The Splendors of Italy’s Best Kept Secret: PUGLIA, plus The Amalfi Coast, the Isle of Capri, Rome, The Abbey of Montecassino and a Gastronomical excursion throughout Southern Italy!
Incomparable Italian beauty along the famed Amalfi coastline
DEPART AUGUST 22, 2022,
RETURN SEPTEMBER 2, 2022
12 days, 10 nights
We’ve had many satisfied attendees on our previous Grand Event tours of Italy. With this new excursion called the “Italy’s Best Kept Secret: PUGLIA, plus The Amalfi Coast” we’re heading our beautiful private motor coach towards the sun-splashed “heel” of Italy, along the most beautiful coastal road in the world – the Amalfi Coast. If you’ve never previously joined us on one of our popular Italian adventures then we are ready to take you on the trip of a lifetime, but if you have previously joined us on our Grand Event Italian tour then you will especially enjoy this second helping of the most beautiful country in the world.
Ken Chase, President, Conservative Tours Incorporated
Come with us as we dine our way through the fabled Amalfi Coast – cruising along the most beautiful road in the world. We plan to experience the true beauty of this living treasure.
Albuquerque media personality Bob Clark will accompany this tour
Bob Clark has been host of the morning show on 94.5 FM & AM 770 Newsradio KKOB since December, 2006.
Prior to moving to radio full time, he worked in TV news for 11 years, including 7 years at KOB-TV in Albuquerque. Bob and his wife Carol will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this August. They have two daughters, Madison and MacKenzie. Bob, who is a 1986 graduate of New Mexico State, is originally from Hershey, PA. Albuquerque has been home since 1990.
Itinerary
You’ve arrived in the capital of this great nation, where the sun always shines and the natives always have a warm embrace for their friends from America!
Day 1 Departure from USA
Evening departure from the US. Meals and refreshments served on board.
Day 2 Rome – Conversano
Morning arrival into Naples International Airport… welcome to Italy! Here you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in Puglia. En route we stop in a local winery for lunch. In the afternoon check in at your hotel. Evening at leisure to unpack and relax.
Day 3 Alberobello
Morning visit of Alberobello, Puglia’s picture postcard town famous for its conical roofed houses, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its narrow pedestrian streets, little shops selling local produce, and a few nice cafes and trattorias, Alberobello will enchant you. Today experience a local lunch inside a “Trullo”.
In the afternoon, on the way back to our hotel visit an olive oil farm.
Day 4 Lecce/Ostuni
This morning your guided city tour will introduce you to the beauty of Lecce. Built in the local soft creamy limestone with dazzling architectural surprises around every corner, Lecce is a minor Baroque masterpiece. Its spider’s web of streets offers a kaleidoscopic mix of long range vistas, alluring glimpses and playful perspectives that have long enchanted visitors. Today enjoy a local wine tasting including a traditional lunch. In the afternoon on our way back to our hotel we stop in Ostuni, strolling amidst the pittoresque white houses dominating the town.
Return to your hotel tonight. Dinner is on your own as you explore local trattorias and traditional restaurants.
Day 5 Matera and Poligano a Mare
Today we explore Matera, known for its picturesque sassi district, a large ravine with cave dwellings and churches dug into the soft limestone. The sassi date from prehistoric times and were used as housing until the 1950’s when residents, primarily living in poverty stricken conditions, were relocated. Because of its similarity to Jerusalem, several movies have been filmed in the sassi district including Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. The sassi district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the afternoon we depart for a stroll in the charming village of Polignano a Mare – shining gem on the coast of the Valle d’Itria, perched atop a 20 meter-high limestone cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic.
Day 6 Amalfi Coast/Sorrento
Everyday scene from the Amalfi Coast
This morning we depart for the Amalfi Coast area, en route we visit Bari, the Capital of the Puglia region. Visit of the old town center. See the Cathedral of St Nicola. Meander through the charming medieval network of passageways with plenty of fine architecture arranged around the picturesque fishing port.
Bari is also home of orecchiette pasta and you can learn the techniques from the locals. Time is at your leisure for lunch. In the afternoon we continue our journey to Sorrento overlooking the Bay of Naples. Check in at your hotel in Sorrento followed by Dinner.
Day 7 The Amalfi Coast
This morning we start our tour at the ancient marine republic of Amalfi. Here you can visit the beautiful Cathedral of St. Andrew and the old Arsenals where the galleys used to ship goods and spices to and from the Orient. Time is given to shop or explore on your own. From Amalfi you might be interested in taking an optional mini-cruise (weather permitting) along the breathtaking Amalfi coast to reach the famous village of Positano.
Dinner tonight is at your own leisure.
Day 8 Capri
Julius Caesar
A morning jet foil whisks you across the blue Bay of Salerno to the fabled Isle of Capri. Upon arrival experience the famous funicolare where you will ascend to the Piazzetta, visit the Floral Gardens of Caesar Augustus overlooking the Faraglioni Rocks. Time at leisure for lunch before returning to your hotel. Tonight enjoy dinner at a fine local restaurant
Day 9 Mozzerella farm and winery
Today we hill head south of Sorrento to visit a buffalo mozzarella farm. Our members will learn from master craftsmen how this iconic delicacy is hand made using a centuries-old method. A tasting of the fare is included. Afterwards will enjoy fine regional cuisine at lunch.
Continue to the slopes of Mt Vesuvius for a wine tour and tasting. Afternoon return to Sorrento and dinner on your own.
Day 10 Sorrento Montecassino Rome
This morning drive north along the Highway of the Sun past the Bay of Naples. Before heading to Rome we’ll stop for a private visit and tour of the Abbey of Montecassino. Check in at your centrally located hotel in Rome.
Evening at leisure to explore Rome.
Vatican City at dusk
Michaelangelo’s “Creation of Man” in the Sistene Chapel
Panoramic view of Gallipoli. Puglia. Italy.
Famous Tivoli Fountain scene from 'La Dolce Vita' (1960) with Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastrionni
Day 11 Rome
Day at leisure or book an optional guided tour tour of Rome… including the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica or Ancient Rome including the Roman Forum and the Colosseum – a testament to the greatness of Rome’s past or a half day trip to the Tivoli gardens.
Tonight we bid arrivederci to Rome with a special farewell dinner at a lovely Roman restaurant.
Day 12 USA
After breakfast, depart to Rome Fiumicino Airport for your flight back home to the USA.
FOOTNOTES
IMPERIAL ROME
There are so many sites for your eyes to feast upon all over this stunningly beautiful country, and we’re going to start at an iconic one: The Coliseum. With any luck, the lions won’t be there to greet us but in case they are we recommend to all our guests the purchase of a spray can at the entrance of “Roman Coliseum Instant Lion Repellant.”
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, a.k.a. Raphael
The Romans were great builders and everywhere they went and conquered they built monuments to themselves and their culture (and asserted their architectural prowess.) Both inside and out, you’ll marvel at the symmetry and beauty of the construction! How did they do it, particularly the arches? What holds it all together? You’ll find out from our Roman expert, Paolo.
In the comfort of our private motor coach we’ll visit the other ancient ruins of Rome featuring the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, and the Imperial Forum. We’re not done yet on this our first day in the eternal capital; we’ll continue on to the Arch of Constantine, Circus Maximus and the Aventine Hill.
St Peter’s Square, Vatican City
Pricing
Tour Price: $4949.00 Deposit: $ 500.00
What’s Included:
- Round trip air fare from our USA gateways to/from Italy on American Airlines.
- Four star deluxe hotel accommodations for ten nights
- Breakfast each morning
- Four (4) lunches each featuring regional gastronomical specialties
- Three (3) dinner feasts
- Two (2) wine tasting events
- Touring by private, air-conditioned motor coach
- All entrance fees as per the itinerary
- All motor transfers
- All tour leading and local expert tour guiding by licensed staff of Conservative Tours Inc.
- “Whispers” personal audio listening system throughout the event
What’s Not Included:
- Optional day trip to The Lost City of Pompeii
- Government air & city tax
- Group Travel Insurance provided by Travel Insured International
Tour Dates
Depart: August 22, 2022
Return: September 2, 2022
12 days, 10 nights
Act now to join in our delightful, fully-escorted tour of the Amalfi Coast and more.
Contact Conservative Tours 888-733-9494 for more information or to reserve your place on this highly anticipated trip!
Learn About This Tour
TESTIMONIALS
“We’ve now enjoyed our second tour event with Conservative Tours in less than one year. The Italian Grand Event was everything promised and then some; but the organization was superb. Always had the feeling that good things were going to happen each day, and they did. The leisurely pace was helpful and the fine dining (particularly the Castle and Il Latini) was memorable.”
Mark & Celeste Lalli, New York City
Toured Italy with Conservative Tours
Sorrento vendor of lemon and limoncello bottles.
Sorrento vendor of lemon and limoncello bottles.
Roman Amphitheatre. Lecce. Puglia. Italy.
Roman Amphitheatre. Lecce. Puglia. Italy.
Roman Colosseum (also Flavian Amphitheatre)
The 2,000 year oldd Roman Colosseum allowed more than 50,000 spectators to enjoy its recreation of battles and gladiator fights… events known as “Bread and Circuses”.
Roman Amphitheatre, Lecce, Puglia, Italy.
Roman Amphitheatre, Lecce, Puglia, Italy.
Spiral Staircase of the Vatican Museums
Unlike the original spiral staircase designed by Donato Bramante in 1505, this modern equivalent at the Vatican Museums was designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932.
The famous Trevi Fountain in Rome
The famous Trevi Fountain in Rome
Stairs to the Amalfi Cathedra
Stairs to the Amalfi Cathedral
Faraglioni rocks
Three famous faraglioni (rocky stacks) in the Bay of Naples, off the island of Capri. Part of the Campanian Archipelago, they are called Stella (connected to the island), Mezzo and Scopolo (or Fuori),
Panoramic view of Gallipoli. Puglia. Italy.
Panoramic view of Gallipoli. Puglia. Italy.
Forum Romanum
The Forum Romanum is a rectangular plaza surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome.
Sorrento lemons
The lemon in mosaics and paintings that came to light with the excavations of Pompeii shows their common use in the Neapolitan area since ancient times.
Inside the Abbey at Montecassino
Inside the Abbey at Montecassino
Sorrento lemon grove
The Amalfi Coast claims to be the home of the true lemon.
Roman Colosseum (also known as Flavian Amphitheatre)
The Roman Colosseum was completed in 80 AD under the reign of emperor Titus. It was the greatest Roman amphitheatre ever built.
Scenic view of Positano, Italy
Scenic view of Positano, beautiful Mediterranean village on Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana) in Campania, Italy
Mural at the Abbey at Montecassino
Mural at the Abbey at Montecassino
