Our friend Sergio, is passionate about food. (And anyone who's traveled with him as a guide on our Amalfi Coast tour will chuckle at that understatement.) So when we set out to plan a special itinerary that combines beautiful walks with an emphasis on cooking and culinary traditions, whom did we ask to join us as we sampled our way through the kitchens, gardens and vineyards of the fabled Amalfi Coast? Imagine it: There you are, settled into a lovely hotel in a fishing village on the steep and sunny coastline. You take walks that reveal Positano, Ravello, the Isle of Capri, and even Pompeii with an archaeologist friend of ours. And oh the seafood, the lemons that grow on trees lining the streets, the cheese. We've arranged informal cooking sessions in the home of one of our favorite cooks as well as some hands-on tutoring with professional chefs. Like a great Italian meal, this week is a long, happy, satisfying event that you'll wish would never end.

DAY 1 - NAPLES / POMPEII
We meet in Naples (1 night), one of Italy's classic cities (not to mention the birthplace of pizza). From here, we make a short journey to Pompeii.  We explore Pompeii with an archeologist friend. Visiting the most famous archaeological site in the world. Buried in volcanic ash in 79 AD, Pompeii is famous for its excavations that reveal a complete city, including streets, shops, buildings and many beautiful villas.

DAYS 2-3 - CAPRI
In the morning, we’ll hop on the ferry and skim out to Capri. Most visitors buzz in and out in one day, but we check in for two nights at the glamorous Quisisana hotel in the heart of the village. After a scenic walk, we relax in a family-run restaurant where we’re welcomed into the kitchen for a tasty lesson in preparing lunch. A chairlift ride up Monte Solaro takes us to the perfect starting point for a stroll high above the sea. Join us for lunch at a private beach club, shop the village’s fine stores, or stretch out at the hotel’s movie-star-worthy pool.

DAYS 4-6 - POSITANO / NAPLES
After a boat ride back to the mainland, we make the world-famous drive to Positano. On a stroll through the little streets of Amalfi, we’ll stop by a medieval paper mill and cap our visit with a limoncello tasting. Later, we’ve arranged a cooking instruction in our friend Antonella’s cliffside home. (You’ll envy the wonderful terrace just outside her kitchen.) We’ll also take the trail to a dramatic cliffside monastery and explore Ravello with its panoramic views of the Bay of Salerno. On our final day, we’ll put on aprons to bake pizza (with the local fior di latte cheese, of course) in a friend’s wood-fired oven while we enjoy a barrel tasting of the family’s wine.