2006 Tour Dates

  • June 25 - July 1
  • September 3 - 9
  • October 1 - 7

Tour Highlights

  • Ancient Rome
  • Pompeii and Paestum
  • Vannulo mozzarella farm
  • Preparing Amalfitan cuisine
  • Private boat cruising in Capri

Limited Enrollment

To insure personalized attention and a real and lasting connection to the local people, we limit the enrollment of our tours to a maximum of 12 persons. We can provide private group tour services to any size group.

Tour Inclusions & Exclusions

Included in the price

  • 7 nights in 4 star boutique hotels
  • Cartolina Tours Escort
  • Breakfast daily, 6 lunches and 6 dinners with wine, water, coffee
  • Guided excursions
  • Entry fees during group excursions
  • Transportation during group functions
  • Guide services

Excluded from the price

  • Airfare (we can arrange)
  • Travel Insurance (we can arrange and strongly advised)
  • Cell phone rental (we can arrange)
  • Premium wines, beer, and liquors ordered personally
  • Room service, laundry, valet services
  • Telephone expenses
  • Passport fees, Visa fees, as required
  • Ground transportation on dates other than the official start and end dates of the tour
  • Guide and driver gratuities

Culture & Cuisine of Rome & the Amalfi Coast

Day 1: Life as an Emperor

Upon your arrival in Rome, you'll be transferred to the charming hotel that awaits you in the center of Rome. There is time to unpack and relax. We will gather for lunch at a typical Roman trattoria. In the afternoon we will tour the Coliseum, Roman Forum and Basilica of San Clemente. Tonight enjoy dinner at a gourmet restaurant.

Day 2: When in Rome

This morning begins with an outing to Campo dei Fiori, where you will be escorted through the daily fresh food market. Buying fruits and vegetables might seem simple, but our Roman foodie will give you tips to improve your cooking. When you leave the market, you’ll head off to her cooking school to enjoy a balsamic vinegar tasting, one of the great treats of Italian cuisine. After lunch, enjoy a leisurely walking tour to include the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona. Late afternoon you will have some time on your own to relax before meeting for a wine tasting and dinner at a local enoteca.

Day 3: Paestum, Mozzarella & Ravello

Today we travel down the coast to visit Paestum, one of the oldest Greek settlements known. We will then visit the organic farm of Vannulo, which produces almost 900 pounds of fresh mozzarella each day from the milk of 400 happy buffalo. Evening transfer to hill town of Ravello where unparalleled sea views await us.

Day 4: Amalfitan Cuisine

Today we visit the adorable village of Ravello, including the amazing gardens of Villa Cimbrone. We are then invited into the home of Mamma Agata, one of the home-cooking legends of the region. Mamma will treat us to a tour of her gardens, cooking class, and sumptuous lunch. Late afternoon head to the beautiful island of Capri. Tonight, dinner on your own.

Day 5: Capri Time

It's Capri Time as we take a private island boat tour and visit the most spectacular grottoes characteristic of the island. Provided the seas are calm, we will be able to go into the Blue Grotto and to climb up into the White Grotto. We will lunch among the lemon groves followed by a walk to the Gardens of Caesar Augustus or to the Punta Tragara, both very easy walks. Tonight, learn about limoncello, the official drink of Capri, as we watch the sunset over the bay.

Day 6: Pompeii and Pizza!

Enjoy some time on your own in Capri to wander around, shop and have lunch. In the afternoon transfer to Pompeii where our guide will take you back to that fateful day in 79AD. Tonight, on to Naples for a wine tasting and pizza party.

Day 7: Naples and Rome

This morning we will visit the treasures of the Naples Archaeology Museum. Late afternoon transfer back to Rome. Tonight we will have our farewell dinner with chef and cookbook author, Diane Seed in her 17th century palazzo.