Thanks to a Help Scout retreat, we had the opportunity to spend a little more than a week in Italy, between Rome and the Amalfi Coast. It was our first trip to Italy, and as any fellow travelers are aware, the food and the scenery were out of this world.
Rome
What's not to love? History, food, culture, and the hustle bustle of a European metro — Rome has it all, and yet, it sometimes gets overshadowed by some of the other lovely Italian cities. The scale of the historical monuments is unreal. You could lose yourself for a week just exploring the sites.
We had the opportunity to witness some history in the making during our visit, as the conclave to select the new Pope was happening. On Friday, the white smoke billowed and the entire city headed to the Vatican City to celebrate the new (American) Pope being elected. It was pretty neat to be there for it.
Amalfi Coast
A couple of hours from Rome, the Amalfi coast beckons, which is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on earth. There are 13 cliffside cities on the Amalfi Coast, in addition to the nearby island of Capri. We stayed in Amalfi, but ended up exploring all over.
The highlight of the trip was the full day boat charter with Christian from Amalfi Yachts. It was unforgettable. Another highlight was hiking the Path of the Gods across the mountains and down to Positano. Whether by sea or by mountain, the views are breathtaking.
As we visited in May, the weather cooperated beautifully and we were able to beat the heavy tourism season. I'd highly recommend visiting at that time of year. We had several great meals along the way. A few of our favorite places to eat included:
- Pasticceria Sal De Riso - an incredible patisserie on the drive from Salerno to Amalfi
- Ristorante L'Abside - outstanding restaurant in Amalfi
- Angelica Capri Ristorante - our favorite meal of the trip came from this restaurant in Capri
- Buonocore Gelateria Pasticceria Gastronomia - Capri gelato to die for
