BY RAIL
AMALFI COAST BY TRAIN HOLIDAY
11 nights / 12 days From £ 3,210 per person
Positano
ROME • POSITANO
This rail holiday to the Amalfi coast transports you quickly into Italy on the overnight sleeper train and then on to Rome where you spend two nights to explore Italy’ s capital city. From Rome it’ s a short train ride to Naples and on to the dramatic Amalfi coast and the picturesque village of Positano where you spend 7 nights.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
DAY ONE London to Paris and sleeper train to Milan You begin your rail touring holiday to the Amalfi coast by travelling out on an afternoon Eurostar service from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. Following a change of station in Paris continue by Thello sleeper train overnight to Milan. We recommend the two bed sleeper compartments on the Thello train. There is a washbasin in the compartments and shared toilets in each carriage.
DAY TWO Milan to Rome by train The sleeper train arrives in Milan at about 06.00 hrs and there is time for a light breakfast at the station before changing to the fast Frecciarossa direct train to Rome where you arrive at about 10.00 hrs. A private car will transfer you to your hotel where you stay for two nights.
DAY THREE In Rome Spend the day at leisure in Rome. Rome is the capital city of Italy and as the capital city of the Roman Empire was widely regarded as the birth place of western civilization. The city has a unique atmosphere of any in Italy, due to its huge wealth of sites to see, dating back not just from the Roman era, but from mediaeval and Renaissance periods as well and you could spend a lifetime visiting all the historical and architectural sites the city has to offer. Most visitors come to Rome to see the foundations of the Roman Empire in the form of the Colosseum, The Forum and the Circus Maximus, to name but a few. However, visitors nearly always allow time for a visit to the Vatican Museum and the Basilica of St Peter, even if they choose not to visit any other non-Roman historical sites! The variety of places to visit in Rome can be overwhelming and it is best to plan in advance what you wish to see within the time you have and stick to it, rather than planning whilst you are there. The historic centre is perfectly manageable on foot as it is in fact quite compact although there is an underground system too. Other places worth including in your itinerary of Rome are the Campo de’ Fiori food market, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona, home to Bernini’ s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi. Afternoon tea is worth taking in the Caffe delle Arti inside the Galleria Nazionale d’ Arte Moderna, with a shady terrace in fine weather.
DAY FOUR Rome to Naples by train Spend the morning in Rome, perhaps staying for lunch before taking a train to Naples. A car takes you from the hotel to the station in Rome and the journey time from Rome to Naples is just over one hour. When you arrive in Naples, a car with driver will collect you from the station and take you to your hotel in Positano on the Amalfi coast where you spend seven nights.
DAYS FIVE TO TEN Positano and the Amalfi Coast You have the next six days to explore Positano and the stunning Amalfi Coast. During the day, navigate Positano via the winding stairways, perhaps in a pair of their speciality sandals. Walk along the Sentiero degli Innamorati from the Spiaggia Grande to Fornillo beach for a spectacular view of the coastline and a rewarding relaxing endpoint. Be sure to visit the secret hamlet of Nocelle, tucked away on the Monte Pertuso hillside. Walk to Nocelle from Agerola for a gentle, downhill stroll that takes you past more breath-taking views across the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri. For a longer day trip, drive along the Amalfi coast, through the white and terracotta towns, to Amalfi itself. While here, explore the many monuments, such as the Byzantine Duomo di Sant’ Andrea Apostolo, fronted by 57 stone steps that take you up to its three main arches. From the top of these steps in the atrium, the views across Amalfi and the sea are exceptional. The picturesque main square sits just below it, surrounded by small cafes and pretty buildings. Wander between the towering, climbing houses of the Vagliendola, or watch the Amalfi musical under the curved roof of the Antichi Arsenali, or old shipyards. From here, perhaps walk across the hilltops to the artistic village of Ravello to listen to a classical music concert on the terraces of
58 To speak to our specialist rail holidays team telephone 01392 441250 or see www. expressionsholidays. co. uk