By Car in Amalfi Coast and Capri

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By Car

Running between the Sorrentine peninsula and Salerno, Statale 163 (or State Highway 163) is better known to Americans and Brits as the Amalfi Drive and to Italians as the Via Smeraldo (Emerald Road). It can be reached from Naples via the A3 Autostrada to Castellammare di Stabia, then linked to Sorrento via Statale 145. Most people travel from Naples, heading southeast, but others prefer to drive directly to Salerno via the A3, then return northwest using the Amalfi Drive, a concrete ribbon that rewards visitors with mountain-meets-sea views and panoramas unfolding at every turn. If bound for Ravello and traveling by car, exit the A3 Autostrada at Angri, and approach Ravello from the north via the pass called Valico di Chiunzi.

Emergency Services

Contacts

Road Assistance (Italian Auto Club. 803116).

Parking

Parking is a major problem, with spaces in Positano and Amalfi costing per day almost as much as a three-course meal, so you should factor in this additional cost.

Road Conditions

Driving the scenic and often hairpin roads of the Amalfi Drive is both a joy and a challenge. Medium-size cars are a good compromise, and turns will be easier with automatic transmission. Driving will be on winding two-lane roads except for the A3 Autostrada to and from Salerno. Although (and perhaps because) driving here requires total concentration, accidents occur surprisingly infrequently. For more information, see "Postcards from the Ledge" in this chapter.