Our Sorrento Tour – Herculaneum and Amalfi Coast gives our clients the possibility to have an 8-9 hour private tour to visit the ancient Herculaneum excavations, among the remains of the old Imperial Roman city, and to live the naturalistic beauty by definition: the Amalfi coast, perfect synthesis of fascination and glory, certainly one of the most popular destinations in Italy. When choosing this tour, you can be sure you’ll live an intense and unforgettable experience; you will add a precious memory to your Italian holiday: history and culture of the ancient Herculaneum combine magically with the beautiful landscapes, the tastes and the worldliness of the Amalfi coast.
In detail, our tour is approximately 8-9 hours, but we can adjust it and make any variation you may need: change the start and end time, the order of the stops, time and place of lunch break. At the end of the day we will bring you back to your hotel in Sorrento, certain to have given you an unforgettable experience, that you will love to tell and remember when you get back home. The Sorrento Tour – Herculaneum and Amalfi Coast starts by taking a dive into the imperial roman history visiting the ancient city of Herculaneum, then it continues with different stops in the Amalfi coast: the town of Ravello, the splendid Amalfi, the mundane Positano. These movements occur with the luxury car, and you will be accompanied by drivers that speak English correctly, that know very well the tour stops and will surely be able to give you many details, fun facts, curiosities and anecdotes on the places you’ll visit.
First stop of Sorrento Tour: Herculaneum
You’ll discover the Roman Empire’s history. Once left Sorrento, it will take us approximately 45 minutes to arrive in the ancient city of Herculaneum, located at the bottom of the Vesuvius, and UNESCO heritage. Together with Pompeii, the ancient Herculaneum was struck by the same tragic destiny: completely submerged by lava rain and lapilli during the Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 A.D. The visit is, of course, charming, and for the lovers of classic history it represents a unique experience that can’t be lived anywhere else in the world. During our tour, you will also visit Villa dei Papiri, that very probably was of Lucio Pisone Cesonino’s property, Julius Caesar’s father-in-law. The residence’s name, The Papyrus Villa, comes from the nearly 1800 papyrus rolls found that were part of a very prestigious library. The excavation tour lasts two hours.
Second stop of Sorrento Tour: Amalfi Coast
Ravello
After about one hour, we will be in Ravello, the first stop in our coast visit. The town of Ravello enchants for its artistic expositions, of painting, poetry and music, that take place on the terraces, completely suspended between sky and sea. Differently from the other towns of the Amalfi coast, Ravello is a few kilometres higher, and it’s the destination for all those who visit the coast and want to get away from the sea for a while, and look to infinity from a higher observation spot.
During the Sorrento Tour – Herculaneum and Amalfi Coast you will be able to visit the spectacular terraces of Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo, the places that enchanted and seduced big celebrities: Greta Garbo, Richard Wagner, D.H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf and more, and that today are home to important international representations such as the Ravello Festival.
Amalfi
We’ll resume to reach, after few kilometres, Amalfi. Of Roman origins, it’s located at the centre of the Amalfi coast. One of the four Marine Republics, Amalfi has made commercial relationships in the whole Mediterranean sea. The emotion of its history lives in the guard towers, such as the Saracen Tower, situated close to the antique Saint Francis Convent.
During our Sorrento Tour, Herculaneum and Amalfi Coast you’ll visit the Amalfi Cathedral, that overlooks the majestic central square of the town. The perfect memory of this tour will be a paper souvenir of Amalfi, still made today with the same method that made it famous all over the world. If you want, we can stop here for the lunch break. We’ll be happy to recommend you one of the best typical restaurants where to eat tasty fresh fish dishes and typical products of our land.
Positano
After lunch, we’ll get back on our journey, arriving after about half an hour in Positano, pearl of the Amalfi coast, usually destination chose by international cinema stars. The tiny roads that compose a suggestive labyrinth, expand from the top towards the sea and are skirted by the famous “Positano sea fashion” boutiques and by the famous artisanal sandals made by hand.
During our Sorrento Tour Herculaneum and Amalfi Coast we accompany you by car up to a certain point, to then let you enjoy a fantastic walk in the roads of Positano. You can spend some time shopping, choosing an artisanal sandal or a linen dress/suit, and then reach the beach that, with its bars and clubs represents the living heart of the town.