Depart the USA on your overnight flight to Naples, Italy. Upon arrival in Naples, you’ll be met by a Mayflower Cruises & Tours representative who will assist with the transfer to your hotel in Sorrento, gateway to the Amalfi Coast.

The remainder of the day is free to become acquainted with this charming town, sprinkled with lemon and olive groves, in a spectacular cliff-side setting. This evening, join your Tour Manager for an included dinner. Meal: D The day begins with a guided orientation tour of Sorrento. As you stroll through the pedestrian streets, filled with local shops, see the main sites, including Piazza Tasso, the entrance to the old quarter. See the Basilica of Saint Anthony, patron saint of the city, whose bones lie in the crypt below.

Later this afternoon, have fun at a pizza-making class as you learn the secrets to making a Neapolitan pizza pie! Enjoy the fruits of your labor as you dine on your creation for dinner. Meals: B, D This morning, set off on an excursion to Pompeii, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to visit the most important and interesting archaeological museum in the world. The story of the rise and fall of this ancient city comes to life as your local guide explains the events of that fateful day while you stroll through the grounds of this amazing site. Archaeological excavations have uncovered remarkable relics, many fully intact, from this once prosperous city.

Return to Sorrento mid-afternoon and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Meal: B The island of Capri is an area of breathtaking beauty with olive trees, grapevines and flowers providing a Mediterranean charm. Today’s excursion begins with a short drive to the harbor in Sorrento to board the hydrofoil. Traverse the pristine water, in various shades of blue and emerald green, as you approach the picturesque island. You’ll have time to explore Capri, and travel via mini-van to Anacapri, the highest town on the island.

Wander through the town and absorb the local atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. Sample some local favorites during the included gelato-making demonstration and taste some of the unique flavors. Then quench your curiosity about another specialty, Limoncello, with a tasting of this regional favorite. Meal: B Discover Amalfi’s stunning coastline with miles of hairpin turns offering spectacular vistas. See rocks plunging vertically into the sea; charming fishing villages with quaint harbors; houses nestled high in the rocky cliffs - all contrasting dramatically with the beautiful, twinkling, blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea far below.

Upon arrival in Amalfi, enjoy free time for lunch on your own, and to walk through the town, seeing its greatest attraction, the Duomo which dominates the central piazza. After experiencing Italy’s “coast with the most”, continue on to a local village where you’re in for a tasty treat as you ‘get your hands dirty’ while preparing dough during a pastry-making lesson. After sampling the treats, depart for the Cilento area and arrive at the hotel for an evening at leisure. Meal: B Today’s adventure explores another of Italy’s most famous archaeological sites: the Greek Temple of Paestum, an ancient Greek colony, serenely situated and surrounded by fields and wildflowers.

The entire site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and among the best preserved monuments of Magna Graecia, the Greek colony that once covered much of southern Italy. In addition to its cultural heritage, the area is also famous as a producer of Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese. A stop is made at a local venue where you see how the cheese is made and sample the final product. Meal: B Depart for the historic city of Argopoli, one of the most vibrant cities along the Cilento coast. After a bit of leisure time to stroll through the cobble-stoned lanes, your culinary adventure begins. Attend an entertaining cooking class where your instructor teaches you how to prepare delicious Italian cuisine during this hands-on experience.

At the end of the class, lunch consists of the spectacular dish you just created. Buon appetito! To top off the experience, your next visit is to a vineyard for a wine tasting event. Following an afternoon of local ‘flavors’, return to the hotel for an evening at leisure. Meals: B, L Cultural immersion into local flavor continues with a visit to an olive mill. Walk amongst the peaceful grounds where the olive trees grow as a local expert explains the process of how the fruit is transformed into pure liquid gold. You’ll also have the opportunity to taste the freshly made products. This evening, a dinner of traditional dishes is served. Meals: B, D After breakfast, depart the Campania region and travel to Rome. Along the way, stop at a local farm for an included lunch of typical regional fare. Meals: B, L The historic monuments you’ve heard and read about come to life on your guided tour of the Eternal City. From Palatine Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, see the Roman Forum 130 feet below, and the Circus Maximus. Visit the Coliseum, one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering, and imagine what it was like in its heyday when gladiators fought to the death.

As you walk through the Roman Forum, you will be strolling amongst historic ruins of political buildings, shrines, temples and monuments, some dating back to the first kings of Rome. After a morning of historic discovery, enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure. Meal: B This morning, enjoy a guided visit to the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Church and the smallest independent state in the world: Vatican City. During the guided visit of the Vatican Museums you’ll walk through halls containing some of the most priceless art treasure in the world. The highlight of the visit may be the Sistine Chapel which houses the single most impressive work of art by Michelangelo.

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica, experience the magnificence of Bernini, Michelangelo, and other great artists of the Roman Renaissance and Baroque periods. Be sure to see Michelangelo’s famous statue, Pietá, created by the artist when he was only 25 years old. Returning to Rome, the final afternoon is free to enjoy on your own before the farewell dinner this evening. Meals: B, D As you bid ‘arrivederci’ to Italy, transfer to the airport and leave with wonderful memories of the scenery, culture, monuments, culinary experiences and history you encountered during your travels through this amazing country. Meal: B