Ancient Baia & Local Flavors: A Curated Coastal Immersion
Decode the Roman Empire from the Sea, and Savor the Volcanic Heritage of the Coast at the Table.
Join me, Karen—founder of Andiamotrips—for a beautiful, seamless Saturday afternoon on the historic coast of Baia. This is not a passive tourist excursion; it is a curated coastal immersion designed for those who want to experience Italy through the eyes of a true local expert.
Together, you and I will conduct a maritime field study alongside expert tour guide Alessandra Fragole, from a glass-bottom vessel to uncover the sunken playground of Roman emperors. Afterward, you and I will gather harbor-side for an exclusive culinary and wine-pairing seminar at the acclaimed Riccio Restaurant, led by Head Chef Agostino Alboretto, local Sommelier Roberta Di Meo, and myself.
July 11 Event Details & Pricing
Date: Saturday, 11 July 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM (Please arrive by 11:45 AM for orientation and check-in)
Meeting Point: Lomar Dreams, Port of Baia, Naples, Italy
Group Size: An intimate, conversational cohort limited to just 5 to 10 participants.
All-Inclusive Experience Fee
Adults: €130 per person (Calculated to cover all logistics, tax compliance, and hosting)
Children (Ages 7–12): €80 per person
Registration & Booking Deadline: Saturday, 4 July 2026
⚡ EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: The first 3 spots to register/pay save €5 off their ticket! Once these 3 promotional seats are claimed, standard pricing applies.
Early Bird Adult: €125
Early Bird Junior (7-12): €75
🎟️
Request Seat Availability & Booking Info
The Itinerary
12:00 PM — Part I: The Submerged Empire (Maritime Field Study)
Our discovery session begins at the Port of Baia. You and I will board the custom-designed Lomar Dreams glass-bottom vessel to study the underwater ruins of the ancient Roman resort city.
Led by Alessandra Fragole, the expert guide and spokesperson for Lomar Dreams—who will conduct our tour in both Italian and English—alongside my contextual commentary, we will look down through the glass keel to view stunning preserved mosaics at the Terme del Lacus, trace the grand structural layouts of the Villa a Protiro, and view the hauntingly beautiful imperial statues of Emperor Claudius’s submerged nymphaeum. You will learn how the unique local volcanic geology (bradyseism) permanently reclaimed this playground of emperors for the sea.
1:30 PM — Part II: The Coastal Table (Sensory & Gastronomy Seminar)
After docking, we walk just a few steps along the marina to our reserved table at Riccio Restaurant. Perched right over the water's edge, we will begin our culinary and enological seminar.
The Curated Volcanic Wine Flight: Our resident Sommelier Roberta Di Meo has designed a custom tasting flight for our lunch, which she and I will co-host. Roberta and I will introduce you to the fascinating characteristics of local volcanic wines (such as Falanghina and Piedirosso dei Campi Flegrei), teaching you how the sulfur- and mineral-rich soils of an active supervolcano transform the flavor of the grapes.
The Live-Translated Kitchen Dialogue: During our meal, I will step in as your personal cultural interpreter and translator for Head Chef Agostino Alboretto. You will have the rare opportunity to engage with the chef as I translate his culinary philosophy, explaining his local seafood-sourcing secrets, regional cooking methodologies, and the heritage behind traditional Phlegraean recipes.
Meet Your Host & Culinary Partners
Your Host: Karen Phillips (Andiamotrips)
Karen Phillips is a sommelier, local expert, and the founder of Andiamotrips, a food, wine, and travel platform dedicated to helping travelers step off the beaten path to experience the authentic soul, flavor, and history of the Campania region.
Since 2009, I have been deeply embedded in the Campania region, documenting its rich cultural, archaeological, and winemaking traditions through highly popular blogs, vlogs, and curated travel guides. As a bilingual host and sommelier, I specialize in crafting slow-travel experiences that bridge the gap between curious international travelers and deep Italian heritage. For this coastal immersion, I serve as your cultural host, co-sommelier, and personal culinary translator—giving you unprecedented insider access to the living history of the coast.
Head Chef Agostino Alboretto
At the helm of Riccio's kitchen is Chef Agostino Alboretto, a culinary visionary deeply rooted in the Campi Flegrei territory. Chef Agostino is celebrated for his "zero-kilometer" (chilometro zero) philosophy, working hand-to-hand with Baia's local fishermen who deliver the daily catch directly to his harbor-side kitchen.
Known for his masterful seafood charcuterie (salumi di mare) and his ability to modernize traditional Campanian recipes without losing their historic soul, Chef Agostino's dishes showcase the clean, saline, and mineral-rich profiles unique to this volcanic coast. Our menu today is custom-curated by him to reflect the seasonal peak of the Gulf of Pozzuoli.
Sommelier Roberta Di Meo
An expert in Campania’s complex enological landscape, Sommelier Roberta Di Meo is passionate about storytelling through wine. Roberta specializes in volcanic viticulture, representing the rare, native grape varietals grown on the slopes of the Phlegraean Fields. Her pairing selections for our table are chosen not just to complement Chef Agostino’s dishes, but to tell the liquid history of the region’s ancient soils.
About Our Maritime Partner
Lomar Dreams & Spokesperson Alessandra Fragole
Lomar Dreams is Baia's premier archaeological boat operator, renowned for providing high-quality, eco-conscious marine excursions. Their specialized glass-bottom boats are designed specifically to navigate the shallow, protected waters of the Baia Underwater Archaeological Park, making this world-class ancient wonder fully accessible as a dry-deck learning environment.
Our maritime study is led by Alessandra Fragole, the chief guide and spokesperson for Lomar Dreams. Alessandra is a passionate expert in underwater archaeology and maritime history, specializing in the preservation of Baia’s marine heritage. Conducting her tours seamlessly in both Italian and English, she brings the submerged city to life, pointing out intricate details you’d otherwise miss beneath the waves.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is included in my experience fee?
Your seat is fully all-inclusive of the day’s activities. It covers:
Your ticket on the official Lomar Dreams guided glass-bottom boat tour with expert guide Alessandra Fragole, conducted in both Italian and English.
A curated, sit-down seafood lunch at Riccio Restaurant designed by Head Chef Agostino Alboretto.
Sommelier-curated wine pairings co-led by Roberta Di Meo and myself: water and a curated selection of premium local volcanic wines paired to match the menu (or curated non-alcoholic alternatives).
My role providing ongoing cultural briefings, wine tasting notes, historical translation, and live chef dialogue interpretation throughout the day.
2. How do I register, pay, and receive my invoice?
To register, please click the "Request Seat Availability & Booking Info" button to fill out my quick billing form.
Payment Methods: I accept secure bank transfers (bonifico) or PayPal. (Tip: If you are claiming one of the first 3 early bird spots, choose bank transfer to lock in your discount instantly!)
Invoicing: As a registered Italian business entity (Partita IVA), a formal Electronic Invoice (Fattura Elettronica) will be issued directly to your email or Cassetto Fiscale within 12 days of your payment.
3. I am a US citizen and do not have an Italian Codice Fiscale. Can I still register?
Absolutely! I regularly host international guests. When filling out my registration form, simply select "United States" (or your home country) as your billing address and leave the Codice Fiscale field blank. I will process your electronic invoice using the official international billing protocols (SDI code XXXXXXX).
4. Is this experience suitable for families and children?
Yes! The Lomar Dreams vessel is highly stable, safe, and comfortable, making it perfect for children and seniors. The glass-bottom panels allow younger participants to experience the excitement of underwater archaeology without needing to swim or dive. I offer a specialized rate of €80 for children aged 7–12. If you are traveling with children under 7, please contact me directly so we can discuss safety and dining arrangements. Please keep in mind that younger children may find it difficult to fully enjoy or comfortably sit through the second half of our day, which features a lengthy, leisurely, and adult-oriented enogastronomic seminar at the restaurant.
5. What if I have dietary restrictions, food allergies, or don't drink wine?
I want everyone to enjoy their meal safely and comfortably. Because I require all bookings to be finalized by the Saturday, 4 July deadline, I will contact you before the event to collect any dietary requirements (including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or shellfish allergies). Please note that Riccio is strictly a seafood restaurant, so meat or pork substitutions will not be available. I coordinate these parameters directly with Chef Agostino ahead of time so your custom menu is ready. Excellent local non-alcoholic beverages are gladly substituted for wine.
6. What is the cancellation policy?
Because archaeological boat passes and restaurant spaces are secured immediately upon registration, cancellations made on or before 4 July 2026 will receive a refund minus a 20% non-refundable booking and administrative fee. To secure our exclusive charter boat and dining reservations, all bookings become final and non-refundable after 4 July. However, your seat is 100% transferable! If you cannot make it, you are welcome to gift or sell your ticket to a friend.