Mario’s Tour of Southern Italy - June 2015

Mario hosted our family from June 10-19th on an unforgettable tour of Southern Italy that exceeded our expectations! Mario prepared an itinerary that was catered to our specific requests but also included areas of Italy that showcased the beauty of this country that most tourists will never see. We traveled with our four children who ranged in age from 17 to 22. Although our tour did not officially begin until June, Mario began working with us in November, and assisted in the planning of the second phase of our trip to Rome, Venice and Florence as well. Mario suggested hotels, restaurants, day trips and tours and provided us with information about the transportation in each city (including train schedules and water taxis). He was always willing to answer questions and provide suggestions and is knowledgeable about every area of Italy.

Upon landing in Naples, Mario and his brother Pepe were waiting for us at the airport with private transportation to our hotel. A member of Mario’s family in Italy accompanied us on many of our excursions. His brothers, Pepe and Enzo, were wonderful to have along and we all established great friendships over the course of our trip. Before we even made it to the hotel, Mario stopped at a beautiful spot along the highway so that we could take our first pictures of Italy with the Amalfi coast in the background. We then stopped for a “light” lunch along the Mediterranean for a delicious meal of caprese salad, white wine and linguine with clam sauce that was the first of many amazing meals during the trip! We stayed at the Esplanade Hotel for the first four nights, which is a beautiful 4 star resort directly across from the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel provided beachside chairs with umbrellas and had a pool and restaurant/bar on sight. Breakfast was included in the rate and the staff was friendly and eager to answer questions. The manager spoke several languages and went out of his way to make sure our stay was enjoyable. Once we settled into our rooms and relaxed by the water, Mario and Pepe picked us up for a trip to the town of Agropoli. We toured the town and climbed the steps to the ancient castle for a phenomenal view of the coast. Dinner was at a local pizzeria overlooking the sea and was timed perfectly to catch the gorgeous Mediterranean sunset while sipping on red wine and authentic Italian pizza.

Mario and his brother Enzo (affectionately nicknamed “The General”) picked us up the next morning and drove us to the resort town of Palinuro. We boarded a private boat for a tour of the many caves and beautiful scenery, including a “blue grotto” that was breathtaking. We docked the boat and spent time relaxing and swimming in the Mediterranean before heading back for a delicious lunch of fresh gnocchi and white wine on the water. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped off at S. Severino and hiked to the top of an abandoned village for more photos and gorgeous views of Italy. We ended the evening with dinner at a restaurant in Agropoli topped off with our first taste of authentic Limoncello!

Our next morning began with a tour of San Salvatore winery, farm and wine cellar. We walked through the vineyards, viewed the buffalo farm (famous for buffalo mozzarella we had with just about every meal) and learned all about the production of the cheese and wine. We then had a private tasting of four wines along with a sample of breads, olive oil and cheeses. Everything was delicious and we were able to purchase and ship several items home. We drove back to Paestum where we visited the ancient ruins and the museum before having lunch across from the temples. We relaxed for a couple of hours before Mario and Enzo picked us up for a visit to Mario’s town of Laurino. We traveled along winding roads and spectacular scenery to the very top of the mountain. Mario provided a tour of the town, while explaining the history and greeting many friends along the way. The celebration of St. Anthony was taking place and we were able to see the procession and ceremony before heading back. We stopped for pizza at a local shop where Mario had made arrangements for a pizza class. Although we did not arrive in time for the class, we got to watch the entire process before sitting down to eat.

Our next day consisted of a visit to our family’s hometown of Colobraro, located at the top of a mountain along the Calabrian Coast. Mario and Pepe researched the location and picked us up for the 3 hour drive across the countryside. The scenic drive consisted of miles and miles of breathtaking views of Southern Italy. When the google maps program was not able to determine the location, Mario hopped out of the car and flagged down passing motorists (who were eager to help) and pointed us in the right direction. We drove up the winding roads (even higher than Laurino!) to the top of the mountain where Mario conversed with some local patrons and located our ancestors. Mario acted as our translator and we joined the family for a delicious lunch and unforgettable visit. We toured the streets of Colobraro locating many landmarks, including the birthplace of our kid’s grandfather. We cannot thank Mario enough for all he did to make this day memorable. It was an amazing visit that meant the world to us and could not have been accomplished without his and Pepe’s knowledge, patience, and expertise.
We checked out of the Esplanade the next morning and drove to a local cheese company to tour the production process and sample buffalo mozzarella and fresh ricotta. It was a delicious start to the morning topped off with fresh berries that Enzo picked for us while we toured the facility! Mario and Enzo than drove us to our next destination, The Baia hotel overlooking the Amalfi coast in the town of Vietri. We spent the day relaxing at the beach before traveling through the winding roads of Amalfi to the town of Ravello. We toured the town, shopped and enjoyed a wonderful dinner overlooking the coast.

Our final day in southern Italy consisted of a trip to Mount Vesuvius. Mario and Pepe picked us up in the morning and drove us to the foot of the famous volcano. We hiked to the very top for a view of the crater, Naples and Pompeii before hiking back down and returning to the Baia to relax. We spent the final evening in Vietri dining on fresh caprese and pasta at a local restaurant overlooking the Amalfi coast.
Mario picked us up the next morning and drove us to the train station for the second half of our trip. Although he did not travel with us to Rome, Florence and Venice, he provided invaluable information regarding restaurants, tours and places to see that made our trip memorable. We missed having Mario, Enzo and Pepe as our guides and words cannot express our gratitude for making this the trip of a lifetime for our family. We wholeheartedly recommend Mario’s Undiscovered Campania tours to anyone considering a trip to Italy.

Rocco