4 day trips starting from the Amalfi Coast
What to see around the Amalfi Coast? Here are four destinations of great interest, located a short distance from the Divine Coast, that can be visited in a day.
Sorrento
Sorrento is the town that gives its name to the entire peninsula as well as the western gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Perched on a rocky ridge overlooking the sea, it has been loved for its beauty since ancient times. Between the 18th and 19th centuries it was a compulsory stop on the Grand Tour, the educational journey that the scions of the bourgeoisie from all over Europe made to Italy. Today it is a popular seaside destination but also boasts numerous historical buildings, monuments and cultural attractions. Among the religious architecture, the Cathedral of St. Philip and St. James, which houses a valuable historical and artistic heritage, and the Church of St. Francis, with its adjoining cloister, stand out. Then there are the museums, including: the Museo Correale di Terranova, which houses over 10,000 pieces including archaeological finds, paintings, furniture, porcelain, clocks, figurines of the traditional Neapolitan nativity scene and wooden objects; and the Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea – MUTA, dedicated to the famous Sorrento school of inlay work. Other must-sees include Villa Fiorentino, the Villa Comunale, the Vallone dei Mulini and Sedil Dominova.
Pompeii
The city of Pompeii is one of Italy’s most spectacular and famous tourist destinations. Visited by millions of tourists every year, it is known not only for its archaeological site but also for its sanctuary, one of the world’s major centres of Marian devotion. The ancient city, which was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, offers visitors an extraordinary insight into the life of imperial Rome. The archaeological site covers an immense area and includes civil and private buildings, monuments, sculptures, paintings and mosaics. Among the unmissable attractions of the Pompeii excavations are: the amphitheatre, among the oldest and best preserved of its kind; the forum, the commercial hub of the city; the Stabian baths, among the oldest known in the Roman world; and civil buildings such as the Surgeon’s House, the House of the Faun and the famous Villa of the Mysteries. A few steps away from the archaeological site, at the end of the 19th century, the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary was erected, today the destination of countless pilgrimages throughout the year. It houses valuable works of art.
Paestum
Paestum is home to one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Europe. Even Friedrich Nietzsche was so fascinated by it that he said: ‘It is as if a god had built his home here out of huge blocks of stone’. The city was founded around the 6th century B.C. by Greeks from Sybaris and later became part of the Roman Empire, only to be abandoned in the Middle Ages. What strikes visitors most is the sight of the three large Doric temples. Entering through the main entrance, the first one one encounters is the Temple of Ceres (actually dedicated to the goddess Athena), dating back to the end of the 6th century B.C. and located on the highest point of the city. Built in the mid-5th century BC, the Temple of Neptune, or Poseidon, is the largest and best preserved of the three. Next to it is the Temple of Hera, better known as the Basilica, which was built around the middle of the 6th century B.C. and whose uniqueness lies in its combination of archaic and classical features. The park also includes the Archaeological Museum, where the numerous artefacts found in the area are exhibited.
Isle of Capri
One of the most sought-after destinations for tourists coming to the Amalfi Coast is the island of Capri. In the course of time, it has conquered Roman emperors, Russian revolutionaries and Hollywood stars. The island can be divided into three main areas – the sophisticated town of Capri, the more rustic Anacapri and the bubbly Marina Grande, where the harbour is located – and is dotted with bizarrely shaped caves and rocks emerging from the waters. Among its symbols are the Faraglioni (three imposing rocks about 100 metres high) and the Grotta Azzurra (a spectacular sea cave illuminated by almost unreal blue reflections). The heart of Capri is Piazza Umberto I, known to everyone simply as the ‘piazzetta’ (or rather, ‘a chiazz’ as it is called in dialect), a sort of exclusive open-air lounge where you must stop at least for a coffee or a cool lemonade. Things to see include: the Charterhouse of San Giacomo, the jewel in the crown of Capri’s Angevin architecture; the Gardens of Augustus, an oasis of scents and colours; the ruins of Villa Jovis, a grandiose palace built by the Emperor Tiberius; Villa San Michele, a dream residence that belonged to Axel Munthe; and Villa Lysis, one of the island’s most hidden gems.
