My only regret is that I took Francesco's class on my last day in Naples instead of on the first…read moreday of our trip. I a big pizza fan, and as soon as I got to Naples I visited all of the well-known pizzerias you would read about in different magazines. De Michelle, Di Matteo... The pizza Francesco had us do with our own hands was just as good if not even better. It's a fun, hands-on class, and Francesco is a great teacher. He explained the science behind the recipes, gave us some background about Neapolitan pizza, and also introduced us to other local restaurants we wouldn't have heard of if it wasn't for him (not many locals speak English very well, plus, the dude is a huge foodie so he knows what he talks about). This was the highlight of our visit to Naples. Worth every penny.

We met up with Francesco at the Metro and first stop was a (tiny) espresso before taking a short…read morewalk to our pizza-maestro's restaurant, Giù Giù. Tommaso was outside to greet us. The time sped by as we learned about authentic Napoli pizza, making dough, the oven, cheeses, tomatoes and so much more. It was just the 2 of us and Francesco looked after us and was super-attentive. In no time we were tasting cheeses and comparing different tomatoes, making our own dough, trying Scugnizielli (omg - I was in food heaven) and laughing loads. Despite getting ready for opening, Tommaso was with us the whole time, showing us what to do and gently correcting our mistakes. We learned so much and in a relaxed, enjoyable way and that was down to Francesco. You guys are amazing and we will never forget our time spent with you. I 100% recommend this tour to everyone. And you get to eat first class pizza! There is no better way to spend your time in the city of Naples.

Having been on approximately 20 food tours around the world, including a wonderful one in Venice, I…read morewas disappointed with the Street Foods of Naples tour. The tour was 35 euro and it included four stops - buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto, deep fried pizza, limoncello, and pastries. At the first stop, we got a large piece of mozzarella and a slice of prosciutto. It would've been nice to have had a piece of bread to go with it. The second stop with fried pizza was a good idea but the advertised dough stuffed with ricotta, tomato sauce, smoked mozzarella, and black pepper did not pan out well. We each got a half of one and the pizza had no flavor. The consensus from the group was that it was very bland. It needed meat or more sauce or herbs or something. A fourth of one of those pizzas would've been enough for us to get an idea of the concept. The third stop was to a store that specialized in limoncello. The group was offered tastings of their version and the limoncello cream, as well as a chocolate limoncello candy. As a non alcohol drinker, I got a tasting of their lemon granita. This was a nice stop but the sign outside advertised free tastings and when we returned later in the day to purchase souvenirs, we were offered a tasting of about 6 of their candies. So why again were we paying for this stop? The fourth and final stop was at a patisserie where we could sample a pastry of our choosing. The history of the city and the narration down the streets was great but for a food tour, the value just wasn't there and in all honesty, the main pizza tasting was not tasty. More stops with small tastes would be great or perhaps adding a traditional Neapolitan pizza to the tour and maybe arancini or other bites would be nice. Surprisingly no stop included anything to drink. After the tour, we were hungry so we ate at a popular pizza place where we enjoyed pizza and drinks. I love food tours as they offer a great opportunity to sample a variety of food and to learn about a city. Unfortunately I can't recommend this one. However, after hearing about the tour, the owner refunded us our money. 5 stars for the owner, 3 stars for the tour.

Highly recommend! We had an amazing day from start to…read morefinish. Our day included 2 wine tours and a lot of extra stops to shoot photos, eat authentic gelato, ride through non tourist areas and so much more! Best driver // tour guide ever!

The Wine Bus and Gaetano Petrillo are a top-notch and trustworthy resource for travellers in the…read moreCampania region of Italy. They can help with airport transfers, sightseeing tours and many other travel-related needs. Gaetano is honest and friendly, and will help to make your trip to Italy fun and interesting!

Sorrento Food Tours is a great way to see (and eat) your way through Sorrento. Small groups meet…read moreat the main church on the square and you are taken around to 8 or so places getting a nibble and a drink at each place. The owner/guide, Tamara, is quite knowledgeable about Sorrento having lived there for years, and since she is from the States she obviously speaks perfect English. What I liked the most about it, is that she took us into little spots that we may not have stopped in on our own. And when the tour was over, she pointed out some other things that you may want to see while in Sorrento. It kind of felt like we were hanging out with our best "gal pal" for the day! The tour begins around 10:30 and you will be done around 1:30pm. Know that it also includes a delicious lunch of pasta and soup and about 8 other stops for pastry, pizza, limoncello, cheese, meats, gelato and more so don't eat before you go. Another hint is bring mosquito repellent as there are quite a few mosquitos at the limoncello factory and lemon groves. You will get a better price if you book directly with Tamara versus going through Viator so book through her website and take out the middle man ($86 through Viator versus $80 on the website). She's great at getting back to people and even talked to my driver to make sure we ended up at the right location! One of my favorite days on the Amalfi Coast!

From the owner: 3 hour Food Walking Tour of Sorrento, Italy. Taste 13+ local food & drink specialties. Wine…read moretastings, Amalfi Coast Tours

My husband and I booked the Gastronomic Trekking experience for our honeymoon! We were staying in…read morePositano and took the local bus to Praiano (very easy, about 20 minutes). We waited at the bus stop where we were introduced to our host, Antonella. It was us and 3 other couples; 2 of them were also on their honeymoon and the other were on their babymoon. Antonella took us around Praiano where we foraged for our food. She also was very knowledgeable with the area and was telling us little stories. After about 1-2 hours, we then went up to the restaurant, M'Ama (I believe that was the name). It was beautiful -- had a great view of the water and mountains. We then met Antonio who also helped us during our cooking class. We had a beer tasting and then 2 wine tastings. We made our own pasta, we tasted a bunch of different cheeses, we made a salad, dessert, it was all so fun. The time FLEW. The food was DELICIOUS and the experience was so unique and cool. I highly recommend doing this if you are in the area -- well worth the money!

From the owner: A unique experience combining walking, foraging, cooking with local gastronomy…read more Together with our gastronome Matthew, you will discover wild edible herb along trails and gardens in Positano area. Journey continue in the kitchen, where together with chef Giacomo, all participants will get involved in a cooking session using all foraged food. At the end will be a social lunch and a local wine tasting of the day.

On Monday 5/13, we were part of a private tour led by Daniele di Palma, which took us along the…read moreAmalfi coast to enjoy numerous sights, wine and a wonderful lunch. Our guide and driver, Daniele provided great insight into the coastal areas, the history, with stops along the coast and an opportunity to enjoy some wine and an exceptional lunch! it made for a wonderful day, and Daniele was the most pleasant guide we experienced on our journey throughout Italy!!

Daniele is simply the best. From the moment we got in contact I could feel his energy was moving…read moreand then when you meet him and see that big enthusiastic smile you know you are off a good start. Daniele showed us the best spots of the coast, Possitano and Ravello, and gave us lots of interesting bits of information throughout the trip, while chatting about all different topics. After the tour he brought us to a vineyard and presented us with these amazing wines. The whole tasting experience was quite different from other tasting we have had at other tastings. Luigi was also an excellent cook, the dishes were all wonderful and so fresh, and created (and imagined) on the spot! The ricotta with lemon zest was out of this world. We hope we have the pleasure of coming back to Amalfi coast, and can't wait for a new tour from Daniele (like the mozzarella experience). Daniele made our vacation one of the best.

Thanks to my Italian roots and having lived in Naples for three years while assigned to NATO's…read moreSouthern Region Headquarters, I wanted to learn how to make a proper Neapolitan pizza for a long time. Visiting Naples for a month on this occasion, I had plenty of time on my hands and a birthday to celebrate, so my wonderful wife bought me a "4-hour" pizzaiolo (pizza maker) course at Pizza Experience ... HOOAH! Now, I will go through the objectives of the course, as quoted from their website, one by one, addressing each in-turn: 1. "Welcome coffee made in the Neapolitan style" - I was offered a welcome coffee. 2. "Introduction to Neapolitan pizza - History from its origins to today" - I did not receive any history of Neapolitan pizza, only some small talk and some sparkling water. 3. "Selection of raw materials and description of basic equipment" - I had to ask about the specific ingredients that go into making a Neapolitan pizza as well as how the oven works, at what temperature and where to place the pizza, but was not given a description of any equipment. 4. "Demonstration and realization of a dough by hand" - I was shown how to mix ingredients as well as how to knead the dough. However, I had to ask about the amount of some ingredients and Rosario, "il maestro" (the master and/or teacher) and "pizzailolo" (pizza maker), was very impatient with me. If I made even the smallest mistake, he would jump in, take over and complete the process, giving me little practical experience. He seemed in a hurry to get the lesson over with so he could go about his day, making pizza and money. 5. "Insights on leavening and maturation of the dough" - Again, I had to ask clarifying questions about the length of time the dough must rise and rest as well as several other specifics related to the dough making process. - I was told on more than one occasion: "There are many videos on YouTube depicting the process(es), so we don't need to spend more time on that now". However, I did not receive information regarding the location of the videos prior to departure. 6. "Preparing a wood oven and cooking your own "wallet" pizza" - The fire in the oven had already been started and, once again, I had to ask how to build the fire, how big it should be, where it should go, what to do with the ashes and so forth. - As far as making the pizza, again, Rosario did most of the work because I was not doing it exactly the way it should be done. After all, he has been doing this for 20+ years and I for less than an hour. 7. "Tasting at the table of two Neapolitan pizzas paired with beer, wine or soft drink" - I did eat the delicious pizza and received a large glass of house red wine to drink along with my pizza. 8. "Delivery of certificates of participation and gift gadgets with souvenir photos" - The souvenir photos were for their website and Facebook page, and I did not receive one. You should know that you will be asked to sign a photo release waiver, something I do not recall reading on the website. 9. "A warm greeting to all the members will follow with the final toast" - No toast, but my send-off was warm and the experience decent all things considered. A few additional things from their narrative that need to be addressed: 1. "You will abandon the civil robes and become a pizza maker with a personalized apron" - Sounds like you get an apron with your name on it, maybe with a logo, to take home with you as one of the "gadgets". You do not. 2. ... "after having covered it with tomato, Campana bufala mozzarella (actually, it is "mozzarella di bufala campana"), basil and olive oil, the participants will be ready to bake it as tradition dictates". - I was told that they do not use mozzarella di bufala (water buffalo mozzarella) due to its watery consistency, using fior di latte (cow's milk mozzarella) instead. The website stated that students would spend 3-4 hours in training, but between my facilitator being 15-20 minutes late and with cigarette breaks, I was there for just two hours, one of which was actually spent in pizza-making related activities. I was the only student that day, receiving one-on-one attention in the pizza kitchen rather than in the dining room next door with 3-11 other students where training normally takes place. I would not expect them to spend 3-4 hours with me alone, but just an hour of training with little practical experience due to the pizzaiolo's impatience left me feeling slighted. With a €100 price tag, I expected more hands-on training, having walked away feeling that I did not learn nearly as much as I could have. With some fine-tuning, following the objectives promoted on their website, and showing more patience with pizzaiolo novices, the course would be well the €100 registration fee. In the end, I learned much more than I knew before I arrived, thanks in-part to my inquisitive nature. CombatCritic Gives Pizza Experience 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

From the owner: The workshop Fatte 'na Pizza (Make your own pizza) at the Pizzeria Al 22, surrounded by the famous…read morePignasecca market provides for the preparation of the pizza supported by an experienced pizza maker in Naples. Giovanni Improta, will lead the participants, for four hours, on an interactive journey translated into several languages (in Neapolitan too), through the ancient culture of the Neapolitan pizza in a picturesque location inside the cultural center of Naples open exclusively for the participants. Il laboratorio "Fatte 'na Pizza" presso la Pizzeria al 22, all'interno del famoso mercato della Pignasecca prevede la preparazione della pizza con l'aiuto di un esperto pizzaiolo di Napoli. Giovanni Improta condurrà i partecipanti, per quattro ore, in un viaggio interattivo, tradotto in più lingue (anche in Napoletano), nella cultura millenaria della pizza Napoletana realizzato in una suggestiva location nel centro di Napoli aperta in esclusiva per voi.

Oh hello Italy ! I have arrived and I am in pure heaven on my bucket list destination…read more It was a wild ride to get here but now that we are here , I cannot wait to enjoy a few days in this absolutely stunning city. The private boat arriving into the most beautiful coastlines I've ever seen. Weather is warm and perfect for a walk around or laying in the sun . Stay tuned as I explore restaurants and our hotel !

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy's most breathtaking destinations, known for its dramatic cliffs,…read morepastel-colored residences, and sweeping views of the Mediterranean. Stretching along southern Italy's coastline, it delivers a mix of natural beauty, historic charm, and Italian elegance. Each town along the coast has its own unique personality. Some of the cities include Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, Minori, Maiori, and Cetara. Winding coastal roads, lemon groves, and sparkling blue water create scenery that feels absolutely spectacular. Boat travel is one of the best ways to experience the coast. Ferries connect many towns and islands. The Amalfi Coast is a destination that lives up to its reputation. It's romantic, visually stunning, and rich in culture.

Checks the box off for interesting tour to take in a foreign city. Tour itself was 5 stars, the…read morewait and the crowds dropped it a star. Underground tours in Naples are very popular with multiple sites and entry points, this one being the main location. Entrance is via an alley along Via dei Tribunali, one of the main stretches in the historic center, and on a Sunday noon it was packed with visitors waiting for their tour times. Like probably 70-80 people waiting in a 12 x 20 foot area...a fair number of staff on hand wrangling the lines, telling people/groups with pre-bookings to line up in front of those without. Each person basically has to talk to a staff member to figure out exactly who they should be standing behind. Then there are staff members calling out times for each tour at the front, Italian then English alternately. I'm not sure why they don't implement an easier, more straightforward system, for each language--one line for prebooked and one line without. Tickets can be booked in advance online by tour language and they ask you to be there 15 minutes prior to your time slot. This is most certainly not only recommended, but required if you want to avoid inadvertently missing your timeslot due to the confusing line as mentioned above. Also their website refers to the online tickets as "skip-the-line" though to be clear you are essentially just booking a spot in advance, you still need to wait in line at the entrance. And hands down book in advance. They "guarantee" entry at the door (as I heard a few different staff members mention to certain people in line), however what they don't initially mention is this is only after all pre-booked visitors enter, so this could mean an indefinite wait of 30 minutes, an hour, 1.5 hours...who knows. For safety reasons entry is only possible via guided tour, and there are limits to the size of each group. They definitely push it though, considering my group of about 35ish was one of several groups to go down in staggered times of about 15-20 minutes apart. Once the guide directs the group to enter the pathway leading underground, they make you line up along the stairs while another group exits, then your group can enter. It's several flights down (then back up) so I saw some elderly with walking handicaps and families with strollers struggling. Honestly I wouldn't recommend coming here if you fall into either group. I imagine it could be dangerous for the former (think slippery stone in some areas) and there was a toddler crying during two-thirds of my tour that made for a very distracting experience if you consider the cavernous reverberations. After waiting in line for about 15-20 minutes outside, then another 10-15 minutes on the stairs inside, the tour itself lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes after we finally got downstairs. It was very informative and our guide tried her best to crack jokes and maintain a light-hearted atmosphere while at the same time projecting her voice as loud as possible and telling other nearby groups to keep their voices down (yes, bc there were a few different groups in close proximity sometimes so she had to practically yell to be heard). She shared about the history, functions (aquifer, munitions storage, landfill, war bunker, etc) and unique conditions (cool temps and high humidity) that makes this subterranean complex such an integral part of Naples' story. The last 20 minutes was dedicated to visiting the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater only a few minutes walking from the Sotterranea entrance/exit. It's in a separate building altogether on a residential street and it was intriguing to see the intersection of antiquity and modern life. Tickets are €18 for adults, €15 for students 11-24 yrs old, €10 for children 5-10 yrs old. Time slots available on the hour from between 10am to 7pm daily, last entry at 6pm. For more info: https://www.napolisotterranea.org/en/

The underground tour itself is interesting and one of the kind of experience in Naples. It takes…read moreabout one hour and twenty minutes, approximately one hour under the ground, and two more exhibit rooms above the ground. The staff working here is terrible though, unfortunately you can only go through with their tours. The woman organize the lines and sells the tickets is absolutely the worst. She yells at people and gave misleading information, while said only 15 people in the tour group when selling the tickets, but it ended up filling near 35 people in the same group once you get into the line for your time stamped tickets, and you can imagine how crowded it could be. This tour is not recommended for claustrophobic people.