Cooking & Walk Of The Gods™

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Tie on your trekking and or hiking shoes for our Amalfi Coast Cooking & Walk Of The Gods in sunny Positano!  Our one-of-a-kind cooking and trekking week along the Amalfi Coast preparing full course menus and trekking through Positano, Amalfi, Agerola, and Capri too – a breathtaking Mediterranean walking and hiking experience unlike no other!

When you are not trekking, you will be cooking hands-on with Chefs Raffaele, Filomena and Fortunata learning how to make regional antipasto, fresh pasta, local fish, meat or pizza in the heart of Positano. To help burn away the calories from all of the fresh food made in the cooking classes, you will be walking and trekking throughout the week. So lace up your walking shoes and get ready to trek, walk and explore the Amalfi Coast’s famous Walk of The Gods and Capri’s Monte Solaro. Throughout your treks, Annarita and Franco will lead you along ancient footpaths and hillsides overlooking the sea where you will discover ancient pagan caves, old world water waterfalls and natural flora. You will learn about the Amalfi Coast and Capri’s fascinating history and traditions, while trekking alongside Mediterranean plants and hearing folkloric stories. And since all Italians love to talk about food, they will share their food notes and recipes on the regions’s cuisine.

Walk Of The Gods

Take a stroll among the divine Coast ~ it will take your breath away. The meandering path which is named after the Gods, was once only used by farmers who would walk to the top to meet merchants from Naples, but now it offers a beautiful hike for nature lovers. As the trails emerge through the hillside and trees, you’ll find yourself gazing over the Amalfi coastline and an infinite sea. This fabled path is also peppered with small houses, farms, lemon groves and fresh air! This is the Positano walk of the gods – a must-visit when hiking Positano.

Valle delle Ferriere

The waterways of the Amalfi Coast do not solely concern the sea. Enter the Valle delle Ferriere and soak up glorious views while you stride alongside a crisp, bubbling brook. Witness the relics of ages long past; abandoned paper mills, centuries-old manor ruins, and lush lemon groves. All of these scenic wonders lead to a series of tranquil waterfalls, all but hidden from view. The Valle delle Ferriere trek is a walk between sea and sky, just like hiking in Positano.

Capri’s Monte Solaro

Mount Solaro is the highest point on Capri and offers breathtaking views of the entire Gulf of Naples and Salerno.  The walking and trekking trail follows the crest of the cliffs above the sea, within view of the Punta Campanella. You will see many Capri’s unique birds, reptiles and flora along the way. From Anacapri, to the top of Monte Solaro, you are between island and sky. Once you reach the Belvedere Migliara, you can continue to Punta Carena and Fortini, or go down again to the east, following the path of Passetiello up to the square of Capri.

Each trek is accompanied with an experienced, licensed English-speaking guide. Each group is kept small, 2 to 8 people and is paced to your personal speed. We want to know your ability to walk slow or fast and will arrange walks based on your needs.

Positano Cooking Classes

Our Cooking & Trails ~ Trekking Along The Walk Of The Gods & Capri’s Monte Solaro includes two hands-on cooking classes (you can always add-on more if you like) with lunch or dinner following. In each cooking class we use only fresh, regional and that are seasonal. Regional recipes will include antipasto and depending on the season: fiori di zucca ripieni – stuffed squash flowers, arancini, crochette di patate, involtini di melanzane, polpettini di melanzane, fresh handmade pasta: gnocchi, ravioli Capresi and scialatielli, a main course: spigola al limone, pesce all’acqua pazza, vitello Positanese, pollo con le erbe e limone, and dessert: torta Caprese, torta Vesuvio, babà soaked in limoncello, gelato and crostate. Wine is included with each cooking class.

Positano Accommodations

Our Cooking & Walk Of The Gods, Cooking & Trekking Positano tour is hosted at a villa-style bed & breakfast or 3, 4, or 5-star accommodation in Positano overlooking the sea.  Cool ceramic tiles line each bedroom, with a private bathroom and shower in each room. Additional amenities include: hairdryer, safe, refrigerator, and air conditioning. Breakfast is served each morning, and daily maid service is provided for your convenience.  Positano is filled with flowered pergolas and greenery, vertical cliffs jut from sea and its one winding road circles the town.

Property Photos & Pricing

Positano

Positano is a gift from Mother Nature – brimming with lemon trees, flora gardens and spectacular pink bougainvillea on the sea. Guests can relax on their balcony, walk to the beach, or soak up the local atmosphere at one of the cozy sidewalk cafés. Shopping is a temptation with small artisan shops selling leather goods, handmade sandals, linens, ceramics and wine. Step out your door and stroll past cafés, artisan shops, and trattorias that spill onto the sidewalk with a panoramic view that spans Li Galli Islands to the coast of Cilento. As the sun sets, sink into your chair and watch the sun set upon a cerulean sea.

Shuttle boats and water taxis connect from each of Positano’s beaches and sail along the Amalfi Coast to Sorrento, Ischia, Capri, Amalfi and Naples.

Itinerary: 8 days, 7 nights

Saturday: Benvenuto, Chef’s Tasting Dinner & Olive Oil Tasting

• Pick-up and transfer from Naples airport or train station to the property.
• Arrival and check-in. Refresh and relax with an aperitivo.
• Meet your Cooking Vacations’ hosts as we welcome you to Positano and introduction to your program. The week starts off with an introduction to the local food including a full course Chef’s Tasting Dinner at our favorite local restaurant. Dine on award-winning southern regional Italian food set in charming surroundings on the Amalfi Coast. (Wine, drinks, grappa and an assortment of after dinner digestives are not included, and are available at a surcharge).

Sunday: Capri, Italy’s Glamorous Seaside Island and Trekking On Monte Solaro with English-Speaking Guide

• Breakfast is served.
• Sail off early in the morning to the island of Capri on the public water taxi for a full-day visit while trekking, discovering and exploring!
• Meet our English-speaking guide in Anacapri, an Old World village that had once captured the hearts of writers, artists and poets. Experience its narrow streets lined with Grecian-style whitewashed villas, ancient churches, and small bookshops. You can opt to trek to the top of Monte Solaro or take the chair lift up before experiencing the high point of the island.  On your way up, pass the castle of Barbarosso, fields of Capri flowers and marvel at a clear blue sky that turns 360 degrees above.  The trek along Monte Solaro, through hills and gardens, is adjusted to your personal speed.
• After your trek to the top of Monte Solaro, take time out for a caffé at the observatory with breathtaking views stretching from Ischia to Naples and the Coast.
• After your guided tour, opt to visit Capri, the Blue Grotto or do some shopping on your own as time permits.
• Return to Positano by the public water taxi.
• Evening is free with dinner on your own with suggestions provided.

Monday: Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast is served.
• Head into the kitchen for your Cooking Class 1. You will prepare traditional antipasto, pasta, main dish and dessert. Lunch follows and everyone dines the foods that were prepared in class. Toast with a glass of red or white wine, included. Linger as Italians do while enjoying the food from your cooking class.
• Evening is free with dinner on your own with suggestions provided.

Tuesday: The Path of The Gods Trekking

• Breakfast is served.
• Path Of Gods: Meet our English-speaking guide and begin your walk. The meandering mountain path, once solely used by farmers, offers a beautiful hike for anyone who’s willing make the climb. Walk along a thick green forest that opens to slices of shimmering blue sea along the Amalfi Coast. The fabled path is dotted with a myriad of small towns along the way.
• Return to Positano and relax.
• Evening is free with dinner on your own with suggestions provided.

Wednesday: Cooking Class 2 & Olive Oil Tasting

• Breakfast is served.
• Cooking Class 2: Tie on your apron and get ready for your second hands-on cooking class. Start with our antipasto, fresh pasta, main course and dessert. Lunch or dinner follows and includes the foods prepared in class. Toast with a glass of red or white local wine, and end with a sweet dessert, both included. (Additional wines, beverages, after dinner drinks and more are available at a surcharge).
• Olive Oil Tasting. Join us for a tasting of Cooking Vacations’ locally produced extra virgin olive oil. At Cooking Vacations we make our own first-cold pressed extra virgin olive oil from healthy olives that have been tended and cared for all summer long. We use only the first cold press virgin olive oil and that means that the oil is pressed only one time giving it a clean fresh taste. Virgin means it is pure and not mixed with anything else. It is DOP-Denominazione di Origine Protetta, ‘origin protected’ domain of production-and made in Italy. The warm Mediterranean sun rich volcanic soil, sea salt winds make our olive oil quality and natural. We respect the old world process of picking our olives just at the right time and press only once extracting the purest of of oil – without chemicals. The olive oil tasting provides insight into tasting, cooking with and selecting the best olive oil.
• Following your cooking class, discover Positano, the beaches, shops and wineries on your own.
• Evening is free with dinner on your own with suggestions provided.

Thursday: Tour The Amalfi Coast & Ravello

• Breakfast is served.
• Full day tour to Amalfi and Ravello with driver.   The day begins with a driver along the Amalfi Coast stopping first in Amalfi with time on your own, then to Ravello with time on your own.  Lunch suggestions provided.

Amalfi

The town of Amalfi is rich in culture and history. The small town, perched on the coastline, is dominated by Amalfi’s Cathedral and its main streets are lined with small shops and elegant bars. Merchants display their wares outside and nothing could be more pleasant than browsing through stalls of herbs and spices, artisan jewelry, shoes, the beautiful handmade Amalfi paper, and local lemon specialties such lemon soap and lemon liqueurs. Suggested is a stop in at one of the oldest and most famous pastry makers in southern Italy – dating back to the 1800’s. A look inside reveals a sweet showcase of chocolate drenched eggplant flavored with pine nuts, liqueur and orange; fragrant ricotta pear tarts; candied lemon and orange dragged in dark chocolate; or festive pastries of the day! Whatever you decide to order, take a seat outside in the piazza at one of the small café tables that overlook the greatest people-watching site on the Coast.

Ravello follows. This quaint town, often called the city between ‘Sea & Sky,’ is suspended high above the coast, with sweeping views that span everything from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the mountains inland.

Ravello

Ravello is hailed the ‘International City of Music’ and is known for its precious panoramic view from the gardens of Villa Cimbrone. The town is perched 350 meters over the rocky spur of the Amalfi Coast separating the Valle del Dragone from the Valle del Regina. Today, Ravello is world-famous for its outdoor music concerts. Visit Villa Cimbrone, once the residence of Greta Garbo, wander through the lush gardens and the Terrazza Della Rosa, or stroll down the path that leads to the Terrazzo dell’Infinito (Terrace of Infinity). This natural balcony is adorned with imposing marble busts. From this unique vantage point you can see the distant Cilento Mountains and the Licosa beyond the sparkling sea, the lush Amalfi Coast, its distinctive terraces of colorful lemon trees, and the typical whitewashed houses that cling to the rugged coastline. Stroll along the streets and alleyways and discover little gems of churches, chapels, and noblemen’s residences. Also see the Cathedral, Villa Rufolo, San Giovanni del Tauro, and Santa Maria.

Add-On Our Guide For The Amalfi Food Lover’s Walk and Ravello Landmark Tour

• You may also reserve our private English-speaking guided tour and local resident, who will take you on an Amalfi Food Walk & Ravello Landmark Tour, learning about the local food, history and culture.  If you want to see the towns of Amalfi & Ravello like a local, while tasting great foods, add on this tasty food tour.  Stroll to the fish market, cheese artisan and bread baker.  Also included is a stop at one of Amalfi’s most historic pastry, chocolate and gelato makers.  Tastings are included.  After Amalfi, your guide continues her tour in Ravello, with a visit to Villa Rufolo or Villa Cimbrone and the Terrazza dell’Infinito.  (*Entrance fees not included.)  Stroll through Medieval Gardens, piazzas, pathways and by ancient landmarks while learning about the invaders, kings and queens, writers and movie stars who lived here. End in the piazza with a toast of Prosecco.  A 3-hour tour with English speaking, tastings are included. (Guide’s fee is extra, please reserve in advance.)
  You will visit a famous boutique food shop which showcases local and artisan foods including an assortment of cheeses, salumi, bread, pastas,
  olives, spices and wines, tastings included.  Your guide will explain the different foods and how they are used in cooking.  Next stop the limoncello maker with Amalfi Coast sfumato limone with tastings.  We continue through Amalfi and end with a visit to the most famous pastry shop with tastings.  We continue onto Ravello where we tour the gardens then take a seat in the piazza for a Prosecco.

• Evening is free with dinner on your own with suggestions provided.

Friday: Valle Delle Ferriere Trekking

• Breakfast is served.
• Meet your driver and head to Amalfi.  Enjoy the sea and landscape along the way.
• In Amalfi, meet our English-speaking guide for an excursion to the Valle delle Ferriere. Enjoy glorious views as you explore the hills above Amalfi with its hidden streams, waterfalls and ancient mills. This valley is home to unique species of plants including a famous fern that is found only in this part of the coast. As you explore, relax and soak up the peaceful atmosphere that reigns here before heading back to Amalfi.
• Dinner is on your own, your Restaurant Hot Pick list will offer you lots to chose from.

Saturday: Check Out & Departure

• Breakfast is served.
• Departure transfer to airport or train station. Ciao e a presto!

*Note: This sample itinerary schedule may vary due to inclement weather, saints days; festivals.  All activities, in the event of rescheduling, are always included during the week.  Please note that museum tickets are not included in program price.