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Your Top 10 Suggestions for the Sorrentine Penninsula and Amalfi Coast Area
Here is the background...
I am going to be in Sorrento di Piano with a group of 9 friends (10 people total) for a week at the end of April. We are celebrating one couple's 10th wedding anniversary. I have started to do my research on places of interest so I'm prepared for what I would like to see and do. The hostess of this group who has coordinated our villa rental has asked me to put together a list of Top 10 Must Do's in this area to share with everyone. She knows that I love doing trip planning and is under the impression I am an "expert" :) I am using this term loosely...yes I like to plan, no I don't think I am an "expert" at anything! I have been going through the Fodors Naples, Capri & Amalfi Coast guidebook and have come up with a few recommendations...Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi, Positano, Vesuvias, etc...but I need to research further as to specific sites. This is where all the knowledgable Fodorites come in...I'd love to hear some of your personal recommendations of "Must Do's or Must See's" in this area...it doesn't have to be 10, it can be as few or many as you like to mention. We are a group of friends in our mid 30's - late 40's. We like anything wine or food related. History is also a good bet and any light outdoor recreation...walking, or water related (I read an article about renting kayaks that seems like fun). We will have access to rental cars so don't necessarily need a guide and car, but if you have suggestions for great guided experiences in this area I'm open to hearing about them. Thanks in advance for any recommendations! |
Hi LCI,
The Greek ruins at Paestum. www.initaly.com/regions/campania/paestum.htm You can take the ferry or SITA bus to Salerno and the train from there or take the Circumvesuviana to Naples and the train from there. ((I)) |
We did a boat cruise for a day from positano up the coast, and part of it included lunch. It was amazing, best day of our 3 week trip!
Also a day trip to Capri... |
Ira and Jamikins...
Thanks for the recommendations. I like both ideas, especially the boat cruise...very appealing! :) Keep em' coming. |
In addition to Paestum and Capri, I'll add Pompeii, the archeological museum in Naples (take the hydrofoil from Sorrento), and just walk around Naples. The Amalfi drive is amazing, and stop for lunch somewhere that looks interesting.
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Hi LCI!
I've always wanted to go to Paestum, so I hope you go there. Along the way, there are supposed to be numerous spots where Buffalo Mozzarella is made fresh, so you could stop and pick up for a snack or picnic lunch. At least that was my plan, though we didn't end up going. ;-) I really want to go back to that area (been to Positano 3 times) to see Naples as well. I think it's worth a visit to the Archaeological museum there, from what I've read. Plus, it's the birthplace of Pizza. What more do you need? |
I loved the little village of Nerano outside of Sorrento.
This would be a relaxing day of food, wine, and surf. |
We have a rather lengthy trip report, the first page of which includes (of all things) a Top 10 list of the things we enjoyed most:
http://www.onelittleworld.com/campania_1.html Hope this helps. |
Thanks everyone!
CW...every time I read something about this area the archeological museum in Naples keeps coming up...I think it may have to be a definite...at least for me, even if no one else I'm with wants to join me! :-D Kristina... I was reading Ekscrunchy's Amalfi trip report (I think from last year) and she mentions about the Buffalo Mozzarella...might have to make that a priority too! jetsetj... Nerano sounds perfect for a laid back day! mr_go... Wow...I just read the top 10 on your website and now need to go back and read the whole thing...can't wait...good reading at home tonight! :) With all these great recommendations and only 7 days it's goign to be VERY hard to pick and choose! |
Oh...
Kristina...forgot to mention. The "host" couple for this "shin-dig" is arranging for a pizza dinner "event" at the villa one night! I know we are about an hour or so from Naples, but hoping since it's in close proximity that the pizza will be fabulous! :) We did a similar evening with this same group of friends 5 years ago in Tuscany and had a fantastic "classic" Tuscan meal...this "host" couple really has a knack for finding fun and interesting things to do! |
Hello!
We are also going the at the end of April too and I was just about to ask the same question when I saw this. Thanks for asking it and for everyone's input this will help me as well!! Mirasia |
I'd add another vote for Paestum, and stress that the museum is well worth doing (You can get a combined museum/archeological site ticket).
I liked Herculaneum as much as Pompeii - they are different - the former is smaller, more compact, and you get a good feel for just how catastrophic the eruption was by looking at the 60 foot of rock wall that towers over site. Although a bit of a drive, the Royal Palace at Caserta is stunning. I was not really all that keen to see it, but it is spectacular (I include the wonderful gardens as part of the palace). Naples itself should not be overlooked. I particularly enjoyed walking along "Spaccanapoli". The integrated bus/tram/funicular ticket is excellent value at around €3.50 for the day - allows you to hop on/hop off various means of transport within the city. Although there is not much to see at the castle itself, the views of Naples from the walls make the Castel San't Elmo one of my favourite places. |
Some restaurant suggestions, first! Quattro Paese, which is between Sorrento and Positano.
Donna Rosa, Il Ritrovo, or any of the other often recommended restaurants in Montepertuso, which is a mountain village just above Positano. We went at sunset, and really enjoyed the views through the huge windows down over the town to Positano! IF you go for lunch, and you'd like to do something other than drive or roll downhill afterwards (!), you can actually hike back down from a trail that runs in back of the church in the center of town. ( Or you could when I last visited two years ago.) A boat cruise along the coast with Salvatore e Gennore who set up shop at a little stand on the dock in Positano. A bit cheesy ( keeping to the food theme?!) and don't know if it's still offered, but the night tour of Pompeii was lots of fun. We found out about it through the tourist office in Sorrento. |
Low Country: You are getting some great responses here. I did discuss the mozzarella in my trip report. I think a great morning could be spent with a visit to see the production and have a tasting. I did not have time to arrange more than a quick visit, but if you have more time, you could try to arrange a visit to this farm which gets high marks for quality:
http://www.vannulo.it/ Any interest in winery visits? I gave this information on another thread: The mozzarella producers are concentrated south of Battipaglia. One producer who allows tourists to visit is: www.vannulo.it Another, with a cooking school, is: http://www.agriturismoseliano.it/index.php Note that neither of these is located on the Amalfi coast itself. For wine, here is but one producer in the Avellino area ; visitors are welcomed by appointment: http://www.feudi.it/eng/intro.aspx Here is another well respected producer in the region: http://www.mastroberardino.com/Eng/index.asp ekscrunchy on Mar 4, 08 at 04:55 PM Here is one more Campania winery that welcomes visitors: http://www.torre-gaia.com/ |
Yes! This is the company we used for our boat crusie: Salvatore e Gennore! They do have a website but I cant find it right now...
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Mirasia...
Aren't Fodorites great with these wonderful recommendations...it makes trip planning such a pleasure! willit.. I did read about Herculaneum and was trying to figure out if it should be on my "to see" list...it seems to be rising to the top along with the Royal Palace at Caserta! Naples is definitely looking like a day trip option if we can take the hydrofoil as pointed out earlier! Weadles... Love the restaurant recommendations! :-D I think I read about the restaurants in Montepertuso,just above Positano in a trip report recently. The night tour of Pompeii might be fun...I'll have to look into that! Ek... Oh My Gosh...yes, this group is definitely "into" wine and wineries. We did the "week in Tuscany visit a bunch of wineries" 5 years ago and LOVED it! And of course, if we are having wine, the cheese won't be too far behind! ;) Thank you for the links! |
LowCountryIslander,
Yes I was so glad I discovered these Fodorites when I went to Thailand, their help was invaluable and thanks to your questions I am getting tons of information for my trip! I am staying in Praiano and will explore from there. The Royal Palace at Caserta is peeking my interest too! Mirasia |
copied from my original post: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...o-sorrento.cfm
We're back. It was wonderful - relaxing and inspiring. Here are some of the highlights of our trip. Thank you all for your guidance in planning! * Ravello - Villa Cimbrone - the Terrace of Infinity - just beautiful, the Temple of Baccus and the smell of the lavender walking up to it. * Capri - we loved Capri - it felt like we were on our own private island. We loved exploring every corner of it. Hotel La Minerva was so peaceful and quiet and 5 nights was not too many days. * Villa San Michele on Capri - I want a garden like Axel Munthe's - what a wonderful private garden. * Pompei - the bakeries, brothel, amphitheatre * Greek ruins at Paestum * having parma (proscuitto) and local cheeses from the salumeria's * the wonderful breakfasts from the hotels (la minerva in capri was our favorite breakfast - including a great selection of meats, cheeses, eggs cooked to order (3 min soft boiled - yum), fresh juices, cappucino, cookies, pastries * La Tagliata and the hike there (1700 steps)- amazing food for an amazing value. Out best meal of the trip! * Albergo Miramare balcony * Hot chili oil with pizza - delicious! I don't know how I was eating pizza without it. * Water with gas - this is my third trip to Europe and I have finally acquired the taste of sparkling water. * Having access to good gelato, al dente pasta and wine cheaper than water everywhere. * The bus ride from Sorrento to Positano - what a great work out for both arms! * The ferry from Postiano to Amalfi - so convenient and what a great view. * Hearing "buongiorno" and "buona serra" from the friendly locals. * The old man, (he reminded me of Geppetto from Pinochio) making my sandals |
Hi,
If you go to Naples you must go to the Capella Sansevero. It is a small Baroque chapel with serveral statues. The body of Christ lying on a pillow under an incredibly realistic veil is an absolute must. I took a trip to this part of Italy with 14 family members. This chapel was my gift to them and all were impressed. Have a great trip. Yipper |
It is likely you had a hard time finding Salvatore and Gennaro's website because you have a misspelling of their names. They are Salvatore and Gennaro (not Gennore) Here's a link to the website:
http://www.gennaroesalvatore.it/ enjoy yourselves! |
Thanks again all...these are great! :)
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Mirasia - A couple of the Star Wars movies filmed at the Royal Palace.
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Appletea -- We have three nights reserved at La Minerva on Capri for next month. We can't wait!
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luvtotravel - relax and enjoy the peace and quiet and the wonderful breakfast on the terrace with perfect 2 min soft boiled eggs!
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It's fantastic to read everyone's favourite things to see and do here! And am particularly glad some of the restaurants where I live, in Montepertuso, perched above Positano, got a mention!!
Campania has a great diversity of wine and food - Vannulo is a MUST! The only organic buffalo mozzarella farm in Italy - you've got to get there early or there won't be any to buy!! They also make icecream, ricotta, yoghurt and butter from the buffalo milk. There's a cafe on-site where you can have a fresh brioche filled with yoghurt, or ricotta drizzled with honey, enjoy a really creamy, rich icecream, or just a really good espresso! Everything about this farm oozes quality. There's also a leather shop where they make bags, belts and various other items from buffalo leather. You can't just arrive there and hope to do a tour though. My hot favourite for all the help you need on the Amalfi Coast is Positano Adventure Walks. I ALWAYS recommend them, but that's only because anyone who's ever used them (a lot of family and friends who've come to visit) have always said what a marvellous time they had - from walks, enogastronomic tours, anything archeological and historical, to excursions by boat, lemon lunches, beach picnics......the added plus is that it's operated by an American Italian who's been living here for 15 years and is really passionate about sharing his knowledge with visitors. As far as boat operators are concerned, my personal fave is the the crowd of Cassiopea. www.cassiopea-positano.com. They run a very professional outfit, all speak English well (plus French and Spanish), and offer, amongst others, a day's trip along the coast and to Capri. They are the 'new kids on the block', so to speak, having been in business for the past 6 years, although their father was the first Positanesi to start a boat excursion business, way back when. MY FIRM FAVE'S HERE: 1. One thing to do is to take the free boat ride from the Positano jetty to the beach of Laurito, a 10 minute boat ride, and have lunch on the terrazzo of Ristorante Le Sirene. At the end of April, before it's really busy, you could even ask Sonia and Franco to set up a table for you on the waters-edge - stay the whole afternoon and sip on prosecco as the sun goes down...you can see all the way to I Faraglioni, the islets off Capri. 2. Lunch or dinner at Lo Guarracino restaurant. You'll find it along the path that leads to Il Fornillo beach (the path you'll find leading up and away down at the jetty, next to Covo Dei Saraceni Hotel). It's the restaurant with the best sea view - in fact, you feel as if you're right above the sea. The food is consistently good, whether seafood or pizza, local wine good, the owner Renate is great fun, and the prices are more reasonably priced than any other restaurant that you'll find down on the main beach of Positano. 3. Bar Internazionale in the area known as Chiesa Nuova, for a cappuccino and cornetto in the morning, or for a glass of wine in the evening before dinner. It's where the locals gather and I don't think much there has changed over the years. It's where poets of yesteryear, and of today, gathered, and there's usually a display of art done by various local artists. It's also the place to buy your SITA bus tickets. 4. Cocktails before dinner outside Covo dei Saraceni hotel, near the jetty - a great place to watch the passing parade. 5. Further afield, the lemon lunch as organised by Positano Adventure Walks, for a fabulously-different lunching experience in a truly sublime setting.... 6. The various walks in the mountains above Positano, for some natural therapy. 7. Naples. Incredible!! Above and below ground! 8. The day's excursion along the coast, with swims in various grottoes, and to Capri. Spectacular, fun, relaxing, informative. 9. In Piano di Sorrento, in Via delle Rose, there's a bar/cafe called Bar delle Rose - have a 'crema di cafe' - absolutely yum! I don't know how you're going to choose....unless you leave some things for another trip! Buon viaggio. |
I enjoy reading the thoughts of a local person and am especially interested in the info about Vannulo. Many thanks! If you don't mind me being a nosy parker, would you let us know what brought you to lived in the area and if you are in business or just enjoying life!?? If that is too personal, I understand!
There is no area of non-urban Italy that exerts such a strong draw for me (well,parts of the Ligurian coast are pretty fabulous but I've only been there once, so..) ..I hope to be fortunate enough to be able to spend more time there in the coming years!! On the chance that you have visited Ischia recently, I would love to have some advice on the thread I started not long ago...I will bring it up if you like.. Thanks again! |
I read the whole thread and I don't think anyone mentioned going to the top of Mount Vesuvius (except for you in your original thread). You can't beat the views from the top, and it is pretty cool to watch the volcano smolder and smoke. You get a good overview of the region and can see the entire gulf all the way from Naples to Sorrento and out to Capri. The Campi Flegrei outside Naples is also intriguing for the same reason - the constant leeching of sulfurous smoke from the earth makes you realize how close the activity really is to the surface.
If you are adventurous, you could try piede e muso di porco (pig feet and snout) squirted with lemon. An experience for sure, especially if you get a "hairy" bit. Pizza pizza pizza! Must give Capri a shout out, but not for a day trip unless you absolutely cannot squeeze in a night. Try Villa Jovis for an amazing hike. Or the Arco Naturale/Grotta di Matermania walk along the edge of the island. Baba' Try to find a cornetti shop that is open at night when they are making the fresh, hot cornetti Check out the black sand beaches in the area Frittelle di mare (bits of fried dough with seaweed in - so salty and delicious) Archaelogical museum in Naples I had a really hard time picking! |
We can't discuss food here without giving a mention to the grilled provola!!
And the Pansa bakery in Amalfi! http://www.pasticceriapansa.it/ |
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ek...you sure know what my favorites are...the pastries/candies look delicious!
vademecum...thank you so much for the local recommendations, I really appreciate it. nnolen...do you know the name or a certain location for the black sand beaches? |
We also took a boat from Sorrento down to Positano. Arriving in Positano by water is absolutely breathtaking.
Herculaneum is one of my favorite archeological sites. I would not miss it. Capella Sansevero in Naples is a must for the sculpture of Christ, which is amazing. On our last visit to Naples, we did the underground excavations tour and found it very interesting. Not sure where I would rank it on a list of things to do, but it was different and fun. My DH really like it. If it is warm and you can be outside, the view from the terrace of the Foreigner's Club in Sorrento is great. If you like to dance, they always have a live band, even inside in winter. The food is just average. It is a wonderful place to just go, hang out, dance, look at the stars, etc. in nice weather. In cold weather, just good for dancing. |
Torre del Greco has a black sand beach, as do I think one or two other locations along the coast there. The beach isn't the greatest in terms of swimming, but you probably won't want to swim much in April anyway. :)
As an added bonus, there is an amazing view of Capri across the water as well as a shop called "Cornetti di notte" that sells hot cornetti during the nighttime hours. The best ones are filled with a mix of white and milk chocolate. I'm drooling at my desk now. |
Sassafrass...thanks for the recommendation on the dancing, that sounds like it would be fun.
nnolen...ok...now you have me drooling all over my keyboard now too! I have not just one sweet tooth, but a mouth full of "sweet teeth"...the "Cornetti di notte" sounds righ up my alley! :-D |
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