The Amalfi coast drive (163, Amalfitana) is one of the most scenic, picturesque and awe-inspiring ocean view drives in the world, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean coast from steep limestone cliffs amidst colorful settlements of its beautiful small towns, comprising a UNESCO world heritage site.
We began from Naples in a private car, started along the Circumvesuvian highway to reach the exit for the said road and then the fun began.
The Amalfi coast, although named after the namesake town is infact a coastal highway along the southern tip of Italy constituting part of the northern shore of the Mediterranean sea.
The first major town we reached is Ravello, famous for the "Ravello Music festival "; for its cobblestoned streets, open to air cafes, majestic villas and breathtaking views.
Continuing on the road, soaking in the sun and the breathtaking views, en route watching all the table top flat orchards of grapes, lemons, olives and oranges hugging the steep cliffs and separated by whispering waterfalls, we reached the beautiful town of Amalfi.
Amalfi offers a glorious sea shore and mind blowing views of the limestone cliffs from the shore. It's a small town with an amazing old world charm, a historic paper museum, an artistic square (piazza) and an antique cafe offering a local wonder of a desert, the Limone delight. We also tried the traditional Limoncello, a lemon infused sweetened liquor and all we could do was rave about it.
The next part of the journey is the one which one can never forget. The journey from Amalfi to Positano, the so-called "pearl of the Amalfi coast", quite an understatement!!
The road is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, grottos, bridges, arches, with the roaring sea on one side and picturesque hills on the other. The town itself has fabulous topography, imperial impeccable architecture with colorful flat topped houses lining the cliff roads, moorish streets, open air cafes, live musicians and a nostalgic medieval scent of olives in the air!!!
We hiked down the cliff to the shore to take a dip and have panoramic vivid views of the cliff-town from the shore.
Had a quick bite at one of the sea side cafes, soaked in the views to our heart's satisfaction and decided to head back home with memories for a lifetime!
