Top 10 Reasons to Travel to the
Italian Coasts
Top 10 Reasons to Travel to the Italian Coasts
Presented by Juniper Tours
The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline listed as a Unesco world heritage site, located 60km south of Naples and 20km from Sorrento, in southern Italy’s Campania region. A magnet for jet-sets since Roman times, the Italian Amalfi Coast is easily one of the worlds finest, most desired, and most glamorous coastlines. This blog post outlines the Top 10 Reasons to Travel to the Italian Coasts!
The wine
Scenic towns
Giant lemons
The weather
The colorful buildings
The architecture
The food
Get lost in the narrow windy roads filled with shops
Picturesque views everywhere
The beaches and natural beauty
1. The wine
The wine regions of Campania are also known for producing Falerno, one of Italys oldest wines. The fascinating wines from the wine regions of Campania are also a natural result of volcanic locations close to Mt. Vesuvius, and also the steep terraces on the Amalfi coast and the islands off shore. Campania, a region in Southern Italy, home to Naples and Pompeii, is known for its impressive Campanian patrimony of indigenous grapes like Falanghina, Greco, Fiano, and powerful red grape Aglianico.
In fact, nine wines from Campania are on her Top 50 Wines in All Italy list, representing nearly 20% of the best whites coming from Campania, an Italian region (20 Italian regions!). Although grapes are mostly found on Ischia Island only (ancient Aenaria), they are the major characteristics of a number of wines from outside of the island, without even counting a few wines with the label DOCG of the Amalfi coast. Read on to see a roundup of the top six regions in Italy to taste wines.
If you can take a day or two off work, head over to the neighboring wine-producing region of Basilicata, which is located just outside Campania, you will get to taste another flavor of Italy — in terms of both wines and the landscape.
2. The scenic towns
Many travelers, and also Italians, regard Positano as a jewel of the Amalfi Coast in Italy, thanks to its beaches and blue-green Mediterranean waters, ranking it among Italys top seaside towns. Scilla is a small city with a population of around 3,900 people, located in Salerno Province, Italy’s Campania region, and is part of Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast. Positano is built on the cliffs, looking out over the Tyrrhenian Sea, and is made up of rows of pastel-colored houses, making it one of the most photographed parts of the Italian coastline.
Many hotels offer rooms with views over the quiet and peaceful Tramonti Mountains as well as the Amalfi Coast, making this one of the best places in Italy to spend big on hotel rooms. Gallipoli is divided into two sections, Old Town and New Town. The Amalfi coast is really a collection of small towns and villages perched on the tops of the cliffs, together with one of the finest coastline roads in Southern Italy, which is quite hair-raising to drive.
3. The giant lemons
Most, (around 70%) of lemons are fronds of white pith, from two to five inches thick, that have a mild texture and a nearly sweet lemon flavor. There is no flesh. The cedro citron is quite dry and is not used for juice, and has a mellower flavor than the average lemon. It is a heirloom Sorrentino, or elliptical lime, a little acidic or tarter than the Amalfi coast lemons.
There is actually another lemon variety grown near the Amalfi coast, Limone di Sorrento I.G.P. This particular Amalfi lemon, named after its long, spindle-like shape, has been developed solely for cultivation on the Amalfi coast. Locally known as the Sfusato Amalfitano The Amalfi Lemon is so named because of the cultivars origins, but also because of the lemons peculiarly long, slender form, which is not unlike that of a spindle, which is the Italian word sfusato.
Nowadays, Azienda Agricola Salvatore Aceto specialises in the organic farming of a specific kind of lemon, Sfusato Amalfitano, which is unique worldwide due to its quality and organoleptic characteristics — it is also known as the LOro of Amalfi. Lemons are grown in many parts of Italy, the most commonly grown lemons in Italy are those from the Amalfi coast and Sicily. While exploring villages along the Amalfi Coast, travelers are sure to notice lemons are bigger than what they are used to.
While the Amalfi Coast claims to be home to the real lemon, Sicilian lemons are much better known and distributed across Italy, as well as in many European countries.
4. The weather
The weather on the Italian Coast gets pretty warm during summer; wet & cold during winter months, and fair weather in the Fall & Spring. For example, Florence, Italy, has generally hot weather, with an average Summer temperature around 25C (about 77F) and Winter temperatures of around 7C (45F). Due to its geography, which is protected from the cold winds of the winter from the northward-facing Alps, the weather of this region is mild, characterized by a temperate winter, where temperatures range from about 50F to 60F. The eastern part of Liguria is more rainy than the western part, and the western part boasts nearly as many sunny days as the south of Italy.
Spring and summer on the Amalfi coast are gloriously warm and sunny, with the ocean breezes keeping temperatures from getting too unbearably warm. The Amalfi Coast could be an ideal winter destination — if you are not determined to lounge in your boat or on the beach, and especially in case the weather is sunny. The temperatures in the Amalfi Coast are comfortable during winter, although the wetter conditions are going to be there.
Sea temperatures off the Italian Amalfi coast are nice to swim from June through October. In winter, it may be hazy on the coast, though bright, sunny days are also present, and it is bearable because of generally mild night temperatures. July temperatures are 22-24C (71.6-75.2F) north of the River Po, as in Milan or Venice, while south of the River Po they may be 24-25C (75.2-77.0F) as in Bologna, with fewer storms; in central and southern Italian coastlines, as well as the immediate plains, average temperatures range from 23C to 27C (80.6F).
5. The colorful buildings
The Five Lands, or Cinque Terre in Italy, is one of the most famous and visited tourist attractions of Italy, yet it is still uniquely stunning. The Cinque Terre villages are all connected with a network of pedestrian paths, which provide you with the best chance of really enjoying a unique landscape on a scenic Italian Riviera coastline. The five villages making up the Cinque Terre (which means five land masses) are Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.
Riomaggiore is the largest of the five villages, and it greets visitors with colorful houses built into cliffs, typified by Ligurian styles. Cinque Terre is known for its colorful buildings, but Riomaggiore takes the cake (rainbow). Located halfway between Cinque Terre, Corniglia has two exclusive little beaches on its Corniglia side, tight lanes, and colorfully painted, four-story houses.
The most distinctive characteristic feature of the Cinque Terre is the pastel-colored houses perched on cliffs. Here, Monterosso does not have the classical sloping layout of houses, but is the only one of Cinque Terre that offers an actual sandy beach. Just south of Monterosso, the most northerly village in the Cinque Terre, Vernazza offers a tiny temporary beach made from cobbles, the only waves coming from small boats coming and going from a tiny harbor.
6. The architecture
In contrast with Venice, architecture of the Amalfi Coast is generally of Italian vernacular. The architecture offered by both Venice and the Amalfi Coast is characteristically distinctive.
Upon closer examination, cities such as Amalfi and Ravello are home to numerous examples of artistic and architectural perfection — no wonder, as the Italian Amalfi Coast has long attracted renowned artists of all kinds. Overall, the Amalfi Coast is a somewhat cheaper alternative than Venice, but destinations are among the most expensive places in Italy.
Architecture in the northwest Italy refers to the architecture (buildings, landmarks, monuments, churches, palaces) of the northwest regions of Italy (Piedmont, Aosta Valley, Liguria, and Lombardy) of Italy. Piedmont Aosta Valley Liguria Lombardy, as well as the principal cities thereof (Aosta, Turin, Milan, and Genoa).
7. The food
The Amalfi Coast is located in Campania, the southern Italian region, and its mainstays are handmade pastas, fresh mozzarella, locally grown tomatoes, and locally caught seafood. This sun-drenched part of Italy lends itself to freshly-grown ingredients, and also to some of Italy’s freshest seafood. While the Amalfi Coast is a paradise for those looking to take advantage of the Italian coastline, it is also a paradise for those looking to sample some of the most unique dishes from the country.
As you travel the coastline, the scialatielli is quite the popular dish, so you should have no trouble finding it, and you will enjoy it tremendously, definitely one dish you need to try on The Amalfi Coast. It is a classic spaghetti and clam dish you can find throughout Italy, but tastes even better in Amalfi Coast. People here will even gnaw at the amalfi sfusato lemon as they would gnaw at an apple, and it is a star ingredient in the local recipes.
Unlike the Amalfi coast, this region was once impoverished, leading to famous dishes such as Spaghetti All Vongole, that are still enjoyed across Italians. Puglia is another one of Italy’s best coastal regions for cuisine, where seafood is known as the main staple in the local diet. Home to lavish pastas, authentic pizzas, and the most delicious gelato known to mankind, Italy wins on every culinary front, with some real specialities found in Naples and on the Amalfi coast.
8. Exploring the narrow shop-filled roads
Enjoy driving one of Italys finest roads, the Amalfi Coast. The experience of driving the famous road along the Amalfi Coast is one of the highlights of visiting southern Italy’s Campania region. The roads on the Amalfi Coast are notoriously twisty and narrow at places, particularly SS163, the Amalfi Coast Road, which links major coastal towns and offers iconic views along the way.
In many places on Amalfi Drive, long lines of cars are parked along the shoulders, reducing this already narrow road To be driving along this winding road, passing by dramatic coastal cliffs, some of Italy’s prettiest towns, and renowned beaches sounds like something great.
Cradling the steep cliffs, overlooking the unfathomably gorgeous views of the glittering turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea, Amalfi drive is an absolute must-do for any fan of a road trip. The Amalfi drive (formally the Strada Statale 163) — Sorrento to Amalfi From Sorrento, the Amalfi is a narrow road that winds its way alongside the Tyrrhenian Sea, characterized by dramatic mountain cliffs, turquoise green waters, pastel-colored villages, fragrant lemon groves. The road is winding and narrow. Italy’s Amalfi coast is famous for its blue-green seas, high cliffs, and candy-colored villas – but also the terrible traffic which afflicts its narrow roads.
9. The architecture
If you are looking to take in some beautiful views from the Amalfi coast in a beautiful setting, then The Valle Dei Mulini hike is a popular hike that starts in the city of Amalfi. Amalfi and Atrani Amalfi is the largest city on the Amalfi coast, and is one of the most popular cities to stay in after Positano and Sorrento. Positano is one of the best-looking towns on Italys Amalfi coast, but it is also a celebrity and millionaires favorite, and justifiably so.
Positano is a great place to experience the “Dolce Vita” lifestyle, it is also one of the most romantic, colorful, and relaxing towns you can spend your time in. Considered to be one of the most beautiful places in Italy, the Amalfi Coast is known for its beach towns, dramatic cliffs, and beaches.
Another reason to visit Positano is for its views over the sea, which is crossed by various types of boats. From a boat, you get a good look at many towns such as Amalfi, Minori, and Positano in all of their splendor: There is nothing like seeing multi-colored houses rising up against the sides of cliffs, and taking in Amalfi’s lush green landscape.
Then take on the Path of the Gods Trail (beginning in Positano and ending in Bomerano), a journey 4.7 miles long that provides, and offers, the most unspoiled views of the Amalfi coast. No matter where you go, you’ll come to find that Italy’s Coasts are among the best in the world.
10. The beaches
Marina Grande di Positano — This is perhaps the most famous beach of the Amalfi coast, frequently featured in movies and TV shows. The best known beach of Positano is Marina Grande, a perfect representation of an Amalfi Coast beach. Marina Grande Beach is highly appreciated because of it is great location, being located in the base of a mountain.
Arienzo beach in Positano is located just outside of Positano, which is one of the most scenic and most popular places to stay in the Amalfi coast. Once you are at the Gavitella, you will have a great view over the gorgeous views of Positano, with the islands of Li Galli and Capri visible in the distance. The location of Cavallo Morto Beach makes it an ideal spot for trying snorkelling, where you can explore a colorful underwater world in front of a stunning backdrop of the Amalfi coast.
One of the most famous and largest beaches on the coast is the Main Beach in Amalfi, located in the centre of town across from the Piazza Duomo. Among the best known beaches of the Amalfi coast, the Spiaggia di Marina Grande is located at the second spot, at Amalfi. The beach at Vietri sul Mare known as Marina di Vietri is one of the few beaches on the Amalfi coast that is a sandy one.
One of the rare sandy beaches of the Amalfi Coast, Marina di Vietri is also one of the longest beaches, so while it is not particularly scenic, it has plenty of other attributes going for it. Here, the sun, unlike the beaches on the Grand Amalfi, sets early afternoon. Beaches with full-day sunshine are rare on the Amalfi coast, but the southwestern exposure of Cosmopolitan Positanos main beach encourages basking long after cocktail hour, which is punctuated by glorious sunsets.
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