Episode 1 Getaways

Welcome to Getaways, where we go where you want us to go.

This week we go to one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations

and we're visiting Sorrento and the Amalfi coast.

We're also taking a trip to the islands of Capri and Ischia.

On our website we asked you

for your recommendations for things to do here and things to avoid.

We've taken your suggestions and we're going to rate

and review them for ourselves and for you at home.

We took a three-hour flight to Naples on Italy's south west coast.

Sorrento is then just an hour's drive south.

It's been a favourite destination

for those who enjoy the finer things in life

and over the centuries it's been a getaway for artists,

writers, poets and playwrights.

Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren, Pablo Picasso

and even Mariah Carey are some of the more famous names

that have been enamoured by this part of the world.

So what makes it such a five-star destination?

Based on your suggestions, we're going to explore

Sorrento by foot...

Watch where you're going!

How clever we are!

..visit some neighbouring islands by boat...

-THEY LAUGH

-You've got to admire the audacity of the man!

This is absolutely gorgeous!

..and I'm taking a short getaway in County Fermanagh.

We're in Sorrento on the Bay of Naples,

an area dominated by the presence of an active volcano - Mount Vesuvius.

Vesuvius most famously wiped out the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum

with a huge eruption in 79AD.

The remains of these ancient cities can be found

at the foot of the mountain.

This area was the original holiday destination for Roman soldiers

but our mission is to find out what's here for the modern tourist.

You told us that Sorrento is an easy town to get around.

So while I've gone exploring by myself,

Joe's joined up with a guided tour,

which is a quick way to learn about the town.

You come round this way.

OK, so we're coming into the main square now.

If you go up on the right-hand side here, you can look into

the original ravine that's got the old water mill

that's over 300 years old.

The one thing you've got to do here is to keep your wits about you.

It does get a little bit chaotic here and you'd be amazed

at the Italian driving. I think it's actually a new art form.

Several brave-hearted souls among you, including

Trish Semple from Belfast, suggested hiring a scooter to get around,

but you're taking your life into your hands, so get yourself fully insured!

Safer to stick to the walking tour, I reckon!

Italians are known for having the gift of the gab

and none more so than cameo sculptor, Christian.

The word "cameo" means "work in relief"

and we make the cameos out of conch shells.

This shell is white outside and brown inside.

What we do, we scratch away these parts here

around the lines of the design

to uncover the brown layer, the background of the cameo.

Huh? How clever we are!

Italians, Italians!

Ciao, grazie.

APPLAUSE

That's how you sell cameos!

Whilst Joe's up in town with the tour, I've found my way to the beach.

But you told us this can be expensive.

Sorrento doesn't have a main beach

but what you'll find instead are small coves and boardwalks

where people can sunbathe.

Now, most of these are privately owned so you may have to pay for the privilege of using them.

It costs around ten euro for a bed and an umbrella. Pretty pricey,

so keep an eye out for the public beaches that are absolutely free.

After my tour of the town I get more local knowledge

from guide Lindsey, who's been here for the past 30 years.

So Lindsey, not only do you work in the industry

you've lived here most of your life.

If you had to pick one thing,

what would be your absolute favourite thing here?

Certainly, the Amalfi coastline.

It's absolutely beautiful.

They say it's the most beautiful coastline in Europe.

Obviously, if you're a history buff, this place is a gift to you, like, right?

Oh, goodness, yes. You've got Pompeii, you've got Herculaneum.

You also have some very big museums, but you've also got

lots of little, small museums around the area.

I've heard there's a few little, private museums that are basically

people's own collections that they've turned into public museums.

That's correct, especially here in Sorrento.

We have one very good one.

No, it's, there's just so much culture,

so much history and so much character.

And I'm going to visit one of these private museums in Sorrento.

The whole area is famous for its fabulously preserved archaeology

and antiquities, and I'm at the Correale Museum to find out more.

Gaetano, why should tourists come to visit this museum?

First of all, this museum is a part of the history of our town.

These pieces are from the imperial age of Sorrento.

The Roman time, you know?

I think our pieces are the best collection you can find in a museum.

It's a good place if you want to find somewhere quiet to relax

and escape the heat of the day.

And another thing about this museum that I really like,

it's the only one in Europe that has a panoramic sea view.

But when you're in this area, don't just stay in Sorrento.

We're taking an excursion to the island of Capri.

Lots of you, including Anne Walker from Crawfordsburn,

and Maire Ni Gallachoir from Donegal said that a trip to Capri is

de rigueur if you're on holiday here, so we've come for a day trip.

There are regular hydrofoils from Sorrento.

They take about 20 minutes and cost around 18 euro for a single ticket.

Capri has got legendary status and the name itself evokes images

of glamour and good times.

It's the official home of La Dolce Vita

and it's been a playground for celebrities for centuries.

If you want proof that this is where the beautiful people come to,

see those rocks behind me?

That's where they shot the famous Dolce & Gabbana advert.

The Piazzetta is the main square in Capri

and it's a good place to wander and to people-watch.

But loads of you told us

what you really liked about Capri was the shopping.

If you're a fashionista, you'll come straight to Via Camerelle -

Capri's designer thoroughfare,

where the rich and famous can come and burn their cash,

but the rest of us, unfortunately, have to window-shop.

Whilst in Capri, you've got to come and see the Via Krupp.

A wealthy German industrialist wanted to find

a very unique and personal way to get to and from the beach

so he built a ridiculously steep, amazingly sharp

hairpin-bended pathway, just to get him up and down to have a wee paddle.

You've got to admire the audacity of the man.

And the Krupp family went on to manufacture,

would you believe it, elevators!

The Via Krupp was closed when I visited but the Gardens of Augustus

next to the Via Krupp are open daily to the public throughout the summer.

Chris McKell from Ballymena and Mary Mullen from Kells

are among the many of you who recommended seeing

Capri by the sea.

The boat trip costs about 17 euro and lasts about an hour.

Capri was a popular vacation destination

for a lot of the emperors. The most notorious was Tiberius.

Top of these cliffs, there is the remains of his palace

where he used to throw these outlandish parties.

Was quite a party animal.

And that very top rock is known as Tiberius' Leap.

Now if you weren't having a good enough time at one of these parties

or he tired of you...

HE IMITATES WHISTLE AND SPLASH

Harsh, that, harsh!

Behind me, you will see the Archway of Love at the Faraglioni Rocks.

Now, it's said, if you pass through these,

and embrace the person you're with, you'll be together for ever.

Want to go through?

We try.

HE WOLF-WHISTLES

LAUGHTER

So a big tick to all of you who recommended Capri - a great day out.

The Amalfi Coast has been a popular tourist destination for centuries.

In fact, it was one of the must-do stops on the Grand Tour, when rich

Europeans used to come here looking for culture and enlightenment.

With that view, you can't really blame them, can you?

From Sorrento, Positano is a 40-minute drive along the world-famous Amalfi Coast.

On our website, you told us

that Positano was one of your favourite excursions.

Siobhan Walker from County Tyrone and Bernadette Heslip

and her sister Lillian O'Hanlon from Newry are among the many

of you that said it really was worth the journey.

Linda Ryan from Dublin advised us that, like all the towns here,

Positano is built into the cliffs and there are a lot of steps

so if you've got kids and buggies it can be difficult

to get around. Oh, and leave the high heels at home!

Positano is famous for its fashion,

particularly if you're into boho chic, dahling,

and very well-known for its shoes and handbags.

Now, if you come here expecting golden sands,

you're going to be disappointed. This is a volcanic area.

The sand will be black and very pebbly. But do you know what?

I'm not that fussy. The water here is lovely.

We're here in mid-September, which is still high season.

The temperature is in the mid-20s, and because of this it's still busy.

So, good viewers, thank you for your top tip.

In my book, Positano is definitely worth a jaunt.

And there's another great trip that you can make from Sorrento.

It's to another of the islands in the Bay of Naples.

We're sailing out to Ischia,

which can be reached in about 50 minutes by hydrofoil.

This whole area is volcanic

and renowned for its hot springs and thermal spas.

You suggested we take time out to try one of these spas

and I'm taking you up on that recommendation.

Ischia is well-known as an island of wellness and healing.

Its volcanic heated springs provide relief for all sorts of ailments.

The Italian national health service

even prescribes thermal treatments to patients.

I've come here to Castiglione to meet Gina to find out more.

Ischia is famous for its spas, but how many are here on the island?

There are nine spas.

This is the third one, famous, on this island.

It's not the biggest one, but we have a difference,

because our water, it's natural. It's naturally hot.

In the other parts, it's not.

And why do people come here?

It is curative for the problems of the respiratory system.

It's good for problems at bones or it's good also for rheumatoid pathologies

so it's very useful, also, for your skin.

The water comes into the spa from a natural hot spring source

at a whopping 70 degrees Centigrade.

In total, there are 11 pools at a range of different temperatures.

But enough of the chat. Time to give it a go.

Well, this is absolutely gorgeous.

The pools are lovely and warm.

This one's at 38 degrees, and I could just stay here all day long.

And when on the island of Ischia you recommended

we visit La Mortella, or Lady Walton's Gardens.

Italy is famous for its gardens.

Even if you're not green of finger,

you really should pay one a visit.

This is La Mortella, created by Lady Susana Walton

out of a disused quarry,

and it's considered one of the greatest in the world.

Lady Susana was married to Sir William Walton,

one of the most renowned British composers of the 20th century.

In fact, he composed the Coronation March

for Queen Elizabeth II. The same piece of music was also used

at the wedding of Kate and William.

Sir William composed a wide variety of classical music.

Everything from opera through to film soundtracks.

In fact, he scored the three Laurence Olivier

Shakespearean films,

and Sir Laurence became a regular visitor here,

as did Vivien Leigh, Charlie Chaplin and Maria Callas.

Imagine bumping into them near the azaleas!

She was a remarkable woman, Lady Susana.

Spent most of her life travelling the world picking up various species

of plant and flower for the garden she loved so much.

Like an ever-evolving art project.

Lady Walton died in 2010

and the Mortella Garden is now run by a trust.

It's open from March to November.

And if you don't want to travel too far,

why not take a short break closer to home?

This week I'm seeing what's on offer in the lakelands

of County Fermanagh.

Last year, Fermanagh played host to some of

the world's most powerful leaders when the G8 summit rolled into town.

Now, I think one or two of them took a dip in Lough Erne,

but given a bit more time, there's a lot more to see or do here.

The County Fermanagh landscape is dominated by its network

of lakes and waterways which makes it

a go-to destination for fishing, watersports and boating holidays.

One of the best-known tourist attractions round here

is the Marble Arch Caves.

It's said to be one of the finest cave systems in Europe

and it's Northern Ireland's only UNESCO Geopark.

I'm told that down there, there are 7km of caves, rivers and tunnels

dating back 650 million years.

It's a long way down

and expect the temperature to drop by a few degrees.

Tours begin with a boat trip across one of the underground lakes.

The caves were first discovered by French caver Eduoard Martel

and Dublin naturalist Lister Jameson in 1895.

However, locals had known about the caves for hundreds of years

but were reluctant to enter because of stories about ghosts

and goblins that were said to live down here.

This is what you call a flow stone.

This is what is locally called The Porridge Pot,

and you can easily see why.

This is the largest stalactite in our caves.

It's named Martel, it's over two metres in length,

and therefore has been growing here for around about 200,000 years.

Kira, I think the cave's absolutely stunning.

What do most of your tourists say when they see it for the first time?

The main reaction is, it's not real.

A lot of people come in and they think it's fake,

or somehow we've messed around with it, but no, trust me.

340 million years in the making, but it's all real.

That's like a geography lesson coming to life

and I'm really glad I got to see it.

I think the kids would absolutely love it, plus, it's a great thing

to do to get out of the rain for a little while.

This area is also well known for its historic houses.

I'm visiting Florence Court,

once the family home of the Earls of Enniskillen.

And the kitchen was somewhere that most of the visitors

really like to see. This is their favourite part of the house.

It's huge! How many people would have worked here?

Well, there would have been the cook,

the kitchen maid and two under-kitchen maids.

And, how about the whole house,

how many people would have worked in the whole house?

Well, in its heyday, around the 1860s,

there were about 24 people working inside,

and that starts with the nursery and schoolroom upstairs

and right down through, so, you would have ladies' maids,

nannies, governess, housemaids, parlour maids and footmen.

The staircase is original.

You could just imagine this house being used in a period drama.

-This is the Countess' room.

-Oh, wow!

The room faces east, so it would get the morning sun.

For the lady, in the morning, when the curtains were opened.

Sunlight would be streaming in.

-You'd get used to that.

-Oh, you could, indeed!

-It's just a magnificent room.

-It is a lovely room.

This is definitely one for the Downton Abbey fans,

and I can totally see myself upstairs instead of downstairs.

Fermanagh has the perfect cruising waters.

Moorings are never more than a few miles apart, and the waterways

are clearly signposted to make it easy to navigate.

There are loads of boats for hire -

everything from luxury motor cruisers to pretty painted barges.

And there's plenty to see along the way.

Finding a place to stay in Fermanagh isn't a problem.

From five-star resorts to castles and even cottages,

there's something for everybody.

But, since I'm in the Lakelands, I thought it would be good fun

to stay in one of the islands in Lough Erne.

I think half the fun is going to be getting there.

Lusty Beg is a 75-acre private island.

The ferry only takes three minutes, and it's free for guests.

The accommodation includes three and four-star self-catering chalets

as well as lakeside cabins and a guesthouse with bed and breakfast.

Facilities on the island include

a swimming pool, tennis court, and fitness room.

There are bikes for hire, canoes and even a walking trail.

I'm staying in one of Lusty Beg's lakeside studio cabins

which costs from £235 per cabin for two nights B&B

and there's the option to get a third night free.

It is SO quiet here. It's really idyllic.

This is what Fermanagh is all about.

Back in Italy, where so far we've explored Positano,

taken a trip along the Amalfi Coast

and visited the islands of Capri and Ischia.

But now, this area's number one product, lemons.

And in Sorrento you'll find a shop

dedicated to a drink made from the fruit.

Limoncello is a digestif that's local to this area.

As they say in Sorrento, when life gives you lemons, make limoncello!

-Hello, good morning.

-Hello.

-You want to taste limoncello, the traditional drink in Sorrento?

-Mmm!

Drink cold, it's perfect. The freezer.

I have to take it easy with that.

Lemon cream is less strong, like Baileys.

-OK, oh, that would be good.

-Yes?

My search for all things lemony continues at a local villa,

famously used as a location in the Pierce Brosnan movie,

Love Is All You Need.

I'm here to meet Teresa, who runs a cookery school.

First we head out into the villa's very own lemon grove.

And so, Teresa, this area's hugely famous for food.

Are there just food tourists, then?

Well, mostly they come for food, for the lemons, but also for relaxing.

They love the atmosphere they can find here,

for enjoying the great views.

We have this great coastal site overlooking the Bay of Naples.

Lemons harvested, we head for the kitchen.

Teresa, we're going to make a dessert that is local to this area.

It's a lemon tiramisu,

and it's a bit different from the classic one

because we're using a custard made with water instead of milk

and so it's a bit lighter than the other one.

And we mix it with double cream.

The first layer is the mix of our custard and the double cream.

So, we put a little bit in the ring.

-How much should I put in?

-Just a little bit.

Then we have the lady fingers, dipped very quickly in the syrup.

The syrup is made of an infusion

of lemon zest boiled in water and sugar

and then we add, at the end, the limoncello liquor.

And then we carry on with another layer.

Can I eat your one? Or do I have to have this one?

That's what our guests have to do. I'm not preparing anything for them.

Now, we grate a little bit of our lemon zest,

just to give the flavour.

Only the yellow part of the zest, because the white is sour,

it's too bitter, you know?

And now, another layer of ladyfingers.

-And then more cream, yes.

-OK?

-That's all the layers.

-Yes, some lemon, and then a bit of cinnamon.

-So, we put this in the fridge now?

-Yes.

After a couple of hours chilling, the tiramisu is ready.

And, as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Mm-hmm! That's absolutely gorgeous. And the lemon is beautiful in it.

-I will send you our lemons.

-Thanks!

And if you're looking for something simpler and sweeter, a bit like me,

then I've found just the thing.

You know, ever since I was a little boy, yes, I was once little,

I always dream of working in an ice cream factory,

and today, that dream is coming true.

Italy is, of course, famous for its ice cream

and gelato genius Mario can create ice cream in any flavour.

Not just fruit and cream gelato, but we start making vegetables,

salty and fish gelato.

Fish, ice cream gelato?

Some like tomato and basil, rosemary and olive oil, octopus gelato.

I tell you this because it is possible making anything gelato.

-Anything you like.

-What are we going to make today?

What we are making today is lemon sorbet, and it is coming like

a cream gelato, but without any cream and any milk.

It has a lemon is very special,

-stronger the other lemon in the world.

-That's zesty!

-Yeah!

-I just want to know if you like bitter or sweet?

Um, let's go sweet today.

-Sweet, OK, not a problem. You are a sweet man.

-I am a sweet man!

We put 300g of pure lemon juice.

Here, we add this type of syrup, and 450g of fresh water.

Now, we put the mix inside the gelato machine, we turn it on,

and it just takes eight to ten minutes to make 10kg of gelato.

That's a licence to print money.

Yes. Come here. You need to take the gelato off the machine.

You just need to put the spoon on the bottom here

and we help the gelato to go in the basket because after,

it's not gelato for you to eat.

You've got the best job in the world.

Apart from me, obviously.

But, look, you're very skinny.

I put on lots of weight.

Oh, bless you, son, bless you!

-That is a lot of gelato, Mario.

-Yes.

-Come to Daddy!

-I just have one final question.

-Yes?

Is it spoon licking time?

-Yes, is lick time.

-Mmm!

-Yes, it's good?

-It's delicious.

Because we have the best lemon.

Yes, really sharp, really creamy, gorgeous.

Thank you. Let's see your gelato. Good job!

Thank you very much.

Look at this. You come to the country that is the home

of great ice cream and you get to make your own gelato.

Now, THIS is a holiday!

Yes, most of you come here for holidays,

but more and more of you are coming here

with something different in mind.

# Come to me... #

Lots of you told us this is a real romantic destination

and a great place to consider tying the knot.

This is a really popular place for weddings

and loads of people come here to get married.

It's a great spot for hanging out and watching the fashion.

If you're from the UK or Ireland

and looking for the Italian wedding of your dreams,

you'll need to get a Nulla Osta,

which shows you're free to get married.

It's a relatively uncomplicated process.

The course of true love can run smoothly, even in Italy!

And where to stay in Sorrento? Here are three options.

One of the most popular hotels here is the Bristol Hotel.

It's large and modern with impressive dining rooms and restaurants

with great views over the Bay of Naples.

This is one hotel where we think it's definitely worth

forking out for a room with a sea view.

Seven nights half-board will cost from £839 per person.

That's based on two sharing, and this price includes flights and transfers.

If you're coming to Italy to get married,

then a popular choice for honeymooning couples

is the five-star boutique Hotel Capo La Gala.

It overlooks the Bay of Naples.

It's on the outskirts of Sorrento and built into the cliffs

to ensure that no rooms are overlooked.

And if you fancy a swim, then the sea's just outside your window.

Seven nights bed and breakfast

costs from £1,000 per person based on two sharing.

This price includes flights and transfers.

If you're looking for a no-frills option

then we'd recommend the Hotel Astoria,

which is right in the middle of Sorrento.

The rooms are basic but clean,

and their real beauty is in the fact that you can walk out the front door

into the middle of all the action in town.

Despite the fact that it's in such a central location

the rooms are quiet, and we'd recommend asking for a room

overlooking the hotel garden.

It costs from £638 per person for seven nights bed and breakfast.

This price includes flights and transfers.

We booked our flights and hotels through Topflight.

If you'd like any more information about our holidays

please visit our website -

Joe, did you enjoy the holiday?

I did, you know, the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento particularly, has

one of the most enviable reputations in terms of a holiday destination,

and everything you've heard about this place is absolutely true.

One thing I would say is that this is more for couples or honeymooners,

people who are more discerning and want more of a cultural holiday.

-What about you?

-I loved Ischia.

I really think that the thermal baths were my favourite.

Yeah, you've got to go and do the islands.

See you next time on Getaways!