Travel Tales: One Day In Amalfi

Planning a visit to the town of Amalfi, on the appropriately-named Amalfi Coast in Italy? Or would you like to just learn some more about it, and enjoy some travel writing? Then settle back, grab a favourite beverage (and perhaps a chocolate cookie if you’re feeling particularly devilish), and read on!

 

The Beginning Of The End

This was it. My last full day in Italy. I pulled open the curtains and opened the window, listening to the ever-present rooster crowing, and breathing in a full lungful of pine-scented air. The last full day of a trip is often filled with negative emotions – regret for things you no longer have time for, melancholy that tomorrow means a return home to normality, anxiety that bags need to be packed and organisation performed.

But I was determined to make the most of this last day. Although I wanted to get back to the hotel a little earlier than I had been on the previous days (for the purposes of tearfully packing bags, plus I hadn’t yet sampled the hotel pool. As a child, when we would choose the family holiday by going through the holiday brochures together, I would pick my favourite destinations based purely on how awesome the pool looked, so you can see how distressing it was that I hadn’t yet dipped a toe in there), there was still plenty that I wanted to do. And at the top of that list was the small, yet well-known, town of Amalfi.

Strolling out of the hotel with a belly bulging from bacon indulgence, I caught the early bus to Amalfi from Sorrento’s train station. I’m not sure whether the buses from Sorrento are extremely frequent, or whether I’d just been really lucky that week, but whenever I arrived there my bus would appear a few moments later. Perhaps there were hordes of keen-eyed Italian bus drivers waiting around the corner, able to spot a tourist off to visit the Amalfi Coast from a mile away. Perhaps bus drivers are guardian angels, disguised by a crisp white shirt and a look of indifference etched upon their faces. In either case I didn’t care: being first to the bus means that you’re first to choose your seat. And if you’re going to the Amalfi Coast, you want to sit on the right-hand side of the bus, for that means that you’ll be getting one of the finest views in Europe for zero extra cost.

A million-dollar view.

A View To A Thrill

Let’s do some maths, beloved reader! (no, it’s fun maths, I promise!)

A return ticket from Sorrento to Amalfi will cost you the tiny sum of €6, and it lasts all day so you can hop on and hop off again. Like the look of Positano, halfway to Amalfi? You can stop there for a gelato and some lemon goodies, and then continue on your way. Want to explore the Grotto Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto) just outside Amalfi? Same deal.

Now, open up another page, and google for Amalfi Coast tours. See those prices? Yup, you can pay anything between €50 – €350. I don’t doubt that if you want a really in-depth tour with a knowledgeable guide, it’s probably an absolutely fair price – indeed, I’d love to try them myself. But if you’re on a budget, please don’t think that doing an expensive tour is the only way that you can see the beauty of the Amalfi Coast. If you just want to experience it, see the views, and you’re not too worried about going into the details, catch the bus and get an all-day ticket. You’re going to get the exact same views as you will on a coach tour. And trust me, those views are completely worth it.

 

Fountains Of Pain

The bus drops you off in Amalfi at the bus station, which you could be forgiven for mistaking for a mere car park at the harbourside. But at least it’s a scenic car park, with a glittering blue sea behind you, and in front the town of Amalfi, nestling beneath towering mountains. I wondered what the view would be like from the top, and immediately felt out of breath just thinking about it. Yeah, maybe not.

Yup, walking through the town seemed a much more civilised idea. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day, and after crossing the road from the bus station and walking down a street with shops selling the most gorgeous ceramics, I entered the Piazza Duomo. The piazza is rather predictably dominated by the towering cathedral of Sant’Andrea, as well as tourists trying to take an uninterrupted photo of the towering cathedral of Sant’Andrea, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the fountain which is just to one side of the piazza. Handsome structure, isn’t it?

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And would you like to guess which part of the fountain gets the most attention from the people milling around it?

Ouch.

Doesn’t look comfortable to me, I’ve got to say. No wonder she looks a bit startled.

A History Of Amalfi

One thing that surprises a lot of visitors to Amalfi is that the town is, to put it mildly, a bit on the petite side. The surprise comes from the fact that if you’re aware of your medieval or Italian history, the name Amalfi pops up quite a lot, and was one of the bigger players in the whole country. So how did somewhere so small become so significant?

The answer is pretty simple: the town used to be a lot larger. A vassal of the Byzantine Empire until 839, it gained independence and became a self-sustained duchy, taking advantage of a favourable location perched between the north coast of Africa, Sardinia, Sicily, and the interior of Italy to set up something of a Mediterranean trade empire. The population reached 80,000, and the town itself became quite fabulously rich, rivalled only by Genoa, Pisa, and Venice. The cathedral was built in the 11th century, the rich Byzantine style of the building reflecting the prosperity of the population.

Stunning. And even better in real life!

And then it all started going a bit wrong. The Pisans, perhaps frustrated by their inability to build towers, became increasingly miffed that Amalfi was doing rather well for itself. A series of raids followed, until it was finally taken by the Pisans in 1137. The town and its operations was slowly run down, lest it become a competitor to Pisa again, until it suffered the final blow – an earthquake in 1343 caused a tsunami which wiped out the entire port and lower half of the city, and carried it wriggling into the sea. Amalfi was finished as a trading power, and settled into its new status as a small town, where it has resided ever since. But for such a small, idyllic place, it has one undoubtedly proud history – see how many times you can spot the blue and white Amalfi Cross as you walk through the town (spoiler: it’ll be quite a lot).

And one of its proudest monuments is the Cathedral of Sant’Andrea.

Amalfi’s Cathedral

I urge you to visit the Duomo di Sant’Andrea – it’s a stunning building, a triumph of medieval architecture, and it’ll only cost you €3. Who can complain with that?

I shuffled in with the other visitors, and out first stop was the Choistro del Paradiso (Cloister of Paradise), and it’s an apt name. The cloisters look like something from a Middle Eastern palace, complete with palm trees, and historical treasures are liberally scattered around it. My history-loving eyes just about fell out of my head; Roman sarcophagi were casually placed around the walls as if the bishops had run out of somewhere to put them and decided to pop them outside like a piece of patio furniture. Artwork adorned the walls. If this was just the cloister, what on earth was going to be waiting for me inside? A unicorn?

Roman sarcophagus, just chillin’.

Not a unicorn (boo). But loads of bishop-y bling! The Basilica of the Crucifix now houses the Duomo’s museum and treasury, and all the pieces of display were very impressive. They ranged from beautifully-carved statues, to croziers and crucifixes which dripped with precious gems. Mitres and robes were protected by glass, the ancient cloth well-worn but still vibrant. I could’ve happily spent a whole day in here, but I was acutely aware that there were even more precious treasures within the cathedral proper.

 

From the Basilica, you traverse the steps to the Crypt of St. Andrew, voices becoming hushed as the room darkens. And this is the heart of the cathedral – it is dedicated to St. Andrew, and it is here that his remains lie. A statue of the saint, sculpted by a student of Michelangelo, stands guard over his reliquary. The bones were brought to Amalfi from Constantinople in 1206, during the Fourth Crusade, and have remained here ever since.

But alas, I only had limited time today. It was time to hit the streets again.

The Not-So Mean Streets of Amalfi

Amalfi is a wonderful place to just have a wander, and see what you find. And aside from the occasional car roaring up the main street, sending tourists scattering into the safety of the shops (excellent for business, I would wager), it’s a really peaceful place. It’s a great place to go to find a quirky souvenir – I admired the clothes being sold at Antica Sartoria – they’re SO FREAKING BEAUTIFUL. I resolved to come back again with an empty suitcase and a decent wedge of money. But it’s also a great town for buying ceramics; you see quite a few shops selling tiles, plates, bowls, statues, and houses made with the most colourful and creative designs. (okay, I lied about ceramic houses. But I wouldn’t be surprised.) My favourite was one which stocked homewares, but everything had a cat motif, or was in the shape of a cat. This was my kind of shop. I limited myself to a mug which was, rather predictably, in the shape of a cat wearing a bow tie. I salute you, Italian cat lover.

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My other favourite thing about Amalfi, and you see this quite a bit on the roads around the Amalfi Coast, are the little model villages. The most obvious example is a fountain which is halfway up Amalfi’s main street (Via Lorenzo D’Amalfi), which usually draws a small crowd. They’re another example of the local presepe, or Nativity scenes, which are a traditional Neapolitan art, and I was extremely fond of this one – little baby sheeps!! Who doesn’t love a lamb? There were a lot of coins thrown into the fountain, and I wondered how many wishes had been made on this spot. I hoped that at least a few of them were wishing for the continued health of the sheep, who seemed perilously close to the water’s edge and the goldfish beyond.

WATCH THOSE SHEEP, SHEPHERDS!

Atrani, and the Cutest Puppy In The World.

One of my main goals for this trip was to walk to Atrani, a small town east of Amalfi, which holds the distinction of being the smallest community in the entirety of Italy, with a surface area of 0.12km, and a population of 870 lucky, lucky people. However, this being the Amalfi Coast, it’s impossible to walk there without risking your life just a little bit. But statistically, most walkers on the roads in this area crawl away with at least three limbs intact, so it was all good.

The roads in the Amalfi Coast are a little bit tight on space as it is, so I sighed and wistfully thought about pavements, because there sure as hell wasn’t going to be any here. And so it proved: I spent most of the journey either throwing myself out of the way of honking vehicles, or pressing myself so tightly against guard rails, with only a scrap of metal between myself and waves crashing on to jagged rocks thirty feet below, that I gained dent marks in my backside. But there were two highlights that made the rather pant-soiling walk worth it.

The first was a hotel situated on a blind turn in the road. I liked it straight away for being so high above the road that the catering supplies were having to be winched in. Seriously. A pulley protruded from a ledge of the hotel, high above the road, whilst the delivery guy clipped a carabiner clip and tugged the rope to signify that the goods were ready to be winched up. How awesome is that? Goodness knows how they get visitors and suitcases up there. I had a vision of squawking guests being menaced with a carabiner and carried off into the air, legs kicking. But even better was the fact that the hotel had plaques outside commemorating its history as a former monastery, and some notable guests.

 

Not a bad way of showing off your guest book.

The second was the part you’ve been waiting for since you read the sub-heading of this section: the cutest puppy in the world. He was waiting outside a bar, chilling in the shade, and was genuinely the cutest pup I’ve ever seen. I don’t usually take photos of people’s dogs without asking permission, but in this case I could only make a noise that sounded like “BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” and I’d taken about fifteen photos before I even realised it.

I couldn’t help myself.

Atrani: A Hidden Gem

To my surprise, Atrani seemed largely untouched by tourists. This was puzzling considering its vicinity to Amalfi, and especially so considering that it’s such a perfect little town, recovered well from a devastating flood in 2010. Houses nestle around a central square with a handsome clock tower, and Italians relaxed in the shade of parasols, enjoying gelatos. I chose to buy a granita (chipped ice mixed with fresh lemon juice, making a delightfully slushy refreshment which will give you brain freeze), and enjoyed it at a table with a view of the sea. No-one around here seemed to speak English, which I loved. Atrani felt a million miles away from the hordes of visitors in Amalfi; it felt like an authentic living, breathing Italian town. Plus I speak Italian, so I was good.

Atrani’s clock tower

I wandered down to the beach, walking through a passageway cut into the buildings and decorated with depictions of saints, keeping the local sailors safe. I sat on a rocky wall and watched the blue sea gurgle and slap against the land. Sometimes, especially near the end of a trip, it’s just nice to sit and collect your thoughts. Atrani was perfect for this, peaceful and quiet, unspoilt by the noise of modern life. A man swam in the waters, wave tips glistening in the sunlight. A pair kayaked in the distance. And I thought, not for the first time on this trip, I could really live here.

But alas, the end of my trip was calling, and I had to get back to Sorrento and the hotel to ensure I was organised in time. But I certainly left Atrani and Amalfi with a heavy heart.

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Buses and the Amalfi Coast

But I had one more source of entertainment for the day: the bus back to Sorrento.

Buses and the Amalfi Coast make for an interesting combination. You have narrow roads which were never built with large vehicles in mind, and wondrous villages and views. You also have visitors who come to see this famed coastline in their droves, some in private cars, some in coaches, some who take the bus but have no idea about how the Italian bus ticket system works (buy at a shop, validate on the bus). And at the centre of all this, you have one person; a single brave soul who is the eye of the hurricane. This person is a bus driver. Indifferent at every other location, as soon as he’s charged with safely guiding a bus out of the Amalfi Coast, he suddenly turns into a slightly stressed leader in the vein of the Roman generals.

Having correctly validated my bus ticket, and sitting smugly in my seat near the driver (no finer view!), I watched as the poor guy turned away about forty confused tourists whilst trying to mime the word “tobacconist” at them. This consisted of frantic pointing, and charade-worthy mimes of cigarette smoking. After about ten minutes of attempting to herd cats and getting mostly everyone on board, the bus launched itself into the traffic, busier at this time of the afternoon. Horns were honked, brakes were slammed. Certain turns required reversing backwards around corners, and allowing the oncoming traffic to go first. Our driver leaned out of the window, and barked “Vai! VAI!” at motoring fools who didn’t take the correct opportunity to move their vehicle. We roared past a group of nuns, who were having a picnic on a grassy bank at the roadside, serenely enjoying the view as our driver popped a few more blood vessels. And I thought to myself, God, I love Italy. I love the chaos and the good-natured people. I love the culture and the history. I love the self-deprecating humour of the Italians, and I love the fierce pride they have for their country. If I could live anywhere in the world, I’d live in Italy.

But I wouldn’t ever apply for a job as a bus driver.

Returning

As our bus returned back to Sorrento, I felt a sense of despair – that was my last outing of my trip. How on earth could I return home and be happy about it? I was so lost in my thoughts that I was startled when I realised we were approaching my stop, and I stood up so quickly that I smacked my head against the air conditioning vent above me. I think I literally saw stars, and wobbled off the bus to crash ungracefully on to the pavement. Maybe Italy was telling me to cheer up, because things can always be worse. And more embarrassing, for that matter.

At the hotel, I made up for my previous lack of aquatic activity by completing 26 lengths of the pool, still lost in thought (and nursing a mild concussion). I didn’t want to leave. What if I never got back here? What if this was the last time? What if something happened that made me unable to travel? Considering how nervous I’d been before the trip, the thought was unbearable.

I hopped out of the pool and dried myself off as best as I could, trusting the sun to do the majority of the work for me. Slipping shorts and t-shirt over my swimming costume, I sat and watched the sun beginning to slide down towards the horizon, before I headed back up the stairs to my room. A couple walked silently behind me. Perhaps they were leaving soon too; perhaps they were overwhelmed with sadness and a fear of never returning.

Then I reached my room, took off my shorts, and realised that I had a massive wet patch spreading from the seat of my shorts where the wet swimming costume had been underneath. I looked like I’d had a catastrophic toilet failure.

Stop being ridiculous, carina, Italy whispered into my ear. Laugh. Be happy. You’ll be back.

And I knew that I would.

 

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The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful spots in the world, and perfect for a relaxing vacation - but what can you do in the town at the heart of it all, aside from taking in the views? Read Travel Tales, and find out how best to spend your time in Italy. https://thatanxioustraveller.com #amalfi #amalficoast #italy #travel #vacation

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful spots in the world, and perfect for a relaxing vacation - but what can you do in the town at the heart of it all, aside from taking in the views? Read Travel Tales, and find out how best to spend your time in Italy. https://thatanxioustraveller.com #amalfi #amalficoast #italy #travel #vacation

 

Have you been to Amalfi? Have you ever had an embarrassing “no, I haven’t peed myself, I swear!” moment? Are you an Italian bus driver? Tell me about it in the comments below!

50 Comments

  • Reply
    Lorelle
    February 2, 2018 at 12:46 pm

    The smaller towns of the Amalfi Coast are hidden gems alright. Atrani is just gorgeous. I remember staying in Minori for a few days, in a cosy little B&B above a lemon orchard. Pure bliss. 🙂

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 2, 2018 at 2:48 pm

      Ohh, that sounds wonderful!! Minori is on my list for next time I’m in the area. The small towns are exactly my cup of tea; less-visited, more authentic, and so peaceful!

  • Reply
    Josy A
    February 3, 2018 at 3:37 am

    This post is awesome. I love your style and your photos. 😀 Also, how can it not be a winning blog post when you include a doggo that cute.

    I have to admit though, I would have been desperate to get up to the surrounding mountains!

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 3, 2018 at 9:02 am

      I knowwwww, he’s so adorable! I’m a cat person, but I just wanted to scoop him up and take him home! I believe that there is a hiking trail which goes up into the mountains – the views must be absolutely incredible. I’d love to do it, but I think I’d need to build up my hiking experience first!

  • Reply
    Ana @ Jaunting Trips
    February 3, 2018 at 8:44 am

    It was in my pre-blogging days but I loved loved loved Amalfi Coast. I did a tour of the Amalfi coast, Capri all the way down south in the heel of Italy. Amazing places!

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 3, 2018 at 9:04 am

      The south of Italy is so ridiculously beautiful – criminal that it gets far less attention than the north! I’d love to do the same journey down into the heel, and finish off with a trip to Sicily. It’s definitely on the list!

  • Reply
    Hannah
    February 3, 2018 at 9:02 am

    Love this – such humour about many things that others would find annoying. This attitude is what makes a traveller rather than a tourist! I lived in Naples in 1999, but didn’t spend nearly enough time on the Amalfi coast – you’ve reminded me that I really should go back. Thank you for giving me a great taste of ma bella Italia!

  • Reply
    Faith Coates
    February 3, 2018 at 10:51 am

    This is just one of those places I simply cannot wait to see, your photos are lovely and oh my god the puppy…lol…it looks glorious.

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:01 pm

      It really is – aside from the views, it’s such a wonderfully relaxing place to be! And cute puppies too! 🙂

  • Reply
    Bernie
    February 3, 2018 at 11:57 am

    I love the way that you draw us in, walking alongside you, marveling at the history, the pain (!), the little sheeps, the remarkably cute dawg and that moment when you realise all is not well at your nethers. But what a mighty fine place this is. We’d love the history, the tiny town, and maybe even the adrenaline walk (although I’d be skittering to the other side to cling to the wall rather than fear the drop!). Italy, it’s been way too long…

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:04 pm

      You’re always so kind, Bernie! <3 And yesyesyes, visit the Amalfi Coast! As terrifying as clinging to the rail was, pressing up against the wall would've been worse, I think - there were no spare inches there at all! 😛

  • Reply
    unaveronicavagante
    February 3, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    Great post!
    And, yes, more probably your last guess on the guardian angel is more adequate ahahahah 😉

  • Reply
    Raluca
    February 3, 2018 at 12:34 pm

    Thanks for putting this together , I love the fact that you talk about everything except the beaches 🙂

  • Reply
    Laureen
    February 3, 2018 at 12:38 pm

    I only had one day in Amalfi and it rained! I must go back and see it slowly. Thanks for some great information. And your photos are really beautiful.

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:05 pm

      Thank you very much! And oh no!! Though I imagine it must look very handsome in the rain, a bit of sunshine really does make it come alive!

  • Reply
    Ana Ro
    February 3, 2018 at 2:00 pm

    It is so beautiful. I just got back from Italy (although from the opposite side – Bari) and I can imagine all those things in your pictures so well!

    Thanks for the great tip on 6 euros. I was also surprised, how affordable and efficient the public transport is. And Atrani is worth remembering for my next trip.

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:07 pm

      Yes, the affordable public transport was a welcome surprise to me too, especially coming from the UK where it tends not to be so cheap! I’d love to visit Bari; the east coast of Italy really appeals!

  • Reply
    Kelly
    February 3, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    Kudos to you for going for just a day and totally live the belly bulging comment because that’s me in Italy. Thanks for motivating me to get here the next time I’m in Italy!!

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:08 pm

      Yup, there’s no other way to visit Italy – if you don’t come back a stone heavier, you’ve done Italy wrong! 😛

  • Reply
    Stella
    February 3, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    Love this! Amalfi Coast is on my bucket list and your photos are just making it crave for it more! It’s really a nice place, no? So refreshing and relaxing. It’s very different to our country so it’d be a great place to visit when I want to unwind.

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:10 pm

      Definitely! The whole area is very relaxing – even though it has a good number of visitors, it’s really easy to get off the beaten track and find somewhere that’s so quiet and peaceful. 🙂

  • Reply
    Sami
    February 3, 2018 at 3:32 pm

    I love Italy and I am obsessed with Granita!! I had watermelon and strawberry all the time when I lived in Siena!

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:11 pm

      Ohh, that sounds amazing! I haven’t strayed from the lemon, purely because I love anything lemon flavoured (and when you’re in the Amalfi area, you’ve got to do lemons! ;)).

  • Reply
    Rosie Kerrigan
    February 3, 2018 at 4:21 pm

    Oh my, I LOVE hidden gem little cities like that!! And your writing style is so amazing, Nicky!! <3

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:11 pm

      Aw, thank you so much! <3

  • Reply
    Laura
    February 3, 2018 at 5:44 pm

    This was such an interesting post! I’d really love to explore now 🙂 x

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:12 pm

      Thank you! And do it! The whole of the Amalfi Coast is perfect for exploring!

  • Reply
    Eleonore
    February 3, 2018 at 7:28 pm

    Would love love love to spend some time exploring the Amalfi Coast one day! Your photos are beautiful and making me dream of a weekend away from London there!

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:15 pm

      Hmm, I think that’s very do-able – a good route would be London-Naples, then take the train for a day in Sorrento, then take the bus for a trip to Positano, get back on the bus and end up in Amalfi, then head back to Naples for a look around there. Got me tempted now, too!

  • Reply
    Susanna
    February 3, 2018 at 7:46 pm

    Lovely photos! I especially like the one with the little boat in the water. I would never become a bus driver in Europe either. Those coastal Mediterranean towns are the worst. I ‘ve heard so many wonderful things about the Amalfi coast and want to go so bad. I had no idea it was bigger than it used to be., it does look quite charming though.

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:17 pm

      Thank you; that picture turned out particularly well! 🙂 Yes, I was surprised the first time I went to Amalfi because I was aware of how famous it had been in its history, and it seemed so small, but it turned out that there was a good explanation for it!

  • Reply
    Portia Jones
    February 3, 2018 at 9:13 pm

    I absolutely love your style of writing, it has such personality. Lot’s of blogs that I read just present very dry facts about a location but you write with humour and style. Go girl! Love the fact you explored Amalfi by bus, it’s can be a little stressful getting around a country on public transport so bravo for being a bit daring. xx

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:18 pm

      Thank you so much, Portia! <3 I think there's definite cons to taking public transport abroad, but definite pros too - I love being able to see people just going about their day-to-day commute. Plus I'm a little bit braver in Italy because I can get by in Italian, so I have a linguistic safety net! 😉

  • Reply
    Victoria
    February 3, 2018 at 10:22 pm

    I love your post! I’m currently planning a visit to Sorrento this summer, and a trip to Amalfi is definitely on the cards so this was super useful – especially about the buses. Thanks in advance for making sure I don’t look like a foolish tourist 😉

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      Ha, you’re welcome! 🙂 You’ll have a fantastic time; I LOVE Sorrento. It’s a lovely relaxed place to be (and if you want a really great pizza, go to Franco’s on the Corso Italia), and a great central place for visiting everywhere in the area. It’s a perfect base!

  • Reply
    Zoe
    February 3, 2018 at 11:11 pm

    Great post, love the photos!

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:21 pm

      Thank you very much! 🙂

  • Reply
    Michelle
    February 3, 2018 at 11:33 pm

    I loved this post. Your writing style and photos are great! My husband and I only got to see Sorrento and Capri while we were visiting this area. While I loved both of these towns, I have such a desire to go back and see more, and your post just relit that fire! Thank you!

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:23 pm

      Aw, thank you so much! 🙂 I love Sorrento and Capri, and I think that Sorrento in particular is an excellent base for seeing the area – good transport links to Naples, the bay islands, and the Amalfi Coast. I hope you get back and see it all!

  • Reply
    M P
    February 3, 2018 at 11:41 pm

    So good to know the buses are easy and cheap! Did you find they ran anything close to on-time? I don’t suppose it matters much when you’re traveling slowly. Great post.

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:25 pm

      Yes, they were actually pretty on-time, which is impressive considering the roads that they have to navigate around! Plus to get some fantastic views to enjoy at the same time! 🙂

  • Reply
    Sarah
    February 3, 2018 at 11:56 pm

    I think Amalfi is one of those beautiful destinations that everyone wants to visit at least once in their life! I am yet to get there sadly so it was news to me that it’s so cheap and easy to get to from Sorrento. I always thought it was so far from anywhere! I love the way you’ve written this guide and was super glad you made it into the pool 🙂

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:27 pm

      Ha, thank you! I ended up doing 26 lengths of the pool, so I made up for it! 😉 Yes, it’s really easy from Sorrento – the journey takes about two hours (or a bit under), but it’s never boring!

  • Reply
    Candice
    February 4, 2018 at 1:36 am

    I’d love to see this coastline but I hadn’t given much thought to the actual town. The cathedral looks amazing. As for that puppy, I would have wanted to cuddle him all day!

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:28 pm

      Yes, I think quite a few people miss the town, especially if they’re on a tour, which is a shame as it’s a really nice place with lots to explore. I so wanted to puppynap that pup! 😛

  • Reply
    Christina
    February 4, 2018 at 5:09 am

    Aww this post brings me back to when we drove the coast of Amalfi and visited the city. The lemon slushy sounds so refreshing and delicious. We drank their lemon beer and lemon spritz at a restaurant on the beach – I remember their tastes like it was yesterday 🙂 Really thorough post, I enjoyed reading its history as we did not learn about it while we were there.

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:29 pm

      Thank you very much! I love all the lemon products too – I have some lemon chocolate under my office desk that I’ve been saving since I got back. Might be time to break it open!

  • Reply
    Rhiannon
    February 4, 2018 at 10:57 am

    Looks wonderful, beautiful photography!

    • Reply
      thatanxioustraveller
      February 7, 2018 at 12:30 pm

      Thank you very much! 🙂

  • Reply
    Ruchi
    March 27, 2018 at 1:42 pm

    Thank you for sharing such a great information and photograph with us. You are doing great work. Keep it up

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