Lemons, sunshine, and the scent of jasmine in the air; that’s what comes to mind from our short stay on the Amalfi Coast this past weekend.
We flew to Italy to spend two nights taking in the view (and the food) with some great friends visiting from the States. We safely stowed the girls away at a double sleepover, and Rudy and I hopped a plane from Copenhagen to Rome. It should’ve been Naples, but Rome was cheaper, so Rome it was.
For our weekend visit, we stayed in Scala, a town high atop the mountains amidst swirling fog and golden sunlight. You pay for these stunning views with over 45 minutes of hairpin turns, sharp switchbacks, and all-too-small guard rails on the drive there.
Scala is quiet and quaint, its charm seeping through its old stone walls; flowers blooming in every patch of grass, and lemons hanging heavy from the trees. Exactly the type of town we like to wander through. It’s a 15 minute drive to Amalfi and the coast, still far enough away that Scala carries its own unique personality and feel, and tourists are limited.
Down the mountain from Scala you reach Amalfi, hugging the coast with its red and white beach umbrellas dotting the sand along the vivid blue ocean. Narrow streets house stores selling enormous lemons and oranges, locally produced wine and limoncello, plenty of fresh-made pasta, and even fresher fish. Amalfi is enjoyable to stroll through and explore, as well as relax on the beach. A great stop along this section of Italian coastline.
For the only full day we had available to us, we opted to visit the nearby island of Capri, and there are plenty of ferries making the hour-long trip from Amalfi. Our foursome booked ahead, in order to be guaranteed our spots. This becomes even more critical during tourist season, which is June-September.
Capri is beautiful – rocky beaches, with rich turquoise water amongst a mountain backdrop. but it can be hard to tell with the tourists crawling along the main thoroughfares. Apparently tourist season begins already in May, and the harbor was swarming. We quickly headed in a direction the rest of the crowds weren’t going, to get a bit of fresh air.
Since Capri is a town built atop a mountain, there is a tram to help you reach the center. However, the tram line was long and crowded. Instead, we opted for the scenic route, and proceeded to climb the stairs (many, many, many stairs – you’ve been warned), which turned out to be quiet, picturesque, and to give a much lovelier view of Capri, away from the crowds. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
thecloudsarelowerhere 