Welcome to Hooked on Cycling holidays and our cycling holidays in Italy. This biking vacation in Campania or best known as the Amalfi region we have graded as a level 2 self guided cycle tour. Turquoise water, high and fretted coast, sunny islands, richness of archaeological sites, little villages in the mountains, the whole associated with the warm welcome of the inhabitants. This is the Amalfi coast. The tour begins in Naples, where you will stay the first two nights. Then, you will leave Naples to visit Ercolan and the Vesuvius first, and then Pompeii, the most important archaeological site of the world in the open air, where the lava of the Vesuvius has stopped time in 79 b.C. After having reached Vietri, on the sea, you will go exploring all the Amalfi coast, to discover its jewels: Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and up to Sorrento, where you will take the ferryboat to finish your tour on the island of Capri, where you will climb up to the ‘Eremo’(hermitage) to enjoy the wonderful view over the Gulf of Naples, and in the island of Ischia, the green island, an explosion of luxuriant vegetation with many colour gradations, a panorama which has to be discovered, stage by stage.

Available Saturdays from 15th March to 24th May and 6th September to 1st November
Level 2 self guided tour

Day 1 Naples
Individual arrival in Naples. Check into your hotel and your first discovery of  Spacca Napoli, the city centre characterised by narrow streets, with washing hung out,  baroque churches and palaces, the San-Carlo theatre, the Gallery Umberto the 1st, the Plebiscito Square.

Day 2 Vesuvius – Ercolano – Pompei - 22 miles 35 km
In the morning transfer you will have a private vehicle (including bikes) to the parking of Vesuvius (1000 m. above sea level). Walk to the crater at 1,200 m. above sea level and return to the parking area . From here you cycle down to Ercolano. You can visit Ercolano that was a renowned holiday resort at the Roman times. The legend says that Ercolano was founded by Hercoles after one of “The twelve Labours” in Spain. Ercolano was buried with Pompeii by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 and has preserved many wooded structures, furniture and effects of daily use. From Ercolano you cycle to Pompei.

Day 3 Pompei - Vietri sul Mare – 9 miles 14 km
Today you can visit Pompeii and to the Villa of the Mysteries. It is the biggest open-air archaeological site of the world. A great  example of past human life, where the huge eruption of the Vesuvius in  79 A.D fixed forever under ashes and lava every men in their daily activities. In the afternoonyou have a train transfer to Vietri  sul Mare situated on the amalfitana coast. you may have time to visit Salerno which is only 7 km further (by train or by bike).

Day 4 Vietri sul Mare – (Ravello) – Amalfi – 14- 22 miles 22 - 35 km
Leave today from Vietri cycling along the famous and panoramic street of the amalfitana coast. The street faces to the sea and with little ups and downs goes through the little villages of Cetara, Maiori and Minori. From Minori it is possible a detour and climb to Ravello where in the placid beauty of the main square, the Dome dedicated to Saint Pantaleone stands out. The blood of the Saint liquefies every year on 27th July. From the village overhanging the sea, at an altitude of 300m above sea level, the view  goes across the Gulf of Salerno and over the Cilento Mountains. Optional visit to Villa Cimbrone and to Villa Rufolo, characterised by a melange of styles, Arabic, Sicilian and Norman, which had been a source of inspiration for Wagner. Return to the costal road to reach Amalfi.

Day 5 Amalfi – Positano – Sorrento – 16-23 miles 25-37 km
First today a visit to Amafi, the most powerful Mariner Republic at the end of X century. We suggest visits to the cloister of Paradise and the church and a walk along the main street that is connected with many narrow streets between white fisherman’s houses. The cycling tour continues along the coast to Positano. Its colourful houses have been built in amphitheatre shape, overlooking the sea, giving a unique and picturesque aspect to the village. From here begins the most difficult part of the tour, across the promontory at  450 m. above sea level that bring you over the Naples Golf and then cycle down to Sorrento. A possible alternative is that you take the boat from Amalfi to Sorrento.

Day 6 Capri – Naples 12miles 19 km
First a ferry to Capri then from Marina Grande, your destination port, cross the island to reach Capri village with its famous “Piazzetta” (little square). Continue to Anacapri, Punta dell’Arcera (the promontory top) and Grotta Azzurra. From the cliff you can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the Gulf of Naples, dominated by the Vesuvius.  In the afternoon return to the port and boat to Naples.

Day 7 Ischia – 22 miles 35 km
From Naples by boat to the island of Ischia. Starting from the port you can cycle all around the island surrounded by perfumes and Mediterranean flavours through little villages and many museums located in all Ischia. Then a boat back to Naples in the late afternoon.

Day 8
After breakfast end of the tour and individual departure.

Tariff 2008

How to get there
By plane to Naples or Rome airports. If arriving into Rome airports you can transfer by train to Naples.
To View our other cycling holidays in Italy

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Walking Holidays in Italy

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