Exploring
the beautiful Amalfi Coast of Campania, Italy
Whether
travelling as a romantic couple, going solo or on a family holiday, planning
the ideal getaway to Italy offers a multitude of choice. However, some
Italian destinations stand out for their sheer rugged beauty, amazing scenery,
pretty beaches and quaint villages. One such destination is the Amalfi
Coast in the Campania Region, nestled on the Sorrentine Peninsula of Italy.
Photo:
Amalfi Coast panorama via Flickr by tomfkemp/CC
BY-NC-ND 2.0
This
popular destination reveals fishing villages, with their homes and buildings
tinted in a rainbow of pastel hues, while overlooking the sheer rugged
cliffs and gorgeous shoreline with its tiny beaches and coves. Italy4Real
offers a range of tour and travel options in the Amalfi region covering
several wonderful destinations along the coast.
The cities
of the Amalfi Coast
Along
the 50 km Amalfi coastline, visit popular cities like Salerno, with its
busy port, or Sorrento, balanced on a cliff top, with its terraced vineyards,
scented lemon groves and impressive villas. Positano started out as a fishing
village, but today is a popular resort, well known for the winding stairways
connecting the town and its many hotels, as it spreads over the hillsides
with lovely views.
However,
there are also slightly lesser-known places to visit on the Amalfi Coast,
well worth exploring.
Furore
and its famous ‘Fiordo’
Furore,
located between Positano and Amalfi is one such destination. This tiny
village hangs on a hillside above the blue Mediterranean Sea and is quaint
in itself; however what makes this spot unusual is Italy’s only fiord,
or “Fiordo” as it is known in Italian.
The
Fiordo is located in the oldest area of the village, down near sea level,
where a group of the original fishermen’s homes hug the cliffs of a high
rocky gorge which heads inland from the sea. However visitors are warned,
during the busier summer months the tiny beach in the fiord can often get
a little busy with both locals and visitors.
Ravello
is another pretty village, perching high up on the cliffs above Amalfi
and the Mediterranean Sea. Each summer Ravello hosts a popular music
festival, where classical music concerts can be enjoyed in the town’s
gardens, surrounded by spectacular views. A clip from one of the concerts
is included below, to give a taste of how wonderful it is to listen to
beautiful music in such lovely surroundings.
Attractions
in the town include its cathedral, the Duomo, with its Museo del Cuomo
located in a crypt. However Ravello’s most popular attractions are its
public gardens. The Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone offer the chance to
stroll through beautifully landscaped panoramic gardens, filled with colourful
tropical plants, while enjoying lovely views over the coastline.
Photo: Villa Rufolo via Flickr by Bruno
Mori/ CC BY-NC 2.0
Needless
to say, wherever you travel on the Amalfi Coast you will get the opportunity
to enjoy the delicious cuisine of the area, including freshly-caught fish,
delightful desserts and excellent wines. Take some time out this year to
explore the Amalfi Coast.
