Amalfi Cathedral 4.9.26
Another early start and we wind our way up and over the hills which separate the Sorrento side of the peninsula to the Amalfi side. This takes a few minutes but once we are on the other side the views are immediately beautiful as we proceed in a generally easterly direction towards Salerno. Tourist coaches are only allowed in this direction and on our last visit as we were driving we could drive from east to west so it adds to the contrast. On the first section of the trip our coach meets a service bus coming the other way (as they are permitted for obvious reasons) which involves a lot of reversing (for us) back up a hill to a point where the bus and coach can both breathe in and squeeze past each other.
Pansa Coffee Shop Amalfi 4.9.26
Our first stop is in Amalfi itself which is lovely, a cathedral which looks impressive from the outside and which is blessed with an excellent cake shop next door, Pasticceria Pansa provided an opportunity for a coffee and cake break which was most welcome after about an hour on the coach.
Amalfi 4.9.26
We also find a ceramics shop and I identify a mixed platter set which we plan to carry back. The late lamented lemon plate had been replaced with something which will actually be useful and it will sit in the corner in the kitchen and will survive we hope. So the circle is completed.
Atrani 4.9.26
For reasons which are obvious to someone else (but not me) we are now in smaller minibuses passing through numerous pretty villages, although ensuring a decent photograph proves elusive. No doubt I drove through Atrani in the other direction but I would never have been able to enjoy the views such as those seen above. We progress to Maiori for our lunch break and we find a lovely restaurant Pineta 1903 which has a garden covered by lemon trees and a superb choice, a real find, away from the sea front but good service and food. Highly recommended.
Cetara 4.9.26
Our journey east after lunch is once again in the main coach and we head past the rock face which scraped the car last time around. We also pass through yet more delightful villages which cling to the rock face until we rejoin the motorway near Salerno and the driver finds our way home and as it is less exciting we can have a snooze which we often do on coach trips. I do not know what happened to our coach after Amalfi but it seems that there are now significant restrictions on coaches and it may have had to go the long way round.
In the evening we wander down to the sea front and decide that Ristorante Corallo looks a perfectly great place to sit and take dinner and we are not disappointed. Nothing clever or outstanding – but just a club sandwich given we had a decent lunch.
For the record the Newmarket description of the day:
One of the most scenic coastal roads in Europe forms the backdrop for today’s included excursion. Here, fantastical rock faces plunge vertically into the sea and dizzy bridges span deep gorges while, in contrast, gently-contoured hillsides covered in vines, fruit and olive trees roll away inland.
Take in the view above the town of Positano, with its Moorish-style pink and white houses, and enjoy a visit to beautiful Amalfi, a thriving holiday resort with houses rising up the hillsides and a main square dominated by the beautiful cathedral. Whilst in Amalfi, you’ll be taken by shuttle service to Maiori, a colourful lively town, which boasts the largest beach on the 50 km Amalfi coastline where you’ll find a lovely waterfront promenade with restaurants, cafés, and shops.