Royal Italian Vacation: Luxuries of the Italian Riviera and Amalfi Coast

The sunlight washes over the greenery glinting along the rugged hills pressing against the edges of the coast. Fishermen return to shore with nests brimming with branzino, prawns, and mussels. The water shines like a collection of a crystal set against the gradual descent of the mountains bordering the village. Cafés set tables out on the street overlooking the small boats wading in the marina. The cobblestone walkways leading to and from the castle were once escape passages carved through the rocky sandstone of the hills to allow the aristocracy to reach the outside world.

Your guide meets you after breakfast and escorts you to Genoa to explore the bustling capital of the Liguria region, taking you from the castle to the outer reaches of what once was the marvel of Italy’s northwestern seaboard. The former city gates at Porta Soprana embody the prestige of the former republic. The 12th-century stone towers continue to soar above the connected buildings, including the restored home of Christopher Columbus. The Cathedral of San Lorenzo contains a remarkable 14th-century gothic façade crowned with a 16th-century Renaissance dome. The lavish décor of the receding layers of the arched porticos lead to a magnificent interior of colonnades, capitals, and female deities surrounded by frescoes.

You guide leads you along the stunning street of Via Garibaldi to discover the 16th and 17th-century palaces erected during the height of the republic’s power. Wealthy noble families built the grandiose facades bordering the boulevard, leading south to Piazza Ferrari. The radiant hues of Palazzo Rosso, the Red Palace, catch your eye. The gorgeous loggia at the center of the palace frames a classic statue at the center of the courtyard. The interior contains galleries exhibiting works donated by the Duchess of Galliera, which includes works by Van Dyck and Paolo Veronese.

In the morning, the gardens around the castle blossom with flower petals as bright as the pastel colors of the homes framing the coastline. Locals return to the sand to enjoy the refreshing water with the backdrop of terraced vineyards and dramatic hills. After breakfast, you meet your skipper at the marina and step aboard a boat traveling alongside the coastline to reach Monterosso, the most northerly of the five towns of Cinque Terre.

The aroma of the sea contains a sweet and briny combination. The breeze brushes against your skin and carries the mist spouting from the boat’s hull. The Maritime Alps rise and fall with your passing, pressing against villages and towns sporadically rising along the foothills. When you reach Monterosso, you find a dramatic figure etched into the side of the rocky promontory. The figure once represented powerful Poseidon reaching upwards of more than 45 feet tall. The powerful seas and winds have battered the statue over the past century. The figure retains its striking pose propping up the base of the former villa at the top of the cliff but has lost his staff and arms.

The town of Monterosso contains meandering cobblestone streets leading away from the sliver of gold sand beach framed by rocky promontories. Three of the 13 medieval defensive towers remain standing around town, including Dawn Tower, which marks the separation between the Old Town and the New Town, beneath the remains of Castle Monterosso on the hill of San Cristoforo. When you reach the natural marina at Vernazza, you sit in a charming local wine bar offering traditional snacks to accompany the wines produced on the terrace vineyards ascending the lush mountains framing the town. The charming restaurant sits beside the marina, offering the sound of lapping water for a soothing and delicious lunch.

In the morning, the aroma of fresh espresso blends with the cool seaside scent. The panorama from Punta Manara offers a sweeping vision of the evergreen trees and tower homes running along the hills. After breakfast, you have a private transfer to the trains station to board the first class compartment leading you to Rome. The scenic ride takes you through the mountains, passed the rolling hills of Tuscany, alongside the gorges and golden plains of Lazio to the Imperial City. You have a private transfer to your luxurious hotel located in a renovated 19th-century palace.

The antique décor layers the opulence of the past and highlights the comforts of the hotel’s focus on luxurious detail. Marble baths and large terraces accentuate the beauty and wealth of Rome’s glorious history. Your guide meets you in the hotel lobby after lunch, eager to lead you through the depths of the Eternal City’s ever-changing dynamic over more than 2,000 years. The Colosseum marks the heart of Imperial Rome with walls reaching a height of 157 feet. Between the opulence of the Roman Forum and the open greenery of the Circo Massimo stands Palatine Hill.

Towering pine trees blend with rustic ruins for an unforgettable insight into the former glories of the Roman Empire dating back to the 8th century BC. The Imperial Palace of Domus Flavia served Emperor Domitian, along with subsequent emperors for nearly 300 years. The throne room, dining room, and rectangular hall encircle the pillared courtyard, leading to a nearly 100-foot long apse connecting to the shrine of domestic gods. The lavish architecture laid the groundwork for the demands of emperors to come, each wishing to make their own legendary mark on history.

Rome returns to life with the bustling market of Campo de’ Fiori. Vendors fill their stands with fresh, seasonal produce, from ruby-red tomatoes to eggplants flashing with glossy purple exteriors. The flower vendors offer bundles of gorgeous sunflowers and hydrangeas, which fill the square with sweet aromas. At breakfast, you sip a frothy cappuccino before meeting your private transfer in the lobby of the hotel. You travel south towards the city of Naples, the former capital of the eponymous kingdom as ruled by Bourbon Royalty. The Royal Palace of Caserta was erected in the 18th century to rival the beauty of Versailles in France. The palace measures more than 2.5 million square feet with five floors and 1,200 rooms. The brick structure contains an elegant exterior framed by manicured grass, symmetrical shrubbery, and thriving trees for a dramatic impression.

The polished marble floors embody the elaborate detail throughout the grounds. The Royal Staircase connects to the Royal Apartments on the upper levels, passing gilded banisters and colorful frescoes beneath a decorated dome. The splendor of the palace surpasses even your wildest dreams of what a royal family in the 18th century may have conjured. The garden contains numerous waterfalls spread over a vast field, accented with flowerbeds and dancing fountains. The Fountain of Diana and Actaeon contains statues of fauns and animals flanking the whitewater of a cascade.

In the morning, you wake up in the luxury of an 18th-century palace located on the hilltop overlooking Positano. The baroque style consists of a stone exterior near the beachfront draped in blossoming bougainvillea. A vegetable garden grows lush produce for the Michelin-starred restaurant on the property, adding to the old world embellishments of colorful tiled floors and flowers draping over your balcony. At breakfast, you delight upon delicious fruit taken from the terraced gardens and pastries made fresh that morning. The town of Positano ascends the hillside, wrapping around narrow, twisting lanes leading from the small marina.

The aroma of fresh lemon emanates from the citrus groves thriving in the Mediterranean climate. The summit of Monti Lattari looms over the dome of the church with the pastel homes shining brightly against the hillside greenery. Cafes offer quiet seats with views of the water, and boutique shops provide elaborate window displays leading to the hidden avenue where a cobbler continues to craft leather slippers to order. Locals dangle their toes into the water at the pebbled beach near the marina. The Tyrrhenian Sea laps at the shoreline splashing against the boulders supporting the promontories.

Once at the marina, you board a private boat and venture onto the water for a private cruise, taking in the natural beauty of the landscape. The coastline indents at secret grottos where locals swim in tranquil seclusion. Remnants of Roman towers erected to protect settlements and villas from pirates continue to speckle the coast. Near the city of Salerno stands the illustrious medieval structure of the Arechi Castle. The commanding outline stands at a height of nearly 1,000 feet above sea level. The medieval walls were erected over the foundations of a Roman-Byzantine stronghold.

The beauty of the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea returns with the sunlight. You relish a traditional Italian breakfast, nibbling on a sweet, buttery brioche and sipping a fresh espresso. Your guide meets you at the hotel and leads you around the Bay of Naples, beneath the looming summit of Mount Vesuvius, to the eponymous city. The Archeological Museum contains elaborate collections of classic artifacts pertaining to the art and culture of the Mediterranean. The 18th-century palace once used as cavalry barracks now exhibits the past, captivating visitors and locals with marble sculptures, vibrant frescoes, and intricate mosaics of Greek and Roman antiquity.

The polished marble floors embody the illustrious works maintained in the galleries, including the nearly nine by 17-foot Alexander Mosaic. The piece was crafted in the 2nd century BC and decorated a lavish villa in Pompeii. The work depicts Alexander the Great in battle, wearing a breastplate picturing Medusa. The stunning artistry continues on the ground floor with the Farnese Bull, a 3rd century AD construct showcasing the strength of the bull, the power of art, and the endless inspiration of legend. After visiting the Royal Palace, you return to Positano for a limoncello tasting, a lemon liqueur crafted from lemon rind, sugar, and alcohol.

Olive orchards and citrus groves rustle in the sea breeze blowing through the hills of the Amalfi Coast. At breakfast, you have grown familiar with the tradition of sipping espresso and enjoying the flaky crust of a fresh brioche. The colorful tiled dome of Church Santa Maria Assunta glows against the granite slopes of the mountains. Cafes once again set out their tables offering views of the water as the town returns to life. After breakfast, your private transfer meets you in the hotel lobby and escorts you to Naples International Airport for your flight home.