Your Top 10 Suggestions for the Sorrentine Penninsula and Amalfi Coast Area
Mar 16th, 2009, 05:33 AM
#25
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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.
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.
Mar 16th, 2009, 06:36 AM
#26
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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!
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!
Mar 16th, 2009, 09:31 AM
#27
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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!
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!
Mar 16th, 2009, 11:04 AM
#28
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We can't discuss food here without giving a mention to the grilled provola!!
And the Pansa bakery in Amalfi!
http://www.pasticceriapansa.it/
And the Pansa bakery in Amalfi!
http://www.pasticceriapansa.it/
Mar 16th, 2009, 11:06 AM
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Mar 16th, 2009, 05:34 PM
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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?
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?
Mar 16th, 2009, 07:03 PM
#31
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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.
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.
Mar 17th, 2009, 03:06 AM
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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.
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.
Mar 17th, 2009, 04:55 AM
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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!
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!
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