Amalfi coast, Southern Italy
Rudy and I drove to Italy right after our church wedding in Varna, Bulgaria and the big party we had for that occasion. Maybe I’m one of the few women with two marriages, with the same man … but I’ll tell you about that next time. 🙂
For us, this trip was something like a second honeymoon – we spent almost four weeks in Italy.
I will tell you about our stay on the most beautiful European coast – Amalfi. Rudy often said that in my past life I was Italian – I speak loud and fast, I love strong, I cook delicious and if my hands are tied – I will not be able to say a word. I might not had been Italian, but I’m a total cliché for being one. Anyway, that’s probably why I feel home every time I’m in Italy.
The moment we arrived in Amalfi, I realized that I was in love not just with Italy, but with Southern Italy.
From the Naples‘s bay to the bay of Solerno there are sixteen seaside towns along the Amalfi Coast that Rudy and I explored during these few weeks in Italy.
The most famous seaside town is Amalfi, of course, which gave the name of this famous Italian coast.
We were staying in Maiori, a small town known for its sandy beaches. Most of the beaches here are quite rocky and those with sand were an exception.
Our hotel, in a typical Italian style, was literally on the beach. Every night we filled a breakfast menu, and the following morning our wishes were kindly served. We spent our mornings on our tiny Italian terrace, enjoying fresh juice and strong espresso. If anyone is planning to go to this area soon, I am attaching a link to the hotel.
https://www.pensionerealemaiori.it/it/
One day we rented a boat. We wanted to visit the Capri island. We left early in the morning because we had a busy schedule. Our captain spent a lot of time in the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea and took us to the blue caves – Blue Grotto and the bridge Fiordo di Furore – where you can stay longer to swim or sunbath in the small exotic bay.
At noon we reached the Capri island and moored at Marina Grande. Immediately after our descent, we started looking for a place for lunch in the capital of the island – Capri. We didn’t look long, it was full of nice restaurants and trattorias. After a lavish lunch and a glass or two of Chianti, we visited the town on top of the hill – Anacapri.
I think I forgot to tell you that there are only two cities on the island – Capri and Anacapri. The first one is located where the main port is, and Anacapri is on the top of the island being secluded and romantic. There are two ways to get to Anacapri – by bus and taxi – they are equally extreme, but in different ways. 🙂
I realize I can’t tell you everything I’ve seen and experienced, but I must tell you about Ravello.
The resort town, located about 500m from the city of Amalfi, on top of the Dragon Mountain, took my breath away. I highly recommend you to visit the gardens of Villa Cimbrone, in the rocks of Ravello. Now the Villa is a 5-star hotel but the gardens are open to the public and it ranks, perhaps, as the most memorable sight on the Amalfi Coast (ticket price- 7еuro). In the past Villa Cimbrone was property of an English man who renovated and decorated the building.
In this area many rich and influential people have bought properties that over the years have become remarkable monuments and tourist attractions because of their interesting architecture, exotic gardens and picturesque terraces overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It still goes like that – many rich and famous people have houses on the Amalfi Coast, but we, the tourists, still can’t visit them, unfortunately. Well, maybe our grandchildren will see them, who knows. 🙂
Food in southern Italy? Here, in addition to pizza and pasta, fresh fish, squid, shrimp and oysters, pink tomatoes, buffalo Stracciatella and burrata are also amazingly delicious.
Along the Amalfi Coast you can eat delicious food in many places – there are plenty unique restaurants with reasonable prices. Remember that Italians do everything in style, so put your new dress in the suitcase when you go in Southern Italy, there are a lots of places where you can wear it (as long as your husband is not wearing socks and sandals, then it does not matter what you are wearing – all eyes will be on him) 🙂
While exploring the city of Praiano, you can visit one of the most romantic restaurants in the world – Il Pirata. Its super interesting, because the restaurant has own bay, and you go down to it with an elevator built into the rock. In fact, the restaurant itself is built in a rock. Make sure you try the fresh fish here!
Another impressive place to have a fine dine on the Amalfi Coast is the Bella Vista Sul Mare restaurant in Ravello. In fact, this is the the restaurant of hotel Bonadies. We were not guests of the hotel, but we enjoyed more than once the dishes offered by the restaurant. We fell in love with the service and the quality of the food. Buffalo burrata and Stracciatella, bruschetta, shrimp and fresh fish are just some of the must-try dishes at this restaurant. Do not be misled by the extremely luxurious atmosphere in the hotel lobby and the interior of the restaurant, the prices are very reasonable. (Well, I still don’t advise you to go with flip-flops :)) We preferred to have dinner outdoors because it was very hot and the terrace of the restaurant was superb. There was a incredible view of all the seaside towns on the Amalfi Coast.
I can talk to you all day about Amalfi, Positano, Praianti, Minori, the endless freedom I felt when I was there, our delicious mornings and evenings, the romantic sunsets and salty kisses, the giant lemons and the red oranges, but I have to stop here, as I have to pack our luggage.
We’re leaving in a week. Where? I will tell you and show you, of course…
