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Amalfi Coast, Napoli
We took the train from Florence to Salerno. Train travel between the cities is easy, and the Frecciarossa trains travel at 250, and on some segments 300 km per hour.
Once we arrived in Salerno, we had arranged for a driver to meet us and take us to the Hotel Villa San Michele, located just 1 km outside of Amalfi. This is our home on the Amalfi Coast. We have stayed here numerous times and it is like being with family.
While there I took various walks on the pathways in the hills above Amalfi and linking the various towns. We also took a boat cruise around the island of Capri. That included a stop to go up to Capri for a lunch and a walk before we returned to the boat. Capone Servizi Maritimi was great and you should certainly consider using them. Andrea was just great.
Other sights included Ravello and Positano. We revisited the Villa Cimbrone in Revello.
Rather than take the bus to Positano, we took a boat, always a better option. We actually prefer Amalfi to Positano, however, we wanted to have lunch at a particular restaurant.
While in Florence, and visiting with Frederico Pineider of Pinart, a store just over the Ponto Vecchio, which sells pens, one of his customers came into the store and in talking with us said, if we were ever in Positano, to say hello to his friend who is the owner of a restaurant there. Of course we did. Our lunch at Le Tre Sorelle was very good. The restaurant is located right on the beach front area of Positano.
At the end of the stay on the Amalfi Coast we had our driver take us to Napoli where we met with Delta Pen for a tour of their headquarters and factory. I have published a write-up of the visit and included it on my pen web site. Ciro, Salvatore and Antonio were all great in making us feel so very welcome. We enjoyed the day with them. I have found the Delta fountain pens to be well designed, well made and good performers. I am very impressed with the level of craftsmanship that goes into making the pens.
We stayed in Napoli to see the city, and to coordinate the tour with Delta Pen. Our hotel, La Ciliegina, was fabulous. We will be adding it to our Great Places to Stay web site. Great location and the modern style of the hotel was top dog. The roof-top patio was great to just sit and relax and enjoy a bottle of wine. They also served breakfast on the patio - great way to start the say.
I enjoy Napoli, but I must say, this is probably not a city for the first-time-to-Italy tourist. On the surface, some find Napoli hard to take. Graffiti, garbage, decaying buildings. But look beyond the surface and there is a city that is dynamic and full of life. Naples is a living room. The living room of those who live there. Walk the streets, enjoy the vitality. It is a beautiful city.