Whenever we travel somewhere, we usually have a list of places that are considered “must-see” nearby. During our trip to Naples, those places were, of course, Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Looking more closely at the region, it is impossible not to notice that the Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular destinations. It was not part of our original plan, but since we were already there, we decided to go.
The Road Through the Mountains
From Naples, we drove along the highway past the already familiar Pompeii and Herculaneum. The road followed the sea, and what stayed in my memory was the black sand along the coast. It looked slightly unsettling, but at the same time very beautiful.
To reach the final destination, our guide took us along a mountain road. It was truly impressive. Even in winter, when nature feels paused, the landscapes remain strong and memorable.
One scene stayed with me in particular: a herd of goats walking along the only main road, with a shepherd and a dog beside them. Each goat had a small bell. They looked different from the goats we had seen before. Simple, rural, calm life.
First Stop in “La Dolce Vita”
Our first stop was in a small mountain town. The town itself was very nice. We walked through narrow streets, bought orange liqueur, and reached the main attraction — an old local castle.
Wealthy people rent this place for weddings and banquets. The views from the terrace are truly impressive. When the guide mentioned the prices, we agreed that a regular entrance ticket was more than enough for us.
The Town of Amalfi
From the mountain town, we drove to Amalfi. A small and beautiful town. At the same time, I cannot say that it impressed us deeply. The beach is quite small — as a seaside destination, it would probably not suit us. Clean air and blue water are common for many Mediterranean towns.
What we did remember was the ice cream recommended by our guide — even in winter, it was excellent. We also arrived during a local celebration. Right on the steps of the main cathedral, residents held a bright and lively concert. That moment stayed with us more than the town itself.
The Famous Beach Fiordo di Furore
A beach under a bridge. We arrived in winter and closer to the evening, so we could not fully experience the atmosphere. The guide explained that in summer, the only access is via the bridge, which often creates serious traffic jams.
Infrastructure issues are a separate topic. But the place itself is unusual and beautiful.
A Beautiful but Not Essential Trip
During this trip, we also visited two more towns, but it was already after sunset. The photos turned out dark, and the places did not leave a strong impression. Maybe we were tired. Maybe very popular tourist destinations simply do not attract us much. One of the towns turned out to be an expensive resort, with extremely high prices and a steady flow of wealthy visitors. Places like that tend to push us away rather than inspire us.
In the end, for us, this was not an essential trip. Still, some moments stayed in memory for a long time. It is up to you to decide whether you want to look into “La Dolce Vita” on the Amalfi Coast.