Italy Anniversary Travel Review: Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Taormina, Mount Etna, Winery Visit

Contrary to everything we heard from friends in advance, Naples provided us with a wonderful start to our trip, in large part due to the seaside hotel selected by Laura's team and the private tour they arranged. We were blown away by our experience at Pompeii where a private guide led our group of four through an in-depth journey back in time.
Sorrento proved to be a perfect base for our visit to the amazing Isle of Capri and our exploration of the Amalfi Coast. Our driver and our boat captain were both very generous in providing us with great recommendations and exposing us to the natural beauty that only natives with an obvious love for their home could. Dinner at Don Alfonso 1800 was one of our most memorable meals, topped off by time spent with the owner family and a tour of their amazing property and wine cellar.
On to Sicily, and wow - who knew how wonderful this island treasure could be. We fell in love with Taormina as our guide exposed us to the best the city could offer as we wound our way through this charming and picturesque town. The next day, our driver gave us an in-depth tour and education on all the many aspects of Mount Etna. Our lunch at a winery/resort that day was a feast for both the eyes and our stomachs - rare to find such a talented winery chef.
While we hated to leave the wonderful people, food, wine and landscapes to come home, our last night provided us with a dining experience we will not soon forget. Our 10-course tasting with wine pairing at I Pupi was off the charts. Chef Tony Lo Coco and his team from sommelier to host to serving staff at this Michelin star restaurant featured on Stanley Tucci in Italy made us feel at home and provided us with the perfect end to our adventure.