Amalfi Coast
Naples Airport (NAP) Pls arrive 11.00h – 13.00h
NB: If there is a demand, we may, as previously, run a bus from Rome airport)
From the airport, we drive to Pompeii for a guided tour of this incredible, unique archeological site.
Did you know that there is evidence that Roman Jews believed that the eruption of Vesuvius and the huge destruction caused thereby resulted from the Romans’ destruction of the 2nd Bet Mikdash just 9 years previously in Jerusalem???
We then head to our Villa for our Welcome Dinner while your luggage is delivered to your room.
Amalfi Coast by boat – from Sorrento we’ll board a ferry and enjoy the magnificent views as we sail around the end of the Sorrento peninsula, passing Positano on our way to Amalfi
Amalfi – we’ll stroll around this busy little town, look at the church and its art (for those who so wish) or browse in the stores and “live the life”. There is also a lovely museum of paper-making at the end of the village which was probably owned by Jews... 1000+ years ago.
Ravello – a bus will take us to the “high-point” of the coast with its breath-taking Villa Cimbrone gardens and views. From Ravello we’ll drive back to Sorrento for dinner.
The "pathway of the gods" – a 3-hour medium difficulty hike on top of the cliffs above the Amalfi coastline with some of the ultimate views of the coast. For many this is THE highlight of the whole tour, although so few tourists take the time to do it.
We’ll picnic at the end of the hike, in the tiny village of Nocelle and then take the local micro-bus down to Positano and visit this most elegant resort, before returning in good time to prepare for Shabbat. Candle-lighting at 20.05 so NO PRESSURE!!
Those who for any reason do not hike can spend the morning in Sorrento, meet us for lunch and join the visit to Positano and the crossing to Capri.
Coffee and cake – davening – full breakfast
Short walk in and around Sorrento
Mincha followed by Shabbat lunch – main meal of the day (seuda III if you’re counting)
Free time to relax in the lounge, by the pool or in your room.
A light supper will be served before Shabbat ends, 21.14
After Ma’ariv and Havdala - Saturday night in Sorrento: music, coffee, limoncello
A ferry ride brings us from Capri to Naples where our bus awaits us for the cross-country ride towards Puglia.
Our first stop is Trani - a beautiful medieval port city. The synagogue was returned to the Jews of the region fairly recently after being used as a church for half a millennium.
We’ll visit both the active synagogue and the small local Jewish museum. Hopefully there’ll be time for a coffee in the harbor before we set off to our Hotel for a Welcome Dinner in our
Lecce - known as the Florence of Puglia, where a Jewish community once held sway. Most famed for its unique style of architecture – Baroque Rococo. A brand new Jewish museum has recently opened in Lecce – and we’ll have time to visit – or you can go shopping!!!
After lunch we’ll proceed to Santa Maria al Bagno for a moving visit to the museum dedicated to all those holocaust survivors who passed thru in the years 1943 – 1947 en route to Palestine.
In the morning we’re going dolphin-watching - a fun cruise in the bay of Otranto with lunch on board.
On the way back, you have to see Alberobello – home to hundreds of ancient trullo dwellings.
Their design origin is the subject of much debate…
After lunch back in the hotel, there’ll be
time to enjoy the hotel’s facilities, including its golf course and beautiful pool, and we’ll visit Ostuni later by night for a
farewell drink!!
After a leisurely breakfast (and a final swim??) we’ll transfer you to Brindisi airport (BDS) for the 12.20 flight to Rome, from where you can fly onward to your destination. Perhaps you’ll come to Israel for Shavuot. Dinner at the Goldbergs!!???
