Italy Service and Adventure

Welcome to the Cinque Terre, one of Italy’s hidden gems! Often referred to as the Italian Riviera, this region is home to five idyllic fishing villages with pastel colored houses perched on dramatic cliffs that plunge into the crystal-blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. We stay right in the center of one of the villages (Monterosso) just steps from the beach! Here we have established strong relationships with the locals from our annual service projects, and you will be welcomed with opened arms and treated like family during your stay here.

After settling into our home for the week in this dreamy seaside village, we’ll tour the town, admiring its colorful shops and rich, authentic feel. You’ll be amazed at the rush of the waves breaking across the beautiful beaches, and will be hardly prepared for the delicious meals consisting of fresh pasta with pesto (a local specialty) and delicacies from the sea. Despite the beauty and the relative success of this region, the Cinque Terre are also faced with a series of daunting environmental and economic challenges. Generations of hard-working inhabitants have braved the harsh conditions of this rugged landscape, living, as is often said, “with their backs to the sea.”

Interact with the locals and give back to this loving community with our meaningful community service, all while enjoying the breathtaking views of this wonderful region. We will be working directly with the town hall to maximize our efforts where they are needed most. One project includes heading up to the monastery to help rebuild historic walls there and clean up the surrounding area. Be rewarded for your hard work with a homemade spaghetti lunch prepared by the monks made with fresh tomatoes and herbs from their garden! We’ll also go to a local school and work to help improve the facilities. Lastly, we’ll work to beautify and maintain the network of hiking trails that traverse the Cinque Terre National Park. We’ll be working with the office of the National Park of the Cinque Terre, performing safe and supervised work that is nonetheless involved and valuable to the inhabitants of this region as well as the larger global community.

We’ll spend a day trekking along the beautiful trail that connects these five villages, where you’ll experience views and vistas the likes of which you’ve never encountered! Over the course of this day, we’ll get to know the distinct layout and character of each of the towns, sampling local pizza, focaccia, and other amazing treats as we go. End the day with a dip in the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean and relaxing on the beach – a wonderful reward for all of our efforts! Our time here will end with a special ceremony at the Town Hall, where our participants will be honored for everything they have done to better the Cinque Terre.

After our time in the Cinque Terre we will stop in the town of Montalcino. We’ll stroll the quaint cobblestoned streets of the hill town of Montalcino. Visit its beautiful medieval church and cathedral and check out the grand fortress before heading to the nearby town of San Quirico d’Orcia for some breathtaking views of this famous region.

For those who choose, there will be an optional excursion to a private vineyard just outside the town of Montalcino to experience the stunning Tuscan countryside in real Italian fashion. This day is a TFT favorite! We have an exclusive invitation to a family’s private Tuscan Estate where we will receive a hands-on tasty Italian cooking lesson using freshly harvested vegetables straight from their garden! Enjoy a special tour of the winery where they produce award-winning wine and receive an introduction to this important part of Italian culture.

Home sweet Rome! We’ll arrive in the Eternal City where a long and mighty history awaits us. As the city streets buzz with antiquity around every corner, you’ll be in awe as we transport ourselves thousands of years back in time while exploring the most important monuments and structures from ancient Rome. At the Colosseum we’ll try to imagine the bloody spectacle of gladiator competition. In the Roman Forum, which once housed the ancient city’s bustling center and main marketplace, we’ll marvel at the well preserved ruins. There’s no better way to complete our journey learning about the Roman Empire than with a view of the city from atop the Palatine Hill- the very place where it all began.

We’ll then fast-forward to the Renaissance, crossing the Tiber to Vatican City and marvel at the massive basilica dedicated to St. Peter. We’ll lose ourselves in the Vatican’s extensive collection of artistic masterpieces from the ancient world to the present day, culminating with a look at Michelangelo’s elaborate ceiling frescos in the Sistine Chapel. We’ll stroll down the Tiber and venture slightly off the beaten path to Trastevere, one of Rome’s hippest neighborhoods, to see the local Romans in action and indulge in some of the best food in the city, including fresh homemade pastas and pizza “al taglio.” We’ll shop on the famous Via del Corso, toss a coin over our shoulders into the Trevi Fountain, and hang out on the Spanish Steps enjoying a classic Roman night of relaxing in the summer air of a beautiful piazza.

Next, we’ll escape the big city and head to Sorrento, a dreamy seaside town on the Bay of Naples that will be our home base as we explore this rich region. Enjoy our glamorous accommodation with a rooftop terrace and stunning views of sunny Sorrento.

We’ll wake up in the morning and hop on a private boat to discover the enchanting Amalfi Coast. It’ll be love at first sight with the sun shining above, blue sea below, and unbelievable views in front of us as we sail down the Mediterranean marveling at the pastel-painted towns nestled into the coast. With stops along the way, you’ll have a chance to jump into the crystal clear water and swim among cascading waterfalls and in several secluded bays. When we arrive in Positano, you’ll think you’ve been transported into a postcard as you gaze at the quaint hillside town perched up above. The view from the water is spectacular! Hop off the boat to explore this picturesque coastal gem and wander the narrow streets surrounded by multicolored buildings, blooming flowers, and sweet-smelling lemons. Visit the iconic church of Santa Maria Assunta with its ornate dome covered entirely in tiles. Enjoy the best shopping in the chic stores that line the streets, from handmade shoes and clothes to an abundance of lemon-themed products. Then relax for the afternoon on the famous black sand beach and take it all in.

Visit Pompeii, a thriving ancient Roman port towns that was frozen in time when it was buried under a deep layer of ash and pumice during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Step back in time and you explore this town and learn about the daily life there before the volcanic devastation. Our expert guide will recount the historic tales of these cities that will paint a picture of what life was like in these lavish societies before the volcano erupted!

Then hop on the train for a picturesque ride along the “circumvesuviana” line, a train that goes to Naples following a track around Mt. Vesuvius. What better way to spend your day than in the very place that pizza was invented? Indulge in the best in the world, served steaming hot straight out of a wood-fired oven.

Here in Naples, we will have the choice of following up our tour of Pompeii at the National Archeological Museum, the richest collection of archeological artifacts in Italy, or go back in time and navigate the maze of tunnels under the city that were used as anything from Roman aqueducts to air-raid shelters throughout history. We will also have a chance to hit some of the shops and wander around the fascinating and folkloristic streets of Naples!

Spend your final day just off the coast exploring the exclusive island of Capri. You can go shopping in the ultra-chic boutiques, take a hike around the craggy coast of the island, and enjoy a scenic chairlift ride up to Mt. Solaro, the island’s highest point for breathtaking views and incredible photo opportunities!