A Drive Unlike Any Other - Amalfi Coast

Today we would be doing more driving than walking . . . it will be good to give our feet and legs a rest ! It is only 62 miles from Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast town of Minori, which was tonight's destination, so we would have plenty of time to walk around the seaside town of Sorrento.


SORRENTO

Land of Mermaids. Land of Orange and Lemon Groves. Land of Colors. An Old World Italian resort and known as the Gateway to the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento is a civilized and beautiful town. Famed for its sea cliffs, the town's steep slopes look out over azure waters to Ischia, Capri and the Bay of Naples.

The birthplace of Limoncello liqueur offers to be what we understand to be good diving, great sea fishing, boat cruises, and what appears to be appetizing restaurants. Even the souvenirs are a cut above the norm, with plenty of fine old shops selling ceramics and lacework. The main drawback as we saw it is the lack of a proper beach. The town straddles the cliffs overlooking the water to Naples and Mt Vesuvius – but, what a wonderful old town to wander and explore – and, there are a lot of steps to climb !

Sorrento makes a good base for exploring the region's highlights: to the south is the best of the peninsula’s unspoiled countryside, to the east is the Amalfi Coast, to the north lie Pompeii and other archaeological sites, and offshore is the fabled island of Capri.

Once we left Sorrento, we would have to take a short drive up and over the mountains to get to the famous Amalfi Coast Road, said to be one of the most challenging drives in the world. Tom could hardly wait to tackle it ! It didn't take long before we had a view of the glittering Mediterranean Sea.

The road twisted and turned, and we had to share the narrow lanes with cars, buses, motorcycles and pedestrians. The cliffs going straight up were on our left, and the cliffs going straight down (almost 1000 feet) were on our right.

There was an occasional narrow pull-off where we could enjoy the view, and most of them contained small trucks selling fruits and vegetables. We had to have both side mirrors retracted inwards as the roads were so narrow with barely 6 inches of space to spare on either side of the car ! And, to top it off even more, there were people walking/hiking the roadways and letting their dogs run without a leash ! I was/am a nervous wreck and needed my bottle of wine tonight once we arrived !

Our 2016 little 5 speed diesel Fiat 500L never got above 3rd gear for the entire drive along the Amalfi Coast.


POSITANO

Lying an hour and a quarter south of Naples, the drive to Positano takes you past Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius, past Sorrento and then along the mountain coastline until the vertical descent to the town begins.

Positano is one of Italy's most romantic vacation spots on southern Italy's Amalfi Coast. Built vertically on the face of a cliff, it started out as a fishing village and became popular with writers and artists in the 1950's. It's a well-known holiday destination with a pebble beachfront and steep, narrow streets lined with boutiques and cafes. Positano is a pedestrian town (with many stairs) and its pretty pastel colored houses and flowers make it very picturesque.

Once a vital part of a mighty sea power, Positano is today a sophisticated resort. Moorish-style architecture rises up steep slopes that gaze out on the surrounding islands. Its church, Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, features a colorful tiled dome and a 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary. The Sentiero degli Dei hiking trail links Positano to other coastal towns. Trendy boutiques, selling fashions for visitors abound in the village.

Seen from below, the buildings seem to have been stacked one on top of another, climbing from the tiny crescent bay towards the cliffs that loom precipitously over the town – the houses seemed like they would topple onto one another. The pastel colors - primrose, pink, terracotta, peach and white - give the town a theatrical aspect that can’t be mistaken for anywhere else – totally unique !


Arrival in Minori

It is only about 24 miles from Sorrento to Minori, and it took us just over 2 hours ! I was exhausted from gripping the car door handle ! It is a once-in-a-lifetime road trip experience . . . and I hope to never do it again !

I was so glad to get to our apartment in Minori. The "Holiday House" is tiny, right on the corner, 50 yards from the small beach. 

We have amazing views of the cliffs and the Mediterranean Sea, maybe the best location in town ! The views below are taken just a few steps away from our lovely apartment - we wish all our family and friends could be here to enjoy this picturesque setting with us !