The Amalfi Coast

Positano

We arrived in Positano by boat, from Capri. The view on the Amalfi coast from the boat shows you that this side of the seafront is even steeper than the Gulf of Sorrento, and it goes easily from the sea level to more than 700 meters. Positano appears suddenly on your sight, which makes it even more special.

Positano is the most touristic city of Italy. The city is located down two valleys, between steep mountains falling into the sea. Seafront relief makes it difficult for boats to arrive: there is no harbor in Positano, the boat just drops you on the landing stage and leaves afterwards. However, due to the boat traffic, the water is not crystal clear as it was in Capri! But the view while swimming is one of the kinds.

Due to its steep lands, cars are mostly missing in Positano. Two main roads cross the city, which makes it entirely for pedestrians. All viewpoints are more astonishing than the other, with all these colorful houses and view on the Mediterranean Sea.

One Place To Eat: The Grottino Azzuro – You have to take seafood pastas at this restaurant! They are insane!

A bus from Positano takes you, every hour, from the center of Positano to Nocelle (bus stops available at the tourist office, just after the marina). From Nocelle starts the Path of the Gods. And this is amazing!

The Path of The Gods is a ride alongside the cliffs, 400 meters high, joining Nocelle to Bomerano in approximately three or four hours. But you can –slightly- change this. We joined Praiano instead of Bomerano for two reasons:

• Firstly, there is, on the way down to Praiano, a former monastery from the XIV century, called Monastero San Domenico. It is surrounded by tiered gardens that you can visit. The path going down to Praiano is a (former) way of the cross to the Monastery. The XVI century cross used at the time still belongs to the church. The view on Positano from the balcony, the Amalfi coast, at sunset, leaves you speechless.

• Secondly, after walking under a sun of 30 degrees, skipping a swim in the sea was not an option! Indeed, the original ride goes from Nocelle until Bomerano. However, Bomerano is a village in the mountains, no access to the sea, unlike Praiano. However, regular buses take you from there until the city and its various beaches.

PS: Hiking shoes mandatory!

Praiano

Praiano is a pleasant small fisherman village at the feet of the Sant’Angello Mountain. The access to the beaches, as Vettica Maggiore or Furore, goes through narrow streets and steps alongside the cliffs.

One Place To Have Aperitivo: Cafe Mirante. Between all these narrow strets,the beach bar, run by a really nice guy and his mum, has a stunning view on the Amalfi coast and Positano, especially on sunset. Plus, Aperol Spritz is excellent 🙂

Amalfi

We reached Amalfi from Praiano by bus.  Between the mountains and the sea, the city has a glorious past. In the XI century, the city had up to 60 000 inhabitants and was a rival of Genoa and Venice in terms of maritime power. In the main square, piazza Duomo, the cathedral, il duomo di Sant’ Andrea, shelters many relics of various saints. The crypt and the cloister, from the IX century and partially reconstructed in the XI century, are highly decorated.

The city differs significantly from Positano and Praiano due to the originality of its construction, stairs and intertwined lanes.  A rainy atmosphere gives you the impression to evolve inside a painting, as all colors mix themselves altogether very well.

Ravello

Ravello has a common history with Amalfi, as integrated to the Amalfi Duchy from the XI century. The city, built on a rocky spur, overhangs Amalfi. Like Amalfi, Ravello had a glorious time in the XIII century, while exchanges between Europe, Sicily and Orient were at their peak.

From the main square, the via Francesco leads to the villa Cimbrone! Built by a Lord in the XIX century on the basements of a former roman villa, he integrated in the villas former antic decorations, which makes the site unique. So is the view from the terrace.

Walking in the streets of Ravello, pay attention to all the Arabic details Moors left while doing trade with the city in the XIII century. The view from the main square and the duomo, built in the XI century, completely differs from what you’ve seen so far on the Amalfi coast.

One Place To Eat: Nino’s Pizza – As a touristic place, many restaurants can be found downtown. However, if you walk 5 minutes outside the city center, you will find Nino’s Pizza. At first glance this place will not catch your attention but their pizzas are amazing!

On your way back to the city center, stop by the gelateria Baffone (Big Moustache in Italian) , an authentic home-made ice-cream for the dessert 🙂

At the end of the day, queues for SITA buses can be very long. We took the stairs for the way back to Amalfi. The path goes sinuously through the cliffs between two fields of lemon and fig trees, for a 45 minutes’ walk, and a great view on Maiori, Amalfi, and the sea.