I came to and left from the town of Amalfi from two different directions and by two different means of transport. It was also at different times of the day—all of which contributed to making the overall experience that much more interesting. Arriving in the…Read More

I came to and left from the town of Amalfi from two different directions and by two different means of transport. It was also at different times of the day—all of which contributed to making the overall experience that much more interesting.

Arriving in the early evening in mid-October, I traveled on a coach with the SITA service that took me from a major downtown area of Salerno to the coast in the south. Watching the occasional glittering lights along the seaside hills as the twilight darkened into night and we wound our way up the twisting coastline, the entire Amalfitana coast seemed like a magical corner of the universe. Small wonder that legend attributes the Sirens of mythology to have made their home offshore near here.

All of the regional SITA bus service’s in- and out-bound buses park right by the seaside plaza area in front of the town, and if you arrive here in the evening (or anytime, actually), make sure you’ve got your route figured out on foot. Otherwise, if you’re staying right in Amalfi town as I was, and not the outskirts, you’re likely to be doing more walking than you need to. For some reason, I didn’t follow this advice myself and wound up asking at least four friendly but Italian-speaking-only people where my street was. It took me about 45 minutes before I finally stumbled across the small but reasonably close street that led up to my hotel, just a three-minute walk from the Piazza Duomo. But exploring on foot and stumbling across the small, but memorable, treats of the town is part of the essential pleasure of being in Amalfi. The next day, I spent a good part of the morning just meandering further away from the congestion of the streets close to the Piazza Duomo, getting to see the "real" Amalfitan citizenry going about their daily work and chores. One of the smaller piazzas I came across that had a certain charm was the Piazzai dei Dogei, which had stalls set up at one end with vegetable and food vendors. It’s also home to one of the better-known seafood restaurants of the city, "Da Baracca".

Amalfi has become Lemon City par excellence. You can't get away from them, festooning every other shop in one way or another. The most famous and divine local lemon product has to be 'limoncello', a sweetish lemon liqueur, which is best drunk icy cold, straight from the freezer. You may also spot quite a few other items of lemon sweetness in the shop windows--miniature lemon babas in syrup, lemon biscuits, and all kinds of non-edible lemon soaps and scents. One of finest places to buy is Antichi Sapori di Amalfi (089 872062), off the Piazza del Duomo, where you can see the 'laboratorio' through the plate-glass window behind the till. But actually, you’ll find some of these lemon-derived products in almost any shop that is in the business of selling other commercial goods to tourists. Amalfi is also home to many stores selling the beautiful pottery and gorgeous ceramic designs that often reflect the lemon yellows and Mediterranean blues of the region.

Once you’re done exploring the streets and squares behind the main square, it’s also worthwhile to take time for a stroll along the oceanfront, headed south. This is a slight uphill walk at points; I walked about half an hour in this direction, passing the small Amalfi beachfront—which still had sun worshippers crammed onto the pebbly shore—and shops on the other side. It was interesting to stop along the way in the small shops selling newspapers and magazines and catch up with the world. But probably the most memorable getting-around experience was on the back of a vespa I rode, driven by an Italian guide I had met up with who worked during summer months for the local water sport club, Amalfi Windsurfing Club. He took me a few minutes north along the coast road to show me the club’s beach area, weaving the whole way through traffic and, at one point, a tunnel going through the coast, somehow making it past trucks bearing down on us at full speed, coming from the opposite direction.

When it came time to leave Amalfi, headed for Ravello, I neglected to find out when the SITA bus was arriving and opted for a car pickup from my next hotel in Ravello – a huge mistake for my wallet, and another hair-raising Amalfitana driving experience! But did I enjoy arriving, exploring, and getting around Amalfi? I’d go back faster than you can say "vespa".

Amalfi official website and information: www.amalfitouristoffice.it
Tel: 089 871 107

Amalfi carefree, as if shot from childhood dreams, serene, direct and elegant, it just takes its sweet captivity of those who touched him. However, this posh resort, which is a pearl hiding in a shell fancy folded mountains. It`s also reminds sparkling champagne flowing along…Read More

Amalfi carefree, as if shot from childhood dreams, serene, direct and elegant, it just takes its sweet captivity of those who touched him. However, this posh resort, which is a pearl hiding in a shell fancy folded mountains. It`s also reminds sparkling champagne flowing along the fault in the mountains, as if by a cascade of sparkling wine glasses to the very blue sea. Amalfi Coast (in contrast to Naples) and the sea completely different color and shine like something in particular. A lively, playful and azure.
Center of snow-white city, although there occur colored houses, for some reason he remains in the memory of snow-white, toy. Calico Commerce street, a couple of areas and all. On streets worn Scooters mixed with machines and people. If you go on the road to the overgrown green tower and turn the cape, you can reach a second wonderful town - Atrani. City Centre is located underneath the highway, which is on the monstrous arches-feet. In the middle of the road hole, like the underpass, which aims pointer - "Centro". When you stand on the highway, on a par with the city rooftops, feeling covers unforgettable !!!:) highway from one side of a residential house, on the other garages for boats and arches. The Cathedral, or rather a couple - a brownish-cream noble bell tower and a lacy white temple, stood arm in arm on the highest court of the cape, his nose goes into the sea, as if an invisible flagships of the fleet. Two lovely lantern if they open the road to the sky or the sea, which, incidentally, almost the same when viewed from above, and such eyes as we ...
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