Sorrento is the gateway to the Amalfi Coast and is a delightful town of 20,000 built on a ledge over the Mediterranean surrounded by lemon and olive groves. The city radiates out from Piazza Tasso which is a hub of activity at any time of day. Bookcases by two harbors with Marina Piccola at one end where boats leave frequently for other areas of the coast and Marina Grande at the other end which is a charming fishing villages where restaurants along the shore sell the local catches of the day. Steep sets of stairs set in the cliff side take one down to beach level. There is one set of stairs one can still see which were carved into the rock in the fifth century BC. The. Harm of Sorrento is strolling the winding grid of streets laid out by the Greeks centuries ago. Sorrento boasts some fine restaurants and we enjoyed some magnificent meals with one being at il Buco which is a Michelin star restaurant built in the cellar of am old Monastry. We had the Trust Us menu which was eight courses of delightful surprises paired with some wonderful wines.
We chose to see the coast from the water taking the hydrofoil one way and returning by slow cruise boat on the return trip. Sitting in a longe chair cruising along close to shore was a great way to see this wonderful coast with villas and hotels high up on the vertical terrain with sheer five hundred foot drops to sparkling little coves only accessible from boats. The road clinging to the side of the cliffs in places looked like the buses could just drop off.
Positano hangs on the coast between Sorrento and Amalfi. Cascading up the hill from its large pebbly beach only one street allows any motorized traffic with all of the remaining steep lanes and stairs being pedestrian only. With its main attraction being the beach and vista views strolling and eating at one of the little restaurants fill your itinary for the visit. Easy to see here how the locals keep in shape as there is no such thing as a level piece. Along the Amalfi Coast the beaches are all private and one must pay to use a chair and enjoy the water so this is a booming business both here and in Sorrento.
A few days spent in this beautiful and relaxing area was a wonderful way to finish our trip to Italy. In three weeks we have seen and done so much that it will take time to digest it all. Was a memorable trip but nice to be homeward bound.
Sorrento buildings cling to the cliffs with beach clubs down below
Looking towards Naples
Active fishing marina in Sorrento
Restaurants pop up where ever there is space
Buildings sprawling up the rocks
Positano
Positano from the port
Stunning views
Radiating out from ravine
Local beaches where everything has a price
Rock formations along the coast
Sorrento
Squid three ways
Wonderful pasta
Quail
And of course dessert!
