Mid-May. Interests: beaches, nature, easy-med hikes, trying local foods/tea, history (except art or churches).
Day 1:
- Naples (9:20am train) to Pompeii (9:50am)
- drop off luggage at Pompeii site or near train. One backpack and one carry-on suitcase. Recs?
- Pomepii (3pm) to Sorrento (4pm)
- Sorrento overnight
2:
- stroll around main streets
- Bagni Regina Giovanni hike (45 mins?)
- Giardini di Dataldo
3:
- Check out of Sorrento hotel
- Sorrento (9:30am ferry) to Ischia (10:20am)
- Bus to Forio, check in hotel, drop off luggage
- Poseidon
- Dinner: Thomas al faretto
4:
- Baia Sorgeto
- Sant’Angelo
- Fumarole Maronti
- Aragonese Castle
- Dinner: Agriturismo Malvisiello?
5:
- check out of Ischia hotel
- Ischia (9:20am) to Capri (10:20am)
- Luggage storage in Marina Grande?
- 11a - 1p: Boat tour (Yellow Line) + Blue Grotto
- 1:30 - 3p: Funicular Lifts to Capri Piazzetta, lunch.
- Gardens of Augustus vs. Monte Solaro? Or neither bc it's too rushed?
- Must catch ferry at 5:15pm to Amalfi town (arrive 6pm)
- Overnight in Amalfi (or Atrani?)
- Donna Stella Pizzeria
6:
- Amalfi lemon experience tour (10- 1130a)
- Paper Museum (3 min from Lemon Experience, ~30 mins here)
- leisurely explore area before bus to cooking class?
- Amalfi Heavens Cooking class , 2:30 - 6:30p (16 mins from bus stop)
- OR 10am to 2pm: cooking class, then 15 min bus to Fiordo di Furore after.
7:
- Path of the Gods hike (bus to Agerola, hike from Bomerano to Nocelle)
- (Bus from Nocelle to Fiordo di Furore, 1-2 hours here, if not already done the day before)
- (Bus from Fiordo di Furore) to Positano
- boat tour OR beach day at Fornillo Beach or Spiaggia Grande?
- Lunch: Adolfo Beach club
- Dinner: La Tagliata?
- Ferry back to Amalfi for night views of Positano
8:
- Amalfi bus to Villa Cimbrone/Villa Rufolo
- Hike from Ravello to Minori (Lemon path), Minori to Maiori (Path of Lemons)
- Maiori beach: sunset/dinner
Ferry back to Amalfi
Should we do both lemon paths? If we had to pick one, which is recommended?
9:
- Check out of Amalfi hotel
- Amalfi ferry (10:35am) to Salerno (11am)
- Pick up car rental from nearby Enterprise or Sixt
- Drive 2.5h from Salerno to Matera (arrive ~2:30 pm?)
- Check into Matera hotel
- Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario (30 mins)
- Parco delle Chiese Rupestri (1.5h)
- Belvedere di Murgia Timone (short (1h) vs long way (3h)- sunset views
- Dinner, explore Matera at night?
10:
- Hotel Breakfast
- Locanda di San Martino Hotel e Thermae (1.5 hr spa, 8:30- 10a? 6 min walk from hotel)
- Check out of hotel @ 11
- Palombaro Lungo (30 min)
- Walk around, do one missed activity?
- Drive 1h to Alberobello, explore trulli houses (luggage in trunk?)
- Lunch in Albero or Monopoli?
- Drive 30 min to Monopoli (check into hotel)
- Sunset stroll in Monopoli Lungomare
11:
- Breakfast near Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi or Porto Antico/Vecchio
- Castle of Charles V + rooftop
- Drive to Polignano A'Mare
- Belvedere su Lama Monachile + beach
- Boat tour of caves
- Grotta Palazzese: sunset drinks or dinner
12:
- Check out of Monopoli hotel
- Drive to Ostuni (luggage in car)
- Olive oil tasting tour: Masseria Brancati or Le Carrube?
- Lecce overnight
Activities TBD for Lecce/Salento: explore town, beaches, historical sites, local foods.
- Day 13: Lecce to Otranto to Lecce
- 14: Lecce to Gallipoli to Lecce
- 15: Lecce to Bari. Drop off car, eat, and leave Bari by 12:30p
Questions:
- Is the sea warm enough to swim in mid-May? Should I have less beach days?
- Fiordo di Furore: how long is the walk from bus stop to the beach below?
- I have 2 extra nights. Should I add to Ischia, Amalfi Coast, Bari, or Lecce to further explore Salento?
- Boat tour in BOTH Positano and Capri, or just one?