COSTIERA AMALFITANA ITALY

"See Naples and die"
This quotation means that Naples is so impressive that once you have seen it, there is nothing further left for you to do in life as nothing could compare with it.
But before you decide to see Naples, I have something really interesting to offer.

Costiera Amalfitana

I have never been to Naples, unless at the airport on my way to Costiera Amalfitana. 

Our trip started one Friday morning from the Milan Malpensa Airport. We hired a car from a budget rental at the airport of Naples  and the car looked like a low cost one. It was an old Ford Fiesta, but for us good enough to mix in the ambience. Although Porsche, Lamborghini and Ferrari are equally commonly used. 

Viaggi con Xena58

As a first thing we drove to this small village called Minori. The small cakes in Naples area are really famous in all Italy. But likewise to the northern ones, they are over the average size.

Baba al rum is a small mushroom like cake in rum and Campanian patisserie is made of a size of a sandwich. So we started our morning with huge quantities of calories. 

Our hotel was booked in Amalfi; a bit further from the village it self, and it was on a rock, so that from the breakfast table we saw this small under lying beach and a stunning see view. Hotel rooms were small, bed comfortable and breakfast typically sweet Italian with briosce, cakes, and toast with marmalade. 

Susan Write Photographies

Amalfi it selves is like a jewell between all those surrounding hills and it's main square is said to be the most beautiful in Italy due to it's church, the fountain and all the cafes

Expedia

From Amalfi we followed a road that gave us a stunning view towards the sea and Positano. Our friend had some advices according to places where we should eat, and I can't truly complain about the choice  We chose one of those restaurants near the beach and had a typical Positano plate: Scialatielli ai frutti di mare. 

Positano looks like a narrow village between the rocky mountains and I still cannot figure out how all those houses are built  They are all close to each others and sometimes seem to hang in the air. 

TripAdvisor 

If you like to walk in the street, drink some wine and visit cafes, then staying in a village might be a suitable choice  But as I love the view, I always prefer the fatigue and take places that might be a bit further away. The idea of staying in a place like this with some good friends or with a loved one and enjoy the sunset or wake up in the morning to the sunrise just makes my heart beat few extra times. 

www.costiera-amalfitana.com

The atmosphere in this area is just so romantic and relaxed. As we stayed only three days and two nights, it appeared to be a little bit too short. My advice to this tour is 5 days and four nights. 

As we are in the coastal area, there is plenty of seafood. One of my favourite is scialatielli type of pasta with shellfish. I was so in love this type of pasta that I bought all different versions of it. Best one is the one with lemon flavoured.  

Giallo Zafferano

You all must know Limoncello, right. 

It is a typical liquor invented and produced in this area. It request special type of lemons, that only grow in this area. As you may see, behind of the main capture is the Volcano Vesuvius visible. 

No, you won't see Vesuvius from Positano, nor from Amalfi. 

This photo could have been taken from Sorrento, Capri or from Ischia. 

Napolinlove

We took our drive further away and visited Sorrento, that is in the side of Golf of Naples. Amalfi and Positano are situated in the side of Tyrrhenian sea. Not that I could notice any difference. 

The old town of Sorrento actually rises over the rocky hill of the mountain so that going to beach we needed to take the car. It differences also from Amalfi and Positano due to its medieval look a like down town, that even had such atmosphere withs small shops and restaurants. 

viaggiatoriWeb.it

There are places on earth that just can't be seen, and Capri is one of them. My advice is not to stay there as a hotel, unless you are looking forward quiete and romantic hide away. 

This island is perhaps the most famous of all the islands of planet earth, due to its beauty. 

The film "Contempt" with Brigitte Bardot was filmed at Capri. 

Wikipedia

The island is not really big to get you an idea, so that a day tour from anywhere from the villages mentioned above could satisfy needs of the most curious ones.

In the summer I love ice coffee, that is not the milky ice-cream with coffee, but caffe shakerato. A bit like a 007 style ice coffee that is espresso shaken and not stirred. It looks like a fancy cocktail, and yet is only ice cold espresso coffee with a slight vanilla aftertaste. I prefer it with sugar, something waiters will always ask in advance. And the best one I have ever tasted is from a cafe that is situated on the left hand side in the main square, once climbed up from the harbour. 

Pinterest

I suggest to walk around. Take a walk towards Faraglioni that are remains of the erasion, just like Apostles near Melbourne; the so called the twin rocks famous to us from a perfume commercial, but it is said that when Homer ended up to the island of sirens it must have been one of those close to Naples; so why not Capri. 

campaniasuweb.it

For Fashion victims, Capri offers the most elegant shopping street in the whole area, so prepare you credit card and be ready to go. 

Capripress.com

If you still have some spare days left, my advice is to take the ferry from Naples and direct to the island of Ischia. It is a volcanic island and filled with natural Spas, founded by Romans. It is possible to get cure to every possible disturb from skin rash to long deceases. 

I stayed in this small village called Forio, but if you are looking forward to something idyllic then Saint Angelo would do for you. 

There are Thermal hotels all over the place, but as we stayed in a small residence, we used services in a hotel not far away. The temperature is mite and even in April is possible to enjoy sunshine and warm thermal swimming pools. Some beaches have rock polls, and to get in one of those, you need to book in advance as they belong to private beach keeper. 

Also in Ischia most people use the beach services, that include two beds, umbrella and use of toilets. Bar or restaurant offers food and drinks to be payed apart. The best Bruschetta ever I have eaten was in one of these beaches; At Maronti Beach. We found also sea urchin stuck in the rocks near the beach. Do not cut them of, since the official sea urchin "fishing" period starts in November lasting only few months. 

Ischia TV

This particular beach is a natural Thermal beach called Sorgeto. The ground is so warm, you may cook a chicken for lunch if buried in the ground. Be aware of the sharp shells stuck in to the rocks, when going to swim. We got some cuts by those. 

Ischia.it

The main dish at Ischia besides the seafood is "Coniglio alla Ischitana", that stands for Ischian style rabbit. It is made with black olives and tomatoes, and it is slowly cooked in white wine. 

Sale e Pepe

Ischia has very little to offer what comes to wine, but we found this really strange and strong red wine to be used as a "conversation wine". Usually wine is drank with supper in Italy, only this wine appears best withs small portions, like a liquor. 

I suggest to stay one week at Ischia, perhaps two if you are planning to get some thermal cures too. 

Avoid July and August, when local inhabitants go there for a weekend and to holidays.

The traffic is something unbearable. 

Once you get back home, invite friends for diner. Perhaps offering them plates suggested above. 

My apology for the photos, all copied from the web. My own photos from this area are not available. 

Feel free to comment, ask questions or chat with other followers

Group reservations throughout by www.kairos-travel.eu