Sandy

Does anyone know how far it is from Ravello to Amalfi and if it would be worth hiking rather that taking the SITA bus? I thought we'd take the bus to Ravello but possibly hike back. Is there a midway point where we could catch the bus if need be? Thanks much.

John

I don't recall the distance - perhaps 6 - 8 miles? <BR> <BR>It is definitely downhillllll, and quite a trek. Personally, I do not see the merit of the hike . . . so much to see and do on the Amalfi Coast.

texasgirl

we wanted to do that hike in italy last january but it was sleeting! So we took a cab, it wasn't very expensive. I think the path actually ends in Atrani, right next to amalfi. I don't think it is that far, maybe 2 or 3 miles? I can't find my copy now, but Lonely planet has a walking in italy book that outlines the path pretty well..

Santa Chiara

I hiked it last summer, coming and going. It's a little under 4 miles, one way, if I recall correctly. If you like hiking, it's fine. The only hairy part is when you have to crawl up on the retaining wall when two cars meet on the narrow road. There is a bus stop half way, but the times are not all that convenient. You could also conceivably catch a cab that was returning empty after taking someone up to Ravello. Lonely Planet has a book on hiking Italy, and it does have several routes to follow along the Amalfi Coast. I just failed to put it in my suitcase when I went on my mini-vacation last year, and the tourist office didn't have any material or suggestions. <BR> <BR>Have fun. Great place to be, no matter your mode of transportation.

Lorraine

We intend to do this and many other hikes when we're there in late May, thanks to a wonderful book, "Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast" by Julian Tippett, that we obtained from www.amazon.co.uk in England. It has precise descriptions of 73 walks on the old donkey paths that lace the region (no need to walk on roads!). <BR> <BR>According to Tippett, it's an hour hike from Ravello to Atrani and then 20 min to Amalfi. If you email me your address, I'll copy those pages and mail them to you. <BR> <BR>--Lorraine in Washington, DC

Lorraine

I've gotten several requests for the hiking directions from Ravello to Amalfi, so I decided to post them on the forum. They are taken from "Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast" by Julian Tippett, published by Sunflower Landscapes, which has a series of walking books covering many countries. We could not find it in the US, but were able to order it through amazon.co.uk and it arrived from England in just over a week. (You may want to tell your credit card company that you're ordering from abroad--ours suspected fraud and withheld approval at first.)<BR><BR>I can't wait to try out the book! We leave in late May and are set for 5 nights at La Fenice in Positano--hoping to walk from town to town in the countryside four of those days. Then we get to use the book on Capri. I'll post the results upon my return.<BR><BR>Ravello to Atrani: 1 hour, easy grade descent<BR><BR>Leave the main square towards Hotel Rufolo. Go under a short tunnel. Turn left down Via Orso Papice. This bends right after a few yards and descends gently to a minor road, where you turn right. After 200 yards, at a hairpin bend, take the path to the right and contour the foot of the cliff, passing the church of Santa Cosma and houses built into the cliff-side. When the concrete surface of the path ends, descend steps to the left.<BR><BR>Follow the path down the steps, along a short ridge with super views, and then go left down steep steps between walls. Go straight across the main Ravello road and continue downhill.<BR><BR>In a further 40 yards turn right at a T-junction. Pass a water spigot and follow the path straight on, down across the cliff-face, to the church of Santa Maria Maddelena perched on a promontory. Take the path from the corner of the square in front of the church, descending between houses to Atrani's Piazza Umberto with its drinking fountain.<BR><BR>Atrani to Amalfi: 20 minutes, easy grade slight ascent.<BR><BR>With your back to the sea, take the narrow dark passageway in the far left corner (by a post box; Via Campo). Shortly at a T-junction, turn left. The alley curves right and then left, rising between houses. Turn right up Via Torricelli and, shortly, go left at a T-junction.<BR><BR>The path now leads straight ahead into Amalfi and down to the coast road at the end of the main sea-front. Turn right into a small square, then an inner square. Take the passage at the far left corner, which leads to Amalfi's Piazza Duomo.

Sandy

Hi Lorraine,<BR>Thanks for the hiking directions - can't wait to try it out! Does it say anything about the views and vegetation in the area. I've read about other areas with lemon groves etc. just wondered what to expect here. Thanks. Sandy W<BR><BR>

Lorraine

Not sure about the lemon trees, but we can expect to have panoramic views of the sea and towns built into rocky coastal mountains, plus medieval towers and some interesting churches. That walk I described also provides a view of Gore Vidal's home.<BR><BR>The book describes a number of other walks, some of which go through lemon groves and past old paper mills. Where are you staying, Sandy?

Sandy

We're staying in Sorrento for 3 days. We plan to spend one day on Capri, one day on the Amalfi coast area and one day totally vegging before heading back to Rome. The hike you described sounds great.