We meet in Naples (1 night), for an afternoon walk in one of Italy's classic cities (not to mention the birthplace of pizza). After breakfast, we skim across the bay by hydrofoil to Capri (2 nights).

From our luxurious hotel on the island, we've arranged a fascinating array of activities. There's time for shopping in the cobblestone lanes. Memorable walks here include an amble along the coast to the villa where Churchill and Eisenhower managed much of WWII. We'll lunch at the exclusive Marina Piccola and view the 14th century monastery atop Monte Solaro at the top of the island.

Back to the mainland, our guide leads us on a morning walk along the rim of Mount Vesuvius…then downslope to lunch and a winetasting. En route to Positano (3 nights), we'll follow the spectacular Amalfi coast to our cliffside hotel built in the 17th century. Our leisurely days here include an incredibly scenic walk through "the valley of the mills" for a private demonstration of medieval papermaking. Our trails also lead to Ravello with stupendous views from Villa Cimbrone and to a tiny limoncello factory to see how the local lemon liquor is made. On our final day, we explore Pompeii with an archeologist friend. We say ciao in Naples…or join our guide on the ferry to Palermo for a sunny week in Sicily.