Sorrento and Positano: Must see places in Italy

We had quite exhausted our energies at Pompeii and we left Pompeii around 2 PM and proceeded with our next stop at Sorrento.

It was probably Greeks who founded Sorrento and later ruled by Etruscans (~90 BC), Romans came later. Sorrento derived its name from the Sirens who in Greek mythology said to inhabit these waters and sing songs that the sailors would not resist. Of course, they ended up by becoming a meal.

The city is famous for its citrus products chief of which is Limoncello.

We could not see the famed seaside scenes except for what we could see in the gaps between the buildings.

The city is much larger than what we could see but was enough to get a feeling. We arrived at one of the town centers near Piazza Tasso. There is a statue of St. Antonino Abate, a monk who arrived from Monte Cassino and said to have performed miracles.

There is another totem pole-like sculpture near St. Antonino's statue for which I find no reference.

Source: Google Maps Interactive

Depending on where you enter the city and from which direction you arrive, your impression of the city is quite different, a fact I have felt often. We entered the crowded city on a warm day and the most we could do was to find a place to eat. Our tour director Katia had indicated many fine ones. It was past our usual lunch time and we quickly got into one - Ristornate Pizzeria L'Abate which turned out to be very good. The service was excellent although somewhat slow. The seats were outdoor, but it also had nice indoor seating. We sat outside watching the crowd outside. 

After lunch we explored two of the side streets with shops that cater for tourists selling local products. We bought some lemon look-alike soaps and some gifts articles.

The famous majolica ceramics are another of the Sorrento products the tourists take home.

We left Sorrento to return to our hotel via Positano, which was on our way.

If we had, had stayed at Positano instead of Maiori, it would have been very nice. Perhaps, the tour budget did not allow such as option.

From Sorrento to Positano we get to see the glorious sea with small islands that were coveted and owned by Nureyev and others as our tour director pointed out.

The location possess such an air of romance & beauty that celebrity names such as Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington, Sophia Loren, Zaphrelli, Nureyev and others flocked to this place and even owned properties. Here are some shots taken travelling from Sorrento to Positano and finally to Maiori.

Our tour related video: Returning from Pompeii

Source: Raymond Austin

Source: Alan Kehew from Pinterest

For us, it was an unforgettable memory we would like to cherish.

Tomorrow, September 22, we will be transferring to Rome, the eternal city via Monte Cassino. More on this in the next post, and today I am looking for more of the good wine before turning in.

A visit to the beautifual Amalfi Coast in Italy

September 20: It was a beautiful day in Maiori. We boarded a ferry at Maiori wharf to cruise along the Amalfi coast and visit Amalfi.

Amalfi Coast Boat ride:

After disembarking from the boat at the Amalfi wharf Katia (tour director) marched us through the portals of the city.

Named after a nymph who was in love with Hercules and buried here as the legend goes, Amalfi of former maritime glory being one of the four maritime republics (Genoa, Amalfi, Venice and Pisa) is a coastal town of what is called Costeira Amalfiana. Amalfi commanded the position as a major maritime force in the past but is now history. Traders from as far as Arabia, India and China appeared to have traded with Amalfians. Present day Amalfi is a well-known tourist attraction teeming with folks from all over the world.

It was the English aristocracy who came and enjoyed their time in former times , and now even folks like us can come and enjoy.

We could see the imposing cathedral as soon as we entered the town and St. Andrew’s statue was right next to it. We also had access to a local guide provided by Smithsonian Journeys who explained the history of Amalfi; the various details of the Cathedral and how it was modified couple of times; and the history of St. Andrews’ relics buried in the Cathedral.

We walked around the Amalfi town visiting the town square learning the architectural style of the Cathedral; the structure of the city with hidden lodgings carved into the mountain for people to hide for periods of time during enemy invasion and how maritime history came to an end and tourism began.

Katia also took us to see the network of passageways threaded into the mountains where folks hid from enemy eyes during enemy incursions into the city. We also visited a small chapel in one of these grottos maintained by a lady of advanced years where children were collected and cared for during the enemy incursions.

Coastal scenery; boats and ships in the ocean; colorful landscape; embarking / disembarking tourists; picturesque houses precariously perched on the vertiginous mountain slopes; lemon farming on terraces on the mountain slopes; gives Amalfi a unique appeal shared by other coastal towns in the same region like Sorrento and Positano which we will be visiting soon. Amalfi is one of several coast towns in this region included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

We then visited Museum of Paper. The Museo Do Papel De Amalfi, the 14tth Century, oldest surviving paper making facility in Amalfi is certainly worth a visit. It is still in working condition producing the Bambagina paper much valued in Europe and elsewhere. The guides here are truly professional and explained its history; the various engineering pieces bringing water from mountain top to the cisterns; the hydraulic system driving the water wheels of the factory; and how the paper was made.

One of our fellow traveler was able to demonstrate paper making by picking the paper slurry and putting it on a drying cylinder. You can buy the Bambagina paper besides other kinds of paper in the museum shop.

Walking tour of Amalfi:

There are objects of the bygone maritime era in museums such as the Museo Civico.  Right next to it was the 'Emerald cave' which we missed.

We also walked by an imposing war memorial marked for the years 1935-1945.

It was past noon when we had lunch at this very nice water front restaurant called Marina Grande. The food was excellent and the service, a little slow, getting the bill slower, but OK.

After lunch we go visit Ravello.

Ci vediamo più tardi a Ravello!