Tag Archives: Amalfi Coast

SICILY & AMALFI COAST #24: SCENIC SCALA & ROMANTIC RAVELLO

Posted on by
2

This was one of those days where we had all types of weather.  The cloudy and cold morning gave way to beautiful, sunny skies in the afternoon. 

Our day began in Scala, the oldest village on the Amalfi Coast and perched 1,500 feet above sea level on a steep hillside.  We hiked 600 steps down from the bus to get to the bottom of the village (I didn’t count, but I took Francesco’s word for it!), visiting the ruins of the Romanesque Basilica of St. Eustachio along the way.

Consecrated in 1244, there is not much left to the basilica, but the views from the ruins were spectacular.  When we arrived, a sweet little lady greeted us with candy.  She has been volunteering at the site for years and was happy to see Francesco and greet the group.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Walking down the steps through this historic village felt so authentic Italy, and what I loved the most was not seeing anyone else except our group and a few locals.

The skies magically cleared!

Our group continued to the town of Ravello, which is also situated in the hills with beautiful views of the Amalfi Coast and Scala.  The best views were from 13th—century Villa Rufolo where we took a self-guided tour.  The skies hadn’t quite cleared yet here, but the views were no less gorgeous from the villa.

Tile floors inside the villa.

Ravello is a small town of just 2,500 people and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Founded in the 5th century as a shelter place against the barbarian invasions, it later became known for producing wool.  The history is long and quite involved, but Ravello became a destination for artists, musicians, and writers. It is quite popular with tourists now, partly because of the beautiful views.

Bruce and I found the town to be quite charming, and we enjoyed browsing through the ceramic shops and galleries.  Rather than take the time to dine at one of the outdoor cafes on the piazza, we opted to grab a sandwich from the Italian deli and watch the cats beg and compete for the scraps the café diners tossed to them.  It was quite entertaining to watch, and our sandwich was delicious!

Coming up next: SICILY & AMALFI COAST #25: PERSERVERING THROUGH POMPEII

SICILY & AMALFI COAST #23: A BEAUTIFUL BOAT RIDE TO ADORABLE AMALFI

Posted on by
Reply

After two weeks of stellar weather in Sicily, our luck was bound to run out sooner or later.  This was the day, unfortunately, because a boat ride along the Amalfi Coast was on the agenda and blue skies would have been beautiful! Instead, it was cloudy, and it rained a little bit here and there.

The village of Amalfi, namesake of the Amalfi Coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was our morning destination.  Located on the southwest coast of Italy, Amalfi, in the Campania region, faces the Gulf of Salerno.  Having a population of under 5,000 people, it’s a small, intimate village in the off season, and we were told the favorite winter “sport” is gossip.  Evidently, there isn’t much work available in the winter, because it is a seasonal destination, so the locals have a lot of time on their hands… 

High season is a different story.  Tourists flock to what is reputed to be the most beautiful coastline in Italy, and the place is hoppin’!  We got a taste of that, having visited in mid-May, just ahead of the high season.  The streets were crowded with tourists!  Still, it was love at first sight.  What a charming and colorful place!

Amalfi is very mountainous, giving the village a lot of character.  Steep staircases led us to winding streets we enjoyed exploring and poking around to see what discoveries would make us smile and break out the camera.  I took so many photos; it was hard to edit them down. So, strap in; this is a long post of pictures!

First, the boat ride, for views of the coastline:

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

The village of Amalfi
Would you like to stay at this hotel? It will set you back 2,000 Euros per night!

Back on land:

Amalfi Cathedral
I strolled into this gentleman’s studio, smiled, and bid him, “Buongiorno!” He immediately offered the cherries he had been snacking on from the plastic box. I politely declined, but he insisted. I am so glad he did, because they were the most delicious cherries I had ever tasted, and we shared a magical moment I won’t soon forget.
He painted this beautiful plate with the paints in the photo below.
The mirror reflects the stairs in front of it.
This fountain was nothing short of bizarre but fun! It’s hard to see the detail in this photo, but the picture below is just one small part of this entire scene of little figures of people and animals. Read all about it here.
Our group visited Antichi Sapori d’Amalfi to learn how Limoncello liqueur is made. We tasted it, of course!
After returning to Maiori, we regrouped following our afternoon of free time to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. This was the appetizer: Anchovies prepared four ways.

Next up: SICILY & AMALFI COAST #24: SCENIC SCALA & ROMANTIC RAVELLO

SICILY & AMALFI COAST #22: ARRIVING IN AMALFI

Posted on by
Reply

We bid arrivederci to Sicily, flew to Naples, and then enjoyed a beautiful bus ride to Maiori, along the Amalfi Coast, to begin our post-tour extension.  Along the way we stopped at a gorgeous viewpoint to take in the panoramic views of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.  Once again, as you can see, the weather was on our side; another spectacular day!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Mount Vesuvius

Hotel Panorama, our base for three nights, was appropriately named, as our room had a stunning panoramic view of the coast.  During our down time, Bruce and I enjoyed sitting on the balcony and watching the world go by.  Between the fountain down below and the small waves rolling in, the sound of water was quite relaxing. We even enjoyed our first dinner in Maiori on our balcony– incredible sandwiches from the Italian deli down the street!

Our arrival was in the late afternoon, so the remainder of the day was spent exploring the small town, walking along the beach, and taking in the beautiful views of this hilly coastal town.

Maiori is small; less than 6,000 residents live here full time. But during the high season, the population swells with tourists.  We were happy to be ahead of the crush and be able to enjoy the town without crowds of people.

Come join me on a tour of the town, beginning with views from the rooftop pool and restaurant:

Scenes from the town:

I have never seen a wine and beer vending machine before!

The waterfront and marina:

Coming up next: SICILY & AMALFI COAST #23: A BEAUTIFUL BOAT RIDE TO ADORABLE AMALFI