Gay Group Trip: Luxury Amalfi Coast And Puglia Cultural Tour

Today you’ll check out of the hotel and head for the train station where you’ll catch a scenic high-spreed train to the city of Naples. You’ll be met on the other side by the tour driver and guide for a tour of Naples as well as lunch in a traditional, local pizzeria. After the tour, you’ll make your way to the archaeological site of Pompeii – the ancient Roman city that was devastated in 79AD by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that engulfed the city in lava, and thus preserved it for almost 2000 years for us to still see today. From here you’ll be transferred to Positano where you’ll be staying in a boutique hotel built high into the cliffs with gorgeous views of the village. This will be your base for the next few nights and where you’ll enjoy dinner with spectacular sunset views of the coast.

In the morning you’ll walk down to the pier from the hotel and board the ferry over to Capri Island where you’ll be met by a local guide who will take you on a full day tour. You’ll walk through the hilltop town of Capri, through the public gardens that offer beautiful views of the island before enjoying lunch in a local cafe. After lunch, you’ll board a private motorboat to explore the Blue Grotto – an eerie sea cave which glows an almost luminescent blue color from the reflected sunlight. If the weather is poor, you will instead be driven up to Anacapri – the highest part of the island where you’ll find the ruined church of Villa San Michele turned unique, contemporary housing. In the afternoon you’ll get the ferry to Sorrento before being transferred back to Positano. Evening at leisure.

In the morning you’ll embark on a guided tour of the Amalfi Coast, including having lunch in the town of Amalfi which gave the famous shoreline its name. One of Italy’s most stunning and iconic landscapes, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is deemed an outstanding example of a Meditteranean landscape and is probably the most historic of the towns and villages along this stretch of coastline due to its military past. You’ll learn all about merchants and traders that built this village up to what it is today as well as enjoying the serene landscape of the Amalfi Coast. Evening at leisure.

Today you’ll leave Positano and drive to Matera, found in Southern Italy. Here you will find the ancient Sassi homes (the word Sassi comes from the Italian word for ‘stones’) which are dug from the rocks themselves. These homes and other ancient Sassi structures are believed to be the oldest human settlements in all of Italy. The hotel you’ll be staying in here was a former church that the residents used here before being converted. It’s a very historic building and in some rooms, archaeological sites are free to see under the floor, covered with glass viewing panels. The next day you’ll embark on a guided walking tour, taking in all of the most interesting and fascinating parts of this old city which has been previously used in Hollywood blockbuster films as the backdrop for Jerusalem.

Journey into Puglia, the picturesque “heel” of Italy’s boot. Rolling olive groves and whitewashed villages dot the landscape as you near the dazzling Southeastern coastline along the Ionian Sea. Your home is the coastal town of Monopoli, an old town enclosed by ocean and medieval walls. Once a stop on the ancient Roman Trajan Way, Monopoli still resonates with historic charm. Puglia’s rich scenery, cuisine, and culture await. Let this captivating region’s beauty cast its spell over the coming days.

Castel del Monte will be the first bit of sightseeing you do today, enjoying a tour around this grand UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates all the way back to the 13th century. This particular castle was built by the Swabian Emperor, Frederick II and is one of the only octagonal castles built. From here you’ll head to the port town of Trani where you’ll find the impressive synagogue that was built by the early Jewish settlers fleeing persecution from the Spanish around 1144 A.D. Stroll around the streets of this coastal town, enjoy lunch at a secret venue before returning back to the hotel.

Today you’ll visit nearby villages that feature the iconic ‘Trulli’ style architecture, such as Alberobello. The distinctive buildings are cylinder shaped with a cone-shaped limestone-tiled roof, with very thick walls and sometimes no windows at all. The oldest of these buildings date back all the way to the 14th century. A place not to miss is the Monti district which comprises of 1,030 Trulli-style buildings! In the evening, you’ll all come together for a special farewell dinner in a special, authentic Italian setting to reminisce about the journey you’ve had with your fellow travelers.