Southern Italy - A Rick Steves Tour
The Tour Begins
Our guide - Alfio
A small group of 24 assembled in a cozy area at the back of the Hotel Smeraldo. Hors d'oeuvres were being served and the champagne was flowing.
Our experienced guide was Alfio Di Mauro - a native Italian, primarily from Sicily.
Alfio gave us a quick orientation about what to expect the next 13 days and then we each gave brief introductions.
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After our introductions we all lingered a bit giving us a bit more time to enjoy the champagne and get acquainted before heading out for our get to know your neighborhood walk and dinner at the trattoria.
I thought as this was our first night together that our meal would be something special. The food and wine were amazing - but it was the same with every meal we shared. The quality, the uniqueness of the local specialty, the owners pride in their establishment, and the free flowing wine made each group meal a distinct event of its own.
Day 2 - Jewish Ghetto / Palazzo Doria Pamphilj
Our tour had us begin after breakfast with a walk through the Jewish Ghetto. There is so much history in this few block area but unless you're on a "back door" tour, you'll probably never get to see it and certainly never appreciate it. Our local guide, had extensive knowledge of the area and its long history. For as good as our guide is, there is no way that Alfio could know everything about all the places we went. Knowing the unique history of a special street or placard is invaluable information and really helps you to understand and appreciate the culture.
The second stop of the day was Palazzo Doria Pamphilj. This is a family's private art collection dating back to the 16th century made up of some of the most important Italian noble families. The collection was impressive and extensive but the art is housed in a beautiful residence in renaissance style. The ceilings and archways are breathtaking, no wonder a Pope lived here!
