For the first time visitor, what are your recomendations? Sights, shopping (anything special from this area that I should be bringing home?)We have 5 days there in early June.

Thanks

KL - Must sees? Here are a few for starters:

Positano, Ravello, Amalfi, Capri, Pompei, Ercolano, Vesuvius, Sorrento, Paestum, Naples, Ischia, Montepertuso/Nocelle, Path of the Gods, Solfatara, Caserta, Cassino ...

What to take home? Limoncello, ceramics ...

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Also dinner or lunch in Montepertuso, a mountain village which is a short drive (15 min) away from Positano. Try: IL RITROVO, DONNA ROSA, or any of the others mentioned in previous posts. Unbelievable views from IL RITROVO at sunset all the way down the mountain to Positano and beyond!

Reply to Steve,
OK, they're all on my list of must see's!
Any reccomendations for limoncello or ceramic shopping in this region?

Weadles--Can't wait to try IL Ritrovo!
Sounds awesome!
Thanks

I second Il Ritrovo and Donna Rosa.

One thing that wouldn't hurt is one of those disposable panoramic cameras--the pictures will never do justice to the real thing, but we did get some nice shots that way.

Finally, Positano is a place to relax. It is a stunning, gorgeous place. Just soak it all in. You'll have a great time. Nothing could be more perfect than to sit on a terrace, enjoying the view, a glass of wine, and good company.

Here's a link to my trip report from October '03 that has more details on Positano:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34459078

Are you interested in buying ceramic plates? If so, the best place I found is Vietri Sul Mare, which isn't so far a drive from Positano. The shops there are superb!

Also wanted to mention that if you're in reasonable shape and interested, you can have lunch in Montepertuso, then hike back down to Positano on a trail that begins at the back of the church in the main square.

>Message: Are you interested in buying ceramic plates?
Not really sure, just got the reccomendation that ceramics are the thing to look for near Positano!
Is Vietri Sul Mare a town or a shop and how would I get there without a car?

I bought my favorite ceramics in Amalfi. I liked the selection and prices there better than what I found in Positano. There were gorgeous, gorgeous multi-thousand euro things and really cheap things in Positano, but I didn't find much in the middle ground. I got some beautiful pieces in Amalfi.

Vietri sul Mare is a town past Amalfi on the way to Salerno. In fact, the town is on the Gulf of Salerno. It is probably one of the best places on the Amalfi Coast to shop for ceramics.

Hi kl,

Re Limoncello.

It should be a yellowish green, not a greenish yellow.

If they offer you a taste from a bottle out of the freezer, decline it. The cold masks the taste of the synthetic flavors.

It should be from the fridge, not frozen.

You can't trust the labels.

Ira I didnt care for the limoncello I tasted in the Cinque Terre. It seemed to be really strong and medicinal .I actually made some myself this year as I grow lemons here. But my recipe (which was supposedly authentic) made 4 bottles out of one bottle of vodka .It was milder and sweeter seems like. Mine had the taste of my lemons which are very green with lots of juice and have a thin skins...I'll be interested to see how the Amalfi limoncello is as their lemons are yellow with a thick skin .Next year I need to steep the skins longer...now that i have made it I can see that the quality of the vodka and the preparation is key to the taste as well as the lemons