Amalfi Coast & Positano
After leaving Matera our first stop was at Tenuta Vannulo Mozzarella Farm, and the tour was surprisingly delightful. The mozzarella is made from buffalo and they know to walk into the milking machines on their own—very cute. They even have brush stations where they can give themselves massages. We also watched through glass how they made the mozzarella and it was fascinating!
Lunch was delicious: crepes with mozzarella, followed by a generous serving of cheese and ricotta with fresh tomatoes and lettuce.
Next, we visited Paestum to explore the ancient Greek ruins and museum with a local guide. It felt surreal seeing such
well-preserved Greek temples here in Italy.
Paestum
From there, we drove to Salerno and boarded a scenic boat ride to Maiori and Hotel San Francesco, our hotel for the next two nights. The hotel is lovely and close to everything.
For dinner, we wandered down the street to Tony’s and had burgers—a nice change from pasta.
The next day we got to the dining room early and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with lots of options. They even had Sfogliatella, the pastry Lisa had mentioned earlier. Naturally, I had to try one (or two).
Later, we took a scenic boat ride to Positano, a special trip Lisa arranged since we’d missed the boat ride in Vieste due to weather. It was fantastic cruising close to each colorful town along the coast.
We passed by the famous Rock which looks like two elephant trunks. It is a natural arch sometimes called the
Lovers' Arch.
Positano
Positano was busy, even in April, though the beaches were still empty. I can only imagine what it’s like in peak season. We wandered through the small shops, admiring the beautiful hand-painted tiles, flowing linen clothing, leather sandals, and colourful ceramics that somehow all seem to demand space in your suitcase.
We stopped for lunch—and then dessert. I got regular
gelato, and Andy let me have a bite of his lemon
ice-cream on a stick. I instantly regretted not
getting my own because it was amazing.
We caught the 1:30 ferry back and accidentally got off one stop early. Thankfully, it was only about a 10-minute walk along the highway back—very scenic and no harm done.
Later, we had an impromptu happy hour on the patio before Andy and I had dinner at the hotel. Yes, more pasta!
