Italy's ultra-romantic Amalfi coast boasts dramatic cliffs overlooking storybook beaches, lemon trees dotting the bucolic countryside, and unbeatable food and drinks.
By: Carrie Bell-AS SEEN IN BRIDAL GUIDE MAGAZINE-
Bellinis and boat trips, gelato and gardens, plunging cliffs dotted with pastel-colored villages and piazzas, citrus-scented sunshine. These are just a few of the magical things that keep lovers and dreamers flocking to the Italian coastline, even when it means having to brave the blind corners and dramatic drop-offs of the infamous SS163 highway that connects the romantic, water-view 13 hamlets.
Photo courtesy of Casa Angelina
Where to Stay
In the quaint town of Praiano, book a stay at Casa Angelina, a serene 39-room adults-only boutique hideaway with a chic all-white palette, rooftop dining, indoor and outdoor pools, and floor-to-ceiling views of the aquamarine water below. La Gavitella, a photogenic beach from which sunsets can be enjoyed, is accessible by both an elevator and 200 steps. Decrease the distance between your shower and the sand by staying in one of the converted Eaudesea Experience shermen’s cottages built directly into the rock. Your butler can deliver a signature orange blossom gin, or book a spa treatment that utilizes the same local flower (room rates start at about $610 a night).
Photo courtesy of Casa Angelina
What to Do
While eating is certainly on everyone’s agenda, getting your steps in is also easy here. Take a casual stroll through the gardens and Infinity Terrace of Ravello’s Villa Cimbrone, a favorite of Richard Wagner, Gore Vidal and Virginia Woolf. For a more rigorous outing, there’s sentiero degli dei (path of the gods), a sky-high ve-mile trail filled with wild flowers, ruins, vertical orchards, and million-dollar views. REI Adventures offers an active itinerary that includes hiking and wine tasting on the slopes of Vesuvius, kayaking through sea caves and exploring a castle on Ischia.
Photo courtesy of REI Adventure
Where to Eat
This is Italy, which means a food tour is a must-do. On the five-hour forage, fix and then feast experience with Gastronomic Trekking, local Giacomo Miola leads intimate groups around the Montepertuso countryside in search of herbs, fruits, capers and edible weeds. Whatever you find is then utilized at a cooking class and multi-course lunch at the B&B he runs with his brother.
Photo courtesy of REI Adventure
The Pansa family has been crafting decadent pastries in Amal since 1830. At their elegant salon on Amal square, you can marvel and indulge in a classic lemon cake, flaky sfogliatelle (a thin-layered, cream-filled treat) and homemade chocolate bars, all accompanied by an espresso. Don’t miss a visit to the immaculate 11th-century cathedral located in the same piazza.
Travel Tip
Whether you want to Vespa from grotto to grotto, learn to make limoncello, sail to Capri or find the best spots to score ceramics, use GetYourGuide.com to connect with local experts, drivers, and tours in advance.
Photo courtesy of Casa Angelina
