"Land of the Sirens" Itinerary
Insiders Tour for Art & Music Lovers
Please note that this is a sample itinerary only, which reflects the anticipated schedule for the trip. It will be updated as further details are further confirmed.
DAY 1 ~ July 3 - Departure from U.S.
Your overnight flight to Italy (independent travel arrangements). Depart gateway city airports flying to Naples.
DAY 2 ~ July 4th - Arrival
Airport pick-up at flight times – Naples (NAP) Capodochino Airport by Festival shuttle van. Our staff will meet travelers outside the International Arrival Gate (with festival identification and signs with your names). Return to your hotel in Maiori: Hotel Reginna Palace (or equivalent). For any trip participants flying into Rome who wish to travel south by train, we recommend arriving in Salerno, where independent pick-ups can be arranged. Have a rest or take time to relax by the pool or at the beach. Join our orientation stroll through the charming village center of Maiori. Get acquainted with your fellow tour participants at a champagne reception on the terrace in the hotel's lush garden. Welcome dinner with special 4th of July celebration! For the hardy, a festival concert in Maiori’s water gardens after dinner is an option.
DAY 3 ~ July 5th
Depart by coach along the world-famous, winding Amalfi Drive to visit Ravello, high above the Tyrrhenian Sea, surrounded by terraced lemon groves and vine-draped hills. Tour the 15th century Villa Cimbrone and its exceptionally beautiful gardens, and see the 11th century duomo and campanile. Visit the world-famous home of the Ravello Music Festival, the imposing Villa Rufolo, once the residence of kings and popes, boasting gorgeous majolica tiled floors throughout. Lunch on your own in one of Ravello's enchanting restaurants. In the afternoon, savor time to browse and shop in the many ceramics galleries, antique shops and jewelry studios. Return to hotel to relax by the pool or at the beach. Before dinner enjoy slide lecture on “Art & Architecture of the Amalfi Peninsula” (with focus on the Roman villas of the coastal area). Dinner in Maiori town center and concert in fresoced hall of Palazzo Mezzacapo.
DAY 4 ~ July 6th
Depart by motor coach for extensive tour of ruins of the ancient Roman towns of Pompeii or Herculaneum, buried in the dramatic eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Lunch on your own after excursion with afternoon leisure time. In early evening, travel a short distance to the enchanting town of Amalfi. Visit its magnificent duomo and honeycomb maze of streets, and in true Dolce Vita style, sip on an aperitivo in one of Italy's most celebrated piazzas. Concert in the stunning Cathedral Museum after dinner at one of Amalfi's colorful trattorias.
DAY 5 ~ July 7th
Depart from the port by boat to cruise along the coast to the enchanting island of Capri. Visit the cloister at the Carthusian Monastery and churches with magnificent tile floors. Tour the splendid museum at Villa San Michele, the home of Axel Munthe, filled with his collection of sculptures, mosaics, and furniture, with stunning views in all directions. Explore the many artisans' workshops in leatherwork and jewelry, shop in Capri's fabulous boutiques, and visit the lemon perfume factory. Return to the mainland by hydrofoil. Dinner in the hotel and free evening.
DAY 6 ~ July 8th
Our excursion takes us inland today to tour the monuments and museums of Naples. In the morning, visit the National Museum of Archeology, which houses many of the treasures recovered from the excavations of Pompeii, including fresco paintings and mosaics, statues, household articles and jewelry. Lunch on your own across from the legendary Teatro San Carlo. Following stops at famous churches, an afternoon visit to the stately Capodimonte Museum, an 18th century palace built in the time of Charles III with one of Italy's finest collections of European paintings, Deruta ceramics from the 15th century, plus many exquisite craft objects and sculptures. Return to hotel to relax and enjoy dinner poolside with a pre-dinner "spotlight talk" by our resident conductor. Optional concert in the San Francesco Monastery (Maiori).
DAY 7 ~ July 9th
Morning presentation on Puccini's operas. Leave for the fabled town of Sorrento with its arches and cobblestone streets and dazzling array of boutiques featuring traditional inlaid wood and other traditional crafts dating back centuries. Visit the Correale Museum, overlooking the Bay of Naples with its precious collections of Italian Maiolica, Chinese and Meisan Porcelains, antiquities and Murano glass chandeliers. Tour the unique salons of the Museum of Marquetry featuring historic photos to complement the exhibit. Enjoy a delightful restaurant that houses a gallery with memorabilia of the legendary Italian tenor Enrico Caruzo. Optional concert.
DAY 8 ~ July 10th
An after-breakfast presentation on traditions of majolica ceramics with resident artist Robert Devers prepares you for our excursion to Vietri sul Mare, a famous ceramics center since the middle ages. Along the way, stop in the charming hill-town of Raito to visit the jewel box ceramics museum at the elegant Villa Guariglia. Lunch in a charming café in the main piazza. Visit the famous Solimene ceramics factory designed by the renowned architect Paolo Soleri, the building itself a sculpture. Linger in private studios and famous ceramics workshops with time to shop in the many galleries and shops. Return to hotel for relaxation. In the evening, dine in picturesque Minori, the next town over, before festival opera production, a double-billing of Puccini’s Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi in the Roman amphitheatre.
DAY 9 ~ July 11th
Attend master class with Metropolitan opera star, mezzo soprano Vitoria Livengood and then choose between options*: Gourmet cooking class at outstanding nearby restaurant (lunch included) or ceramics workshop (“Maiolica Tile Painting in the Garden’) with noted artist and teacher Robert Devers or simply enjoy returning to favorite places in town.Free afternoon for final errands, shopping for friends and family, and packing. Farewell dinner with optional music performance.
*Additional fees apply for add-on options.
Day 10 ~ Departure Day, July 12th
Early morning departures with festival van for Naples airport to board flights home. Alternate transportation provided for travelers going on to other destinations. ~ Arrivederci tutti!