Sunny Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast

Journey via the St Gotthard through Lombardy to Tuscany. On the drive through the gentle hills you catch a glimpse of the art metropolis of Florence. Via Montepulciano you reach tonight’s overnight stop, Castiglion.

The last pick-up points in German-speaking Switzerland are Lucerne, Inseli car park, at 09.15, or by arrangement at the Gotthard North service area, at 10.00.

The journey takes you from southern Tuscany around Rome to the Bay of Naples. For centuries Sorrento has been the outstanding destination of northern Europeans’ longing for Italy. Countless writers and painters have immortalised this magical place in word and image. The town lies picturesquely surrounded by lemon groves on the edge of steeply falling cliffs and offers a fantastic view of the bay, Vesuvius and the island of Ischia. The old town, with its churches and old palazzi, is worth seeing. A popular meeting place is the beautiful waterfront promenade. The peninsula is known for its large lemons. The typical products of Sorrento are made with exactly these "limoni": Limoncello, a delicious lemon liqueur, and lemon chocolate, but also countless colourful ceramic items decorated with lemon motifs and lemon soap are produced.

(Optional excursion) "When the red sun sinks into the sea at Capri..." – follow the famous song by Rudi Schuricke and join the day trip to the world-famous island, the pearl of the Bay of Naples. It will captivate you. The ferry takes you across, and from Capri’s harbour you travel to the Piazzetta, the heart of Capri. A guided tour shows you the island’s beauties, including the Gardens of Augustus. From there you enjoy a unique view of the Faraglioni rocks and the impressive Bay of Naples. In the evening, return to the mainland and to the hotel.

Full-day excursion to the Amalfi Coast, arguably the most beautiful stretch of coastline in Italy. Sheer cliffs with bizarre shapes and deep gorges characterise this region, with the towns of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. The villages cling like swallows’ nests to the hillsides, with few roads but many steep stepped lanes. A longer stop in Amalfi is planned for a city visit and time to stroll. The old town is a labyrinth of churches, towers, narrow streets and squares. The main attraction is Piazza Duomo, a true gem, dominated by the cathedral.

(Optional excursion) Excursion to Pompeii. Guided visit to the city buried during the great eruption of Vesuvius in antiquity. The scale of the ruins and the idyllic landscape give a magnificent impression of what the Roman city must have looked like in the imperial era. Pompeii is unique because nowhere else in the world can the ruins of a completely preserved ancient city be viewed so up close. On the way back, you make a detour to Vesuvius, the 1'277 metre active volcano that shapes the landscape of the Naples region. Near the summit it is completely bare, while further down the lava slopes are densely covered with pines, broom and flowers. A footpath (20 minutes) leads up to the crater, from where you enjoy a graceful view over the Bay of Naples.

You leave the peninsula and the Bay of Naples, driving around Rome along the Tyrrhenian Sea to Marina di Bibbona in Tuscany.

On the way back to Switzerland you pass Parma and Milan and travel via the St Gotthard route to your drop-off points.