Hi chicks!
To keep from getting depressed in these freezing temperatures, what better way than to go back to the photos of our All Saints’ Day vacation in Southern Italy 🙂 The sweet life, the dolce vita, pizza, pasta, gelato… Just thinking about it makes my mouth water!
In this article, I invite you to follow our journey between Naples and the Amalfi Coast. If you don’t know this region, I hope this will make you want to go there. In any case, I really fell under its spell 🙂 Especially as it’s a destination that’s perfect for lovers and families alike.
All Saints’ Day was the perfect time to get out and about without too many tourists. Temperatures are still mild and the coast road is clear. Clearly avoid summer if you don’t want to spend hours in the car, like on the Côte d’Azur 🙂
Enjoy the charm of Naples, the picturesque
On arrival at Naples airport, we took a local bus to our apartment. We didn’t take the rental car straight away, as it’s impossible to park in Naples. From the city center, it’s a twenty-minute climb (yes, it’s really a climb!!) before we arrive at our destination. We found our accommodation via Air BnB. Anita’s apartment is excellent value for money. And it’s ideally located for exploring Naples on foot or by public transport.
Once we’d dropped our suitcases, we couldn’t wait to stroll down the narrow streets of #cuoredinapoli, and above all to enjoy a good pizza. We reach the famous Via dei Tribunali via Piazza Monumento a Dante and Via Port’Alba. What I appreciate right away is that we’re far from the clichés I heard before my departure: Naples is dirty, be careful with your belongings, there are lots of pickpockets… On the contrary, the city is really charming: it’s lively and it’s really good! Italian mamas are drying their clothes over your head, little garage owners are busy repairing scooters, Italians are enjoying their coffee on the terraces of the bars… In short, it’s an instant change of scenery 🙂
Chapels and shops have retained their typical spirit. Artisans are proud to display their local products. From pastas and Babas to chili peppers (the Neapolitans’ good luck charm), everything is designed to make you want to take home some souvenirs in your suitcases 🙂 Nativity scenes and santons are another local pride. Southern Italy is very devout, so Christmas is a very important holiday, and village re-enactments an institution.
On this street, it’s impossible to miss the famous “Sorbillo” pizzeria, a favorite of Neapolitans and Italian stars alike.
Speaking of which, at lunchtime we decide to try another famous pizzeria: Brandi, the restaurant that invented the Margherita pizza over 100 years ago now 🙂 I’d advise you to make a reservation if you want a table, as the restaurant is packed with tourists… ! Personally, I loved my pizza because it was original and had a creamy base! Made with sausage, spinach and smoked Italian cheese… it was to die for.
After lunch, to digest, we continue strolling through the narrow streets of Naples. We’ll take time out to enjoy the city’s magnificent Piazza del Plebiscito. This imposing square is surrounded by immense buildings of great historical importance. Today, it’s a vast pedestrian area used for events and concerts. Personally, we enjoyed some ice cream and a little siesta in the sun, while admiring the young members of the Italian army training for the parade or the models posing for famous brands 🙂
Napoli style! I couldn’t resist shooting this young woman, who sums up the coolness of southern Italians: many of them ride this all-terrain electric bike, and many of the girls are really stylish. They have nothing to envy us, as they’re already at the cutting edge of fashion 🙂
To round off the day, we take metro line 1 back to the apartment and take the opportunity to admire the famous and magical TOLEDO metro station. The brainchild of Catalan designer Oscar Tusquets Blanca, it’s well worth the detour. Acknowledged as Europe’s most beautiful underground station by the British daily The Telegraph, it’s easy to see why when you arrive at the station. Its blue-and-white mosaics and skylight make for a magical sight.
Once we’re near our accommodation, we can’t resist the panoramic view as the sun sets. The umbrella pine in the foreground, the Duomo in the background and the port of Naples in the background. It’s the epitome of Neapolitan beauty.
The treasures of Naples
On this second day, we start by taking the “Centrale” funicular railway, with its typical vintage station, to reach the Vomero district.
From up there, you have a panoramic view of the entire bay. Then it’s off to the “Museo della Certosa di san Martino” for a rich visit.
What I particularly liked:
- Chartreuse San Martino church: with its majestic ceiling and walls and floors covered in sculpted marble
- The museum floor🙂 which allows you to play with shapes and colors to get perfect photos for a nice insta feed!
- The“Chiostro grande“: an intriguing place where time stands still. Marble columns encircle a space divided between lemon trees and the monks’ cemetery. Several skulls carved on the cemetery gate watch over the resting place of the monastery’s last monks.
- The Cuciniello crib: featuring 162 figures, 80 animals and angels, and over 450 objects. The sculptor of the veiled Christ in the Sansevero chapel, Guiseppe Sanmartino, was one of several artists who contributed to this work. The most incredible thing is that the angels appear to be flying, even though they are held in place by a thread that naturally fades in the photo 🙂
After this visit, you can walk back down to the Spanish Quarter via the“scalle dela pedamentina“, a staircase with wide steps that’s best taken from top to bottom!
After a lunch break, we end our tour of Naples with a visit to its shopping streets, including the majestic Galleria Umberto . This gallery, which mixes boutiques and cafés with private living spaces from the third level upwards, is topped by vaulted ceilings and a glass dome with a gigantic metal structure.
Arriving in the afternoon towards Corso Umberto and its department stores, we stumbled across a crowd of fans eagerly awaiting a young Italian singer on the rise: RIKI.
Her song“Se parlassero di noi” has obviously captured the hearts of thousands of young girls 🙂
Before returning to the apartment, it’s impossible to miss the Sansevero chapel, which houses the famous and sumptuous statue of the “Veiled Christ”. This marble sculpture was created by Giuseppe Sanmartino. It is forbidden to take photos. Take time to admire the incredible details that make the piece almost real.
The Amalfi Coast from Vesuvius to Paestum
We hit the road again to finish the week on the Amalfi coast. We headed for Salerno, where our accommodation awaited us. We found it on Guest to Guest, a site for exchanging houses simultaneously or via points. I already told you about it in my article on preparing for our trip to California. Very practical and above all economical 🙂 There’s nothing extraordinary about this town, but it’s perfectly situated, one hour from Naples, 40 min from Vesuvius, on the coast road and 45 min from Paestum.
After collecting our keys and dropping off our suitcases, we decided to take a stretch of the scenic route to admire the sunsets over the charming hillside towns. We pass through Minori, a cute fishing village, and on to the famous Amalfi. We take our time to enjoy the mild temperatures. We even improvise a photo shoot on the jetty, taking in the bay and the craggy town from every angle!
We then follow the narrow streets to Piazza del Duomo. The lively terraces offer a warm and inviting atmosphere. We’re tempted to linger at one of the tables and enjoy the show!
On the way back, we stop to enjoy the majestic natural spectacle before us. The colors don’t need to be reworked for hours on a computer program: from blue to red, passing through yellow, with the dark cliffs… It’s a real pleasure to admire this sunset!
Vesuvius and Pompeii
The next day, after a good night’s sleep, we headed for Vesuvius. Let’s be clear, we’re not hikers! We therefore chose to leave our car at the bottom of the mountain (paid parking) and take the shuttle buses that offer to take you to the foot of Vesuvius for a few euros. After that, you’ll still need to get tickets to enter the “park”. Yes, if like us you feel like you’re being taken for a ride, that’s normal 🙂 Welcome to Vesuvius! A few years ago, these multiple “tolls” didn’t exist. There’s still a good half-hour’s walk to reach the heights of the volcano and admire the small craters spewing smoke and the splendid view of the coast. Don’t forget to bring a little wool, as the weather is cooler up there.
If you’d like to stop off at the summit, there’s a small bar offering spirits and local specialities such as “Taralli ‘Nzogna e pepe“, salted cookies with almonds and pepper. A real treat when you’re feeling peckish 🙂
After this little jaunt, we set off in the direction of Pompeii. We find a place to have lunch on the way down the panoramic road. What could be better than a well-deserved picnic with a breathtaking view of the Neapolitan bay?
When we arrived at Pompeii, we were pleasantly surprised. We found a parking space near the entrance to the site. Frankly, once again, the timing was ideal: we didn’t have thousands of tourists and could enjoy the site until the end of the day. As a first-time visitor to this type of relic, I’m truly charmed by the place! The state of preservation of this ancient Roman city is truly incredible, and it’s easy to imagine how the Romans must have lived here over 2,000 years ago! The site is vast, so make sure you know which entrance you’re coming from, so you don’t get lost 🙂 Tickets cost 13 euros.
Positano and Ravello
The Amalfi Coast is synonymous with charming little villages set on cliffs plunging into turquoise waters. After telling you about Minori and Amalfi earlier in the article, let’s continue our journey along this scenic route. Let’s start with Positano, Italy’s “St Tropez”. Admittedly, I can confirm that the village is delightful, with its fishermen’s cottages tucked away among verdant gardens terraced down to the sea. But frankly, the time spent finding a parking space is enough to put you off the visit! Forget free parking! Once again, if you don’t want to drive around for an hour, you’ll have to accept a few euros. Then take your time to wander through the narrow streets and sit on the beach at the very bottom of the village to admire the scenery.
We get back in the car and head for Ravello, my first favorite place of the week!
Overlooking the sea from a height of more than 300 m, this town has become famous for its music festival: theRavello Festival. Created in 1953 in honor of Richard Wagner, who stayed at Villa Rufolo, the festival has been held every year since then, throughout July and August. Classical music concerts are held in the gardens of the magnificent Villa Rufolo, overlooking the bay. This villa is not to be missed. Once again, take the time to stroll through this soothing place and let yourself be captivated by the sense of freedom that has inspired the most famous intellectuals and artists.
Paestum
My second and final favorite of the week 🙂
Situated on the south-eastern shores of the Gulf of Salerno, Paestum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Cilento National Park and Vallo di Diano. Compared with Pompeii, I have to admit that if I had to choose, I’d prefer Paestum, because the three majestic temples set on the plain are so fascinatingly beautiful! You don’t even have to go to Greece to find remains built by the Greeks! With teenagers, the walk is ideal, as they can have fun jumping from stone to stone, and the walk at the end of the day offers incredible colors and photos.
On your way out of Paestum, if it’s the end of your trip and you want to bring back some real“mozzarella di buffala“, I recommend a visit to a “caseificio” (an artisanal dairy). Caseificio Barlotti, Via Torre di Paestum, Capaccio-Paestum or Tenuta Vannulo, Via Galileo Galilei, Capaccio-Paestum are two very good addresses. For those with a sweet tooth, in addition to mozza, try a buffalo milk “Gelato” 🙂
There’s my little girls!
I hope I’ve taken you on a journey through my photos and our escapades. And I hope I’ve inspired you to visit Southern Italy. If you have any questions about prices, restaurants… Don’t hesitate to leave me your comments, I’ll be delighted to answer them.
I wish you an excellent weekend and hope to see you soon 🙂
