Amalfi & Sorrento

The region of Campania is perhaps most famous for the stunning Amalfi coastline stretching between Sorrento and Salerno – villages cascading down the cliff faces and plunging dramatically into the sea. 

Naples is the capital of the region but you cannot overlook Caserta, Benevento, Salerno and Avellino, or the enchanting islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. This is an area which is extraordinarily rich in culture with the classical remains at Herculaneum, Pompei and Paestum. From more recent history, the baroque Royal Palace in Caserta is not to be missed either. The spectacular natural scenery of this area is also not to be overlooked with the mountainous parks around Mount Vesuvius and along the Cilento coast. A drive or a boat trip along the Amalfi Coast is a must (although the drive is not for the faint-hearted!).

The main towns of the Amalfi Coast are all connected really well by public transport (boats and buses), and there are numerous ferry crossings over to the islands from Sorrento. Sorrento is also one of the stations on the rural train service – the Circumvesuviana, which as the name suggests, goes around Vesuvius. The town of Sorrento is a bustling, cosmopolitan city with a wide array of pavement cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. The narrow streets of the old centre are filled with charming souvenir stalls and boutique shops alike. Just a short walk down the hill (or a quick bus ride) will bring you to the port of Sorrento where all the boat trips and ferries depart from. Beaches are few and far between in this area because of the rocky nature of the coastline. Sorrento has adapted here and they have bathing platforms instead which are fantastic.

Positano is one town which you must not miss out on – the traffic free centre is a myriad of winding alleyways, steps and alcoves which provide welcome shade from the sun. 

Because there are no cars in the town centre you can expect to do a fair amount of walking up steps and hills, but this does nothing to detract from the exclusive, glamorous, but still traditional feel that the town has. If you are lucky enough to be staying in the town centre you will find that porters are available to help you with your luggage for a small fee. The fine shingle beach is one of the few along this coast and you will find numerous boat trips and excursions depart from here.

Amalfi’s main square is the picture perfect place for a relaxing aperitif – the background of the beautifully tiled Duomo is spectacular. Limoncello is the order of the day here – produced locally in the many terraced citrus orchards which dominate the cliff faces in this area. The small public beach is often crowded but there are numerous coves and rocky inlets along this coast.

Don’t forget to go above Amalfi into the lush green hills and explore Ravello with its breathtaking views, the stunning Villa Rufolo and if you’re there in the summer you can experience the music festival in honour of Wagner.

This is a region which will draw you back again and again, and there is so much to see and do there that your holiday will fly by!