Positano-Amalfi-Ravello Shore Excursions

Positano-amalfi-ravello

If you wish an amazing tour, scenic, terrific and nearly out of this world, this is the ideal excursion to take while staying in Sorrento or also as a shore tour from Naples port. Amalfi Coast from Positano is what you are looking for. The tour is completely tailor made, meaning that once you book for the private car and the driver you plan the day just according to your wish of spending more or less time in each single place. The drivers all speak a very fluent English and can provide you not only the safest journey, but also some interesting facts and info all the way. The tour lasts about 9 hrs. and it includes the following itinerary. Positano, Amalfi and Ravello.

From Positano to Amalfi and Ravello

The Amalfi coast is for sure one of the most striking sceneries existing in southern Italy, and apart from the stunning views one can enjoy all along the drive, it is the road itself to be a real challenge to the steep rocky cliffs overlooking the magnificent emerald colours of the Tyrrhenian sea.

A unique landscape, which is even more than that if you venture the tiny little villages situated right at the top, of the mountains or just below the main road. Everything seems to be almost suspended between sky and sea. For centuries, the little villages have stayed quiet and almost immersed in a dreamlike atmosphere, but after the Second World War, the whole of veterans who had lived the dreadful experience of the War days, decided to return to those incredible sites, and to stay, maybe to enjoy what they had not been able to do during the dark days of the war.

It was only in the early 50’s that more and more families discovered the hospitality of those genuine local people that for generations had just dedicated their time to fishing and to the exploitation of a very wild landscape, creating the most impressive scenery of artificial terraces where to cultivate what ever they needed and what they could possibly trade too, like lemons and wine. In the same time they realized that the tourism industry could give them the best opportunity to increase their profits, and they started creating the first hotels and pensioni, familiar staff hotels, where the priority was to make the guest feel like home, and part of their Italian family.

Amalfi Coast Tour from Positano

Why take a tour of the Amalfi Coast from Positano? The reputation of the Amalfi coast towns, increased more and more and nowadays is one of the favourite destinations for visitors coming from all over the world. Hotels are every where and when you walk through the historical centre you are overwhelmed by the amount of shops selling any sort of stuff, the lemon liqueurs, the candles, the pictures and everywhere, even hanging over balconies the most incredible colours of linen clothes locally called “Moda Positano”.

As you walk to the bottom of the village, free of traffic, you get to the local church dedicated to Maria Assunta, Our Lady of the Assumption and still further down to the local beach, where one can also catch the ferries to Capri or Amalfi or Salerno. It is when you walk down to that beach, deeply breath in, and then turn yourself, that the whole of Positano beauty appears in front of you, nothing changes here, the centuries ago atmosphere is back for you. After Positano dreamful experience you proceed your journey, through some more villages, like Praiano, Conca dei Marini, and after a few more miles of pure delight for your eyes you get to the very busy town of Amalfi.

Historically, for sure, the most important town of the area, for the remarkable past as one of the 4 Maritime Republic, and for some of the oldest paper factories in our country; motherland of the presumed inventor of the sea compass, etc. What is left of that glorious past is for sure the most important monument in town, the Duomo, with and impressive façade decorated with gorgeous mosaics at the top and a Moorish lower part. The entrance is situated at the top of an imposing staircase (63steps) and the interior has been completely renovated in the 18 century.

In the crypt there is the tomb of St, Andrew with some relics of the Saint. Worth being visited if you don’t mind walking is the dedalus of tiny lanes, which climb to the top of the valley where the Museum of the Paper is (20 min. walk). The coastline road continues to pretty villages like Atrani. Leaving the coast the drive continues to the top of the mountains to Ravello, situated at 1100 feet above the sea level, the views of the coast below are for sure the most breath-taking scenery. The town of Ravello is for sure the best place where to leave the crowds and where to enjoy the quiet of a village, where most of the historical centre is still untamed, and still recalling the magnificence of the grand private residences once belonging to the most important local noble families.

The most famous of them is opened to the public “villa Rufolo”, dating back to 11th century, belonged to the family with the same name and in the 19th century sheltered Richard Wagner, who was inspired by the beauty of its gardens and the views for the composition of the 2nd act of its Parsifal. One more too, is worth of visiting, though 15 min. walk from the main square, Villa Cimbrone*. Then start the journey back to the port (around 5pm).

You may also be interested in: Amalfi Coast Private Tours