Campania Felix:  Rome and the Bay of Naples

October 12 to 21, 2024

The Ancient Romans referred to the region south of Rome as the Campania Felix, or the happy, fertile countryside.  For fertile, think only of the deep red tomatoes grown in San Marzano.  And for happy, think landscapes, seasides, and the gentle breezes of this balmy microclimate.  On our trip to the Campania Felix, we plan to visit a host of important ancient sites in the area, while also savoring the natural beauty of this happy land.

Saturday, October 12: The tour begins in Rome with an an afternoon visit to the Capitoline Museum, the first museum in Rome as well as a suitable place to start since the Campania Felix was a favorite vacationland for wealthy Romans and emperors alike. Albergo Santa Chiara, Rome.

Sunday, October 13: Depart Rome for Naples.  The Certosa of San Martino in the hills above Naples, to be exact, where a splendid introduction to this fascinating city awaits us. The Certosa is an elegant monastery with spectacular views and beautiful paintings by, among others, the Spanish master José di Ribera. Also part of the complex is the Museum of the Presepio, or Christmas Creche, which is pure delight. After lunch on the waterfront, we catch the hydrofoil to Capri, for two days and three nights on this beautiful island.  Casa Morgano, Capri.   

Monday, October 14: Visit Anacapri, on the other side of the island, with the delightful church of San Michele, the Villa San Michele (home of Swedish writer and physician Axel Munthe), and more. Weather permitting, will will organize an excursion to the Blue Grotto, the original tourist trap, and for very good reason.  It is astonishing!  Lunch in Anacapri.  Hotel Casa Morgano.

Tuesday, October 15: Morning stroll to the ruins of Emperor Tiberius’s Villa Jovis, where we’ll hear juicy readings from Suetonius’s steamy Lives of the Caesars and enjoy the natural beauty of what must have been a spectacular villa.    Group lunch on the edge of the sea.  Afternoon free.  Hotel Casa Morgano.

At some point, weather permitting, we hope to visit the Blue Grotto which, I should add, is truly indimenticabile, and perhaps go for a boat ride!

Wednesday, October 16: We catch a morning hydrofoil from Capri back to Naples. After lunch, we begin our exploration of this fascinating city with a visit to the Duomo to learn a bit about Naples today, and then on to the National Archeological Museum where many of the moveable pieces from Pompeii and Herculaneum are housed. It is truly one of the great museums of the world. Grand Hotel Vesuvio.

Thursday, October 17: Morning visit to Pompeii, with lunch at a farm at the base of the volcano and an afternoon visit to Stabiae, another site engulfed by the eruption of Vesuvius. Stabiae, a site we have long wished to visit, is most noted for its beautiful seaside villas, with much of the wall paintings still well preserved. Grand Hotel Vesuvio.

Friday, October 18: We start our exploration of Naples in the Campi Flegrei or Burning Fields, an area with a handful of very interesting archeological sites, including the amphitheater of Pozzuoli. Lunch along the way. Grand Hotel Vesuvio.

Saturday, October 19: Visit Spaccanapoli, the historic center of this city that dates back to the time of Ancient Greece. It is loaded with unexpected surprises and some very beautiful things. Afternoon exploration of La Sanitá, a district of Naples made famous by Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet. Included will be a visit to the haunting underground cemetery of Fontanelle. Grand Hotel Vesuvio.

Sunday, October 20: Morning departure for Herculaneum, the other city covered by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It is quite different from both Pompeii and Stabiae, and makes a satisfying final note to our exploration of this historic event.  Delicious lunch in Ercolano. Rome Airport Hilton.

 Monday, October 21: The tour ends with breakfast.

Hotels:

The cost of the trip includes one night at the 3-star Hotel Santa Chiara in Rome, 3 nights on Capri at the 5-star Casa Morgano, four nights at the 5-star Grand Hotel Vesuvio in Naples, and, finally, a night at the Rome Airport Hilton. 

Rates:

$6600 in Double Occupancy with city-view rooms in Naples; $6900 with deluxe sea-view rooms

$8200 in Single Occupancy with city-view rooms in Naples; $8800 for deluxe sea view rooms

Included:  9 nights in hotels, breakfast each morning, one additional meal each day with wine, water, and coffee, private bus transportation, hydrofoil to and from Capri, all entrance fees as described in the itinerary, guide fees, and tips.

Not included:  air and airport transportation, unscheduled meals, room service, items of a personal nature.

Group size: approximately 16 people.

A word about food:

Expect to eat well:  abundant fish, pungent olive oil, pizza, pasta, mozzarella fresh each day, lemons, tomatoes, plus all the wonderful Neapolitan pastries. For me, this is the best cuisine in Italy.

For more information or to sign up:

Italian Journeys is not your average tour operation.  The combination of a small group, the wonderful food, and, most of all, the outstanding knowledge of Italy, its history, art, and culture that Nancy and Libby bring to the table lift it far above other tour experiences.  You do not feel like you are traveling with a corporation, but rather that you are seeing Italy with friends.

Jim and Barbara;  Washington, DC