Discover the Amalfi Coast, a romantic journey from Vietri sul Mare to Positano between jewel villages, beaches, cliffs and charming hotels perfect for an unforgettable love escape.
Only 50 kilometers of road separate Vietri sul Mare from Positano. What a road! The Blue Ribbon (so it is nicknamed!) winds down the sea along the most spectacular stretch of Tyrrhenian coast, revealing to every curve sublimate views and connecting the 13 municipalities of the Amalfi Coast.
I ran it long and wide last week during #SalernoC2C, the blogtour organized in collaboration with ♪, with the aim of discovering precious addresses, chicche and curiosities to suggest if you are planning a weekend in Costiera, better if in couple, since we are in an area at the highest rate of romanticism.
Index of Article
Amalfi Coast What to see
Amalfi
"Mr., there are lemons here that if you only take it in your hand, you get a perfume that's inebriating." And I let myself inebriate without resisting, knowing that this will not be that the first of a long series of sensory experiences awaiting me during my days in Amalfi Coast.
Start with this colorful invitation in front of a basket of giant lemons (the famous sickened Amalfi) my visit Amalfi, the oldest of the four Maritime Republics, city of art and sea that rises practically in the center of the Coast, dominated by the grandiose Cathedral of Sant’Andrea.
Do not be discouraged by the imposing staircase and climb to admire the bronze gate, melted in Constantinople in 1066, then enter to visit the church, the crypt in which the remains of Sant’Andrea Apostolo, and the cloister, intimate and harvested.
Before returning to the square for a well-deserved limoncello at the tables of the many outdoor cafes, go to discover the alleys of the old marine village, a labyrinth of covered passages, sub-ports, squares mignon on which stand out locals, workshops, fruiting them.
Let yourself be guided by the gorgoglìo of the water and in a slargo you will discover the bizarre fountain De Cape 'e Ciucci, where once the donkeys who went down to Amalfi from the Valley of the Mills loaded with fruit and vegetables and which today houses a characteristic crib.
Seashell
For an unforgettable evening, book a table at the Restaurant Calajanara of the Hotel La Conca Azzurra of Conca dei Marini, nestled in one of the most stunning coastal locations, a stone's throw from the famous Emerald Cave. On the elegant terrace overlooking the rocks and with view of Capri that shines in the distance, gusterete auto dishes a kilometer zero based on fish of local fishermen, pasta di Gragnano, cheeses of Monti Lattari or the excellent raw materials from Tenuta Campitiello, owned by the patron Salvatore Criscuolo.
We enjoyed an exquisite lemon risotto with shrimp, fish soup and, dulcis in fundo, a sumptuous leaflet by Santa Rosa. Perhaps you do not know, but the famous Neapolitan dessert in the world was created almost by chance in the 1700s right here in Conca dei Marini, from the nuns of the nearby monastery of Santa Rosa.
You can then stop to sleep in one of the Charming rooms of the hotel Conca Azzurra, I miss to say it elected by TripAdvisor among the most romantic hotels in Italy. They are different from the other, all with private terrace suspended by the sea, where in the morning you can have breakfast with one of the most enchanting views of the whole Amalfi Coast.
Ravello
A dip in the clear waters of the bay of Conca and then on, towards Ravello, the village loved by artists, writers, musicians, actors and Hollywood stars who, I'm sure, will win you. Take it easy, because Ravello should be enjoyed calmly, walking without haste between the alleyways, gardens and ancient palaces of the local nobility, many of which today house hotels among the most exclusive of the Amalfi Coast.
How Villa Cimbrone, the magnificent residence which rises on a promontory at the top of the country, a home of noble local families until the beginning of the 1900s, when it was purchased by an English banker, Ernest William Beckett.
He was the architect of the restoration of the villa, but above all the extraordinary accommodation of the immense surrounding park, brilliantly merging the English and Italian botanical styles. The result is a unique garden in the world and among the most beautiful in Italy, a triumph of multicolored flower beds, fragrant roses, plants and rare essences, scattered with ancient statues and artefacts, which you can visit even if you do not stay in the hotel, since it is open to the public (entrance 7€).
Once you enter, follow the long and suggestive avenue to the Infinite terrace and prepare for the " Wow effect". The view that will open before you in fact exceeds every imagination, spacing on extraordinary scenery of the Amalfi Coast to the Gulf of Salerno. It will really seem to be suspended between the sky and the sea and you will understand why generations of artists have found inspiration here for their works.
The Villa Cimbrone hotel is no less. It was not for nothing the secret refuge of a divine like Greta Garbo and the guest book boasts a long list of celebrities, including Richard Gere is only the last in order of appearance. Golden dreams guaranteed in its rooms with antique furnishings, ancient Vietnamese tiles and frescoed ceilings, overlooking one of the most spectacular views of the world.
The same Background at Ravello Festival concerts, unmissable appointment if you are passionate about music. Throughout the summer he alternates classical, symphonic, jazz and pop concerts in the extraordinary frame of Villa Rufolo, the other famous garden of Ravello, linked to the memory of Richard Wagner, who found inspiration for the Parsifal.
Cetara
At this point, if you want to find the atmosphere of an authentic seaside village, head towards Cetara, the most important fishing port in Amalfi Coast. Its inhabitants are mostly fishermen specialized in tuna fishing and in fact there is one of the largest fleets of high sea fishing in the Mediterranean.
Ma Cetara is also famous for a typical specialty all to be enjoyed: the chopping of anchovies, a spicy sauce obtained from the residue of the anchovies store in the barrels. I know, so it doesn’t seem particularly appetizing, but go to theWater Pazza, delicious local right on the port and will open a world of perfumes, stories and flavors forgotten, from the anchovies under salt to the carpaccio of tuna and sword, from the fried of anchovies of rare lightness to the inevitable linguine with the colatura of anchovies.
To tell you the stories of the village will then think Gennariello, the patron of the local, than Cetara knows every stone and legend and with his passion it will make you love to the point that you start with the desire to return, soon.
Vietri sul Mare
We are almost at the end of our travel trip, but there is still time for a stop. Obviously to Vietri, because you can not leave Amalfi Coast without taking home at least a cup, a pot, a dish, or even just a tile, cheerful and colorful as only the local majolica can be.
Arriving in what is considered one of the Italian capitals of ceramics, you will be impressed by the quantity of barrels of ceramists, many of ancient tradition. It will be a real pleasure to turn workshop in the shop looking for a special gift, to be done or to be done, a small concentrate of the solarity and the joy of living of this land.
Splendid Vietnamese ceramics also decorate the rooms and bathrooms of the Lloyd’s Baia Hotel, where you can spend the last night, taking advantage of the proximity to the restaurant King Maurì, which is right there, to give you a really royal dinner.
Ours has been largely up to the fame of the local and young chef Lorenzo Cuomo, with a menu that opened with Gamberetto Rosso with Battuta di Fassone Piemontese and snow of Ostrica, continued with a Riso Carnaroli at the Acqua di Pomodoro with Crudité di Pesce (top!), then Baccalà, Soup di Pesce, Alghe and Browse di Pane alla Pizzaiola, to conclude with a dessert. Goodness!
Romantic Hotels in Amalfi Coast
Hotel San Pietro, Positano
Set on a promontory overlooking the sea, Hotel San Pietro di Positano has 57 rooms and suites with private terrace and a unique view of the Amalfi coast and the Faraglioni of Capri.
The villa dreamed by Carlo Cinque fifty years ago to host visitors from all over the world, is located in the green of gardens and gardens of the residence, which develop on the typical terraces of the Amalfi Coast that descend towards the sea, in a strategically detached area from the center of Positano and its vivacity.
Two restaurants: the star Zass (1 Michelin star) and Carlino, on the private beach, reachable with a private elevator carved into the rock. For sportsmen, there is a regulated tennis court and, under a lemonade, an equipped fitness area.
Hotel Le Agavi, Positano
Between rocky bends overlooking the sea and alleys that smell of lemon and broom, the Hotel The Agavi is located just outside Positano, in a lovely place that seems suspended between sky and sea. Part of the circuit les Collectionneurs chaired by Alain Ducasse, it is the ideal solution for unforgettable moments of relaxation, in the quiet of the swimming pool and the private beach, but also in the Spa for a sensorial immersion of well-being always with sea view.
It is housed in rooms and suites furnished in Mediterranean style, overlooking with private terraces on the infinite or the enchanting panorama of Positano. For a romantic dinner, there is the restaurant La Serra, in the central body of the hotel, alongside the Remmese, located on the beach, both with the supervision of the star chef Luigi Tramontano.
Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi
The historic hotel of the Amalfi Coast, the Hotel Santa Caterina is a luxury 5-star hotel from which the Gulf of Amalfi is embraced by a cliff overlooking the sea with a waterfall of gardens and citrus groves.
In the preferred star hotel, which is the backdrop of the coup de foudre between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, you can choose between different rooms, suites and luxurious dépendance immersed in the lush park.
A path of spectacular beauty leads to plants on the sea that include a swimming pool with sea water, solarium, fitness centre, coffee/bar and Al Mare restaurant, where you can also enjoy traditional dishes and mainly sailors.
Overlooking the magnificent view of the Gulf of Amalfi, the elegant Restaurant fine dining Glicine, which is a Michelin star, is ideal for romantic candlelit dinners.
Monastery Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa, Conca dei Marini
Once a cloistered convent of the Dominican nuns who founded it in the 17th century, today the Monastery Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa of Conca dei Marini is a luxury Boutique Hotel isolated on the top of a rough rocky spur from which you enjoy an incomparable view on the Gulf of Salerno.
A privileged place to take refuge for a holiday in total privacy and safety in the name of relaxation and well-being among swimming in the infinity pool, treatments in the Spa, outdoor activities and gourmet cuisine at the star restaurant Il Refettorio.
At its tables, scattered between three terraces and an interior room, you can enjoy the creative Mediterranean cuisine, innovative, imaginative, interpreted with mastery by chef Christoph Bob with the products of the lush vegetable garden and the best they offer the season and the territory.
Not to mention the beauty of the resort: the famous Sfogliatelle di Santa Rosa which were the pride of the Dominican nuns.
Hotel Raito, Vietri Sul Mare
Elegant and modern design for rooms and suites, with panoramic terraces or private balconies, in a unique setting, between the blue of the sea and the green of olive groves and citrus groves that descend along the coast, characterize the Hotel Raito di Vietri sul Mare.
At the restaurant "Il Golfo" and the "ExLounge Bar & Grill" chef Francesco Russo, who always manages to amaze the guests with typical Italian and Mediterranean dishes. There are wellness areas with two outdoor pools and the Expo Spa, with Turkish bath, sensory beds, whirlpool, relaxation area, solarium and personalised treatments.
Moreover, for those who wish to spend a holiday with their loved ones in a home of excellence, the possibility to exclusively reserve the Relais Paradiso, nestled among the scents and colors of the dense vegetation of the Amalfi Coast. A new-life villa with design furnishings, large swimming pool on the terrace with views and private pools in the bedrooms, tailor-made services with attentive and professional staff.
