Naples, Capri and Anacapri | Tours

(duration of this tour: 10 hours)

This tour will start with us picking you up at your hotel and than having a lovely drive down from the region of Lazio into Campania passing many beautiful areas of Italy. We will be able to see the alluring Apennine Mountain range, and the monastery of Cassino where the decisive battle of World War II took place. From here the spectacular volcano of Mount Vesuvius made famous by its tragic eruption of 79 A.D. will appear into view. Campania is a place that was loved by the ancients due to its mild climate and fertile soil. It has been inhabited since pre-history by people from all walks of life.

CAPRI and ANACAPRI

Capri is an enchanting island sanctuary in the Gulf of Naples that has awe inspiring caves, luxurious vegetation and characteristic small towns with narrow lanes and domed houses. This haven has been inhabited since prehistoric and Greek times, but was rediscovered by Octavian Augustus. Since then it had become one of the favorite spots for the imperial residence. It was made famous, however by the notorious Tiberius, who retired here for 10 years, with, as the stories go, his clan of ‘minnows’ which were young boys that he used for sex slaves. Conquered and re-conquered throughout the ages Capri regained it wealth and favor in the 19th century when the developing tourism set it on its feet again.

Today it is a destination for artists, academics, writers and tourists from all over the world. It has many lovely churches, the remains of Tiberius’ extensive villa complex and of course the Blue Grotto. This is remarkable to see the way the sunlight deflects upon entering the sea water and bouncing off the cave walls giving the blue color that the grotto takes its name from. This has an astonishing effect on the viewer. And to add a little local flavor, you may get to witness an argument between the two towns of Capri and Anacapri that have been at a disagreement with each other for as long as time itself.

This Island is special for its architecture that has accumulated throughout all its different rulers of different cultures, and its unique landscape that has been sculpted from the limestone cliffs. The combination of history, myth and natural beauty makes this island extraordinary.

NAPLES

This is an intriguing city that has an amazing combination of different cultures that has created its weird and wonderful aura. Because of this it is considered to be the southern cradle of Italian history and art. During the 16th century many great noble families built palaces and numerous astonishing buildings. It is one of the few urban cities that can boast that is has four castles in its center. We will take you to visit some of these remarkable places like the Palace of Capodimonte from the early 18th century that houses a collection of mainly Renaissance and Baroque Italian painting. It also has inside a vast park, with avenues full of numerous century-old trees.

The long red southern facade of the Royal Palace has a fantastic view overlooking the Bay of Naples. Also we will have a stopover at the Basilica of S. Francesco of Paola which is reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome, having a façade fronted by a columned portico and circular in shape with a dome to top it off. You can see the theater of San Carlo, a well loved opera house in Naples, which is the oldest still active in Europe. And directly across from the theater is the Umberto Gallery that was built to stimulate commerce and to be a symbol of a city reborn by wiping out a series of infamous alleyways.

The architecture has an aesthetic fusion of the industrial glass and metal of the upper part and the masonry below with a pavement of marble that has a circular decoration representing the signs of the zodiac and a compass. It still contains numerous cafes, businesses, book and record shops, and many fashionable stores. Naples also houses the National Archeological Museum that houses the most precious artifacts found in Pompeii and some of the other surrounding towns destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.

A last stop will be the Posillipo, one of the hills that were incorporated during the expansion of the city after World War II. It has splendid views due to its yellow tufa walls that rise steep from the sea and then slopes down gradually to the city, so that it offers a fascinating combination of multiple panoramic vistas over the coast, which has always attracted famous nobility and people alike to build their villas or to be inspired by the landscape. Naples is a fascinating city with a combination of art and architecture as well as breath-taking views of the Bay Of Naples with Mount Vesuvius looming in the background.