Sorrento and Positano

Sorrento and Positano are two towns near Naples, Italy. They lie on two opposite coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, one is called the Sorrento Coast, in which Sorrento lies, and the other, which is more well known, is called the Amalfi Coast, in which Positano lies.

For the three big Italian cities we visited, we found great deals on private tours in nice 7 passenger Mercedes Vans. Because we booked all three tours with the same company, we were able to get some great deals. My wonderful sister Stefanie and brother in law Mike actually treated us to this tour as it came highly recommended to them.

We started the day with our driver Mario meeting us right outside the ship. Into the van we climbed and were off to the town of Sorrento with a stop at an overlook to take some pictures of the bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius. Sorrento is built on top and into white limestone cliffs and has some great views around each twist and turn of the Amalfi drive which connects Sorrento and Positano. This area is known for their HUGE lemons and Limoncello liquor, which I actually saw advertised in El Paso last week. It's ok for me, but many people like it.

Positano lies on the Amalfi coast, and was a relatively unknown fishing village until the 1950 when John Steinbeck published an article about it. Today, it is visited by thousands and boasts some of the finest hotels in Italy. Our driver Mario, who may have stretched the truth a little, said he drives a lot of famous people to places in Positano and throughout Naples and they all love Positano.

Some other highlights of this part of Naples were going to a cheese factory that Mario knew the owner and getting some fresh made mozzarella cheese, where you could squeeze the milk out, walking on the beach in Positano, some shopping in downtown Sorrento, and a roadside market for fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh fruit, and great pictures. We then headed back to town for lunch and the afternoon at our next stop, which you will have to check back for....

Have a great rest of your week.

Mt. Vesuvius through the rain

The Isle of Capri

Cheese factory

Fresh Mozzarella

Mario our driver giving us a cheese lesson

YUM!

Mt. Vesuvius looms over Naples

Bay of Naples

Looking down at the water

Built into the hill

Crowne Plaza Sorrento

Many houses are built right on or into the hills in Europe

Olive trees, look close and you can see them

Olive nets, they hang the nets, shake the trees, and collect the olives

Looking down on Sorrento

Beachside hotel

Down the street to the sea

All kinds of colorful pasta for sale

Downtown Sorrento

Fresh fruit stands were everywhere

This is Sorrento from a spot on Amalfi Drive that you could see both coasts

And that is Positano

This is the town in the middle

Amalfi Coast

2 private islands. One for you and one for the in-laws

Another shot of Positano

Built right into the hill

A little model of Positano or something

Looking up a Positano from the beach

Walkway down to the beach

You see this church in a lot of Amalfi Coast advertisements

Right at the water

The rocks are black from Volcanic ash

From a little footbridge onto the water

Snacks

Not near as good as the cannolo in Catania

Gelato

From the other side back to Positano

Mario called it the hand. I can see it, can you?

Private hotel beach/water access

The grapes I bought

Waterfall

Vesuvius looming large

More olive nets

Menu where we ate, with a hint to the next blog

Spaghetti Carbonara