Located in the Italian Campania region, the UNESCO world heritage site Amalfi Coast begins some thirty miles south of Naples, on the southern side of the Sorrentine peninsula. This is a place where land, sea and sky strike such a note of otherworldly perfection that the region is best approached by boat in order to take everything in.
Click on each image or heart on the map to learn more about the best spots along the coast for picturesque views, sumptuous food, beautiful ceramics and charming seaside towns. The boat will help you plan a trip by boat.
Learn: Along with Positano, it is the beautiful village of Ravello that defines the Amalfi Coast in most visitors' minds. The view of the twin church towers and single pine from the terrace of Villa Rufolo is probably the most photographed on the Amalfi Coast. Ravello owes its fame not only to its dramatic location, perched 350 metres above the sea, where cooling breezes temper the summer heat, but for years now Ravello has been the chosen residence of artists and musicians of international fame (www.ravellofestival.com): the town inspired Wagner to write his opera Parsifal. Ravello is unquestionably the most elegant of the small villages on the Amalfi Coast and regarded as one of the most beautiful hilltop villages in Italy. It is enchanting and surprisingly tranquil and peaceful considering its fame. We are super excited to be able to spend so much time with you here.
Explore: You must see the Belvedere of Infinity terrace at Villa Cimbrone (you will get plenty of time here with us). Villa Rufolo, a centrally-located former watch tower with a massive main tower, an important chapel, and a Moorish cloister with Arabic decorative elements is also worth a visit. Ravello’s cathedral, built in 1087 and home to one of the most important bronze doors in Italy, is unmissable (our catholic ceremony is there)!
Daily fuel: Complete relaxation in the form of delicious meals and luxurious lodgings with restorative sea views at Palazzo Avino . It’s rated as one of the world’s finest hotels and boasts Michelin-starred dining Rossellinis restaurant. It’s worth it even only for a visit or aperitivo at the Lobster & Martini Bar that opens at 6pm. Also check out Il Flauto di Pan restaurant at Villa Cimbrone and Belmond Hotel Caruso whose restaurant has incredible views.
Spa it up: Several of the town’s top-notch hotels offer spa treatments that become even more magical because they are performed outdoors under the shade of blossoming trees or in delicate white tents (try Palazzo Avino or Hotel Caruso first).
Learn: Tucked in between the mountains and sea is fascinating and beautiful Amalfi. Amalfi was Italy's first Maritime Republic. In Amalfi's heyday it rivalled Venice, Pisa and Genoa in naval power. It was the home of Flavio Gioia, the inventor of the compass for the western world, and it codified maritime law with its Tavole Amalfitane. It had its own coin (the Tarì) and was known for impressive shipbuilding and paper making industries, where traditional paper production can still be seen today.
Explore: The main architectural evidence of its prestigious past is the 9th century Duomo di Sant'Andrea (cathedral), which dominates the town centre and is regarded as the most stunning cathedral in southern Italy.
Daily fuel: Try Trattoria da Gemma or Grand Hotel Convento. A Paranza in Atrani is also a must.
At nearby Minori, on Piazza Cantilena, Sal De Riso Costa D’Amalfi Pasticceria is a third-generation pastry-cook extraordinaire. He is most famous for his delizia al limone, which you can find all along the Amalfi Coast, but if you're going to have it anywhere, have it here.
Learn: The scenic beauty and charm of Positano was already loved and acknowledged by ancient Romans. It has a storied history and is said to be one of the oldest settlements along the Amalfi Coast. In fact, its history dates back to the Palaeolithic period: remains were found in the La Porta grotto, not far from town. Positano was “discovered” in the early 20th century by German, and particularly English and American, travellers. Described as a “vertical village”, its pastel coloured houses cling to impossibly steep cliffs. Luxury hotels and top class restaurants sit side by side with innumerable boutiques, many specializing in the famous Positano fashion. Traffic is excluded from much of the town, whose flower-adorned narrow alleys and steps create a unique and intimate setting and atmosphere. Positano is definitely one of the Mediterranean's most exclusive resorts.
Daily fuel: Stop by the legendary Le Sirenuse for drinks overlooking the sea or dinner at Michelin-starred restaurants La Sponda and San Pietro.
Learn: Conca dei Marini is one of the most tranquil spots on the Amalfi Coast. During the Maritime Republic, Conca dei Marini became Amalfi's most important naval base.
Explore: Conca dei Marini is best known for the nearby Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto). This is a deep cave, where the water acquires a bewitchingly intense emerald green colour, when the sun filters through inside. Also of great interest is the ceramic crib, 4m below on the grotto bed. The 14th century Convent of Santa Rosa is of historical importance and has beautiful vaulted architecture.
Learn: The second largest, but by far the best known, of the islands in the Bay of Naples, Capri rivals Positano and Sorrento as a tourist destination. In Roman times, it was the preferred home of the emperors Augustus and Tiberius, for whom its isolation offered a measure of protection from would-be assassins. Capri was discovered in the 19th century, and became the haunt of writers and intellectuals. Today, Capri continues to charm its visitors as a chic and sophisticated holiday island.
Explore: Get around to the extremes, Villa Jovis on one end and Monte Solaro on the other. Tiberius' magnificent villa can be visited today, its sheer scale and evident luxury never ceasing to amaze the modern visitor. The town of Anacapri, on the western side of the island, is surrounded by scenic hiking paths. A visit to art-filled Villa San Michele is a must and Via Camerelle and Via Le Botteghe offer comfort to the shopaholic within.
Daily fuel: Leisurely dinners include homemade pasta and simply prepared fresh seafood; top spots for tables are Aurora and Da Paolino. Have a long and lazy lunch at the best beach clubs, La Fontelina near the Faraglioni rocks and Il Riccio on the other side of the island near the lighthouse.
Go big: Hire a boat and spend an afternoon on the water exploring the various coves and grottos (the best are on the Marina Piccola side of the island; the Blue Grotto is splendid). Stroll through the center of Capri town and marvel at how so many designer boutiques can fit on such tiny streets. Private boat tours can be hired from Amalfi, Sorrento or Positano.
Learn: Naples is the third largest city in Italy and the economic capital of southern Italy. It takes its name from the Greek Neapolis (new city), referring to its independent status to the nearby Cumae. Traces of Naples' early history can be found in the Greek city walls and in the Via Anticaglia.
Explore: The city is famous for its many museums, especially the National Archaeological Museum, which houses many of the treasures excavated from Herculaneum and Pompeii and is regarded as one of the best archaeological museums in the world.
Daily fuel: Naples is most famous worldwide for pizza, invented here in the 18th century. Make sure you go to Pizzeria Brandi and L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele (almost spartan and very much “no frills”) to try some! Don’t forget to try an espresso – they say the Neapolitan water is the distinctive secret.
Learn: The origins of its name are derived from the myth of the Sirens. Probably founded as a Greek colony, it was successively ruled by different regions, until the arrival of the Romans, whereby it was known as Surrentum. They were so fascinated by its beauties that, during Imperial times, it became one of the favourite holiday spots for Roman patricians. The famous poet Torquato Tasso was born in Sorrento, in 1544. Perched high on a cliff amongst orange, lemon and olive groves Sorrento overlooks the Bay of Naples with Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields all in view. This beautiful town of sunsets and gardens has attracted poets, philosophers, playwrights, and authors for centuries. The historic streets, filled today with vibrant shops selling various goods, form interesting artistic routes winding beside churches and ancient buildings, make this an ideal location for tourists.
Daily fuel: In Sorrento, peninsula dinners are lengthy affairs, especially at Michelin-starred restaurants Don Alfonso 1890, La Taverna del Capitano and Quattro Passi. In Piazza Tasso, dinner at Caruso restaurant is a must. For a quick bite, go to Panetteria-Pizzeria da Franco and get the plain pizza with fresh Sorrento tomatoes, mozzarella and prosciutto.
Learn: Located between Amalfi and Positano, Praiano is an ancient fishing village with a great past. It is definitely one of the most genuine corners of the Amalfi Coast, located away from the most touristy hot spots. In the Middle Ages it was part of the Amalfi Maritime Republic and was world famous for its silk industry. Praiano was also the summer residence of the Doges of the Republic because of its good climate. Charles 1 of Anjou had the Angevin University built here.
Explore: The famous “Sentiero degli Dei” (The Gods’ Pathway) starts from Praiano and some of the best views of Positano and the whole final part of the peninsula, up to the Island of Capri, can be seen from here.
Daily fuel: Make a pit stop at Il Pirata restaurant.
Explore: One of the most famous volcanoes in the world, Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland. It dominates the skyline of the Bay of Naples with its brooding presence. Its frequent eruptions have shaped history, and continue to influence the lives of those who live in its shadow. It can be visited quite easily: the road approaches to within about 200 metres of the summit, leaving only about a 30-minute walk on a good track to reach the crater rim. The barren landscape at the summit contrasts with the lush vegetation on the lower slopes, where some of the most ancient vines in Italy flourish in the rich volcanic soil. Steam emanating from fissures in the rocks provides the only clue to the immense energy that lurks beneath.
Learn: Around the 6th century BC the Greeks settled in Poseidonia, named in honor of the god of the Sea. After being conquered by the Romans, it was renamed Paestum. Although some distance from the Amalfi Coast, Paestum, to the south of Salerno, is well worth a visit.
Explore: The site of the ancient Greek city of Poseidonia and its three Doric Greek Temples - the Basilica of Hera, the Temple of Ceres, and, on the southern end of the site, the Temple of Neptune - are amongst the best preserved in the world. In the Paestum museum one can see the famous Tomb of the Diver frescoes.
Learn: The thriving Roman town of Pompeii was destroyed by a Vesuvian eruption in 79 AD, but was preserved almost intact under a seven-meter high blanket of ash and lapillus. Pompeii, like no other place on earth, has the ability to transport the visitor back in time by two millennia, to be able really to imagine what day-to-day life was like in Roman times. A visit should be considered a must by every visitor to the Amalfi Coast. Herculaneum, a wealthy Roman seaside resort, was also preserved in the same eruption. Although smaller, it is said to be better preserved than Pompeii.