[bigletter]I took a trip to Italy to do research for an Indulge article on the southwestern coast. My goal was to discover and write about the plethora of insider details and activities that there are to do within the region. Being that I am half-Italian, my family, who is from Napoli, still lives there and they are within the South for the most part. Some do live north or in Rome, whoever, they know everything about the coast and I was lucky enough to enjoy a few days with them while I was there.[/bigletter]
Located south of Napoli, there are smaller cities that are not only famous for their history but also for some of the best food you will ever have the pleasure of eating. It’s fresh, organic and made as authentically as can be (obviously). A non-biased fun fact: the food in the South of Italy is so much tastier and more delicious than the north. Don’t get me wrong, all Italian food is good, and Italian cuisine is some of the most popular in the world, Napoli has some of the best dishes, especially pizza – which originates from Napoli – gnocchi, fried finger foods called “fritelle” and seafood. One of the main reasons why the ingredients are so fresh and savoury is because the area is a volcanic region, given Mount Vesuvius. This allows for the soil to be rich, extremely fertile and therefore the tomatoes and other produce in the region are grown and served fresh as antipasti, main dishes and pasta on every nonna’s dinner table every evening.
If you don’t have a nonna to cook for you when you visit, or like me, have 150 aunts, uncles and cousins to have you over for dinner, there are a variety of small restaurants and businesses throughout the cities where you can have an authentic spaghetti e pomodoro drizzled with parmesan and accompanied with a glass of white wine.
When looking to visit the Southern coast, cities to add to the list are Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi. Sorrento has the most amazing markets, Positano is perfect for a few beach days and Amalfi is lovely for limoncello lovers.
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In Sorrento, you will find shop after shop filled with leather goods, spices, truffles, chocolates, oils, and one of the most famous gelato shops in the region, so if there is any place where you can do some shopping, it’s there. The high traffic in tourism obviously forces them to raise the prices of things such as their linen dresses and leather goods. The beaches in Sorrento aren’t great to lounge or tan in, though. They are too touristy and commercialized. You won’t get an Italian beach experience there as you will in Capri or Positano. However, the view is the perfect paradise for a sunset to remember, and the photos of the beach and tanning areas looking down from the top show you crystal blue waters and visuals that simulate a postcard. Travel note: do NOT forget your camera.
I highly suggest bicycle or scooter rentals. It‘s easy to get around within each city, but walking around is also easy to do and it allows for stopping by to admire the graffiti walls and architecture, but for the days when you just want to lounge out at the beach, Positano is a lot better and more comfortable for laying out and tanning. If you book a hotel room in Positano (which is only a few miles away from Amalfi) you’ll probably find yourself nestled in one of the colorful balconies that make it such a distinctive and sought-after spot for so many people. It’s one of my favorite places.
Cruise to Amalfi
Given Positano’s proximity to Amalfi, it’s super easy to cruise over to the other city by boat or bus. I highly recommend the boat. Once in Amalfi, you’ll be able to visit a few historic monuments as well as enjoy a tour around the piazza.
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There are a few really great gelato spots within that same piazza, so it’s relevant to take note and separate some time for a gelato sesh (one of many!) while sitting beside the busy street. In true Southern Italian fashion, you will see so many things going on at the same time: cars cruising, Vespas interrupting the traffic flow, tourists lingering among the shops and businesses selling food, clothes as well as an array of sweets made by the city’s famous limoncello. In Amalfi, you will find the best limoncello in the area, because the sfusato Amalfitano lemon is grown within farms packed with groves that are standing just up the main street. If you want to try my favorite gelato flavor: melone (cantaloupe). I’ve loved it since I was a little girl, and every time I go to Italy, I eat so much cantaloupe ice cream.
Don’t forget the small towns
Other places in the region are perfect for those looking to visit the south to learn about the food as a culture, a business and how it’s produced. In Agerola you’ll learn about the cheese that is used to make the pizza. In Gragnano you’ll find the factories and places where the pasta manufacturing business takes place and in Castellamare you’ll find the best and freshest seafood.
Going to the coast any time of the year is fun, but I highly recommend that whoever wants to go South, go in Spring and Summer, while those going in autumn or winter would probably enjoy the north a bit more. Cities such as Rome and Milan perhaps don’t require such a beach-friendly temperature and climate. There are however beautiful places up north to visit in the summer as well: Cinque Terre, Venice and Florence, among others. Regardless of where you go on the coast always remember to bring your camera and that life is too short – eat the gelato!
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I adore capturing every highlight of my travels and sharing them in hopes of helping a curious traveler with a bit of insight. If you want to see more visit and follow my hashtags #CBtalksTraveling & #CBgoestoItaly to stay in tune with where I go next.
With love from Italy…
By Cata Balzano
