EuroJen

Hi Everyone:

I have been reading that the road between Amalfi and Positano will be closed for repairs and construction until August from 5:30AM-5:30 PM everyday and only open for fifteen minutes each hour @ 5:45AM-6:00AM, 6:45AM-700AM, 7:45AM0 8:00AM, etc. I read this on Trip Advisor and thought I would pass it on as it seems to be a nightmare already for the locals. ..let alone the tourists this summer!

I thought I might post this for comments. I am concerned as I wanted very much to stay in Amalfi and visit the other villages.

Comments please.
Would the Water Taxi be a viable alternative? I am hoping for words of wisdom and assistance.

Thank, Jen

ira

Hi EJ,

Thanks for posting.

There is ferry service from Salerno to Amalfi to Positano to Sorrento.

I don't think that they have water taxis on the AC, but there are probably private boats for hire.

StuDudley

Wow - that would sure kill tourism on the AC this summer.

I hope there is a real good reason for the closing.

Stu Dudley

ekscrunchy

This was posted here many weeks ago--heavy rains and mudslides are the reason the road is closed, I believe.


You can take ferries from Amalfi to visit other towns.

CasaDelCipresso

and do remember...this is a VERY small portion of the road that is closed. i.e. getting to any of the towns along the Salerno-Amalfi route won't be a problem...getting to all the towns between Sorretno and Positano will not be a problem...from what I understand (and I could be wrong) - it is only a 1.4km bit between Praiano and Furore. SO, unless you are going between Positano and Amalfi, there is not problem at all - plenty of towns to see on either side that are difficult to get to.

EuroJen

It is a 1.4 KM but as I noted above,it is the mountain road and the locals are having are having problems with the detours and backups. With tourist season beginning soon, it apparently is a big concern for even the Italians. I think it is still worth noting as all the other methods of transport will have to absorb the congestion most likely.

Jen

StuDudley

Casa - my map indicates that it is a BIG bypass to get from Positano to Amalfi. You need to go back to Sorrento, then to Castellamare, then a small very winding road (No 336) with lots of hairpin turns to just west of Amalfi. Can't imagine what that would be like in August.

Here on the Calif Coast, CalTrans people work at night so that traffic is not disrupted. If our scenic Hwy 1 on the Big Sur coast gets washed out, workers are at it day & night.

Stu Dudley

CasaDelCipresso

"Here on the Calif Coast, CalTrans people work at night so that traffic is not disrupted. If our scenic Hwy 1 on the Big Sur coast gets washed out, workers are at it day & night."

hehehehehe. have you spent time in So. Italy before?? I have lived in both CA and So. Italy...don't think that's a fair comparison really ;-) (they will get the road back in order as soon as they can...no one wants to loose tourist euros)

I do hope that it is done by Aug....certainly wouldn't hold my breath though.

As for my point...all I ment was that there is plenty of the Sorrentine and Amalfi Coast to see and enjoy WITHOUT travelling from Amalfi to Positano and vice versa...persoanlly...if I were staying on the Salerno side, I'd just not go further than Amalfi...and the Sorretno side...not further than Positano...If it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip and I felt I HAD to see either Positano or Amlfi and was staying in the other, I'd just brave the limited transport options and go with it or probably pay for a private boat between the two.

ekscrunchy

Why one could not take a ferry between Amalfi and Positano..??

CasaDelCipresso

of course
Jen was concerned about "the other methods of transport" absorbing "the congestion" ...so was just pretending that a ferry was going to be stressful or full or whatever ;-) and pointing out that it still is not going to ruin a trip.

StuDudley

We've visited the Amalfi Coast 3 times by car. It's really nice to stay for about 3-4 nights in Positano (with a day-trip to Amalfi by boat & return by bus), then 2 nights in Capri. Then down to Ravello for 1 night, then continue driving east on the coast to Vietri where my wife gets no more than 1 1/2 hrs to shop for pottery (I like to get there 1 hr before the shops close for lunch - just as a guarantee). Then to Paestum to visit the Greek ruins and an ice cream, then on the freeway back to Rome, Tivoli, or wherever your next stop is located.

If I couldn't do something like that to thoroughly experience this region - I think I would postpone the trip till next time and visit some other region.

I'm not holding my breath for Italy or France to start doing road work at night or 24/7 - just like I'm not execting shops to be open on holidays, during lunch, or on Sundays.

Stu Dudley

CasaDelCipresso

"I'm not holding my breath for Italy or France to start doing road work at night or 24/7 - just like I'm not execting shops to be open on holidays, during lunch, or on Sundays."

well put and besides...would we REALLY want them to? all part of the experience of their culture

StuDudley

Our closest friends had an apt in San Quirico d'Orcia Tuscany. They wanted to purchase a vacuum cleaner, so they went to the local store & purchased one. Then they needed vacuum cleaner bags, so they asked the salesman about bags. That store didn't carry bags (strange???), but the salesman said they could purchase bags at a shop in another town. It was 12:30 by then, and our friends knew that by the time they got to the next town to buy bags, the store would be closed for lunch. They also assumed that the stores in Tuscany don't open after lunch till around 4:00 at the latest - so they waited till then & drove to the town & purchased bags. They got home and put the bags into the vacuum and went to plug the vacuum into the wall socket and the plug would not fit. They called the original store where they purchased the vacuum and the salesman said that all vacuums took a special plufg adaptor. Of course, that store didn't carry the adaptor, but a third store did in another town. It was 6PM by then, and they figured that by the time they got to the third stores, it would be closed. Next day they went to the third store & it was that towns "closing day" so they had to wait till the next day to buy the plug. True story - only in Italy !!!!!

Stu Dudley

LoveItaly

I love your story Stu! Yes, only in Italy. It evens drives the Italians crazy. Actually not sure about the "only in Italy" but know for sure it can certainly be true in Italy.

luvtotravel

Well, this throws a wrench into my plans. We are staying Amalfi next month after several nights on Capri. We planned to visit Positano, Ravello, and Pompeii from Amalfi. Wondering if we should change our plans. I haven't told the other ladies yet about the road closure.

ira

Hi luv,

>Positano, Ravello, and Pompeii from Amalfi.

You take the SITA bus or a cab from Amalfi to Ravello.

You take the ferry to Positano.

For Pompei, you can
take the bus or ferry to Salerno and the train to Pompeii Centrale. That's about 1.5 km from the archaeological site.
or
take the ferry to Positano, the Sita Bus to Meta or Sorrento and the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii Scavi.

Even on a good day, Amalfi to Pompei Scavi is quite a trek.

Steve_James

Hi Luv - Don't let this change your plans. I believe the roadworks are now essentially completed, and the road is now 'unofficially' open (- i.e. being used by the locals - a very 'Italian' situation ).

It remains to be 'officially' re-opened, - but my guess is that this should happen soon - after which the normal SITA bus service will resume.

From Amalfi there is an occasional 'direct' bus service to/from Pompeii. Otherwise it's quicker via Salerno (- ferry to Salerno, then train to Pompeii F.S) than via Meta/Sorrento - so your plans to visit Pompeii will remain unaffected.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

luvlimoncello

FWIW - I will be staying in Praiano, arriving May 15. I emailed my hotel asking them for information about the road closure and their response was that the road is supposed to be open for our visit. Fingers are crossed for those of us traveling there in the near future!

ekscrunchy

There are also bus tours to Pompeii from the various hotels. Like these two (with and without Vesuvius) from the Onda Verde hotel:


Pompeii and Vesuvius - Pick-up from the hotel at 7:30 AM every day.
Whole day tour: escorted by guide and by deluxe motorcoach.
Pompeii was destroyed by de eruption of Mont Vesuvius in 79 A.D. and buried by a seven meters thick lay of lapilli and ash. The visit to the ruins will give the opportunity to see many artifacts well preserved which still now prove the prosperity of this town in the past. After the visit, optional lunch in a Restaurant and the excursion to the Vesuvius by bus up to 3.000 feet and on foot to the crater for the visit with local authorized guide. A visit to a cameos and corals factory will take place before the return journey.
Price per person: € 50,00

Pompeii Express (without Vesuvius) half day € 40,00.

EuroJen

I just spent a few minutes reading all your responses. I, too am hoping that the road is totally open by the time I get there late May. I want to see as much as I can without stress as that is what I am trying to escape. Having lived in Cairo, Egypt for five years I am well aware that not everywhere in the world operates the way we do here in the USA. Charm is one thing, but living in Washington, DC I can tell you traffic is NO FUN on a daily basis. Many thanks for all your comments.

The post I quoted was from a local who lives in Amalfi and she stated the road is open fifteen minutes every hour from 5:30AM--see my original post--to me that is not really open especially during a traffic back up. She said the road would not be ready and fully operational till August 2009.

I do not profess to be an expert on Italy and that is why I sought the wisdom here.

Jen