MSA POST TOUR

AMALFI PENINSULA

(Tour begins in Sorrento, ends in Naples)

June 3 to June 7, 2018
Price $795 (double occupancy)

ITINERARY

Day 1: June 3 Sunday-Depart Sorrento for Paestum
Day 2: June 4 Monday-Paestum by day and night
Day 3: June 5 Tuesday-Paestum to Naples with stop in Herculaneum

Day 4: June 6 Wednesday-Naples visit Caserta Palace & Capodimonte
Day 5: June 7 Thursday-Naples Options-Castel Nuovo, Cathedral, National Archaeological Museum, Teatro di San Carlo Opera House etc.

Register now online via our homepage before the tour fills.

The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline on the steep southern shore of the Sorrentine Peninsula. The Amalfi Coast is a popular tourist destination for the region attracting thousands of tourists annually.

DAY 1 SUNDAY JUNE 3

POSITANO

Aerial view of beautiful Positano

In Middle Ages, Positano was a port of the Amalfi Republic, By the mid-nineteenth century Positano was a poor fishing village. It began to attract large numbers of tourists in the 1950s, after John Steinbeck published his essay about Positano in 1953. Steinbeck wrote. "It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone."

Positano Beach

Positano Cathedral

AMALFI

Amalfi is on the Gulf of Salerno at the base of Monte Cerreto. First mentioned in the 6th century, Amalfi acquired importance as a maritime power and was the capital of the Duchy of Amalfi, an important trading power in the Mediterranean between 839 and 1200. Amalfi merchants were using gold coins in the 9th century, while most of Italy still used a barter economy.

Map of Amalfi Harbor

Amalfi Cathedral

An independent Republic from the 7th century until 1075, Amalfi elected a duke in 958 and soon rivaled Pisa and Genoa in wealth and maritime importance. By 1000 it had a population of 70,000. In 1073 the Republic fell to the Normans and became part of Roger II Sicilian Empire. In 1343 a tsunami destroyed the port and lower town from which Amalfi never recovered.

Amalfi Port

In the early 20th century, Amalfi became a popular holiday destination

Amalfi Beach

OVERNIGHT PAESTUM WITH DINNER AT THE FIVE STAR MEC PAESTUM HOTEL

Mec Paestum Hotel is situated a 5-minute walk from the beach and a half mile from the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site and the National Archaeological Museum in Paestum

Housed in an elegant building equipped with modern facilities

All rooms have a panoramic balcony and the hotel is surrounded by a lush Mediterranean garden

DAY 2 MONDAY JUNE 4

PAESTUM BY DAY AND BY NIGHT

Paestum today

Paestum was an ancient city on the Tyrrhenian Sea in Magna Graecia. It was founded by Greek colonists around 600 BC who named it Poseidonia. The Romans conquered it in 273 BC and changed name to Paestum. The ruins of Paestum are notable for their three ancient Greek temples in an excellent state of preservation.

Temple of Hera

Temples at this site were built between 550-450 BC

Aerial view

Temple of Athena 500 BC

Tomb of the Diver 470 BC

Main Street Roman Paestum

PAESTUM AT NIGHT

Temple of Athena

DAY 3 TUESDAY JUNE 5

DEPART PAESTUM FOR NAPLES - STOPS AT RAVELLO AND HERCULANEUM

Ravello: Founded in 5th century as a place of protection against the barbarian invasion and later became a part of the Amalfi Republic. In the 11^th century it fell under Norman influence and by 12th Century had a population of 25,000. In 1137, it was destroyed by the Republic of Pisa never recovering. Among the things to see in Ravello are the 13^th Century Villa Rufolo, its gardens, and the 11^th century cathedral.

View of Amalfi Coast from Ravello

Ravello 11^th Century Cathedral

Below the 11^th Century Villa Rufolo and its gardens

HERCULANEUM

The eruption on 20 August 79 A.D. destroyed Herculaneum. Population 5000 at time of 62 earthquake, had declined to 1000 by 79 eruption. Site discovered in 1738 by peasants digging a well.

Cupids playing with a lyre, Roman fresco from Herculaneum

Overnight Palazzo Caracciolo Napoli Hotel. The Palazzo Caracciolo is located in the 13th-century historic district in the heart of Naples. The building is steeped in history, having been the residence of the Caracciolo family and of the Napoleonic general and king of Naples, Joachim Murat.

DAY 4 WEDNESDAY JUNE 6

Coach Tour to Palace of Caserta and the Museo di Capodimonte.

Palace of Caserta

The palace has1,200 rooms, two dozen state apartments, a large library, and theatre modeled after the Teatro San Carlo of Naples. It was the largest palace and buildings erected in Europe during the 18th century. At the end of World War II, the palace served as headquarters of the Allied Commander. In April 1945, the palace was the site of the signing of the unconditional German surrender in Italy.

Museo di Capodimonte

The Art Museum in the Palace of Capodimonte is one of the largest museums in Italy. It includes works by some of the world’s greatest painters.

Danae by Titian c.1545

Portrait of Giulio Clovio by El Greco c.1571–1572

The Flagellation by Caravaggio c.1607–1608

DAY 5 THURSDAY JUNE 7

NAPLES

There are many amazing sites to visit in Naples on the last day of the tour. Among them are the remarkable National Archaeological Museum, home to many of the magnificent mosaics and frescos from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Charles III of Spain founded the museum in the 1750’s in a building that had been used by the University of Naples from 1616 to 1777. The museum contains an enormous collection of works of the highest quality from Greek, Roman and Renaissance times. It is considered by many Italy’s greatest archaeological museum.

The famous Alexander Mosaic circa 100 BC

Visit Naples landmark Castel Nuovo.

Naples Cathedral

Something that should not be missed is the Teatro di San Carlo, the opera house in Naples. It is the oldest continuously active venue for public opera in the world. It opened in 1737, decades before Milan's La Scala and Venice's La Fenice theatres. It is possible to take a guided tour of this magnificent structure.

Opera House 1832

The Royal Box

Please do not delay if you plan to join the post tour. Last year we unfortunately had to turn away many requests for the tour after it was full. We only have 20 hotel rooms so register now, and do not be disappointed.

Register now online via our homepage before the tour fills.