Jewish Heritage in Southern Italy – an exclusive 8-night Tour“Rome to Sicily to the Amalfi Coast”

Two Dates in 2007 May 8 – 16 , October 23 - 31 Our Special Guides

Dr. Laura Supino, in Rome and Lazio Rabbi Barbara Aiello, in Sicily and Calabria

IntroductionThis ground-breaking itinerary is unique in the realm of Jewish Heritage travel.It focuses on the oldest places of Jewish presence in Italy, as well as on the rebirth, after500 years, of Jewish life in remote parts of Calabria, the “toe” of Italy.

The tour begins in Rome. We fly from Rome to Sicily and visit Siracusa, Taormina andMessina; then travel up through Calabria, and end our journey on the Amalfi Coast –Italy’s most beautiful coastal region.

The tour is for a maximum of 14 participants, allowing us to provide a highlypersonalized, small-group experience.

We are privileged to have Dr. Laura Supino and Rabbi Barbara Aiello as our principalguides along the way; women of impressive scholarship and stature who embody thelegacy of the Jewish people in Italy. (read more below)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This tour is an entirely unique journey through Jewish Heritage and an exploration of theItalian-Jewish experience as it has flowed through two millennia. It is also a great trip toItaly - an authentic immersion into Southern Italian life and culture. Throughout the touryou are in the company of Italians with an intimate knowledge and infectious love fortheir native regions.

Laurie Howell and Giocondo Cavaliere of “Amalfi Life” are the developers of this specialprogram. Both are seasoned professionals and experts in high-quality tourism. Thetours and services they offer have garnered years of rave reviews for their detail,creativity, and access to the local life.

This is what one couple had to say about our Jewish Heritage tour of Oct. 2006:“We can't stop talking about the wonderful trip. It couldn't have been better. We trulyenjoyed ourselves.” (Myrna & Ed, Kinnelon, NJ)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The cost of the tour is $4885 per person and is an all-inclusive price for the landarrangements. Unlike most other tour companies, we include all meals and take pride inthe varied and authentic dining experiences we provide. (see more info below)

Page 2

Historical OverviewThe Italian Jewish community is the oldest surviving minority in the known world and theoldest Diaspora community in world Jewry. The Jews’ first official presence on theItalian peninsula is documented to be in the year 161 BCE when a delegation fromJudea arrived in Rome.

After the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the second Temple in 70 CE, 2,000Hebrew slaves were carted off to Rome. However, all during this period and throughoutthe first centuries of the Common Era, Hebrew merchants, traders and scholarscrisscrossed the Mediterranean and settled all along Southern Italy’s vast coastalregions.

Settlements grew, and it is said, there is no corner of Italy where the Jews were not. Inrecent years archeologists and scholars have followed a trail of evidence pointing to avast and vibrant Jewish presence in Southern Italy from ancient times to theRenaissance and in numbers that dwarf the size of the entire Jewish community in Italytoday. Beginning in the early 16th century that presence all but disappears.

Dr. Laura SupinoLaura was born in Northern Italy. Her family moved to Rome when shewas a child and and she has lived there ever since. She is aprofessional architect, historian, and special guide to the Museum inRome’s Great Synagogue. She is a distinguished member of theAssociation of Jewish Women in Italy and lectures widely on issuesimportant to European Jewry. On this tour you will be the fortunatebeneficiaries of her lifetime of research.

Rabbi Barbara AielloRabbi Barbara is the first woman rabbi to hold a pulpit in Italy. She is afirst-generation American whose Jewish parents were born in a remotemountain village in Calabria. She has traced her roots even furtherback, to a small group of Jewish families expelled from Sicily during theInquisition. Rabbi Barbara’s story holds the key to the Jewish heritagein the southern-most regions of Italy. Her research will astound you

Highlights• Rome’s Great Synagogue, Museum, Ghetto• Ancient Jewish “memories” in the Roman Forum• Hebrew Catacombs at Appia Pignatelli,• Ostia Antica and its1st century synagogue• Fosse Ardeatine WW II Memorial• Medieval Jewish Quarter in Fondi• Ancient Mikveh in Siracusa, Sicily• 4th century synagogue at Bova Marina• “Il Timpone” Jewish Quarter in Nicastro• 13th century Hebrew inscription in Salerno• Finale on the beautiful Amalfi Coast

Page 3

Itinerary Description

The tour begins in Rome on Tuesday, with a beautiful lunch at the Hotel Rose GardenPalace. For the first three days we will be in the hands of Dr. Laura Supino, devoting ourtime to the ancient sites in and around Rome. This afternoon we will visit Rome’s GreatSynagogue, the Museo Ebraico, and the former Ghetto area. We conclude the day withLaura’s special tour of the Forum, making it come alive with Jewish memoriesinextricably woven into its Roman past. [overnight in Rome]

On Wednesday we spend a fascinating full day on the outskirts of Rome, starting with aprivate visit to the Hebrew Catacombs at Appia Pignatelli, then visiting the awesomeWorld War II Memorial of Fosse Ardeatine, and then moving on to the archeological siteof Ostia Antica where we end the day at the ruins of its 1st century synagogue.

[overnight in Rome]

On Thursday we go south into the countryside of the Lazio region to visit the town ofFondi where there is a uniquely well-preserved Jewish Quarter dating from the medievalperiod that Laura has been instrumental in restoring. In the countryside outside of Fondiwe will be treated to an authentic farmhouse lunch. (Start your diets now.)During this excursion we will also learn about the many Jewish communities that existedthroughout Lazio dating back to the earliest periods.

[overnight in Rome]

On Friday morning we will take a short flight from Rome to Sicily and go directly to theisland of Ortigia in the city of Siracusa where we will meet Rabbi Barbara Aiello. We willvisit the remarkably preserved ancient Mikveh; built in the 4th century and in continuoususe until the very day the Jewish community was expelled from the city. By evening wewill arrive in the famously charming town of Taormina where Rabbi Barbara will lead usin a Shabbat evening service. [overnight in Taormina]

On Saturday morning we visit the Greek Theatre in Taormina, one of the mostcompelling sites of Magna Grecia, where inscriptions point to the Jewish presence in theregion dating back to earliest times. We move on to the city of Messina where there wasone of the largest Jewish communities in Sicily until the mid 16th century. The formerJewish quarter, Norman Cathedral, and Archeological Museum retain vital inscriptionsattesting to our heritage.

Crossing the straits of Messina, we arrive in the region of Calabria, and make our wayaround the “toe” of Italy to the town of Bova Marina to see the reconstructed mosaic floorof a 4th century synagogue whose site was found in the area about 20 years ago. Thisthrilling archeological find helps to weave the ancient Jewish presence we see in Sicilytogether with the Calabrian mainland and to the theory of widespread Jewishcommunities throughout this region.

We continue traveling north through Calabria until we reach the town of Nicastro, RabbiBarbara’s native region and where she lives now. At the end of the day she will lead usin the Havdalah service for the close of Shabbat; we will have dinner and overnight inNicastro.

Page 4

On Sunday morning Rabbi Barbara and Professor Vincenzo Villella of the University ofCalabria will escort us on a visit to the old Jewish Quarter in Nicastro, called“Il Timpone”. We will see the former synagogue dating from the 15th century and also theremains of the mikveh.

The Rabbi and Professor will speak about the evidence of the nearly lost Jewish pastand about a subtle rebirth taking place now after 500 years, in Nicastro and in amultitude of other villages in the region.

After lunch we will continue our journey north and reach the magnificent Amalfi Coast intime for dinner by the sea. Our hotel, the Luna Convento, is located on the water, andyou are guaranteed to have a picture-perfect view over the most beautiful coastline inEurope. [overnight in Amalfi].

On Monday morning we visit 2 unique points of Jewish history in this region. In thetown of Salerno, in the Archdiocese Museum, there is a tombstone dating from the 13th

century documenting the death of the community’s rabbi. The stone was found in thezone of Salerno’s former Jewish quarter and is the only physical remnant of that oncevital community. The inscription on the stone is in the traditional Hebrew format, still inuse on monument stones today.

Not far from the village of Amalfi, in the lesser-known village of Maiori, there is amedieval structure that has been identified as the synagogue of a small Jewishcommunity that was present during the same period as the one in Salerno.

In the late afternoon we will enjoy a walk through the charming village of Amalfi withGiocondo Cavaliere, cultural expert and native of the Amalfi Coast, to learn about itsextraordinary history and rich traditions.

[overnight in Amalfi]

On Tuesday you will be treated to a wonderful private cruise along this magnificentcoastline, as well as visits to the famous villages of Positano and Ravello.

During these days we will have the opportunity to share our thoughts on all we haveexperienced, eat wonderful food, and generally enjoy being on Italy's "Divine"Coast. You may be interested to know that there is documented evidence that 20 Jewslived in the village of Amalfi in the 12th century !

The tour ends with a Gala Farewell Dinner on Tuesday evening. [overnight in Amalfi]

The following morning, Wednesday, you depart for home. Please arrange your returnflights to depart from the Naples Airport.

Special Note: If you would like to extend your stay in Amalfi or go to other parts of Italywe would be happy to make these arrangements or plan an on-going itinerary for you.

Page 5

About MealsAll meals are included in the program. For some of the meals we plan themenus in advance and generally keep to vegetarian, dairy, and kosherfish. However, for a few of the meals you may order whatever you like.

Recap of 8-night ItineraryRome – 3 nights, Taormina – 1 night, Nicastro – 1 night, Amalfi – 3 nights

HotelsRome – Hotel Rose Garden Palace www.rosegardenpalace.comTaormina – t/b/aNicastro – Hotel SavantAmalfi – Hotel Luna Convento www.lunahotel.it

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Costs & Inclusions$4885 per person based on double occupancySingle supplement $500 (double room for single use)

8 nights in charming 4-star hotelsAll meals, including wineAirport transfers in Rome and Naples on the start-date and end-dateEntrance fees, Guide servicesHotel taxes, Gratuities

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ExclusionsAirfare (please consult with us)Travel Insurance (please consult with us)Bar-drinks, beer and liquorRoom service, LaundryAirport transfers on other than specified days

With regard to air travel to and from Italy, as well as any arrangements you would likebefore or after the tour dates, we can answer all of your questions and can take care ofanything for you if you wish, at no additional fee.

We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance. We offer information on CSATravel Protection. We are happy to explain their policy and send you a brochure. Or youcan get extensive information by going to www.csatravelprotection.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We invite you to visit our websites www.AmalfiLife.com and www.JewishTourSouthernItaly.com

for more information about us.

Page 6

Contact: Laurie HowellAmalfi Lifewww.AmalfiLife.com41 Schermerhorn StreetSuite 128Brooklyn, NY 11201Laurie@AmalfiLife.com

Tel 718 797 9300 ext 1Fax 718 243 1547

Our Italy OfficeVia Corte, 184011 Amalfi (SA)

Tel (39) 089 813028Fax (39) 089 874194