Amalfi coast, Italy - Spectacular vacation destination
We recently did an inspection trip of our villa rentals on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. For those of you who are not familiar with this area, this charming coast is located southwest of Naples and is known for such famous places as Positano, Capri, and Sorrento.
Villa Magris, Ravello - Amalfi coast We found our time in this region above and beyond our expectations. The charming villages, the breathtaking views, the food, the kind people and the villas! We truly believe that the Amalfi Coast should be on everyone's list of places to see in Europe. We hope that this article will bring you more insight into this region's beauties and we hope you enjoy exploring our collection of beautiful properties which have been hand picked by our staff. We would love to talk to you about your travel plans and can offer you many ideas for this lovely part of the world! FIND YOUR AMALFI VILLA RENTAL NOW!!! |
Fill your senses
Down the 'boot' of Italy is the lovely Amalfi Coast with its seaside towns of Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, & Malori. As you tour this warm and dynamic coastline your senses will be filled to overflowing. Each area has its unique and fascinating sights, sounds, and tastes. We had some of our best and most reasonably priced meals in small family owned restaurants in the countryside along the way. This is where you find the locals dining, which is a good indication of excellence. The people are warm and friendly, very proud of this area and their heritage, and will make you feel welcome. Many of the accommodations in this cliff-side area must be accessed by very steep stairways, often with nearly 100 stairs. However, in true Italian hospitality, porters are available upon your arrival and departure to assist you with your luggage. Just inland from the town of Amalfi is the charming little village Ravello. Discerning travelers wishing to sidestep the tourist-filled coastal towns will find Ravello to be a less-traveled treasure with intriguing history and architecture, opulent gardens, and glorious views. Here, visitors can bask in the serenity of this refined hilltop hamlet while still having access to the beaches and bustling nightlife of nearby Amalfi via walking paths. Sita bus service conveniently provides tired walkers an alternative to the steep hike up the cliff back to Ravello. Active tourists will appreciate the ample walking trails that wind throughout the park-like landscape and open onto awe-inspiring vistas. Here are some other gems in Ravello that add to its appeal as a wonderful destination and base-camp for your Amalfi coast experience: Villa Rufolo, Sentiero degli Dei (Walk of the Gods), and Villa Cibrone.
Villa Dolce Vita, Positano
Villa Rufolo—On the Piazza del Vescovado sits the impressive 98’ high 11th century watch tower of Villa Rufolo and its chapel, reception hall, and cloister. Villa Rufolo communicates the wealth, power, and independence of its owners who commissioned its construction not in the Italian style of the day, but with Moorish and Byzantine elements which werethen unique. Ornate arches and a lovely garden arranged along a series of terraces draw visitors to this visually stunning setting. Opera aficionados will appreciate that composer Richard Wagner drew inspiration from Villa Rufolo’s magnificent garden, and its grand suspended terrace is the setting for the annual musical festival which honors him.
Stay fit and take in the views
Sentiero degli Dei, Walk of the Gods—This is truly a walk in wild paradise… Starting in the tiny hilltop village of Bomerano (just outside Agerola), begins a descending hike with uphill sections to Nocelle and ultimately to the seaside town of Positano. There are mesmerizing panoramic views of the Amalfi coast, the jet-set island of Capri, and the glittering Bay of Naples with Mount Vesuvius looming beyond. This rugged terrain with its craggy cliffs, caves, and gut-dropping gorges and valleys will reward your effort with its beauty. The path is dotted with heather, rosemary, and holm-oaks, and ancient vineyards still cling to hillsides while goat and sheep traverse and peregrines and kestrel falcons ride updrafts above. You can choose to respite in the village of Nocelle with a cool drink, meal, and bus ride on to Positano, or forge ahead on foot along the plunging path that leads to Positano and a refreshing swim in the sea. For those wishing a vigorous hike, you can begin uphill in Praiano and ascend to Colle Serra Pass via man-made steps which climb more than 1,900 feet. There are red and white signs labeled “02” to orient walkers along the way. Those with vertigo may want to avoid this potentially dizzying adventure and opt for nature walks in Ravello or a nice Limoncello in a nearby café!
Amazing Amalfi coast Villa architecture
Currently a hotel with public gardens, 11th century Villa Cibrone has a long history of private ownership and adoration. It was once a papal monastery and the home of English writer Ernest Beckett who invited many famous guests to savor the villa’s beauty, including Winston Churchill, T.S. Eliot, and Virginia Woolf. The architecture is said to be a bit hodge-podge, with various design styles creating an unusual whole, but you are sure to be enthralled by its location perched on a rocky outcropping that boldly juts above the stunning Mediterranean. The burgeoning gardens are scented by roses among other flowers, and blossoming wisteria trees line a walkway leading to the stone temple with the sea view beyond. As you meander through this delightful garden listening to birdsong, you will also see stone and bronze statues, gazebos, and arched temples. Writer Gore Vidal claimed the villa to be the most lovely site he’d seen in all his travels, so it’s certainly worth a look!
