Guest post from Thomas Born who is an experienced travel writer for mypremiumeurope.com, a leading provider of luxury European hotels, holidays, spas and villas.
My first experience with Amalfi coast was several years ago when a friend and I travelled around the winding coast from Amalfi to Sorrento. The Amalfi coast had some of the most spectacular views in the world.
Happy Beginnings
We began our journey in the narrow streets of Positano , this small village was one of the sunniest and unique places in our travels, a port built high into a cliffside. The Buca di Bacco was a timeless trattoria which commanded the small beach and was a great place to have a simple traditional meal.
We travelled further around the peninsula and came across the breath-taking view of Capri. While it has been overtaken by expensive boutiques and hotels, the view is still worth stopping and spending a few hours.
Ravello
Ravello was the highlight of the trip and this city perches on a plateau over a thousand feet above the sea. The view down to Amalfi is one of the most beautiful panoramas, but Ravello remains in my mind, a place of tranquillity. Most of the tourists don’t venture up there and we spent hours wandering around the statues in the Cimbrone Gardens. A traveller can imagine him or herself as a Roman noble, enjoying a leisurely afternoon in his country estate. After spending a day here, it’s easy to see why D.H. Lawrence and Boccaccio found inspiration in this place.
Artists Paradise
Not only did famous writers gain their inspiration from Positano, Wagner also drew on the town for his muse. In his memory, there is a festival of summer concerts which pay tribute to both his work and other notable musicians. There is also a spiritual quality to this town which is hard to describe. Many American couples had travelled to Positano specifically to be married at one of the small churches.
Accommodation
While traveling around the Amalfi coast can be expensive, it is truly the trip of a lifetime. We stayed in the Sirenuse hotel in Positano. It was an older historic hotel with the decor chosen by the Sersale family who had been the proprietors for many years. The Caruso at Ravello was the highlight of our accommodations though. This luxury location featured a rooftop rose garden and an infinity pool. The staff at both hotels were friendly and helpful, which was a huge asset since we spoke little of the language and were unfamiliar with the location.
Travelling
While there are buses and travel tours that go up and down the Amalfi coast, I would recommend stepping off the beaten path and renting a car. This makes it easier to make your own travel plans. We rented a smaller car and made a leisurely pace from village to village, stopping where we wanted, and by-passing some of the more crowded towns. We took two weeks to have our adventure and we could have easily spent more time at any of these locations.
This was truly the trip of a lifetime. It was a beautiful two week-adventure which I will happily remember and cherish for many years to come.
Thomas Born is an experienced travel writer for mypremiumeurope.com, a leading provider of luxury European hotels, holidays, spas and villas. Visit the site to find some truly fantastic luxury holiday experiences right across Europe.