8-Day Amalfi Coast, Sorrento & the Region of Apulia

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL

You will arrive in Italy at Bari airport, and be transferred to your hotel in Alberobello.

DAY 2 – ALBEROBELLO, LOCOROTONDO AND CISTERNINO

After breakfast in Alberobello, your tour will begin by meeting your private guide and exploring the Val d’Itria area.

You will first visit Locorotondo, passing through beautiful countryside dotted with quaint villages and vineyards as you travel. Locorotondo is considered to be one of Italy’s most beautiful locations and is a wonderful place to spend the morning taking photos and relaxing in a local cafe.

Locorotondo has a circular, historic centre that is situated right at the top of a hill, featuring small whitewashed streets and many historic buildings, and is worth taking a walk to and admiring both the views and the remains of its ancient architecture.

Next, you will travel to the territory of Cisternino, which archaeologists say was inhabited as far back as the Middle Palaeolithic period. Traces of this civilization can be viewed in Cisternino, such as parts of weapons, practical tools and human bones.

Today, Cisternino is a very charming place that is filled with pretty white houses, winding streets and elegant churches and squares. The views of the surrounding landscape from the town are brilliant, and particularly lovely in the evening as the fields are bathed in golden light. In Cisternino you will have the chance to take part in a wine and cheese tasting experience, followed by a delicious farmer lunch in Masseria surrounded by olive groves and the Adriatic Sea in the distance.

Your driver will return you to Alberobello, where you have free time to wander the city on your own. Alberobello is best known for its dome-shaped buildings that are known as trulli and are built with local stone. Each trulli is whitewashed and built without the use of any cement or limestone, and they truly are an impressive feat of engineering.

You will spend the evening in Alberobello and choose where you want to enjoy dinner.

DAY 3 – OSTUNI, POLIGNANO AND MONOPOLI

Your tour today begins with visiting Ostuni, known as the ‘White Town’ and standing 218 metres above sea level. The town gets its name from the traditional whitewashed houses that can be found in the city centre and is also home to a stunning Romanesque-Gothic cathedral that has a very impressive glass window. The old town is walled, and the remains of the ancient town gates Porta Nova and Porta San Demetrio can still be seen.

Next, you will travel to the small town of Polignano, which is thought to be one of the oldest settlements in the Puglia area. Polignano is perched on the edge of a rocky gorge, and has a history of invaders that range from the Normans to the Huns. It’s a lovely place to just sit and watch the waves, or enjoy the architecture and visit some of the local shops.

The final stop on today’s tour is Monopoli, home to the ‘paese vecchio’ in the centre of the town that features multiple churches lined up next to one another. The domestic buildings in this area are charming and have been inhabited by generations of the same families who still work in fishing, farming and winemaking, and it’s a lovely place to spend an afternoon just walking the streets and breathing in the sea air.

At the end of the day, you will return to Alberobello for your final night there.

DAY 4 – MATERA AND SORRENTO

Your driver will meet you at your hotel after breakfast this morning, and transfer you to your accommodation in Sorrento. On the way, you will stop off in Matera and have free time to explore the city.

Matera is the third oldest city in the world and has over 10,000 years of history, the most fascinating element of which are the man-made caves that have been carved into the area’s limestone. You can visit these underground homes that have contributed to Matera’s title of a World Heritage Site, and also see evidence of early structures that were used to transport running water into the caves.

Along with the fascinating cave systems, Matera is also home to several beautiful churches, pedestrianised squares, and bustling streets of cafes and shops. You will have time for lunch in the city before returning to your driver and continuing to Sorrento, where you will spend the night.

DAY 5 – AMALFI DRIVE

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most popular destinations, with miles of beautiful coastline, pretty villages and luxurious beach resorts. On the fifth day of your tour, you will drive between some of its most scenic locations, enjoying the dramatic coastal landscape and enjoying the seaside atmosphere.

You will first visit the town of Amalfi, and be given free time to discover its medieval architecture that includes the huge dome of the cathedral dedicated to Saint Andrew, and other ancient buildings that have survived the town’s past. After Amalfi your next stop is Minori, where you will experience a dessert tasting session that centres around lemons, one of the region’s finest ingredients. This will take place at Sal de Riso, the restaurant of one of Italy’s most famous pastry chefs.

From Minori you will continue to the romantic location of Ravello; a town spread out across steep, terraced slopes cut into the cliffs. Filled with beautiful gardens and quiet corners to stop and catch your breath, Ravello is one of the best spots for panoramic views on the Amalfi Coast.

You will return to Sorrento in time for an evening meal of your choosing, and spend the night in your hotel.

DAY 6 – POMPEII

Pompeii is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman settlements in Italy, thanks to the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. On the sixth day of your tour you will visit Pompeii for a guided tour around one of the most famous Italian towns for tourists, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its historical value as an archaeological site.

In the past, Pompeii was one of the Roman Empire’s most important port towns, dominating a lot of the trade that happened across the Mediterranean sea. You can see the remains of bars, public baths, brothels and guest houses in the town’s centre, and watch the excavations that are still taking place as even more of the town’s remains are uncovered.

The Roman Forum in Pompeii is a brilliant trip back into the past, as is the Anfiteatro amphitheatre which is thought to be the oldest-known Roman theatre in the world. It originally held around 20,000 spectators, but is now covered with grass and usually filled with sightseers.

After the morning in Pompeii, your driver will take you back to Sorrento where you will have the rest of the day to do as you please. Dinner is included in your overnight stay here, which you can enjoy by candlelight as you overlook the ocean.

DAY 7 – OPTIONAL DISCOVERY

Your last day in Italy is left free for you to choose what you want to do, whether that is more exploration of the area or just time spent relaxing and enjoying Sorrento. Some itineraries we suggest are an afternoon visit to the Pompeii Archeological Park, a day tour or boat excursion in Capri, or a combination of visiting Pompeii again with Vesuvio.

Your last night in Sorrento gives you the chance to visit a restaurant of your choice for dinner and say goodbye to your favourite parts of the city.

DAY 8 – DEPARTURE

After breakfast in Sorrento, you will be collected from your hotel for a private transfer to either the railway station or airport in Naples.