Mario’s Tour of Southern Italy - 2023

On our southern Italy tour in the Campania region included Paestum, Vietri, Amalfi, Laurino and more. Our guide Mario Marotta arranged everything from a buffalo mozzarella farm tour and tasting, wine tasting, and church, castle and ruins tours. Of all the fabulous experiences, I most enjoyed our cooking class in the countryside. Throughout our trip, we ate way too many courses of authentic Italian cuisine.

There were four couples in our tour group and we all knew each other. We began our tour with a visit to the castle in Agropoli and one of many very memorable meals. Everything we ate was excellent with plenty of wine. Our buffalo mozzarella facility tour was fascinating. I appreciate how well the animals are treated included large brushes they can rub up against for massages as well as classical music. It’s all organic at Tenuta Vannulo. We then had an interesting winery tour and tasting. Paestum’s Greek temples were very well preserved.

We then headed inland stopping for a hike at Borgo Medievale. Our blue grotto boat tour in Palinuro and swimming in the sea were spectacular. No crowded ferry ride is needed to Capri when you can have a similar experience in Palinuro. And the fabulous meals continued with lunch at a seaside restaurant on the beach. How many glasses of wine and Aperol Spritzes did I drink during our trip? Too many to count. We embraced aperitivo time before dinner on many occasions.

The cooking class in the countryside was an opportunity to develop a relationship with the chef and learn her cooking finesse. When she needed fresh herbs, she walked out the kitchen door and picked what she needed. Mario translated for us. We learned how to make biscotti, rustic ratatouille, rolling fusilli pasta on a metal wire, and a rich ragu sauce. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. And Mario’s sister demonstrated how to make limoncello, with a tasting, of course.

Laurino is off the beaten path for most tourists and we were lucky to learn about its history, visiting the castle, touring the Convent, hiking to the grotto and Chapel of St. Helena, talking to a farmer who gave Mario vegetables for the meal he and his sister would prepare for us that evening. And wow, it was an amazing feast!! My favorite was the fried zucchini blossoms.

After winding roads uphill, we landed at an old park ranger station, now a rustic restaurant, for another amazing meal. We saw a wild boar while returning on the trip back down the mountain. Once in Salerno, the tour of St. Martin’s Cathedral was amazing. The crypt mosaics and frescos were truly stunning. Dinner in an old church was memorable and a bonus saxophone serenade. I don’t know how I squeezed gelato into my stomach after that meal, but I did.

Driving the Amalfi Coast to Ravello is not for the faint of heart. So picturesque but very crowded. Yet, the beauty needs to be experienced. Pompeii is unbelievable and a good guide is essential to truly understand the archaeological history. I highly recommend Mario Marotta’s tour. You have not a worry in the world with hotel stays and all driving taken care of, as well as tickets, tour guides and most of your meals.
Do it!