Explore An Unique Destination in Italy

A luxury destination at the Ligurian coast: Portofino.

The path to the lighthouse “Faro di Portofino” is a 20 minutes walk and offers great views down to the little cove where the village of Portofino is located. There are some spots through the vegetation to observe the bay. I stop and lean on  the wall that is like a balcony  to appreciate the vantage point. The sea is so blue and calm, however down at the yacht club it is very busy. There are some yachts being prepared to leave for the day. Actually,  the little marina is full with oversized yachts. It is like a showroom of the most luxury yachts available. Next to it, is the pier of the local ferry that does the connection between Portofino and Santa magherita. The ferry  is leaving full of tourist. There is a small cruise ship at anchor and guest are being tendered ashore.

I observe the cruise ship, the tender ride is approximately 15 minutes each way. Only small luxury cruise lines are able to call this exclusive location. Looking down to the pier, there are guides waiting for the guest coming from the ship. Normally,  the tour options offered here are:
- A boat trip to St Margherita which is the village just  5 km away. In the program may be the visit to the Villa Durazzo, a walking tour of the old town and a visit to the church. There is also a beautiful beach, great restaurants to be enjoyed during the free time. Since the ferry runs approximately very half hour, you can come back at your leisure.
-A day trip to Genoa which lies over 30kms away. You take the ferry to St. Margherita and there the tour bus awaits you for the excursion.
-A culinary adventure: learn to do some local specialties like pesto, foccacia, fresh made pasta. One of the locations used is in the nearby town of Recco: the restaurant El Vittorio where you are greeted with a glass of sparkling wine before getting hands on.
-Walking tour of Portofino which takes you to the lighthouse, to the Brown Castle with a beautiful garden,  to the local church. Thereafter you are ready to enjoy this village which is very small and has a fix number of residence that is a bit over 500 people. This short walking tour gives you the introduction to understand the place and then explore it further on you own. There are boats to be rented to go fishing or just cruise along the Italian Riviera, stop for a swim at one of the little coves.

Other tourists just wander around, camera in hands, taking pictures of the oversized yachts, of the colorful buildings, of the little piazza.

I finish my walk and come back to the Piazza Martini dell'Olivetta, the main square of the village, surrounded by cafes, restaurants and by the sea. This is the heart of the place, it is quite busy. Here is good to keep your eyes open, it is not unusual to see celebrities around. The place actually got famous do to the movie starts that came and come to spent a couple of days here on luxury yachts, at a recluse place. There are names like Ingrid Bergmann, Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot that started the trend of the rich and famous to come to this international exclusive cove. Nowadays you may meet Madonna, Denzel Washington, models doing a photo shooting.

All the venus are full of people, it is lunch time. There are great options like the Restaurant Delfino to eat spaghetti with seafood with a glass of wine. For desert, the recommendation is to take a gelato at “Gelateria Marconi”.  There you should taste the flavor Pistacchio before ordering any other flavour.

After lunch, I take a walk up the main street called Via Roma. Along this street are the boutique stores of luxury brands like Hèrmes, Louis Vuitton,  Armani. There you find some chic ideas. Up this street are also cafes and at the right you find a bakery. There I recomend to try the foccacia that is differently made in Liguria. Thin and crispy baked dough filled with soft cheese. Yummy!

A bit ahead  is the taxi/bus stop from where also is a transfer available to the Belmond Hotel Splendido. I will take the rest of the afternoon off and enjoy the facilities of the Hotel. Tomorrow my adventure is to Cinque Terre. Arriverderci!

Top Destination in Italy: Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast: Piacere  di Viaggiare

Sipping coffee and enjoying the amazing view from the balcony of the hotel San Pietro Positano. The sea is so blue and calm. In the distance a cruise ship is approaching to spend the day at the Amalfi Coast.  I ask for more coffee and my omelet is also served.

Looking out to the sea, I imagine that the small cruise ship has anchored and lowered the first tender boat. It is a short ride to the tender pier in Amalfi. Once the guest arrive ashore , the town of Amalfi is right there, it is literally coming off the boat, cross the street and walk through the entrance gate of the town. At this early your, it is now 8am, is perfect to come ashore and see the locals getting delivered the goods for their stores, setting up the vitrines with the local products like limoncello. If you keep walking a bit up the street, to the right, a bakery: Panificio Apicella  is awaiting you with fresh baked breads.  A good idea, if you hungry, is just to cross the main square, walk in direction to the sea, to the right, at the corner of the block, you find Pasticceria Savoia, a  great selection of pastries to go with your coffee. It is a traditional place where you find also the locals.

By now the scene of the street has changed, the cruise passengers are around, exploring the street, small shops and going up the steps to visit the cathedral which reminds us of the past of Amalfi. The commerce with the East during the middle ages is reflected in the architecture of the Cathedral.  The exterior of the cathedral reflects Arab influences.  Once up the staircase, turn around and enjoy the view from this vantage point down to Piazza Duomo. Great spot to take some pictures and observe the people wandering around the Piazza.

Keep then walking up the street Via Lorenzo D'Amalfi along which you will find the local ceramic shops which offer shipping so that tourist are able to purchase this beautiful peaces of art. I love the decoration with lemon motives. There are also small boutiques with beautiful linen shirts and dresses, ideal for this hot summer. Keep walking and keep an eye to the left of the street until you find the Museo Della Carta. You may have heard of “Carta di Amalfi” and it is still made hear for the Vatican for example. Inside the Museum you will learn about the art of making paper from cotton. Another Arab influence. In the heyday of the production is said that the Republic of Amalfi had more than 17 paper mills. The museo is amazing and the machinery still works and you see the demonstration during the guided walking tour.
I get interrupted in my thoughts of how the tourist can explore Amalfi by the waiter that has come to let me know that the yacht Morgan 44 is ready. I have chartered it to take me to the Island of Capri. We take the elevator down to the private beach of the hotel. I board and the captain  starts the journey. I do accept a  glass of champagne to toast to this beautiful sunny day. It is a very smooth ride and soon we are at the Marina Piccola. There I meet with my friend Paolo that will show me the Island. Our plan is to go up to Anacapri, take the lift chair up Mt  Solare. Thereafter, we will the Villa San Michele and enjoy lunch  at L'Olivo restaurant. The terrace of the restaurant gives you the essence of the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Paolo will also join me on the next day to the archeological site of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Both cities have been destroyed by the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in the year of 79AD. Besides reading about It,  I have seen the movie Pompeii to prepare myself for it.

According to Paolo,  during my stay at the Amalfi Coast, we need to reserve one day to visit the Archeological Museum in Naples where the findings of Pompeii are displayed.  Of course,  it is the city where the Margherita  Pizza was created and it will be on our menu for lunch.

We have arrived at the Liftchair and it is time to enjoy it, to experience "la Dolce Vita" of the Amalfi Coast! Arriverderci.