They say Jesus Christ when he went down from Heaven in Campania (region of Italy with the capital Naples) was so much impressed by the beauty of this incredibly blooming land that tears rolled out from his eyes. “Lacrima Cristi” (Christ’s Tear), a very special wine that contains 21 minerals, remembers today this touching story.
From our human perspective, we appreciate the mild and generally warm climate of the Amalfi Coast and a rainbow of cultural offers and recreational possibilities of Campania.
How to Correctly Organize Your Vacation on Amalfi Coast
1 Secret: 9 Months of Spring a Year
Campania has a particular climate that is generally milder and warmer than in other provinces of Italy. But Amalfi Coast enjoys more levels of natural protection: a little mountain range, Monti Lattari, that arrives at 4593,176 ft (ca. 1,400 km) above sea level, first, and the very narrow shoreline.
This is why the Amalfi Coast has spring conditions year long. In winter, when the weather is cold and rainy 20-30 km far from there, Sorrento, Amalfi, and little coastal villages can enjoy a sunny day. The air is often so warm that people wear t-shirts and go swimming in January and February.
When the mountains are mud brown everywhere else, all the coasts can gift you green colors and many flowers. You can found even tomatoes on the tomato trees during your outings.
Generally, when you plan your trip, it is better to avoid two summer months (July and August when temperatures can easily overcome 105 °F (ca. 41 °C)) and November that is real winter in the region.
Finished the period of rains (November), spring turns back in Campania.
But the very best period in the mid of September – October. The temperature maintains up to 86 °F (ca. 30 °C). The rains at the beginning of September are just finished and the sea is warm. The tourists are not so numerous and the Italians just turned to work after their summer escape. So, if you prefer to have ideal conditions during your vacation plan to visit the Amalfi coast.
2 Secret: Offseason Travel to the Amalfi Coast, Italy
Imagine Naples, Pompeii, Amalfi, Capri. These Italian tourist attractions are among the literally beaten-to-the-pulp ones. Fortunately, most tourists use only a few streets and do not go out of them. Purchase a city map and choose an alternative itinerary if you can’t avoid the visit in the busy hours or days.
Do not visit Naples, Pompeii, Vesuvius, etc
- On Christmas/ New Year period. Big cities are so full that it’s impossible to walk in the streets.
- Try to avoid days or hours when cruise ships are too active. In Naples, 6 and more of the biggest cruise ships can be in the harbor at the same time. All the companies send buses with tourists to Vesuvius and Pompeii. The best decision is to come when the site opens because they arrive at about 11 AM.
- In July and August when the sun is too hard, as just said before. Nothing can protect you from the rays of the sun. And, in Pompeii, the dust of the eruption rises in the air under the feet of hundreds of thousands of persons, and you have to inhale it so as the poor Romans did.
3 Secret: Save Money Visiting Museums
Everybody who comes on Amalfi Coast wants to visit at least the most famous tourist attractions that are Pompeii, Naples, Capri, Sorrento, Caserta and the Amphitheater of Spartacus (Capua) in the last years.
Many state museums have free entrance every first Sunday of the month (to control before you go!). So, you have to stay the first Sunday here and save at least 10-20 euros pp on tickets. In addition, consider purchasing a Campania Arte card that allows you to pay less in some museums. Carefully read the list of the museums they offer because not all of them could interest you.
For example, visit Vesuvius and Herculaneum in one day. €20 Vesuvius (bus+crater) + €11 Herculaneum =31 pp and Pompeii another day (€15) because the excavated area is too large (108 acres) and there are many open houses now.
The Campania Artecard allows you to visit one site for free, and others with a discount.
By the way, guides that offer their service in the crater of Vesuvius are free even if they pretend to be paid.
So, if you plan to visit the Archeological Museum of Naples or Museum Capodimonte, it’s better to go to Naples on the first Sunday of the month. Use the three days Campania Artecard to visit Vesuvius, Herculaneum, and Pompeii.
4 Secret: Choose Strategic Position on the Amalfi Coast
- Sorrento coast: When you plan to book your accommodation, choose a town or a village where you can arrive with the regional train Circumvesuviana (a trait from Scrajo to Sorrento). This train from Naples arrives in Sorrento and passes every day at least one time in an hour. It’s the best way to reach the coast. The price of the ticket is up to €3
- Amalfi Coast: From the other side of the peninsula, there are Vietri and Raito with their long sandy beaches. You can easily arrive in Salerno and in other cities by bus, by train or by foot from there.
The Best Strategic Place to Stay in Campania
The absolutely best strategic solution for a long-term vacation is Salerno. It’s a relatively big town (134,000 inhabitants) with many possibilities of entertainment including the local theater. The prices for the services are reasonable and the criminal situation is calm.
Salerno has excellent connections with all the places of interest where you can arrive in a maximum of one hour: Naples, Caserta, Amalfi coast, islands (in summer) and Paestum.
Salerno has sandy beaches, too.
The difference from the Amalfi Coast (that begins in Vietri, 2 km north) is the climate. It is not so warm.
You can organize one-day excursions in many places from Salerno. Visit Messina, Reggio Calabria and Palermo by train. The first train arrives in Palermo at 10 in the morning and you have to stay than overnight there to have more time for a visit. Traveling by the night train, you can organize a one-day excursion even in Venezia.
When You Stay on the Amalfi Coast
5 secret: Hidden Treasures of Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast has surprisingly many hidden treasures worth to be mentioned as World Heritage Sites. Some examples of them are
- the caved in the rock in the VI century basilica Santa Maria de Olearia in Maiori that is adorned with amazing original frescos,
- the second large in Italy benedictine cluster Badia della SS Trinità in Cava dei Tirreni,
- sanctuary of Maria Santissima Avvocata that is situating on the mount over the Tyrrhenian sea and is the place of the pilgrimages of believers and hikers. Wonderful, tremendous and terrific views when the weather is sunny.
- Museum of the paper in Amalfi where you can see an authentic paper fabric last survived the vicissitudes of the hard life and where you can create your own sheet of paper, too.
- Vallone delle Ferriere near Amalfi that is a real miracle of nature with its fantastic cascades
6 Secret: The Life on the Mountains
Hikers can discover a “parallel life” on the mountains that cover Amalfi Coast from the other world. It is populated by shepherds with their goats and dogs. It’s a surprising organization where everybody knows own place and what to do in any situation.
Mules are the heroes of this strange world. Life in the mountains is impossible without these incredible “soldiers”. They only can arrive everywhere and do everything. Even helicopters can’t arrive where the mules can. Mules are passionate workers and do not understand those who don’t work. Don’t disturb them with your hugs and love. They don’t appreciate it.
Go down after a day you pass on the mountains and enjoy the hospitality of mountaineers and the products they can offer you before you go swimming or have your meal in one of the little family-run restaurants.
7 secret: Year-Long Swimming Possibility
This is the most fascinating part of the climate conditions of Amalfi Coast. The temperature of the water in the sea near the river is not very cold even in winter so that it’s possible to swim in January. I can’t explain this phenomenon. You will not see anybody swimming in Salerno or in Vietri, for example. But you can see persons swimming and sunbathing at the beach in the bays and in coves near Amalfi, near Sorrento.
Local Cuisine is Your Reward After a Day of Explorations
This is not a secret but it’s impossible to speak about the Amalfi Coast and did not mention its culinary scene. Learn to appreciate its simplicity and genuineness. Remember mountaineers with their animals who make dairy products and fishers who go out in the sea early in the morning to procure fresh fish and seafood for the restaurants in the fishing villages.
This cuisine is not about artisanal recipes. The plates are a result of centuries-long tradition and hardly undergo changes even if every woman could have her own variations.
Visit pizzeria, trattorie, osterie that are far from the main tourist roads and enjoy your Amalfi Coast till through and through.
Read More about Amalfi Coast in this other blog Vacation and Travel Talk
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