Day 2 – Amalfi Coast Driving Tour, Path of the Lemons Hike & Cooking Class
Amalfi
Day 2 of our Amalfi Coast adventure was the kind of day that makes you stop and say, ‘This is why we travel.’ From dramatic cliffside drives and lemon groves to cooking dinner in a Positano home, it was long, full, and unforgettable day.
Our driver Francesco del Pizzo picked us up at 8:30 a.m. Navigating the coast requires patience—narrow cliffside roads, hairpin turns, and a parade of scooters and tour buses. Our original plan was to have our driver take us directly to Minori/Maiori, the furthest point we were going on the coast. But because of the traffic our driver recommended to stop first in Amalfi, allowing us to explore earlier in the morning, ahead of the crowds. It was a great idea.
I cannot emphasize how amazing this drive was. Every turn along the coast revealed cinematic views of terraced hills, turquoise water, and pastel buildings clinging to the cliffs. I am very glad we had a driver and did not try this on our own. It allowed us to really enjoy the beauty. Our driver knew the best places to stop for photos too! As I mentioned, our first stop was Amalfi. We had about 75 mins to explore, including
- Piazza Duomo and the Amalfi Cathedral/Crypt (dedicated to the Apostle of St. Andrew and believed to house the remains brought over from Constantinople during the Crusades, 1206)
- Walk the narrow city streets and shop for Artisanal paper
- Walk to Atrani along the main busy road (a bit scary), but beautiful coastline views
Atrani
Atrani is a very small village but they have a few things to see including;
- Atrani Beach (Spiaggia di Atrani) – explore the alleyways and caves with hidden terraces
- Visit Piazza Umberto I (town square)
- Church of San Salvatore de Birecto (10th century) – overlooks Piazza Umberto I
- Clocktower church – overlooks Piazza Umberto I
Minori/Maiori: Path of the Lemons Hike
We finally got to Minori. Our driver let us off at Sal De Riso a wonderful pastry shop. They are famous for their Delizia al Limone or a lemon cream filled pastry that was light and fluffy and amazing. That was our lunch for the day as we were saving our appetite for our Chef dinner in Positano.
After our Delizia al Limones, we headed to the Path of the Lemons hike. There were quite a few stairs, but it was not a hard walk (especially when compared to the Path of the Gods hike). It took us about an hour walking in a leisurely fashion. The views are beautiful and the path meanders through many lemon and olive groves
Ravello
Ravello was a wonderful surprise. Nestled high on the hills of the Amalfi Coast this little town is gorgeous! Our driver dropped us off just outside of town. The entrance reminded me of entering St. Paul De Vince just outside of Nice, France. We did not have a chance to go into the cathedral or to Villa Rufolo (another area of beautiful gardens) due to time constraints, but we did get to spend a lot of time at Villa Cimbrone;
- Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity (7 Euros). As you walk through the beautiful gardens to the end of the property you will come to a terrace that, like an infinity pool, drops off to great views of the coastline and sea.
Positano: Cooking Class
Our final stop of the day was Positano. We arrived at about 4:30 and had a little over an hour to explore before we had to find the location of our Cooking Class. The area is so quaint with narrow windy streets mostly for pedestrians. Although you will need to watch out for the motorcycles and scooters! Many great shops and views for photos.
The highlight of Positano was our Cooking Class with Chef Peter John Cararo. He ushered us into his Italian home with an expanded kitchen and eating area. His classes have up to 12 participants. While we did not do much of the cooking, mainly chopping and watching with our wine glasses, Peter told wonderful stories of growing up and living generation after generation in this beautiful town.
We all participated in choosing parts of the meal. If you didn’t like raw tuna, he also had some pieces pan seared. All his ingredients were fresh and organic. Grown locally. In addition to the food, Peter took us to his private cellar where he houses 1,600 bottles of wine allowing each couple to pick a bottle. Plus, Peter selected a few more just in case. It was a wonderful way to enjoy Positano. And as the sun set on the coastline our views just kept getting better. I would highly recommend booking this excursion. You can find Chef Peter at www.positanohomecooking.com.
It was one of those days where you go to bed full—of food, joy, stories, and wonder. Traveling in your 60s is about these kinds of days: immersive, joyful, and deeply human.”
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