Over the May half term Darren and Trudi from Discover the World paid a visit to the stunning Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast with a small group of teachers previewing the regions geographic highlights as well as accommodation bases…..and a few 4 course meals on the way!
Day One - Solfatara / The Milky Mountains / Amalfi evening walk
On arrival in Naples we met our local partners Salvo and Rosy who stayed with us for the duration of the tour, along with our flamboyant and informative guide Michael. After a short drive we took a walking tour of the Phlegaean Fields / Solfatara. A shallow Volcano complete with sulphur gasses rising through vents and bubbling mud pools which made for a good start to the tour.
Back on board our bus we drove eastwards past Mount Vesuvius and on to the Amalfi Coast. This trip involved driving up the mountain road to the peaks of the Monti Lattari – the Milky Mountains to a height of 1131m. The view at the top back to Vesuvius and was breathtaking. We passed many slopes covered with terraced lemon tree groves. Everywhere you look agriculture is abundant in the soil rich land.
On arrival at Maiori we checked into our hotel the Reggina Palace where we enjoyed our first ‘huge’ meal of the trip. Following an impressive dinner we drove the short distance to the coastal town of Amalfi, where the streets brim with restaurants and niche shopping.
Day Two - Amalfi Coastal Road / Hotel Visits / Pizza / Sorrento / Teatro Tasso Show
Following breakfast we headed west along the famous Amalfi Coastal Road, considered by many as one of the World’s greatest drives. The engineering involved in constructing the road is more than impressive, as are the small villages perched high on the slopes of the steep coastal mountains. The tiny village of Furore is of particular interest, comprising of just 12 or so small fishermen cottages, it remains the same today as it did a hundred years ago.
On arrival on the north side of the Sorrento Peninsula we visited a few of the hotels groups are able to stay at during their trips. The views from the hotels across the Bay of Naples towards Vesuvius were stunning.
Lunch time at Vico Equense – which we were told was the home of pizza, and where today they sell pizza not by the slice but by the metre! 4 metres of pizza later we felt we had had enough and it was onwards to Sorrento via the last hotel visit of the tour.
The Teatro Tasso Sorrento Musical show with an excellent dinner included – a light operatic singing and dancing show which featured superb musicianship and dancing – I think we were all surprised at how many songs we recognized. Also we felt that school groups would enjoy the show and it did represent good value and a memorable evening excursion option.
Day Three - Pompeii/ Vesuvius
Following breakfast we travelled back over The Milky Mountains towards Pompeii.
Here we met our guide for the day Leilo who led us on a trip around Pompeii, this was clearly his specialized subject and his tour was both enjoyable and informative. One can clearly see and understand why Pompeii is one of the worlds most important historical sites. Towards the end of the visit, dark clouds had begun to gather and we were hit by heavy rain showers which continued as we drove up the lower slopes of Vesuvius.
As we arrived at the base station of Vesuvius the rain fell harder and we made a decision to visit a restaurant to see if the clouds would lift. The skies did clear slightly, but the rain soon returned and we all felt disappointment when the Vesuvius guides closed the steep path to the summit of the volcano. The rain we were told were freak conditions for that time of time.
With the regions harsh terrain and the potential catastrophic danger of living in the shadow of one of the World’s most dangerous Volcanoes the achievement of populating and engineering the land is more than impressive. Clearly the benefits of living in such a soil rich and fertile land far out way the difficult terrain and significant potential for a natural disaster.
