The Amalfi Coast
The stunning and picturesque Amalfi Coast, a world heritage site, is a stretch of coastline on the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula of Italy extending from Positano in the west to Vietri sul Mare in the East. It belongs to the region of Campania. There is a wide range of holiday rentals in this area from which to choose your special holiday home.
The coastline is spectacular with rugged cliffs, exclusive seaside resorts, lemon groves and olive trees clinging to terraced hillsides and villages with brightly coloured houses cascading down to the aquamarine sea below. This is also a perfect base for visiting Naples, the beautiful islands of Capri and Ischia, Pompei, Vesuvius, Herculaneum and the Sorrento coast.
Activities
There are numerous excellent guided tours in this area for those with an interest in Archaeological and historical sites. During your stay you may want to join a group for wine tasting and cookery lessons with a sumptuous lunch included. You can take a deluxe yacht or boat cruise with an experienced captain along the spectacular coast or out to the islands. Diving, fishing, horse riding, sailing, swimming, tennis, walking, water skiing, wind-surfing, trekking, scuba diving; boat rental facilities are available around most of the Amalfi Coast resorts.
To enjoy the best beach experience, take a trip to the small villages of Minori or Maiori for larger beaches lined with restaurants and cafes and where every water sport imaginable is available. There are numerous events, festivals and carnivals which take place throughout the year, so you are bound to catch one during your stay in this stunning region. To really enjoy these activities rent a holiday home Italy and feel like a local.
Cuisine
The cuisine of this area is predominately Neapolitan, famous for its use of tomatoes, lemons, fresh vegetables, red peppers and olives. There are numerous mouth-watering familiar specialities such as an impressive variety of the most imaginative pasta dishes, excellent sauces, delicious salads and of course pizza. Buffalo Mozzarella cheese is widely used here, being produced in nearby Naples.
Some the best of fresh Mediterranean seafood is served in the many restaurants around the region. Pastiera cake is also a speciality. The best walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds are grown here and are used in many of the delicious local confectionaries. The region produces some quality wines such as; Taurasi, Aglianico, Fiano d'Avellino and Greco di Tufo to name but a few. Sample the local home made liqueur Limoncellos served ice cold while relaxing and watching the sun go down from the terrace of your holiday rental on the beautiful Amalfi Coast.
Towns
Positano is a very fashionable holiday resort with a lively and fascinating restaurant and café life. Stroll through the tangle of narrow streets to the square where you can follow the winding steps to the beach below. Rent a self catering holiday apartment or villa rental and enjoy this resort to the full. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta is worth a visit. From here you can take a ferry or hydrofoil to the beautiful island of Capri.
Praiano is composed of little alleyways winding down to the sea and from where you can have one of the most spectacular views of the coastline.
Amalfi is the largest town on the coast and dominated by the beautiful Cathedral with its rich mix of architectural styles. The town has a fountained square and narrow streets leading to the harbour, it is a great place to wander around. The quaint and picturesque harbour has a lively promenade.
Ravello is a favourite with many visitors sits at 355m above sea level and has stunning panoramic views of the Amalfi coastline. For a great value holiday home in this stunning part of Italy search through Rent Property Direct and enjoy an unforgettable holiday. This along with its architectural beauty has been the inspiration of artists and the likes of Wagner, Turner and DH Lawrence. There are stepped pathways, cobbled winding streets and beautiful Palaces and old villas with romantic gardens for the visitor to explore. Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo will afford the visitor the most spectacular views.
Sorrento is high above the sea with superb views of Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples and although hugely popular has managed to retain its old charm. You can meander along its little streets and browse in the many interesting shops or enjoy refreshments in Piazza Toso where there are excellent restaurants and lively outdoor cafés with traditional music filling the air around you. Not far from Sorrento you will find the terraced hillsides where the landscape is covered with lemon trees and olive groves. Enjoy a classical concert in the charming cloisters of St Francis or relax in one of the elegant wine bars with live music.
Atrani The town’s position on mountain slopes is located in a spectacular romantic setting overlooking the sea. The principal square Umber is the centre of activity and a great meeting place. The houses sit in perfect harmony with their surroundings and are reached by steps and narrow alleyways. Atrani is blessed with a large number of impressive churches in the heart of the old town and worth visting is the Franciscan Monastery of Santa Rosalia, the Church of Santa Maria del Bando as are the others for lovers of beautiful architecture. There are many traditional festivals held in Atrani, especially the Sagra del Pesce Azurro (fish festival).
Scala is the oldest inhabited area on this coastline and situated in the heart of the Lattari mountains overlooking two winding valleys with the stunning clear blue sea as an impressive backdrop. Here you will find numerous chestnut and lemon groves around unspoilt countryside where rate botanical specimens can be found such as Woodwardia Radicans which is unique in the whole of Europe. During your walks through this stunning scenery you can visit monuments, castles, churches and towers.
Conca dei Marini is set on the hills of Santa Pancrazio and Santa Antonio, with houses in typical Mediterranean style surrounded by lemon and olive groves. All who visit this area are enchanted by its beauty. Further down on the coast of Conca dei Marini is the delightful fishing village. Grotto dello Smeraldo is an amazing cave full of stalactites and well worth a visit. The Emerald Grotto is one of the natural marvels on this coast where stalactites and stalagmites can be seen along the grotto. The church of St. Pancratzio is worth visiting as is the convent of Santa Rosa and the Conca Tower.
Caserta is a town with an opulent past and has Italy’s largest royal palace the Palazzo Realle in a stunning setting with more than 1,000 rooms. The palace was built for the Bourbon King Charles III.
One of the best ways to really experience the culture and activities an area has to offer you on your holiday is to rent a vacation rental, holiday home with all the flexibility that it gives you.