Mother & Daughter Italy Trip of a Lifetime

In the morning, the streets of Rome will bustle as you venture out into the city with your guide bound for the remarkable grounds of the Colosseum. Romans often enjoy a quick espresso at the corner bars on their way to work as you arrive in front of the massive outer wall of the famous amphitheater inaugurated in 80 AD. The exterior wall reaches 187 feet tall with the inner wall once containing large posts to support an awning that shaded the spectators from the elements.

Doric columns adorn the ground floor with Ionic columns decorating the middle section of the partitions, with the more ornamental Corinthian columns embellishing the top level. Your guide will point out the only section of the four main entrances that contain the original reliefs that were once painted in stucco to beautify the structure. The Colosseum could hold up to 50,000 spectators eager to witness gladiatorial games or concerts. The interior reveals the Hypogeum, the section beneath the central stage where a subterranean labyrinth existed in which gladiators trained and operators kept cages for exotic wild animals.

Outside of the Colosseum and Roman Forum, you can continue on a tour of Rome’s iconic monuments leading to the remarkable Trevi Fountain. The 18th-century masterpiece acts as the façade to a 1st-century BC aqueduct that is set against the rear wall of the Dukes of Poli Palace. The sea god Oceanus stands as the central figure with the horses emerging from the water and adding a sense of symmetry to the incredible work of art.

In the morning, the pasticcerieemit the aromas of freshly baked cornetti, a pastry similar to a croissant, and delicious chocolate brioches. You will meet your guide in the heart of Vatican City beneath the shadow of the famous central obelisk. The prominent image of St. Peter’s Square was brought to Rome in the 1st century AD and later moved into the center of the square in the 16th century under the orders of Pope Sixtus V, who hoped to recover and reuse many of the ruins of Rome. In the background, the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica soars above the piazza to reach 450 feet tall as designed by Michelangelo. The prolific artist and architect have left an indelible print on Vatican City, both inside the museum galleries and inside the Basilica.

You will enter the nave of St. Peter’s, which was built between the 16th and18th centuries above the church foundations constructed first. Fragments of a mosaic by Giotto decorate the doorway, and the double bronze doors from the earlier church refract the sunlight. Michelangelo’s stunning Pietà stands on the right after entering the nave and will capture your attention. The master artist sculpted the breathtaking work at the age of 24 to depict a young Mary holding Jesus after the crucifixion. The intricate details and intimate moment make the figures lifelike. After coming face to face with the spectacular masterpieces of Vatican City, you can continue to Castle Sant’Angelo, a mausoleum erected for Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. The sandstone structure has overlooked the Tiber River for two millennium evolving from its initial use as a tomb into a fortress and castle for popes over the subsequent centuries, until becoming a museum in the 20th century.

As the morning rises, your private transfer will greet you at your hotel lobby after breakfast and whisk you out of Rome and towards the southern city of Naples. Before reaching the infamous metropolis and setting of Elena Ferrante’s captivating Neapolitan novel series, you can spend time visiting the grandeur of Caserta Palace.

The impressive complex was built between the 18th and 19th centuries and acted as the home of the Bourbon King of Naples, and ultimately resulted in one of the largest royal structures erected in Europe. The majestic Baroque aesthetic permeates the halls, the apartments, and the gardens complete with period furniture and preserved artworks. The Grand Staircase immediately catches your eye as a model of grace and prestige while two marble lions frame the first tier as visitors climb into the entryway giving way to statues of Merit and Truth. Parallel staircases leading to another level look like a dramatic temple with the inclusion of arches and columns, resulting in the staircase’s 105-foot height situated beneath the illusion of a dome.

The masterwork of fantasy uses art and engineering to allude to a sense of space. Stepping into the gardens will reveal the splendor of a park encompassing nearly 300 acres with fountains supplied by water from the Carolina Aqueduct. The Fountain of the Three Dolphins embodies the ingenuity of the artwork and breadth of the greater garden with sculptures depicting sea monsters spilling water into the pool possessing a depth of nearly 10 feet. The sound of rushing water becomes the soundtrack to your stroll through the magnificent, massive gardens.

The marvels of Naples are often overlooked, hidden behind the city’s famous chaos. Look closer at the city, however, and you will see the beauty as the boats wade in the cobalt blue water and the colors of the produce in the market shine brighter as the aroma of pizza permeates the air all hours of the day. Naples is a city for all your senses and strikes a balance between the pleasures of taste and sight with the feeling of discovery from captivating Byzantine, French, Spanish, and Austrian rule, as well as ancient archeological sites.

You will start the day at Herculaneum, the lesser-known city covered in lava during the infamous eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. The former city hid beneath solid layers of pumice and ash to reach up to 98 feet deep, which protected the wealth of historical treasures from plundering over the millennia and preserved the artifacts with intricate details. The fast-flowing lava encased the city to guard the houses, artifacts, textiles, and organic material like food or wooden furniture, and you will be amazed as you see what has been left behind. Your guide will lead you first to Casa dell’Albergo, which overtakes nearly an entire city block. A row of columns once making the atrium outline the original design of the space, while across the street stands the House of Argus, where wall paintings continue to decorate the home and pillars stand in the former garden.

Continue to Pompeii, one of the most famous Roman cities in the world, known as for the tragedy of its burial beneath pumice and ash during the same volcanic eruption that covered Herculaneum in the 1st century AD. Approximately two-fifths of the massive port city remains underground and unrecovered. Walking through the old Roman Forum provides a stark contrast between the standing pillars and the nearly 10-foot tall base of the Temple of Jupiter in the foreground with the looming peak of Mount Vesuvius in the background, whose crater continues to steam after nearly 2,000 years.

In the morning, the doors to the former private chapel of the Sansevero family opens and offers visitors the chance to view the Baroque style sculpture of the Veiled Christ crafted by artist Sammartino in the 18th century. You will meet your guide in the lobby after breakfast to visit the National Archeological Museum, which possesses one of the finest collections of antiquities in the world. The grand halls and galleries possess an ethereal charm deriving from the majestic marble floors and decorative pillars.

The museum collection includes treasures from the kings of Naples including the Farnese collections amassed from Rome and Parma over the centuries. You will first approach the remarkable mosaic of Alexander in Battle taken from Pompeii and spreads across over 20 feet. The 5th-century original statue of Apollo Playing the Lyre was crafted in the 5th century BC by the Peloponnese and discovered in Casa del Citarista in Pompeii. In the afternoon, you will meet a celebrated local chef to learn the secrets of crafting the perfect Neapolitan pizza.

The secrets of the proper regional cooking will come to light during your fun-filled mother-daughter class and reveal the differences between the provincial and the urban cuisines around Italy. The chef will introduce you to the art of making a traditional handmade dough as you dig your fingers into the flour, water, and egg to shape the sticky mixture into the proper texture. The scent of yeast fills the kitchen as the dough rests, and you will continue to follow the customary recipe of making pizza Margherita as you roll the dough to the proper thinness before topping it homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.

After breakfast, your private transfer will escort you out of the city and around the Bay of Naples to the foothills of Mount Vesuvius. The volcano looms over the water in a constant reminder of its destructive, yet captivating past. The scent of sulfur emanates from the peak and fades beneath comforting scent of the Tyrrhenian Sea. You can step onto the path leading to the summit of the volcano reaching over 4,202 feet above sea level. The geothermal activity has caused 40 eruptions over the last 2,000 years most recently billowing clouds of smoke and producing bubbling lava over the rim visible from Naples in 1944.

From the top the walkway, you can look into the crater and spot the fumaroles steaming with gas. The rugged landscape imitates the scenery on Mars as cracks along the edges of the crater act as timelines to the past. Turning away from the volcanic crater will offer you a view down the mountain and show the extent of Pompeii’s true size across the Bay of Naples. You can continue to a vineyard using the minerals of the volcanic landscape to produce remarkable wines, as well as wines inspired by the ancient vines utilized in Pompeii 2,000 years ago. The family opened the vineyard in the 18th century tying the destiny of their vines to the unpredictable landscape.

The types of grapes planted on the property are the same grown in the 1st century AD preserved by the lava flow from the large Vesuvius eruption. The unique process of bringing ancient wine back to the life adds an extra layer of lusters to your experience of exploring the vineyard, including experimentations with ancient farming techniques and grape blends. In the tasting room, your guide will pour you a sample, and you can notice the scent of spicy pepper and cinnamon emanating from the glass.

The iconic seaside town of Positano is the most westerly town on the Amalfi Coast and rises along the mountain ridge in a dramatic expression of color. White, pink, and yellow tower homes overlook the pebbled beaches and azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The scent of grilled squid topped with freshly squeezed lemon juice drifts from the restaurants scattered across the waterfront. Ancient Romans built numerous villas along the terraced cliffs over the Positano coast before the larger town grew around the Benedictine Abbey in the 9th century.

The sea breeze blows through the narrow roads and remnants of the fortified walls once protecting the town and erected after Pisa pillaged the home in the 13th century. The sunlight glints against the majolica-tiled dome of the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Travel along the coastline to reach the famous city of Amalfi, for which the coast is named. The symbol of the Amalfi Coast is the oldest maritime republic in the country and amassed great fortune trading with the Byzantines.

The city prospered under the reign of the Normans, Longobards, and Saracens until a defeat by Pisa in the 12th century. The landmark Duomo was erected in the 9th century and holds a dramatic collection of 62 steps that lead to the main portico. The bell tower has a majolica façade decorated in the 13th century that leads to an interior that radiates with silver masonry in the natural light and an impressive display of Italian Baroque art. The scent of frankincense and myrrh adds a subtle spice to the briny aroma outside of the cathedral.

The beauty of Capri has captivated ancient emperors and Hollywood starlets alike on the island that emerges from the sparkling sapphire water. You can take the morning ferry from the Amalfi Coast to reach closer to the cliffs of the island. The ferry docks in Marina Grande, where you can board the gondola that leads to the Piazzetta. The vivacious public plaza fills with the scent of espresso and pastries as locals and visitors alike sit beneath the gorgeous clock tower. The main street of Via Camerelle hosts boutique shops and lavish flower stands, pottery stores and the rich aromas of locally made perfumes.

For a remarkable view and a touch of history, you can visit Villa Jovis, the former palace of Emperor Tiberius’s summer getaway. The villa was erected in the first century AD on the steep terrain and covers an area of 193,750 square feet before leaping from the Salto di Tiberio, a nearly 900-foot cliff. Four giant tanks expose the system for storing water collected by the complex canal system. The gorgeous panorama over the verdant hills spreading out to the azure water provides enough incentive to explore the historic gardens and imperial villa.

In the cool, maritime air of the morning, hikers take to the Path of the Gods to explore the spellbinding views traveling along the mountainside between towns. A steep staircase of 1,700 steps leads from the slopes of Positano to the peak of Monte Sant’Angelo a Trei Pizzi. The acclaimed sandal-maker in town begins cobbling leather soles together while customers explore the cobblestone lanes and walkways. After breakfast and one last chance to take it all in, your private transfer will greet you in your hotel lobby and escort you away from the Amalfi Coast to reach Naples International Airport for your flight home.