I felt like family, living the local experience. No tour bus here, no cattle calls. Luxury & elegance each and every step of the adventure!
Sandi M, FL
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most enchanting destinations in the world, with a spectacular mountainous coastline rising directly from the Mediterranean Sea. The landscape consists of small coves, majestic cliffs, beaches, and caves such as the “Grotta dello Smeraldo”, or Emerald Cave.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries ships from the Amalfi Coast traded with the Middle East bringing home precious woods, silks, and spices. Many Baroque villas were built during this period. In the 20th century, many famous film directors, painters and writers were enchanted by the beauty of this coastline and returned time and time again. Some, seduced by the way of life here, restructured the old homes and moved here.
Lemons here are world renown for their sweetness; many locals eat thick slices of the lemons, skin and all without even a touch of sugar. The ground here creates a perfect soil for “Sorrento” lemons, due to the alternating layers of limestone and volcanic ash. Limoncello, the local liqueur and digestive, gets its flavor and distinctive neon-yellow color from these locally grown lemons. Limoncello has been called “A kiss from the sun”, and is now the second most popular drink in Italy, after Campari.
Our “home away from home” here is a stunning villa located cliffsde looking down on the city of Positano. It boasts a spectacular position overlooking much of the Amalfi Coast. The famous island of Capri with its Faraglioni rocks and surrounding islands can be seen from the terrace. The villa is built along various terraces linked by a dramatic staircase. It sits among gardens of huge shade trees, fruit trees, flowers, and other Mediterranean plants. The main portico overlooks the town of positano below. Enjoy early breakfast or sunset dinner, and take in the breathtaking view of the coastline. Click Here to see breathtaking photos of our villa.
The swimming pool provides a quiet place to soak up the sun while looking down at the beach below, as the Bertolli family did while living here for 20 years. Of course all rooms have en suite bathrooms and air conditioning.
Relax in our jacuzzi by candlelight, reflecting on the day's activities.
The Amalfi Coast has stunning views around every bend of the 43 miles from Sorrento to Salerno. Come with us as we take time to soak up the beauty of Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi while enjoying the ride in Giovanni's Mercedes limo vehicles.
A private yacht will pick us up at the beach in Positano and head to the Isle of Capri. We will circumnavigate this floral paradise, swimming in some of the 54 coves before stopping at the Blue Grotto for a most spectacular display of light and water. Lunch will be served at a restaurant on a quiet beach far away from the tourists, allowing us an exclusive view of this island paradise. Afterwards we return to our villa just in time for dinner.
Enjoy a day in Ravello visiting our dear friend Chiara and her mother Mamma Agata. Mamma has cooked for Jacqueline Kennedy, Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren, just to name a few. She has invited us into her kitchen for an extravagant cooking lesson (while enjoying a view of the Mediterranean Sea from her kitchen window), after Salvatore shows us his garden, carefully picking vegetables to be used in todays lunch. We can enjoy our meal on Chiara's terrace overlooking the glorious coastline from Positano to Amalfi, finishing with a glass of Chiara and Gennaro's own limoncello.
We will travel to the ruins of Pompei (less than an hour from home) by executive transport to see the havoc wrought upon the citizens of this bustling community in AD 79 by Mount Vesuvius in the distance.
We finish our week with an exclusive gala dinner serving up sumptuous dishes cooked with the best regional ingredients and served in a perfect setting for a wonderful end to our Amalfi Coast visit.
Come join us as we feast on the glorious local specialties together with the sun-kissed vegetables of the south and exquisite delicacies from the heartland of Italy in the idyllic setting of the Amalfi Coast! National Geographic Traveler magazine had it right - the Amalfi Coast is the place to see. So see it in luxury, with Savory Adventures.
September 25 - October 2, 2010 (CLOSED - Other dates available for groups)