Via the Alps to the
Treasures of Southern Italy
LONDON – ZURICH – LUGANO - NAPLES - POMPEII - MATERA - TROPEA - FLIGHT HOME
Travel from London to the Alps in Eurostar Premiere and TGV Lyria Signature with lunch and dinner served at the seat
Travel through the Alps on the Gotthard Panorama Express across Lake Lucerne on historic steamship and in special express train through the stunning pass
Travel to Southern Italy in Executive Class with its sumptous seats, personal service and lunch and wine served at your seat
Pompeii, Matera
and Tropea
In 1066, what would you have done? Sailed from Normandy to England for crowns and conquest, or crossed the continent to Southern Italy for beauty and splendour? A few adventurous knights chose the latter option, and now we suggest you follow in the wake of these sun-seeking Normans.
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INTRODUCTORY OFFER
SAVE £ 400 PER PERSON
WHEN YOU BOOK BEFORE
OCTOBER 7
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This rail adventure takes you across Alpine lakes and passes to the greatest historic treasures of Southern Italy and Calabria. Travel at a level of comfort a Norman knight could only have dreamt of: In sumptuous premium first-class trains and distinctive four- and five-star boutique hotels.
In Southern Italy, three unforgettable sights await:
Visit beautiful and unique Matera, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world. Some of the sandstone caves that gave shelter to early humans some 10,000 years ago are now transformed into stunning boutique hotels.
Stay in Tropea, a 5,000 years-old town of history and beauty, perched on a vertical rockface above the beaches and waves of the Mediterranean, and beloved by not only the Normans but also Greeks and Romans. Your hotel here: A 15th century convent turned into one of the finest small five-star hotels in the region.
And experience Pompeii, one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world (that the Normans may have ridden directly over without having the slightest idea it was there). You do so in the company of a private guide who can make this great city feel almost as alive as it was in the happy days before AD 79.
✓ Rail travel in premium first class and first class
✓ Four- and five-star boutique hotels
✓ Chauffeured cars between hotels and railway stations
✓ Independent travel with total peace of mind
✓ Departure from London every day all year
The price is per person in a shared double room. Normal price £6,200. Save £400 when you book before October 7
Start with a glass of champagne
Begin your journey in style. Your premium first class ticket allows you to fast-track security at St Pancras, giving you more time to relax in the exclusive lounge before boarding the first of many great trains on this vacation.
Wine and dine your way to the Alps
Day one takes you all the way to Zurich in grand style, with premium first class all the way. Lunch and wine under the Channel in Eurostar Premiere, personal VIP transfer service in Paris, and dinner and free bar in TGV Lyria Premiere Signature to Switzerland.
Enjoy the world-famous Gotthard Panorama express
Travel through the Swiss Alps on a historic paddle steamer and through the old Gotthard Pass on a special panoramic express. This is one of the finest ways to cross the Alps. We recommend laving lunch on the top deck of the steamship.
Relax in Europe's most sumptous cabin
Board Italy’s flagship Frecciarossa and step into Executive Class, Europe's finest train car with only ten ultra-wide reclining seats, steward service, and a four-course à-la-carte lunch with wine and prosecco. You savour this exceptional comfort twice - on your journey to Naples, and later also your journey to Bari for Matera.
Marvel at the lost beauty of Pompeii
During your two-night stay in the heart of fascinating and colourful Naples, a visit with a private guide to nearby Pompeii is one of the highlights of the entire vacation. We also recommend visiting the archaeological museum in Naples where many of the treasures of Pompeii are exhibited.
Savour the magical aura of Matera
Inhabited for over 9,000 years, Matera is unlike any town you have ever seen, with seemingly normal house facades hiding ancient cave dwellings that have now been turned into comfortable and unique restaurant, shops and boutique hotels.
Relax in the stunning town of Tropea
Tropea is 5,000 years old and was admired for its beauty and spectacular location by Greeks, Romans, and Normans. Perched on a vertical rock above the beaches and waves of the Mediterranean, this unique town is complemented by one of the finest five-star boutique hotels in Southern Italy, a converted 15th century convent.
Travel with total peace of mind
You travel independently, but Silver Tray is always behind you. Should any issues arise with trains, hotels or transfers, our team is available 24/7 to assist. We handle all the practicalities and it never costs you a penny extra.
Your journey day by day
Start your vacation with a luxurious first day. At St Pancras,
ease through the station with fast-track and access to
an elegant lounge. Onboard, savour a three-course lunch
with wine and champagne. In Paris, a personal escort
will meet you at the train and guide you to a
chauffeured car for the short drive to Gare de Lyon.
After a pleasant visit to Le Train Bleu’s opulent bar, board
your TGV Lyria. Enjoy premium first class with a three-
course dinner with wine served at your seat as you
approach Switzerland. Arrive early evening and stay
two nights in the heart of Zurich’s charming and
lively old town.
From Zurich you travel to Lucerne where you
board a historic steamer and sail across the
stunningly beautiful lake. This is the first part
of the legendary Gotthard Panorama Express –
on the opposite shore, a special train awaits to
take you through the historic pass to Lugano.
On the sun-drenched south side of the Alps,
nestled on the banks of a grand and scenic
Alpine lake, lies the historic and charning
town of Lugano. This is Ticino, the Italian-
speaking Swiss province, as the food, language
and palm trees will inform you.
Board the Italian state railway’s flagship, Frecciarossa
and take your seat in the finest premium first class
on the continent, with only ten ultra-wide and supremely
comfortable reclining seats in the entire car. A steward is at
your beck and call, with wine and prosecco on constant offer,
as well as a four-course a-la-carte lunch.
Naples is a beautiful contradiction of grit and grandeur.
Its charm lies in the narrow, laundry-lined streets of the
Spanish Quarter and the scent of wood-fired pizza.
Explore the subterranean secrets of Napoli Sotterranea,
admire the haunting Veiled Christ, or walk the seaside
Lungomare as Vesuvius looms over the bay.
Explore Pompeii with an archaeologist who transforms the visit
into a journey through everyday Roman life. Beyond the famous
ruins, hidden details in houses, shops, temples and streets reveal
the stories of the people who lived here and brings the ancient city
to life. The private tour includes a chauffeured car from your
hotel.
A chauffeured car will drive you from your hotel
to a city 45 minutes north of Naples from where there
is a direct, 3-hour express train to Bari. You are seated
in the superb Executive Class and will have lunch and
wine served during the journey. In Bari a driver awaits
to take you the last hour to Matera.
Often called the “City of Caves,” this is one of the oldest
continuously inhabited cities in the world. Located in
the Basilicata region of southern Italy, it is famous for
its Sassi —ancient cave dwellings carved directly into
the limestone rock that tumble down the hillside
into a dramatic ravine.
to the Temple of Hera at Metaponto, one of the finest surviving
monuments of the ancient Greek cities of southern Italy. Its soaring
Doric columns stand alone amid the countryside, creating a
The tour ends at the local railway station for your train to Tropea.
where beaches, fishing villages and sparkling sea views alternate
with olive groves and orchards. Near Catanzaro, rugged mountains
rise behind the shoreline. You arrive at Lamezia Terme after less
than three hours and here a chauffeured car awaits to drive you
the last distance to Tropea.
Tropea is a stunning clifftop town, famous for its
dramatic coastline and historic charm. Perched on
a sandstone cliff, the town overlooks white sandy
beaches and turquoise waters. World-class
beaches like Spiaggia della Rotonda compete with
the narrow lanes of the medieval centre for your attention.
Your rail journey to Matera begins in classic style.
At London St Pancras you ease through fast-track and relax in the elegant lounge before boarding Eurostar. A three-course lunch with wine and champagne is served on your way to Paris. On arrival, a personal escort and chauffeured car take you to Gare de Lyon. After a pause in the opulent Le Train Bleu bar, board TGV Lyria in premium first class. A three-course dinner with wine is served at your seat as you approach Switzerland. Early evening you arrive in Zurich, where two nights in the heart of the old town let you enjoy its charming streets, cafés and lake views.
From Zurich, the journey turns scenic almost at once. A Swiss intercity train carries you to Chur, with dramatic views over Lake Walensee. Here, a table awaits you in a 1930s dining car, where you can order excellent local dishes as the train glides along the UNESCO-listed Albula line. Instead of joining crowded tourist trains, you savour the famous alpine landscapes in relaxed style. By afternoon you arrive in glamorous St Moritz for a night in this legendary resort.
Next morning, a local train takes you across the Bernina Pass—one of the highest and most spectacular railways in the Alps. At 2000 metres, you pause at a historic station for lunch, with a glacier and mighty peaks in full view. The line then descends steeply from snowfields to palm trees, before continuing along Lake Como to Varenna. Here, in the loveliest town on the lake, you stay two nights overlooking the water. Ferries to Bellagio and charming lakeside walks make this a highlight of the journey.
From Varenna a short ride takes you via Milan to Bologna on Italy’s flagship Frecciarossa. In Business Class you enjoy premium seating and a light snack served at your seat. By midday you are in Bologna, famed for its cuisine, where you check in just in time for lunch and an overnight stay in the city’s historic centre.
The final stage is both indulgent and scenic. Boarding Frecciarossa’s most exclusive Executive Class, you join just ten passengers in a carriage of ultra-wide reclining seats and personal service. A steward serves prosecco, wine and a four-course à-la-carte lunch as the train follows Italy’s Adriatic coast, often just metres from the beach. Near Bari you pass the site of the ancient battle of Cannae before a chauffeured car takes you inland to Matera. You arrive in the late afternoon at one of the world’s most extraordinary cities: a labyrinth of stone dwellings carved into cliffs, rich in history and atmosphere, and the perfect finale to your journey.
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