Days 5 & 6: Amalfi

I have fond memories of the Amalfi coast having visited after both college and medical school with some of my best friends. This time it was even more special to share it with my wife. The natural beauty of the area with colorful houses dotting the cliffs and azure waters make it one of the most beautiful places I have visited.

We arrived by ferry from Capri to the tourist bustle of the town of Amalfi

Years ago, my buddies and I discovered a quaint seaside pizzeria in the nearby town of Atrani that served delicious wood-fired, brick oven cooked pizza. I was able to persuade Heather to go exploring with me to find it. Nine years after first eating there, it is not only still there, but remodeled, expanded, TripAdvisor rated (4.5 stars!) and still serving delicious pizza. We grabbed a couple of pies to go and a bottle of wine and enjoyed the beachside view. These simple meals are what I relish most when I travel. Cheap, delicious, and unforgettable.

Atrani at dusk

Yummy pizzas from Le Arcate in Atrani

a view from Amalfi

The next day we took a bus up to Ravello, a town famous for its classical music performances high in the hills. The views from here were incredible as we could see some of the other coastal towns below. Unfortunately, our timing with the music festivals was off (much to Heather's dismay), but as you can see, the backdrop would be incredible. On the bright side, we were able hunt down a limoncello distillery and enjoyed a tasting of this regionally famous refreshment.

The towns of Minori and Maiori in the distance

Heather standing on stage where a chamber music group had just performed the evening prior

Back in Amalfi that evening, we brainstormed from the beautiful roof top deck on how to spend our last few days in Italy. Heather snapped a spectacular photo which captures the moment. Perfect evening, Italy guidebook and the limoncello we had purchased earlier:

Finally that evening, we found a restaurant that was tucked away in Amalfi, "off the beaten tourist path," and had what was my favorite meal of the trip yet. Fresh beefy red tomatoes with spicy arugula (way better than what we get in the US), the most tender octopus I have ever had and a home-made hand cut pasta dish that made me think I must have been eating from an Italian grandmother's kitchen. All priced reasonably. So delicious!

A departing shot (using long exposure settings) of the main church in the Amalfi town square:

Our next destination... Wait for the next post (hint - it's another island!)