Amalfi Coast/Capri/Naples/Sorrento
 

Traveling to the Amalfi Coast in Sept for a wedding. Could anyone tell me what is a must see and do in theses areas we are traveling. Also, I need a don't (tourist trap) list as well. Appreciate all info. Good places to dine as well. Thanks. Malloy 50

Hi Malloy,
I suggest that you start by either getting a guidebook or looking on Fodors "Destinations" (click on the link at the bottom of this page).

They have suggested itineraries and lists of things to see.

Once you have a basic idea of what interests you, you can come back with more specific questions.

Hi m,

You might find the Naples/AC prtion of my trip report helpful.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

((I))

Thanks Ira. Loved your report and about David HE IS THE MAN!!!!!!!! I HAVE A STATUE OF HIM IN MY MASTER BATH. PICKED IT UP IN ROME TWO YEARS AGO.

Thank you, M.

I later learned that David is anatomically correct for his time.

The rules on circumcision changed around 200 BC (I think).

((I))

Hi malloy,

Here is my itinerary for our trip to the area this coming May.

Sat. 5/14 Travel from Rome to Sorrento
8:00am Land in Rome
2:00pm (ish) Arrive Sorrento and relax, explore town/beach

Sun. 5/15 Pompeii and Herculaneum

Mon. 5/16 Naples
9:00am Circumvesuviana to Naples
10:30am Archaeology Museum
2-6:00pm Gesu Nuovo church and Santa Chirara church, Capella Sanservo church
6:00pm Return to Sorrento

Tues. 5/17 Paestum

Wed. 5/18 Positano
10:00am SITA bus to Positano
11:00am drop off luggage, head to Ravello, Amalfi, Atrani via SITA bus

Thurs. 5/19 Positano
Gennaro e Salvatore boat tour of the Amalfi Coast

Fri. 5/20 Relax in Positano all day long
7:00pm Head to Amalfi by SITA bus, catch SITA bus from Amalfi to Salerno at 9:00pm
10:15pm Arrive in Salerno
11:39pm ICN 768 depart for Monterosso

We have added a few things like a hike to some Roman ruins in Sorrento and the hike between Amalfi and Ravello, but this is the general itinerary and should give you an idea of the main attractions. The times are only approximations of course.

TexasAggie's itinerary is similar to the one we followed last November, although we went to Capri and didn't get to Positano. You can see our trip report (with pictures) at:
http://www.rozault.com/italy2004/
and the Sorrento part starts at:
http://www.rozault.com/italy2004/report04.html

I do think it would be a lot to do Pompeii and Herculaneum in one day. We spent a full day at Pompeii, didn't see everything we might have, and were totally exhausted. It's hard to grasp the scale of Pompeii until you are actually there.

Hi nonnafelice,
Yes we know we are in for a LONG day the day we do Herculaneum and Pompei. We plan to hit Pompei at 8:30 when it opens and then probably not finish up at Herculaneum until about 7pm, when it closes. I will be looking forward to a HUGE dinner that night :-)

Try to have dinner ( or lunch) in Montepertuso, a tiny mountain village which is just above Positano. It's about a 15 minute car ride. I'd recommend IL RITROVO and DONNA ROSA, but there are other excellent restaurants there, too. Many of the restaurants will arrange roundtrip transportation for guests, so check with your hotel's front desk to see what's possible.

If you're in good physical shape and up for it, you can actually hike back down to Positano from the footpath in back of the church in the main square of Montepertuso.( Santa Maria Della Grazia)

In Positano avoid at all costs a trip on THE RED BOAT to a restaurant called DA ADOLPHO. This is the ultimate tourist trap-- so-so restaurant on a tiny beach packed wall to wall with sun worshippers and flies. The boat is on a schedule that only runs according, it seems to me on the owner's whim, so you can get stuck at this place for several hours. Need I say more??

A great place in Positano for lunch or dinner is actually at The Hotel Poseidon, which is where we've often stayed. The food there is some of the best I've eaten in Italy, and the view from the restaurant terrace is unforgettable.

For boat trips to Capri, a lot of people here on the forum seem to recommend Salvatore down at the dock in Positano. You have to reserve ahead, and the boat only goes out if the water conditions aren't choppy and enough people have signed up for the trip.

I'd also strongly recommend taking boats as much as possible between the towns of the Amalfi Coast. It's a much more pleasant way to travel than being packed into the overheated and crowded SITA buses that ply the coast every day.

Have fun!