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Naples, Italy
Miraculous Naples: Pizza, Passion and Superstition
May 26 - June 01, 2025
April 20 - April 26, 2026
Where
Naples, Italy
Group Size
6 - 12 Travelers Duration
Duration
7 Days, 6 Nights
When
May 26 - June 1, 2025
Price
From 4,000 USD per person
Nestled between Europe’s most volatile volcano, Mount Vesuvius, and the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean, Naples is a city of vivid beauty and intense street life, where a rich and deeply layered history is matched only by the local – and now world-famous – cuisine. This is a city of multitudes, and one which will stimulate all your senses.
On this weeklong culinary adventure in and around the city of Naples, we’ll be exploring the cuisine and culture of this fascinating city, from the richly ornate to the rough and ready. We’ll use the city’s famous cooking as a window into daily life and culture, meeting culinary artisans who keep the city fed and visiting producers of specialty products. On an excursion to a volcanic crater lake, we’ll explore significant Roman ruins on the way to sample unique wines and fresh seafood. We’ll explore hidden workshops tucked into the dark alleys of the city, where a cadre of old masters practice obsolete trades like umbrella repair and market sign painting. Along the way, we will dive deep into the spiritual side of the city — visiting the chapel of Sansevero and venturing into an underground ossuary where human bones are tended lovingly in a cult of the dead. We’ll witness an evening performance in a historic church that brings Baroque paintings to life, explore Vesuvian archeological sites, and take a pasta-making class with a master pastaiolo. And, of course, we will experience the singular miracle of Neapolitan pizza. From street food to a lavish feast, piping-hot coffee to smooth aperitivos, folk songs to opera, hilltop farms to urban wilds, we’ll engage in the greatest culinary and cultural experiences of Naples, meeting lively local Neapolitani for whom this is the only way to live.
Step
Learn
Feast
Immerse
Taste
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrival & Welcome
In the afternoon we’ll gather as a group and familiarize ourselves with the neighborhood, going on a stroll, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the city, and capping it all off with a little aperitivo. While enjoying sweeping views of both the city and the bay, and with Vesuvius lurking in the distance, we’ll then walk through our plans for the week before heading to dinner at a cozy local restaurant. There, we’ll have our first taste of some of the Neapolitan kitchen’s iconic dishes – an enticing preview of the delicious food we’ll share together this week.
Day 2
Exploring the City’s Kitchen
We’ll be treated to a deep dive into the city’s cuisine, its markets, and the captivating street life that revolves around them. Then we’ll get a chance to step in the kitchen ourselves to meet local pastry chefs mastering Neapolitan classics, such as the babà au rum and the sfogliatella, and later, we’ll break bread with a family of bakers keeping their third-generation family-run spot alive. Along the way, we will also enjoy salt cod and a delicious selection of street food, before stopping into a captivating artist’s studio to meet Naples’s last market sign painter. We’ll kick off the evening with a private theatrical performance in a baroque church, a surreal spectacle in which local actors bring Caravaggio’s canvasses to life. This will be followed by an intimate sommelier-hosted wine tasting focused on the vino of the Campania region.
Day 3
Pasta, A to Z
After a classic Neapolitan breakfast at our hotel, we’ll get ready for an excursion to Torre Anunziata, a small town at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius forty minutes from central Naples. Torre Anunziata, just down the road from Pompeii and it’s famous archaeological site, attracts history buffs in the know for its fabulous and lesser-visited archeological site, Oplontis, but pasta aficionados know this town as home of Pastificio Setaro, one of Campania’s legendary pasta producers. On this day, we’ll be taking in the best of both worlds. We’ll be welcomed into the production floor of the pasta factory where vintage machines, lovingly cared for by generations of the Setaro family, bring pasta from dough to finished product. We’ll meet members of the family who will share the secrets of their trade and welcome us into the vault where their prized collection of bronze dies are kept safe. Over lunch in a family-run trattoria, we’ll get ready for a visit to Oplontis, a “suburb” of Pompeii where Roman-era villas, bedecked in frescoes await. We’ll enjoy a tour of a villa believed to be the home of Emperor Nero’s second wife and the relative tranquility of this magnificent site before returning to Naples for an evening of rest.
Day 4
The Cult of Naples
On this day we will explore both the religious practices and the superstitions which color Neapolitan life, starting with a visit to the Sansevero Chapel. After that, we will visit shrines and descend into catacombs where human bones are venerated and even “adopted” by locals. We’ll learn about the rituals and beliefs that live in these monumental sanctuaries. Lunch will be at a classic neighborhood trattoria beloved by locals. In the evening, we will head out for a hands-on pasta workshop. During the workshop, we will learn the art of pasta-making, step by step, from a true pastaiolo. Then we will enjoy the fruit of our labor with a delicious pasta dinner.
Day 5
Phlegraean Fields: Archaeology, Oenology
Located just west of Naples, the Phlegraean Fields are said to be the home of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire: this volcanic zone is a network of crater lakes, ancient waterways, thriving viticulture and seafood farming. We’ll begin our day in the backroom of a multi-generational coffee roaster for a freshly brewed cup while we learn about the process. We then move to a working farm incredibly housed within a Roman ruin where we will have a full of their delicious locally made honey and other products. Here, we’ll get an in-depth view of the area’s rich archaeological legacy, including the cave of mythological importance which was once said to be the site of an ancient priestess of Apollon. Finally, we retire to a local winery on the edge of a crater lake which also houses a destination restaurant. There we will taste the wines, walk the grounds, relax and enjoy a feast where the courses never end.
Day 6
Handmade Napoli
We’ll spend the morning honoring the craftsmen of Naples. Together we’ll visit the workshops and studios of wood carvers, umbrella makers, luthiers, nativity scene artists and much more, in a tribute to the preservation of local heritage and artisans. Of course, along the way we will sample some more of the city’s best bites in the Spanish Quarter. In the evening we will gather for our farewell dinner held in a private home in one of the city’s most iconic buildings. In this noble setting, we’ll feast on course after course of Neapolitan staples accompanied by local wines and musical performances. By the night’s end, bellies full, we will all be singing in the Neapolitan dialect.
Day 7
Farewell & Departure
Sadly, on this day we must part ways! But maybe there’s time for a final espresso and sfogliatella before we head for home… Until the next adventure
Meet the Crew
We are firm believers in the power of local knowledge. Our guides and the culinary masters and other artisans who are part of our trips all deeply reflect that. Meet some of Naples’s finest:
Chiara
Amedeo
Pasquale
Nicola
Vincenzo
Giulia
Francesco
Mena
Where you'll stay
Hotel Piazza Bellini
This week’s focus on deeply local experiences and places is also well reflected in our choice of accommodation. We always select boutique and independent places, ones inspired by international standards while staying loyal to the area’s local heritage – that’s the balance we seek for more than a good night’s rest. Our group will be staying at Hotel Piazza Bellini, a stunning hotel set in a 16th-century building and former palazzo. The hotel is stylishly decorated, full of pop art design, and conveniently located in the historic Centro Storico.
Hear what travelers are saying
A deep dive into the food and culture of Naples. Book it immediately.
Renee S.
This was an amazing experience! Culinary Backstreets exceeded already very high expectations. I can't wait to go on future trips with them in Italy.
Beth P.
Curated, insider, very special. One of the most memorable trips I've taken.
Barbara K.
Know before you go
Pricing and Accommodation
The total cost of this trip is $4,000. For travelers wishing to have single accommodations during the trip, an additional $650 ($800 for the 2026 trip) will be due at the time of the final payment. A $500 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure space on the trip. The balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the trip.
Activity Level
Travelers should feel comfortable walking three to five miles each day and remaining on their feet for long periods of time. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on during a couple cooking workshops.
Arrival and Departure
For flights in and out of Naples-Capodichino International Airport (NAP), we suggest you arrive anytime by 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart anytime on Day 7. We’ll provide the option of booking additional nights at our Naples hotel before and/or after the tour, and are more than happy to provide suggestions for things to do and see in the city on your own.
Inclusions
• All accommodation throughout the trip in stylish, boutique hotels. • Professional guides throughout the entire experience. • A belt-popping experience, with all meals and drinks included in planned activities. • All activities and events as mentioned in the itinerary. • A hungry group of Culinary Backstreets travelers, excited to explore all that Naples has to offer!
Exclusions
• Transportation and flights to and from Naples, including airport transfers. • Food and drink outside of Trip offerings as well as any personal expenses. • If applicable, applying for an Italian visa (not required for U.S. citizens). • Travel insurance (recommended).
Dietary Restrictions
We encourage an adventurous palate! We try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, though in most cases ingredients can’t be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. Unfortunately, due to the Neapolitan palate, the itinerary isn’t able to cater to gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan diets. If you have a particular food allergy or intolerance, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
Notes on Itinerary
Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.
Safety and Sustainability
We have reinforced our commitment to sustainability and safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our trips while maintaining the quality of the experience. All of our experiences are designed to have minimal impact on the community and environment. For more details on our precautions, read here. Our cancellation policy is extremely flexible to deal with changes in travel plans.
Cancellation Policy
You may cancel 90 days before the start of the trip and receive a full refund minus a $500 per-person service fee. If you cancel on or after 60 days before the start of the trip there is a 50% cancellation fee. On or after 30 days there is a 100% cancellation fee. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as we are not able to make exceptions to this policy in cases of family/medical emergency or cases of the trip being canceled (see our Terms and Conditions for full details).
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