Sorrento/Amalfi Coast Italy Self Drive - from $999pp

Imagine lemons the size of softballs. Blood orange juice squeezed to order. Italian tiles hand-painted in front of you. The blue vistas for as far as you can see.

The Amalfi Coast paints a picture of Italy that most don't get to see and is easily accessible from Naples, just a short 60 minute drive and you'll be at your home-base of Sorrento where you will enjoy 6 nights in this seaside town. Take the ferry to Positano, Amalfi or Capri for the day or be a bit more adventurous and enjoy the coast roads as you drive along cliffs with unparalleled views.

Sorrento

This small town is wonderfully located over white steep cliffs and offers a fantastic view over the Bay of Naples. Sorrento lies on a Tufa terrace and is enclosed by impressive rocks of the limestone mountains. For 2000 years already visitors from all over the world have been attracted to Sorrento by breathtaking sunsets and fragrances of orange and lemon gardens.

The small fishing harbor of Marina Grande is especially beautiful in the low season, where one can sense the naturalness of Sorrento.

Several Hotels are situated right next to the shore and the gastronomy is delicious. One tip is the small Ristorante di Leva at the harbor with its pictures of Sophia Loren, who shot one of her films at this harbor. Although there are only a few dishes that are prepared by the owner herself, the Spaghetti Vongole makes a visit worth while. Another restaurant where one can dine superbly is the swimming restaurant "Zi'Ntonio mare".

Sorrento and the Amalfi coast are well known for its splendid big lemons. Typical products from Sorrento are produced with these "Limoni": Limoncello, a very tasty lemon liqueur, lemon chocolate, colorful ceramic articles with lemon motives or lemon soap. One should also try the over 70 different ice cream flavours of Gelateria Bougainvillea. One is tempted to shop by the small street Via S. Cesareo, the heart of Sorrento. In addition to this there is the weekly market that takes place on Tuesdays, where one can buy real bargains.

Sorrento is also very popular due to its good location as starting point to all the important surrounding sights. The summit of the peninsula of Sorrento is only about 5 km away from Capri, which can be easily reached from the Harbor Marina Piccola. Also Ischia and Procida, of which the silhouettes can be seen on clear days, can be reached very quickly per speedboat. Sorrento is also the terminus of the Circumvesuviana, a small train with its start in Naples. One can reach Pompeii and Herkulaneum by this rail in about thirty minutes and Naples in circa one hour's time.

Seasons

Once again, my favorite time of year is the off-season when there are no crowds, the locals are more relaxed and even if a few shops are closed, there is always enough to keep me busy. I've traveled here in November and March, both times the weather was nice enough to sit outside and enjoy the cafes. If you plan on driving, this is also a more optimal time of year as well, with fewer cars on the road you can slow down and relax a bit.

Optional Tours (Please note which you would like when booking!)

CAPRI ISLAND – Full day tour

Take the very first hydrofoil of the morning from Sorrento, the trip lasts about 30 minutes and leaves you at the dock in Capri's Marina Grande. From there, hop immediately onto one of the boats bound for the spectacularly beautiful Blue Grotto (make sure it's not "Blue Grotto and the Tour of the Island").

Afterwards, return to Marina Grande and take the funicular up to Piazza Umberto I (the Piazzetta), a charming square that is basically one big outdoor cafe. Follow either Via Longano or Via Le Botteghe to the crossroad, then take Via Matromania to the Natural Arch. We advise to stop at one of the Bar and than have an “insalata caprese” (slices of tomato served with mozzarella and basil leaves) and some of the local “bianco caprese” white wine.

After lunch, continue to the Grotta di Matromania, a natural cave where the ancient Romans staged strange rituals to worship the gods. Walk down the steps to the well-maintained path that leads to Tragara; you will have Capri's most famous landmarks, the “Faraglioni”, to your left the whole time. From the terrace, follow Via Tragara, one of the most gorgeous streets on earth, back to the Piazzetta. This walk takes about 90 minutes… but no rush!

If you're still ready for more, walk a few yards from the Piazzetta and take a bus to Anacapri. The 10-minute ride is dramatically beautiful and equally hair-raising. Get off at Piazza della Vittoria and walk 5 minutes down Via San Michele to Axel Munthe's Villa di San Michele, a lovely garden mecca filled with classical statuary. You can top off the day with a chairlift ride up Monte Solaro (from Piazza della Vittoria), where you will be rewarded with even more wonderful views of the Bay of Naples; or walk down the hill a few hundred yards to the church of San Michele, with its world-famous majolica floor depicting Adam and Eve in Paradise. When you're ready to leave Anacapri, take the bus straight back to Marina Grande, where you'll catch the hydrofoil to Sorrento.

AMALFI AND RAVELLO - Full day tour (about 40 km)

The coastal road begins after Sorrento, runs through Positano, the fishing villages of Praiano, Furore and Conca dei Marini, and continues until it reaches the busy square of Amalfi which is situated on the seafront - the port and a long stretch of pebbled beach.

In front of the port of Amalfi there are the main shopping street of Amalfi, that terminates at the furthest and highest point of the town. Along the pedestrian street are various bars and cafés, not to mention the many shops selling “limoncello”, casual clothing, swimwear, gifts, basic groceries, and of course, ceramics. However, there are more than shops, Amalfi has some interesting sights to explore: the most spectacular cathedral along the coast, the paper factory and its museum. There are of course also some highly recommended local restaurants, that serve only local cuisine (in particular, fish dishes).

slow uphill drive along a very narrow road passing several wineries and olive factories, leads to Ravello, a rural village unspoilt by tourism, perched on top of the mountain cliff situated above Amalfi and Minori. Ravello, being famous for its breath-taking views, natural beauty and ancient monuments are presented at their best in the gardens of Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. In high season, these gardens are rich in sweet secants of blooming flowers, shadows of flora and perfume of lemons. Apart from the main cathedral, also situated in the square, and a history museum constructed in the basement of the cathedral, there are many other churches to visit given that there used to be a total of 13 churches in the village. Along the narrow arches of Via Roma one will find a few small boutiques, and scattered around the vicinity are some traditional local restaurants with a cuisine quite different from those close to the sea.

THE EMERALD GROTTO – Half day tour (30 km)

The Emerald Grotto (in Italian Grotta dello Smeraldo) is located in Conca dei Marini, a lovely bay about five km west of Amalfi.

It can be reached along the SS 163 and going down with a lift or through the stairs that lead you in the cavern, or with the boats of the many sailors offering this journey to tourists.

The Emerald Grotto’s key feature is its exquisitely brilliant blue and green waters, which were in fact the inspiration for its name. The colours of the water, reflecting of the ceilings and floors, cast a mysterious and almost holy glow on the walls of the cavern.

You can also see the charming “presepio” representing Christ’s nativity laying on the sea bed…

Certainly, Emerald Grotto is the type of travel destination that does not just transport you to another place, but to another world. On a clear and calm day, the boat ride into the Grotto itself is an experience, especially when you look back and see the view of the Amalfi coastline from the unique perspective from the sea.

POMPEII AND VESUVIUS – Full day tour (about 40 km)

The ancient Roman city destroyed and buried by the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in 79 A.D. is impossible to miss. The remainder of the uncovered city is today buried under the new Pompeii rebuilt many years subsequent to the eruption. Please note that since Pompeii is a popular area for tourists, we strongly recommend being cautious of your belongings!

ARCHEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION ARE OPEN EVERY DAY (except National main festivities) FROM 8.30 AM TO 5.00 PM DURING WINTER AND UNTIL 7.30 PM FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR

Guides can be hired at the entrance or headphones can be rented, voicing explanations of the sites.

Thousands of prosperous citizens would have sought comfort in the majesty of Mount Vesuvius and regarded it as nothing less than a gift from the gods. In those days of abundant plenty, no Neapolitan would have anticipated the hidden threat of their beloved mountain that erupted violently during the morning of August 24, AD 79, unceremoniously removing all surrounding cities within a radius of Vesuvius, from the face of the earth. Since then, Vesuvius has erupted about three dozen times. The most recent eruption from 1913-1944 was thought to be the end of an eruptive cycle that began in 1631, however unpredictably the last eruption of Vesuvius was on 23 November 1980, that killed over 3,000 people. View the crater of Vesuvius, 1281 meters above sea level, by walking for approximately 45 minutes up the steep mount, as the road for vehicles terminates half way up this climb.

CASERTA - Half day tour (about 75 km )

Caserta is famous for its enchanting Royal Palace, the surrounding gardens and their spectacular fountains, which were acquired in the mid 18th century by the Bourbon King Charles III. The palace; rich in chandeliers, gilded frescoes, impressive tapestries and having a total of over 1,200 rooms and 1790 windows, was designed and began being built in 1752 by Luigi Vanvitelli and his son, and not considered completed until the Throne Room was finished in 1847. Amongst a fishpond, natural woodland and masses of shrubbery and flora, there is a 75-meter high waterfall in the gardens, which is clearly visible from the palace located 3 km away. After the year 1759, when the King Charles of Bourbon left the kingdom of Naples to take up the crown of Spain, the property was not used again until 1945 when the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean required a Headquarters.

THE ROYAL PALACE IS OPEN FROM 8.30 AM TO 7.30 PM – THE GARDENS ARE OPEN FROM 8.30 AM TO 2.30 PM DURING THE WINTER AND AROUND 5 PM FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR; CLOSED ON TUESDAYS

NAPOLI - Half day tour (about 50 km )

“Bella Napoli”, where the pizza Margherita was born - a city having many different colors and many different sides, renowned for the character of its people who say “see Naples and then die”.

Naples is situated in the bay where Mont Vesuvius forms the backdrop to the city that should be toured WITHOUT wearing any jewelry, for ladies not to be carrying handbags and for money to be kept in front pockets rather than wallets or purses!

Apart from shopping at its best along the streets of Via Chiaia, Via Roma, Corso Umberto, Via Caracciolo and the shopping mall “Galleria Umberto”, the city is dripping with art, culture and history. Visit the museum of National Archaeology and the museum Capodimonte that exhibits works of the Renaissance and baroque masters (don’t miss the impressive ceiling). See the cathedral of San Gennaro, impressing churches of San Lorenzo and Gesù Nuovo, the charterhouse of San Martino and the cloister of Santa Chiara. There is the theatre of San Carlo and a nearby bar “Cambrinus” (the bar of the artists) that inherited its name from all the artists that used to drink there after exiting the theatre. There are various squares such as the Piazza Municipio where the castle of Maschio Angioino is located, and the vacant Royal Palace of the former Royal family that rests in Piazza Plebiscito.

We recommend to sample an authentic Neapolitan pizza!!!

Terms & Conditions

Rates are per-person based on 4 people traveling together during the off-season and sharing a two-bedroom apartment and one munual shift car. Keep in mind that airfare will depend on which airport you've chosen (we priced this for our dates in November from Philadelphia). Taxes are not included and will be added when you request a price quote. Rates are for off-season though other seasons are available -- at additional cost of course.