Italy
Christmas in Sorrento
Program No. 23713RJ
Celebrate the Christmas holiday in Sorrento! Attend classical concerts, explore the ancient city of Pompeii and experience the beauty of Capri and the Amalfi Coast with a local expert.
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9 days
8 nights
16 meals
7B 5L 4D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
4
Pompeii, Italy Today
Sorrento
At a Glance
Spending the Christmas holiday in Sorrento isn’t just a good idea — it’s a great idea. With local experts and other like-minded learners, explore this beautiful region of Italy and the ancient history that has shaped its modern identity. As you admire the turquoise waters along the Amalfi Coast, imagine the historic events that so pristinely preserved the sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, explore the former home of Swedish physician Axel Munthe on the island of Capri, and learn about the art of woodworking at the Tarsia Museum. Along the way, enjoy classical concerts and ring in the holiday with a Christmas lunch. It’s all the perfect way to say Buon Natale! (Merry Christmas!)
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to four miles a day. Extended standing during site visits with limited or no public seating. Uneven terrain, limited public handrails, unavoidable stairs, marble and terracotta flooring, cobblestones, steep inclines, loose gravel, dirt paths. Elevator use is limited or restricted in historic sites. Expect crowded conditions in pedestrian centers and museums. Dress accordingly for visits to open-air archeological parks. Program-related travel and transfers will be via bus, boat, convertible, and funicular. Sheltered waiting areas may not be available at docks.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Join a local expert for field trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum and enjoy an in-depth look into the region’s ancient history.
- Explore the beautiful island of Capri and the Amalfi Coast with an expert, stopping to explore piazzas, sample regional cuisine and learn about the Villa of San Michele.
- Drive through the Sorrento countryside to visit a working farm, learn how mozzarella is made and assist in the preparation of your farewell dinner.
General Notes
Give us a call to combine select dates of this learning adventure with "New Year's In Florence" (#19221) for even more learning in Italy! We'll even transfer you for free between locations.
Suggested Reading List
(13 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Christmas in Sorrento
Program Number: 23713
The Ancient Shore
Hazzard's lyrical collection of essays on the history, beauty, complexities and contradictions of Naples. Includes a celebrated New Yorker essay by Francis Steegmuller.
Pompeii, The Day a City Died
This indispensable pocket guide illustrates daily life in the city as revealed by its evocative frescoes, mosaics and treasures.
The House in Amalfi
Master of suspense and romance, Adler deftly intertwines lush descriptions of place with fast-paced intrigue in this novel set in the Amalfi Coast.
The Fires of Vesuvius
Amazon Books: "Pompeii is the most famous archaeological site in the world, visited by more than two million people each year. Here, acclaimed historian Beard explores what kind of town it was, and what it can reveal about ordinary life there."
Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum
Drawing on sharp, full-color photographs of more than 200 objects excavated from Pompeii and Herculaneum, Roberts, a curator at the British Museum, discusses what life was like in the ancient cities. He covers everything from birth certificates to the prevalence of bakeries and taverns.
Vesuvius
Darley unveils human responses to Mount Vesuvius, a place both feared and celebrated, from a cast of characters as far-flung as Pliny the Younger and David Hockney. This entry in Harvard University Press's excellent Wonders of the World series is a perfect introduction for travelers to Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Campania Basilicata Map
A colorful, durable map of Campania, including Naples and the Amalfi Coast.
Lonely Planet Italian Phrasebook
A handy, palm-sized guide to pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
The Italians
From Amazon: A vivid and surprising portrait of the Italian people from an admired foreign correspondent.
La Bella Figura, A Field Guide to the Italian Mind
From Amazon: You won’t need luggage for this hypothetical and hilarious trip into the hearts and minds of Beppe Severgnini’s fellow Italians. In fact, Beppe would prefer if you left behind the baggage his crafty and elegant countrymen have smuggled into your subconscious. To get to his Italia, you’ll need to forget about your idealized notions of Italy. Although La Bella Figura will take you to legendary cities and scenic regions, your real destinations are the places where Italians are at their best, worst, and most authentic: the highway, the airport, and the small town.
Italian Folktales
This collection by one of Italy’s most famous writers is a magic and classical tome to put anyone in the mood for visiting this fascinating and continually surprising country.
Herculaneum: Italy's Buried Treasures
An artful and wonderfully written description of the daily life of the Romans at the time of the destruction of Herculaneum.
Rediscovering the Ancient World in the Bay of Naples, 1710-1890
This extensively illustrated volume details various reactions to the early excavations of the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and their international influence in the 18th and 19th centuries.
