Amalfi Coast & Apulia
6 nights & 7 Days
Bask in the glorious sunshine and azure waters of Southern Italy exploring the picture-perfect regions of Campania and Puglia. Combining panoramic sea views and landscapes, welcoming people, deep rooted cultural traditions, and of course an idiosyncratic cuisine, Italy’s boot-tip offers a stark contrast to any area of the country you’ve seen before!
Start off on the stunning cliffs of the Amalfi Coast where you’ll learn the secrets of the precious “Colatura di Alici”, before heading across the regional border to Puglia where you can sample rustic regional dishes in a charming traditional “Masseria” (farmhouse) surrounded by olive groves. You’ll also explore the breath-taking ancient Greek temples in Paestum, Alberobello’s “Trulli” (conical rooved houses) and Lecce’s beautiful Baroque architecture.
Pasquale Torrente
Chef
Pasquale Torrente was born in Cetara, a quaint village on the Amalfi Coast. Il Convento - the family trattoria opened in 1969 by the parents in a seventeenth-century cloister - is considered one of the best trattorias in Italy and serves unforgettable spaghetti with "Colatura di Alici", Cetara's symbolic product. Pasquale didn't stop there and brought his cuisine all over Italy and around the world: from Rome to Istanbul to Dubai. Extremist and visionary, he defines himself as "homeless", but in his wanderings around the world, he always carries a bottle of "Colatura di Alici", the precious anchovies sauce.
Amalfi Coast and Apulia
6 Nights and 7 days
Day 1 - Arrival
Your base to discover this unique area will be the Hotel Santa Caterina of Amalfi, a special place to experience the finest of Italian hospitality. You will be welcomed with an aperitif, and you will enjoy dinner at the hotel Michelin Star restaurant "Glicine" with a spectacular view of the Amalfi bay.
Overnight at Hotel Santa Caterina
Day 2 - Amalfi Coast wines and Ravello
Drive Along the Amalfi Coast through the picturesque villages of Minori and Maiori to reach Tenuta San Francesco Winery in Tramonti. You will have the opportunity to taste the Costa d’Amalfi DOC wines; an unforgettable experience rediscovering the old aromas and flavours of rural land. Once you reach Ravello, on the cliffs above Amalfi, you only have to enjoy the beauty and soaking it in. Beauty in the panoramas, in the luxuriant gardens and the food.
Overnight at Hotel Santa Caterina
Day 3 - Cetara and Amalfi
A day focused on a noble descendant of Garum, which the ancient Romans used as a universal condiment, Colatura di Alici of Cetara. Discover the secret of this speciality by visiting the local producer “Nettuno” and how to use it in the cooking class held at the Restaurant Al Convento di Cetara of the Chef Pasquale Torrente. Before going back to the hotel, enjoy a pleasant stroll along the Amalfi alleys.
Overnight at Hotel Santa Caterina
Day 4 - Paestum: Temples and Mozzarella
Take a trip back in time with the visit to the archaeological site of Paestum with its perfectly preserved Greek temples. The area around Paestum is famous not only for its temples but also for the local herds of buffalo, which produce the excellent fresh buffalo mozzarella beloved worldwide. You will have the opportunity to taste this and many other amazing products on your way to Paestum at a local producer.
Continue to Matera for a unique “Sassi” Experience at the Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa.
Overnight at Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel&SPA
Day 5 - Matera and Valle d’Itria
Have a stroll in Matera "Sassi" neighbourhood and visit its remarkable cave dwelling before continuing to Apulia. On the way to your next accommodation, you will have the chance to stop in Valle d'Itria, one of Apulia's most characteristics areas, and visit some of its quaint villages as Alberobello or Martina Franca.
Palazzo Ducale Venturi, in the heart of Salento, will be your base for the rest of your itinerary.
Overnight at Hotel Palazzo Venturi
Day 6 - Lecce
Your exploration of Salento will start with a visit to Lecce, one of the most beautiful towns in Apulia, where you’ll enjoy a wonderful walking tour around its precious Baroque treasures. In the afternoon you’ll reach Gallipoli, on the Ionian coast, to explore its picturesque old town and learn more about Apulia’s gold - the olive oil. You’ll visit an ancient underground oil mill and then transfer to a modern farm to learn about the olive oil making process and taste the final product.
Overnight at Hotel Palazzo Venturi
Day 7 - Departure
It is time to say goodbye and see you soon for your next journey!!!!!
Postcards
Discover some of the most remarkable wineries, farms, villages and restaurants you will touch during this journey.
Hotel Santa Caterina
A late 19th century liberty style villa immersed in the beautiful scenery of the Amalfi Coast. An elegant seaside residence surrounded by the perennial blue of the Mediterranean sea and sky, by luscious bougainvillaea and by lovingly cultivated olive groves and fruit orchards.
Tenuta San Francesco Winery
In Tramonti, in the heart of the Amalfi Coast, Tenuta San Francesco produces rare, unique and authentic wines, from ancient and pre-phylloxera vines. Several indigenous grape varieties such as Tintore, Piedirosso, Pepella, Falanghina and Ginestra hold in their bunches the history, aromas and tastes of this land.
Sitting high in the hills above Amalfi, nearly 265 meters above the Tyrrhenian Sea, Ravello is an elegant, refined town where a bohemian atmosphere reigns. Great personalities such as Wagner, David Lawrence and Virginia Woolf all spent a lot of time here. Today it is known for its luxuriant gardens and jaw-dropping scenery - certainly the most stunning on the Amalfi Coast.
Amalfi
Amalfi is one of the pearls of south Italy, the biggest city of the Amalfi Coast and the oldest Marine Republic of Italy. Rich in history and art, it gives its name to the homonym Amalfi Coast, famous worldwide and a World Heritage Site UNESCO since 1997.
Al Convento di Cetara Restaurant
Al Convento is a family restaurant in Cetara, part of the Michelin Bib Gourmand list. The cuisine is based on the best products of the territory, starting with anchovy sauce and Tyrrhenian fish, pasta and oil. The techniques have refined over the years, but they adhere to the idea of cooking that it represents.
Colatura di Alici
Paestum has a long tradition of buffalo breeding and a surprising concentration of dairies offering high quality buffalo mozzarella from Campania. "Mozzarella di bufala campana' is a fresh, pliable cheese with a elastic texture made exclusively with fresh whole cream buffalo milk. It is characterized by a porcelain white colour and possesses a delicate flavour and typical sweet smell. It is produced following strict guidelines laid down by the 'Consorzio di Tutela' whose job is to guarantee Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP's authenticity.
Nettuno
Cetara, a small village on the Amalfi Coast, is known worldwide thanks to the "Nettuno" factory, which has been dealing with the famous and exquisite anchovy sauce, "Colatura di Alici" for decades. The company was founded in 1950 by Raffaele Giordano, and it is currently managed by the founder's sons, who carry on the family tradition with passion. The production of tuna and anchovies is always linked to the local fish; the products are entirely handmade to preserve and offer the authentic flavours of Cetara.
The temples and ruins of Paestum are excellent examples of ancient Greek architecture, built of limestone that has weathered to a yellow tone. It’s been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.
Buffalo Mozzarella
Paestum has a long tradition of buffalo breeding and a surprising concentration of dairies offering high quality buffalo mozzarella from Campania. "Mozzarella di bufala campana' is a fresh, pliable cheese with a elastic texture made exclusively with fresh whole cream buffalo milk. It is characterized by a porcelain white colour and possesses a delicate flavour and typical sweet smell. It is produced following strict guidelines laid down by the 'Consorzio di Tutela' whose job is to guarantee Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP's authenticity.
Matera
This remarkable city carved into the rock is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited in the world since the Paleolithic era. The most visited part of the city is the historic neighbourhoods of the "Sassi" (literally, "the stones") that are composed of cave dwellings hewn from the rocky slopes of the La Gravina ravine. This traditional construction is the reason why it was declared UNESCO's heritage site in 1993.
In the 1990's most of the cave dwellings were renovated to house hotels, restaurants, cafés, boutiques and galleries, whilst historical monuments such as the Cathedral and other ancient churches were beautifully restored.
Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa
Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & SPA is a new 5-star hotel of charm and relaxation, designed to give the unique experience of a stay in one of the oldest cities in the world: Matera. It is located on a ridge by the Sasso Caveoso district and has 35 rooms and suites, set in the tuff walls, a wonderful SPA and a swimming pool carved into the rock.
Valle d’Itria
The Valle d'Itria is a picturesque valley of olive trees and vineyards. It's one of the most popular destinations in the region and it is known for its iconic Trulli, dry stone walls and charming towns.
Each town in the Valle d'Itria has its own gastronomy speciality, whether it is the capocollo ham of Martina Franca, the meat bombette of Cisternino (barbecued pork meat rolls) or the DOC white wine of Locorotondo. Of course, the olive oil is excellent and the cheeses, including the milky delights of burratina, are exceptional!
Lecce
Lecce boasts a marvellous historical centre, many noble palazzi, numerous churches and squares, such as St. Mary of Providence, the beautiful Addolorata Square and Basilica of the Saint Cross. It is often called the 'Florence of the South' due to the abundance of Baroque architecture.One of the most suggestive aspects of Lecce is the golden Leccese stone (or pietra leccese) used to construct buildings of the old town that glows pink as the sun sets. Moreover, Lecce is definitely a place to indulge in some delicious typical dishes, such as the "Pasticciotto" or the "rustico leccese".
Palazzo Ducale Venturi
Palazzo Ducale Venturi is a 5 Star Luxury Hotel housed in a noble Palazzo, a place where elegance, peace and beauty make it the Relais de Charme ideal for your Apulian holiday. The Palazzo is an austere sixteenth-century building, which can be considered as a real fortified house. Today the noble stately home is available for all those who dream of unique moments spent in a fascinating place, full of history, art, legends, and cuddled by its many services. All this in the magic borgo of Minervino, nestled between majestic olive trees and lush vineyards.
Learn more about the hotel
Gallipoli
Gallipoli is a fascinating coastal town on Apulia’s Ionian coast. Its historic center sits on a tiny walled island that can be reached through a centuries-old bridge. There are many impressive sites to explore, including one of Salento’s most beautiful cathedrals decorated with artworks by some of the most talented artists of their time.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a staple of Apulian culture and cuisine and is considered the region’s liquid gold. The countryside here is dotted with countless small farmhouses and artisanal producers supplying most of the olive oil in the country. Gallipoli, in particular, is a major centre for the production of olive oil. In the past, the production took place in underground oil mills, and the local oil was even used to light up lamps on the streets of major European capitals up until the advent of electricity.