Celebrated Cuisine & Ceramics of Ravello & Positano Tour

The vertical town of Positano strikes a stunning image against the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Peach and pink homes decorate the terraced hills and rise out of the emerald forests. Cobblestone streets reach the quiet beach below where the water laps at the pebbles beneath the shade of colorful parasols. Your private transfer will meet you at Naples International Airport upon your arrival and escort you to the most westerly town of the Amalfi Coast. Travel along the coastline of the Bay of Naples and see the dramatic figure of Mount Vesuvius rising above the water.

Drive along the meandering narrow streets in the hills that lead to the edge of the famous Amalfi Coast, a stretch of Italy’s shoreline that is nearly 25 miles long. In the town of Positano, you will find the welcoming aroma of zesty lemons that emanate from the vibrant trees. The sunlight glints off the majolica dome of the 10th-century Church of Santa Maria Assunta. The cupola stands out above the cream-colored exterior with marvelous detail in yellow, green, and blue tiles visible from the Marina Grande Beach.

Settle into your comfortable accommodations with a view of the coastline that touches the surrounding cliffs. At dinner, you will find an official culinary welcome to Positano and the Amalfi Coast in the form of a tasting menu that offers the splendid traditional dishes of the Campania Region, beginning with a simple, yet extraordinary Caprese Salad. The plate has bright sun-ripened tomatoes, fragrant basil, and creamy mozzarella cheese, all drizzled with rich olive oil. The first bite of the dish enchants you with its fresh ingredients to combine the perfect embodiment of region.

In the morning, the scent of lemon zest blends with the refreshing aroma of the Mediterranean Sea. The sapphire water shines brighter with the spreading light of the rising sun. At breakfast, the scent of fresh baked brioche washes over the cobblestone streets. The 16th-century Fornillo Tower stands atop two rocks and is now connected to the Castelletto overlooking the water. Shops open up with vibrant colors to promote their elegant and whimsical ceramics, along with shops that present a variety of culinary uses for the coastal lemons. Limoncello creates stunning window displays, and ceramic tiles pay homage to the citrus fruit growing wild in the forest.

A private captain will tour you around the Amalfi Coast aboard the Red Passion yacht. Your captain will make several stops along the water, giving you the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea. As you cruise along, you spot the dramatic Gambera Mount in the distance. Gambera Mount reaches a height of more than 1,670 feet above sea level and contains a natural hole at its center. Legend says the Virgin Mary made the hole by pressing her index finger into the mountain.

As you climb back on board, you’ll continue cruising along the magical coastline. Enjoy the marvelous views as you pass Praiano, the fiord of Furore, and Conca dei Marini, where you can discover Emerald Grotto. For lunch your captain will steer you to Amalfi, where you will have 3 hours at your leisure to  explore the colourful city. Your captain will provide you with several wonderful restaurant suggestions. After lunch, your boat will leisurely return to Positano and along the way you will reminisce over your wonderful day spent at sea.

The lemons of Positano are famous for their flavor and their size. They glisten with magnificent gold and add layers of flavor to the cuisine of the Amalfi Coast. The fruit dangles from the emerald trees and decorates many of the ceramic tiles in shop windows and along the structural facades around town. The refreshing aroma brings brightness to the day. After breakfast, you will meet your private instructor who is eager to teach you the basics of the region’s famous ceramics. Begin the class and get acquainted with the material as you dig your hands into the clay to mold and shape the form you desire. Your instructor will guide you through the process, from stirring salt and water into a saucepan to smoothing the material until it dries as a single mound of clay.

Once the clay is made, your instructor will help you to mold the form into a solid, elegant bowl. You can play with the clay until you find the shapes you prefer to take home with you. In the afternoon, meet your cooking instructor for a lesson in the traditional flavors of Campania. You can’t help but recall the elaborate and delicious meal you had during your first night in Positano as the kitchen is polished and contains elements of Mediterranean charm. You will produce a three-course meal paired with regional wine and indulge in the tradition of broccoli and sausage, a seasonal dish filled with the mouthwatering aromatics of fennel.

Today you will return to the ceramics workshop after breakfast for more on the artisan craft of famous in the Amalfi Coast. Spend the morning decorating your piece with the vibrant colors of the Mediterranean. Take inspiration from the sapphire water, emerald forest, and even the glistening tiles along the dome of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. After class, your guide will lead you on a tour through an olive grove to look at the plump and delicate produce growing along the trees. The 19th-century olive mill on the property highlights how olive oil was once procured.

In the contemporary factory, you will find the modern technology used for the cold extraction technique known to produce virgin and extra-virgin olive oil. Your guide will explain that virgin oil is pure and unmixed, but the factory does infuse certain olive oils with rosemary, thyme, or even orange peel. At the end of your tour, you will visit the tasting room to sample the variety of olive oils produced by the factory. Your guide will explain the history and importance of the oil in Italy before a brief explanation of the flavor profile of the oil varieties before you try each sample. Dip a piece of bread into the oils and indulge in the creamy texture of the virgin olive oil.

In the morning, you can stand out on your private veranda and enjoy the light that washes over the Mediterranean Sea. The cobblestone streets begin to bustle with people, and the familiar scent of lemon overtakes the sea breeze. After breakfast, return to the ceramics workshop for your final class to finish decorating your work. Whether you made an impressive fruit bowl or a stunning cheese plate, you will soon pack your personalized ceramic away in your bag eager to show your friends back home. Following class, venture out to a local restaurant in Positano for a fabulous lunch complete with gourmet tasting menu. Each dish is paired with a local wine to emphasize the flavors of both the food and the drink.

The restaurant offers a view of the street where you watch passersby as they enjoy the sensational sunlight. Sailboats glide along the water before they disappear behind the horizon. Your first dish, zuppa di cozze, comes to the table. The chef will simmer fresh mussels with ripe tomatoes and let the juices steep together before adding lemon, parsley, and black pepper. After your first taste, you know you will never forget the dish. It has a zesty sweetness from the tomato and lemon, along with a hint of spice from the pepper. But the most flavorful component is the tender mussels, which add a perfect brininess to the broth. Even while you relish the soup, you can hardly wait to see what dish comes next.

In the morning, the colors of Positano shine against the backdrop of verdant trees and the foreground of the azure water. After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and escort you to the town of Amalfi for which the coast was named. The ancient coastal wall continues to protect the street from the tide as culture and history come alive along the cobblestone lanes that lead to the cathedral. More than 60 stairs lead to the Romanesque entry portal as black and white stripes contrast the gilded mosaic on the pediment.

The bronze door is striking in both size and detail as the door was cast in Constantinople in the 11th-century and sent to Amalfi during the height of the town’s maritime trade with the Byzantine Empire. The architecture is Romanesque, but the interior contains remarkable Baroque style. Two columns taken from the Greek ruins of Paestum support the triumphal arch. Stroll back through the piazza to find locals that linger beneath the shade of the café umbrellas to sip espresso, and read the daily paper.

Continue to the charming town of Ravello, located in the hills at nearly 1,200 feet above sea level. The streets and open views to the coastline have captivated artists throughout history, from Boccaccio to Wagner, Virginia Woolf to Truman Capote. Villa Cimbrone was once a ruined farmhouse but was rebuilt in the early 1900s to become a stunning display of fountains, neoclassical temples, and colorful gardens. Visit a well-known local pastry shop to nibble on a sfogliatella, shell-shaped pastry, warm from the oven while wandering the terraced streets of Ravello.

You have come to relish your mornings in Italy and look forward to waking up in the lemon fragrance of the hillsides brushed with the faint scent of roasted coffee beans. The Mediterranean is at its most serene as the boats wade in the marina before venturing out to sea. The morning is yours to indulge in the beauty of Positano, from lingering on the golden beach of Marina Grande to enjoying the views from the trails above the town. In the afternoon, meet your private cooking instructor for your final course in regional cuisine as you make your way to the local market to pick out your preferred fresh ingredients to highlight the rich flavors of each dish.

The seafood vendors display their catch from earlier in the morning and farmers showcase their bright produce as cheese mongers offer samples of their buffalo mozzarella. Follow your instructor back into the kitchen and prepare the meal and the kitchen soon fills with the scent of basil and garlic. Roast eggplant over an open flame and your instructor will throw a handful of prawns into a simmering tomato broth. In the end, you have a refined and powerful frutti di mare, a mixed seafood dish over a bed of freshly made pasta. It is an eclectic symbol of the Amalfi Coast and a perfect dish to round out your discovery of regional flavor.

The towns of Agerola and Nocelle nestle into the slopes of Monte Peruso to overlook the top of Positano. The path connects the towns to provide unparalleled views of the coast that leads to the cliffs of Capri. At breakfast, savor the aroma of fresh espresso as the beaches begin to fill with beachgoers. Fishermen cast a free line into the water from the small coastal wall and the memory of your meal the previous night lingers on your taste buds. Your private transfer will escort you from Positano to Naples International Airport you take with you the recipes of the dishes you made and the great memories of your time along the Amalfi Coast.