of the coast, which boasts excellent quality lemons. The last stop on the tour is the municipal villa, where we can admire, from the terrace, the view over the Gulf of Naples.
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The coastal road, now SS163, is one of the most beautiful in Europe and allows you to admire from above the "vertical cities," such as Positano and Praiano. Views of the crystalline waters of the Amalfi Coast beaches alternate with terraces of lemon trees. The panorama is breathtaking, beyond imagination. First stop in Amalfi, with a visit to the Cathedral of Saint Andrew and the city. The ancient maritime republic excelled in the past not only in the naval field, but also in paper production. The tour then continues to Ravello. We move away from the coast to visit the city of music, with its cathedral and Villa Rufolo. Optional: visit to Villa Cimbrone.
Capri - the blue island (Capri and Anacapri)
Capri, just 5 km from Punta Campanella, the southern tip of the Gulf of Naples. With the hydrofoil we arrive at the port of Marina Grande, and from there we reach both towns, Capri and Anacapri, by the island's buses. The blue island is known today mainly for its high fashion shops and the wealth of its inhabitants, but there is more.
In Anacapri we walk through the narrow streets of the center, you can choose to take the chairlift to the highest peak of the island, Monte Solaro, or visit Villa San Michele, once the home of the Swedish doctor Axel Munthe. We continue by bus to Capri, and reach the famous "Piazzetta", which writers and artists of the late nineteenth century praised as the center of the good life, and we walk towards the Gardens of Augustus, built at the end of the 1800s by the German entrepreneur Friedrich Alfred Krupp. From there we see the Faraglioni and Marina Piccola, the island's VIP beach. During the day you will also have the opportunity to enjoy some free time on the island.
Capri with Villa Iovis
We arrive in Capri by hydrofoil, at the port of Marina Grande. We go up to the Piazzetta by funicular, while observing the terraced lemon trees, which grow abundantly on the blue island. Once in the Piazzetta, we begin our ascent, among panoramic views and dream villas, towards Mount Tiberio. There stands one of the twelve luxurious villas built during the imperial era by Augustus and Tiberius, Villa Jovis. It was the last residence of Tiberius, who, in love with Capri, decided to spend the last ten years of his life there. Some rooms of the villa are still visible, including the baths and water cisterns. It is said that the Roman emperor had a tunnel dug into the rock, connected to a sheer drop to the sea—the "Grotto of Tiberius"—from which he would throw his enemies, killing them. After visiting the villa, we return to the center of the island and continue towards the Gardens of Augustus, built at the end of the 19th century by the German entrepreneur Friedrich Alfred Krupp. From there we see the Faraglioni and Marina Piccola, the island's VIP beach. Return to the port of Marina Grande on foot or by funicular.
Ischia - the green island
You can't leave Campania without first visiting Ischia. The island originated from a volcano, Mount Epomeo, which, at 789 meters, is now the highest peak. Ischia is the largest island in the Gulf of Naples (46 square kilometers) and has six municipalities: the oldest is Lacco Ameno, which was a Greek settlement as far back as the 8th century BC. We arrive at the port by hydrofoil, and walk to Ischia Ponte, so called because a bridge connects it to its Aragonese Castle. We take a private bus for a tour of the island. Want to try Ischian culinary specialties? There will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a bruschetta with tomatoes and a nice glass of white wine, which on the island is stored in tuff caves, as well as the typical liqueur: rucolino. Ischia, Barano, Serrara Fontana, Forio, Lacco Ameno, and Casamicciola: each of the six municipalities has its own beach and its own thermal baths, famous worldwide for their beneficial effects on our health. Stop at Sant'Angelo, an ancient fishing village, and then continue to the port, to return by hydrofoil.
Procida - the island of Il Postino
Procida is the smallest island in the gulf, but also the most picturesque. Once we arrive at the port, we walk on foot, reach Terra Murata, the Vascello district, and finally the Abbey of San Michele. At Corricella, we can then notice all the colorful houses. This was how, in the past, sailors returning from a journey would recognize their own house from the sea. Capital of culture in 2022, Procida has inspired many writers and poets, from Alphonse de Lamartine with his novel Graziella, to Elsa Morante with Arturo's Island, and it was the set of Massimo Troisi's film Il Postino, which also gave its name to the Pozzovecchio beach. The island is a destination for religious tourism, for its Easter processions.
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Copyright © 2020 Erika Chiappinelli Tourist Guide. All rights reserved.