Walking the Amalfi Coast

Those on group flights fly to Naples, where they will be met by their tour
leader on arrival. A transfer of approximately 1 hour 20 minutes takes us to
the Hotel Due Torri, our base for the week in the village of Bomerano, on the
Agerola plains above the Amalfi Coast. Enjoy a warm welcome from our local
hosts, the Acampora family, before settling in. Land only clients can arrive
at any time, although we do recommend to join the group at the airport as
public transport options to the hotel are limited.

From the hotel it's a short stroll to the village square (or in the case of
Bomerano, a triangle) and the start of today’s walk. The circular route
provides a good chance to stretch the legs; following a mixture of paths and
tracks we ascend to the top of Monte Tre Calli to be rewarded with
spectacular wide-open views of the jagged coastline and seemingly endless
blue sea. The Agerola Plain and the village of Bomerano are laid out below us
and on a clear day we can see as far as the famous island of Capri, a haven
and idyllic hideaway for many celebrated artists and writers over the past
200 years. After admiring the majestic scenery descend to Bomerano and enjoy
some rest time before a hearty dinner.

Start walking towards Amalfi, a town popular with the British since Edwardian
times when the upper classes favoured it as a pleasant place to spend their
winters. The route has a downhill bias, following the path from Bomerano at
700m to the shores of the Mediterranean, accompanied by wonderful coastal
views. There are sections of steps today (approx. 2000 in total), but there
are also plenty of opportunities to rest and go at your own pace. On arrival,
you will see the large Duomo (Cathedral) dominating the town with its
brightly-coloured tiled cupola (dome), which along with the baroque facade
and interior, is a typical example of regional architecture. Take some time
to explore the town, swim in the small bay or enjoy a well-earned gelato
before taking the transfer back to Bomerano.

Transfer to the Bay of Naples, the area spanning between the region’s
capital city, Naples, and the town famed for its lemon groves, Sorrento.
Situated on the lower foothills of the volcano dominating the Gulf, Pompeii
was a thriving port town until Vesuvius’ catastrophic eruption spanning two
days in 79AD during which the city was buried in ash and pumice. Lost for
1700 years, Pompeii is now a UNESCO World Heritage site as the perfectly
preserved remains give us an amazing insight into life in a Roman city,
complete with bathhouses, bakeries and homes – some of which still have
walls adorned with detailed frescoes. You may take some time to explore the
site this morning, perhaps opting for a detailed tour accompanied by a local
guide. After lunch, travel by bus high up onto the slopes of Vesuvius to view
the volcanic crater. Depending on weather conditions, it may be possible to
take one of the many extended walks around the caldera and beyond, led by an
expert volcanologist (optional).

Today's walk starts in Ravello, a town much favoured by the Bloomsbury set
and other artists and intellectuals due to its secluded location and
inspirational scenery. Before setting off for the walk we have some free time
to explore the town and visit Villa Cimbrone or Villa Rufolo with their
meticulously landscaped gardens and breath-taking views out to the sea
(optional).  The route today is mostly downhill but it does include a
considerable amount of steps. After descending and taking a quick stop in the
village of Pontone, we continue through wooden bridges and shady paths
carpeted with wild flowers in season, to the beautiful moss-clad waterfalls
within the closed gates of the Valle delle Ferriere National Park. Finally,
following the stream gently downwards through lemon groves, past the shells
of former paper factories (a major local industry from the 12th to 19th
centuries) and mediaeval ironworks we reach Amalfi.

5 hours walking, 10km – 6.2 miles, 214m – 702ft up - 450m – 1476ft
down).

Today we have a day at leisure to relax at the hotel or go down to the
seafront. The hotel also offers private transfers (payable locally) to the
most popular attractions in the region not covered during the rest of the
week, including the city of Herculaneum. Also destroyed during the disaster
of 79AD, Herculaneum was buried in mud rather than ash and it is said that
this lead to the site being even better preserved than the bigger Pompeii.
You might instead choose to take a ferry to the chic island of Capri and the
funicular through lemon groves up to Capri town. These optional excursions
can be arranged locally by your leader. Alternatively, spend the free day by
the pool or in true Italian style in a café, sipping espresso and watching
the world go by!

A fitting finale to the week is one of the world's finest day walks. Leaving
the hotel it's a short stroll through the quiet village of Bomerano before we
join the ‘Sentiero degli Dei’ (Walk of the Gods), thus named as it
provides some of the most evocative views in the world, of ragged cliffs
speckled with tiny villages and extensive views of the sparkling
Mediterranean sea. The route follows undulating hills, carpeted with flowers
in season, the contours of the land and the coast. The trail is broken by
insights into local life, passing shepherds huts and ancient stone houses
carved into the limestone before we descend a long series of steps to the
colourful Positano, an almost vertical town clinging to the rock face of a
sheltered bay. Take some time to explore the alleyways lined with wisteria
and designer boutiques or have a dip in the clear water of the beachfront
before returning to Bomerano by boat and bus (seasonal) in the late
afternoon. During the week many meals will have included some delicious local
smoked mozzarella cheese and before dinner, we will have the chance to see
how it is made and taste the mouth-wateringly fresh final product.

Trip ends in Bomerano.