Amalfi Coast, Italy

The Amalfi Coast is located about 25 miles (37 kilometers) south of Naples, Italy, and about 116 miles (187 kilometers) south of Rome, which is your flight terminus in ordinary circumstances, although you may also fly into Naples International Airport, from abroad. One of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in the world, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, has a single land access route—Strada Statale 163. It boasts of plenty of places to harbor your yacht, however, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations for the region and Italy as a whole.

Buses and ferries are available for transport to 13 municipalities that make up this coastal area, and the entire 43 square mile area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. One can begin the adventure in Vietri sul Mare in the east and end in Positano in the west. Positano was the setting for the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”, and never mind that it is nowhere near Tuscany, another of our favorite destinations.

In addition to the fabulous mountain coast views, the municipalities also host many visitors to famous churches such as Church of Saint John the Baptist and attractions like ancient Roman villas and the Fjord of Furore, a drowned river valley which is open to the sea.

After exploring the municipalities, nearby Naples offers Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii as available tours. With a history exceeding 2,000 years, there are ample cultural and historical sites in Naples to keep you busy during the day. After hours, there are dozens of interesting bars and clubs, dance clubs and wine bars. There are even jazz clubs and blues clubs for the music lover.

And of course, when all else is said and done, go shopping! Chocolates, ceramics, nativity figurines, and local fresh food markets are all available. The Amalfi Coast is known for its production of limoncello liqueur made from lemons grown along the entire coast. Also available is a hand-made paper called bambagina, a very unique gift for someone special. Save some time for cooking classes.

The entire area is a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm summers. The terrain is relatively steep and mountainous, the better to see the ocean from almost any vantage point. As a result, the hiking is amazing. One can walk the Sentiero degli Dei (the Trail of the Gods) en route to Positano, or along the Isle of Capri.

As might be expected the full range of possibilities exists for this piece of heaven.  There are studio apartments, penthouses, sea-view homes, and villas with terraces and private gardens. Again, Naples could serve as the permanent base, with a weekend getaway along the Coast.

According to the City Population website the 2016 population count for the municipalities was 40,000 in total, with municipality-specific census ranging from 760 in Furore on the low side to 7,820 in Vietri sul Mare on the high side. Roughly two-thirds (2/3) of the population are between the ages of 18 and 64.