It’s the most gorgeous coastal road in the world.
It’s the most gorgeous coastal road in the
but this being holiday season it’s as crowded as the LA freeway. Why not zoom around it though on something sleek and sexy like a Vespa ET2125 scooter – a smooth little two-wheeler that’s as chic as a Bugatti sports car but infinitely more practical for Amalfi in August. The ocean breeze is in your face, the wind is in your hair and you get spectacular sea-views while zooming past frustrated motorists on those cliff-edge bends. Stop off for espresso in a hill-top café in Positano, eat lunch in a cathedral square in Praiano, and then take in the opera at the gardens of Villa Rufolo by evening.
These towns and villages are straight out of Renaissance paintings and so much more accessible on two wheels. It is only the first day of your holiday and the beaches are beckoning. Welcome to la dolce vita.
The Amalfi Coast, Italy (la Costiera Amalfitana) is a beautiful 50 kilometer stretch of mountainous coastline situated on the Sorrento peninsula between Sorrento and Salerno, just south of Naples, in the region of Campania. This coastline is dotted with small picturesque villages and towns stacked precariously on steep, pale rocky cliffs plunging sheer into the the Mediterranean Sea. The famous islands of Capri and Ischia are nearby, both of stunning natural beauty.
Legend has it that Hercules loved a nymph called Amalfi and when she died, Hercules buried her in the world’s most beautiful place and, in her honor, he gave the place her name.
The Amalfi Coast has been one of Italy’s major tourist attractions for decades. It is regarded by many as Europe’s most beautiful stretch of coast.
For those who like to drive, one of the highlights of a trip to this area is the romantic coastal road itself. The narrow serpentine road clings to the
coastal cliffs, soaring and plunging and winding around the towering cliffs that fall sheer into the sea. By car or bus, this road offers some dramatic and breathtaking scenery. At some places it is so narrow that two vehicles can hardly pass and have to back up to yield way to each other.
Amalfi is the largest town on this stretch of coast and a good place to base yourself when visiting the area. This small and picturesque seaside resort, famous for its glorious history as a maritime republic, has some spectacular scenery, and great weather conditions. The white, pink and yellow cottages are surrounded by whitewashed courtyards and winding alleys that makes a walking tour a pleasant experience. Amalfi also has several historical monuments that are worth visiting, such as the Cathedral, the old dockyards and the old Paper Mills where the famous paper of Amalfi was made in the past. Many buildings in the town are surrounded by immaculately kept gardens and terraces, lemon trees, and grape and olive vines.
In the town’s harbor you can find the Piazza Flavio Gioia. One of its sides reaches directly into the ocean. This is a lively area with age-old workshops and a chapel of St. Ann. At one of the many bars on the harbour, you can have a glass of superb wine and sample a delicious antipasto. Ships to Positano, Salerno and the island of Capri leave from this harbor. Some boats also offer to take you on a day-trip tour of the famous Grotta Smeralda (the green grotto).
