Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Travel :: A Day in Positano, Italy


It has been nearly two years since our trip to Positano, but I still find myself mentally visiting and revisiting the beautiful gem of the Amalfi Coast almost every day.  The five days we spent there were some of the most memorable of my life, filled with more *pinch me* moments than I could ever explain.  If you're planning a trip to Southern Italy I could not recommend enough making time to visit the stunning Amalfi Coast.  Positano would be my recommendation of places to stay, but Capri would also be quite wonderful!  Splurge for a sea-view room at your hotel {if you're feeling very luxurious, stay at the world-famous Le Sirenuse...and while you're at it, invite me to join you!} and wake up to the sky turning pink and purple over the Mediterranean.  And for the perfect day...

7AM: Enjoy breakfast and a cappuccino on your private terrace {nearly all Italian hotels include breakfast with their rates} overlooking the sea. 

8AM: Take the bus high, high above the city to the beginning of the 'Path of the Gods' hiking trail.  The earlier you get started the better, it will be less crowded and much cooler than later in the afternoon.  The trail can be challenging and quite scary due to a lack of guard-rails and a not so well maintained path {at one point I actually had to resort to crawling!} but the views are worth it!

9:30 AM: After you have had your fair share of hiking, take the bus back down to Positano and head to the beach.  Visit the booths near the water and find a boat excursion that fits your schedule, party size, and budget {you can hire a private boat, rent your own, or join a pre-planned trip}.  Ryan and I decided to join up with five other people to spend a day boating along the coast...and it was easily the best day of our entire trip.  We went out with an old Italian fisherman, Lorenzo, who could not have been more charming.  He took us all along the coast, stopping to swim in grottos and watch the dolphins {there must have been dozens} jump alongside our boat.  Lorenzo sang Italian fishing songs, entertained us with stories of his youth, and pointed out some of the most famous spots on the Amalfi Coast {including Sofia Loren's villa}.  After working up an appetite we stopped at a private beach for an Italian feast of antipasta, bruschetta, homemade pasta, fresh tuna {caught that morning by Lorenzo}, and of course all the vino we could drink! 

3:30PM: Enjoy a couple more hours of sun at the the beach {walk to the west about 10 minutes for a smaller, more secluded stretch of sand} and if you're still hungry, grab a scoop of gelato.

5:30PM: Before heading back to your hotel to get ready, spend a few minutes wandering through the adorable shops and galleries in Positano.  Stop at the tiny store directly above the beach selling the most amazing handmade leather sandals you will ever find!

7PM: Visit the famous Le Sirenuse hotel for a drink at the Champagne & Oyster Bar and enjoy the breathtaking sunset over Positano.

8PM: For a meal you will never forget, dining at La Tagliata is a must.  Perched high above Positano {the restaurant has a bus that will pick you up and take you back to your hotel}, this family-run eatery features impeccably fresh and authentic Italian fare.  The open air restaurant {literally above the clouds} commands breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and the stunning Amalfi Coast.  You walk in and are immediately treated like old-friends.  There is no menu, the chef simply prepares what is fresh and in-season each night and brings out course after course of delectable Italian cuisine.  

11:30 PM: After your long, leisurely meal head to Music on the Rocks for a night cap and some of the best people watching you will find.  La Dolce Vita!

45 comments:

  1. A perfect location - can't wait to get there myself..

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  2. So happy to see this post! We are headed to the Amalfi Coast next month!!! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. i think i would take years to recover from such a dreamy trip too! the amalfi coast is ranking high on my travel bucketlist, your pictures are a marvel x

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  4. This is incredible! Talk about wanderlust-- get me there right now?! My parents went to the Amalfi Coast last year and were obsessed. Your pictures are definitely making me understand why!

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  5. ah this sounds so amazing! i have been to venice, but dreaming to get to the amalfi coast! xx

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  6. you already know how much i love your italy posts :) definitely left a part of my heart there!

    daisy
    & Pretty Things

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  7. These photos are so lovely! I can't imagine how beautiful that sunset must have been in person! Your itinerary sounds like a perfect day!
    http://liveitinerantly.com/

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  8. This looks like such an amazing trip. It must be nice to relive (if only through the photos!) I would love to go to Italy. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it while I was in Europe a few years ago. It's definitely on the list!

    http://www.bonjourdin.com

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  9. Positano is one of my absolute most favorite places! We traveled there as a family two years ago and spent a few days in Positano and then a few in Capri and the whole vacation was just magical! We also went out on a boat trip one afternoon and it was definetly one of my favorite parts of the trip! I feel like Positano is one of those places that you could go back to again and again and never be disappointed! (also your pictures are beautiful!)

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  10. Stunning, stunning photos. The colors just take my breath away.

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  11. wow, so many lovely shots! Positano is in my list of places to visit – my visits to the South of Italy are limited to Naples and Campania, but I plan on changing that at some point in the not-too-distant future. I will probably skip the more dangerous spots of the hike though, especially since I would be worried about my daughters the entire time!

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  12. ok. lets both call in sick tomorrow and go! the only thing you forgot is the photos of gelato or granedas! mmm!;)

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  13. such a great trip, can't wait to go back!

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  14. GAH. Gorgeous.....I am SO ready to go NOW! lol.

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  15. Those are some break taking photos!

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  16. Beautiful Italia. Molly, these pictures are so gorgeous. The Amalfi coast looks amazing. Love that pic of Ryan diving in the water. Good timing

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  17. Oh gosh this is my favorite place in the entire world!! You just made my day with your photos :) Your day sounds really busy for a vacation though :) Mine usually looks like this: 11am - wake up, breakfast, 12-5pm beach or boat, 5pm coffee, walk, 10pm - dinner, midnight swim. There's no way in hell I'm waking up at 7 :)))

    http://bellapummarola.blogspot.it/2014/02/corset-and-pencil-skirt.html

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  18. absolutely stunning pictures- do you do photography? aside from that, i love how you describe the whole thing as filled with *pinch me* moments - a lovely and truthful descriptor :) i studied abroad in rome my junior year, and we did a weekend trip the almalfi coast and even a short visit to capri - all as gorgeous and lovely as you say. did you get to visit cinque terre? that's another favorite :)

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  19. oh my goodness molly! these photos are so gorgeous. i really wish i could transport myself there right this second. have you read the book beautiful ruins? i wish i would have had these photos while i was reading it, it's much like i imagined while i was reading it, though much better even than my imagination.

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  20. OMG you are so cute!!! love the photos. This is a favorite spot of mine too. We stayed at the San Pietro which is just a few minutes by car. The views! and that amazing ocean. I love your day with Lorenzo..sounds amazing.

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  21. you would love it! wish you had time to squeeze it in on your trip this april :)

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  22. oh i am so envious, that will be fantastic!
    can't wait to see your photos and live vicariously through you :)

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  23. thank you so much for the sweet comment moira! it was definitely a trip i will remember for the rest of my life <3

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  24. so glad to hear your parents had a great time there.
    it is hard to imagine anyone not!

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  25. venice is amazing too, so elegant and magical. we were there last year and i wish i had been able to spend a few extra days there :)

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  26. i feel the same way!
    hope you're having a lovely week so far daisy :)

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  27. thank you so much quyen! it was such a magical place, i feel so fortunate we were able to spend as much time there as we did :)

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  28. there's never enough time to see it all! no matter how long my trips are i always wish they were longer :) but, i guess that is just another reason to go back and keep exploring!

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  29. i completely agree with you nan! when asked to pick between the amalfi coast and the cinque terre i'd pick amalfi every time...there are just so many different places to explore. i really wish we had spent a few days on capri {we spent a day there, not nearly enough}, but i guess that just means we have to go back :)

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  30. yes, the hike honestly was so scary for me that it took away from the experience. but then again, i view myself as abnormally clumsy so perhaps not the best for someone like myself :) totally agree though...there are many other beautiful sights on the amalfi coast where you and your daughters would be much more comfortable!

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  31. done and done!! i think we ate our gelato and drank our grandedas so fast we didn't even have time to take a picture :)

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  32. thanks so much!
    you would love it there :)

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  33. LOL you're just like my boyfriend. but you're right, that would definitely be cramming it in...we were there for five days so we were able to stretch out our exploring a bit :) i'm naturally an early bird so waking up at 7AM to watch the sunrise is no big deal for me, but ryan is more interested in staying in bed. you're right though, the midnight swim is a must!!

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  34. thank you so much jennifer! photography is my biggest hobby and i definitely feel the most inspired when traveling :) i'm actually going to be opening up my own etsy shop here in the next few months.


    your study abroad sounds magical, definitely one of my biggest regrets is that i wasn't able to do one in college {i did four internships and just never was able to find time...kicking myself still!} which i think is one of the reasons i travel so much now. we actually did go to the cinque terre last september and wow, what an amazing experience!!

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  35. thank you so, so much christine! yes, i actually read it last year and it completely transported me back to the beautiful italian coast :)

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  36. you're so sweet albertina, thank you! the amalfi coast is such a magical place. i remember seeing san pietro on our boat trip...can't imagine a much better location for a hotel :)

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  37. Positano and the Amalfi coast are unreal. I mentally re-visit also and I've actually convinced my family to go there when we do Europe in the summer. Can not wait to go back and your pictures have inspired!
    www.dancingthroughsunday.typepad.com

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  38. Oh Molly, these photos are stunning! And it sounds like THE perfect day to spend in Positano. I so wish I could magically teleport myself there right now and spend my time like you did!

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  39. Beautiful pictures, breathtaking places!


    www.blackonthecanvas.com

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  40. congrats on the lauren conrad feature, molly :) gorgeous pictures!!

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  41. That Lauren Conrad has good taste! Congrats!

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