Travel Smart visits one of Independent Travel’s favourite destinations, Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast.Travel editors Ben Parker and Annabel Grossman give you their tips for making the most of your trip to the Italian coastline, avoiding the tourist traps and giving you the insight into the best places to enjoy the culture, sun and glorious food.Annabel takes you through the popular destinations like Positano and Villa Rufolo alongside her top tips, while Ben looks at the more serene spots such as Minori and Praiano.Watch Travel Smart on Independent TV.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00This week we're visiting one of our favourite destinations in Italy, the gorgeous Amalfi
00:05Coast.
00:06This shoreline region is easily one of the most popular among tourists, with millions
00:10visiting every year to enjoy the stunning clifftop views.
00:14Buongiorno and welcome to TravelSmart Weekly.
00:28There are 13 towns on the Amalfi Coast, but tourists tend to focus overwhelmingly on Amalfi
00:34and Positano, which is where we'll kick off our guide.
00:39A former fishing village, Positano has come a long way from its humble roots and is now
00:45a chic but rather expensive town, boasting high-end galleries, upscale restaurants and
00:50buzzing beach clubs.
00:52Amalfi is the largest town on this stunning stretch of coast.
00:56You'll no doubt be tempted to simply sip a cappuccino in the town square or browse
01:01the many shops, but make sure you take some time to wander around the medieval St Andrew's
01:06Cathedral and the Piazza del Duomo.
01:10The charming town of Ravello is nestled in the hillside with panoramic views of the turquoise
01:15ocean below.
01:17Wandering around this town feels a bit like being in a fairy tale.
01:20It's home to the beautiful Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo, which both boast beautiful
01:26gardens and gorgeous terraces that are perfect for enjoying a glass of wine while admiring
01:32the spectacular Gulf of Naples.
01:36For a slower pace and fewer tourists, it's well worth visiting some of the lesser-known
01:40towns like Atrani, Scala, Fiordi di Fiore and Vietro Sul Mare.
01:48One of our favourites is the tiny town of Minori.
01:51Here you'll find a beautiful church, an ancient Roman villa, a lemon path walk and plenty
01:56of bars and restaurants that are more affordable than in the larger neighbouring towns.
02:01Over in Preano you'll find pretty whitewashed houses down winding streets with hidden art
02:06galleries and boutiques, as well as plenty of churches and monasteries to explore.
02:11This town is also an excellent starting point to walk the Path of the Gods, which is the
02:16Amalfi Coast's famous hiking trail.
02:21The beauty of the Amalfi Coast attracts visitors from across the globe, but this comes at a
02:26price and the region can get very crowded in the height of summer.
02:30This is particularly problematic along the Strada Sertale 163 Amalfitana.
02:36This iconic road climbs over the cliff, taking in twisting turns and tight spaces that can
02:42barely accommodate two cars, let alone buses.
02:45However, there are a few ways to get around this and enjoy a rather more peaceful Amalfi
02:51Coast experience.
02:55Firstly, visit in the off-season, which is generally considered to be between November
02:59and February.
03:01Some hotels and beach clubs will close during this time, but there are still options for
03:06accommodation and plenty to do.
03:09Spring and autumn are also beautiful on the Amalfi Coast and you'll avoid the heaviest
03:13summer crowds.
03:15Secondly, stay overnight in one of the towns.
03:19There are plenty of family-run boutique hotels, as well as gorgeous villas clinging to the
03:24cliffs or nestled among the streets that allow you to really get a feel of the town.
03:29Many tourists will visit just for day trips and the crowds thin out in the evenings and
03:34early mornings, so you can explore without fighting for space.
03:38Then you can use the middle of the day to relax with a book by your villa pool or to
03:42sip limoncello on your terrace while admiring the views.
03:46And my final tip is to travel by water.
03:50Whenever possible, opt for one of the many boats that traverse the coast.
03:54Not only does this mean you can avoid grappling with traffic, but it is also quite simply
03:59the best way to view this part of Italy.
04:02That's it for this episode of Travel Smart Weekly.
04:07For more inspiration on the Amalfi Coast and Italy, visit independent.co.uk forward slash
04:13travel.
04:14The next one will be along soon, which you can watch online on the Independence mobile
04:17app or on your smart TV.
04:19And don't forget to tune in to Simon Calder's daily podcast.
04:23Ciao, Arrivederci and we'll see you next time.