By: Matt Meltzer
Credit: leoks/Shutterstock
The words "Amalfi Coast" probably conjure up images of luxe vacationers wearing $400 sandals and sipping rosé as they sit cliffside carrying on about "la dolce vita." And you'd be partly right. This gorgeous stretch of coast in Southern Italy near Naples does attract its share of rich and famous, but it's by no means exclusive. In fact, it's more rustic, historic, and accessible -- even if it is only by boat -- than most tourists realize.
And to prove it, we asked the folks at AmalfiCoasting.org (pretty much the foremost authority on all things Amalfi) to offer up their reasons why this section of European shore should absolutely be on your vacation radar.
Credit: Roberto Pontecorvo/AmalfiCoasting.org
EVERYTHING revolves around the water
The striking blue water of the Med is the main attraction here, so every bar, restaurant, museum, shop, whatever, will offer a spectacular view of it. Even the hikes through the hills are on the water, so if your goal in visiting Italy was to never be out of sight of the ocean -- you've found your spot.
You won't be priced out
Again, even though the Amalfi Coast is accessible by water that doesn't mean it's highly exclusive. Families come from Florence, Naples, and even as far away as Croatia to spend time on the sand; so it often feels more like a nice public beach than it does haughty St. Tropez. It also makes for an ideal day trip if you're exploring other parts of the region.
Credit: Pavel Dudek/Shutterstock
Get your history fix at the temples of Paestum
A main draw of visiting historic countries is checking out the ruins of ancient civilizations, and some of the best-preserved and least-crowded in Italy are at Paestum. The Doric temples comprise 20 structures total, the oldest being the Tempio di Nettuno which was dedicated to the god Neptune. Even more interesting, though, is the bouleuterion (derived from the Greek word "boule" for "council" and the suffix "terion" for "place for doing something"), which was home to a sort of city council.
Credit: gvictoria/Shutterstock
The Isle of Capri will blow you away
This island sits just off the coast in the Gulf of Naples and was the vacation of choice for Roman emperors. It's most famous for the Blue Grotto, where sunshine peeks into a small cave and makes the water radiate a shade of blue not seen anywhere else in the world. But since you can't spend a whole day in a grotto, Capri is also full of historic churches and palazzos, as well as terraced gardens with views of the Bay. You can also check out the magnificently turquoise Port of Tragara and the Faraglioni, three giant rocks that stretch as high as 300ft out of the water.
Credit: Roberto Pontecorvo/AmalfiCoasting.org
They take "dining with a view" to the next level
It's Italy, so we don't really need to sell you on the pasta, the seafood, the pizza, or pretty much anything on an Amalfi menu. But when you sit down to eat that authentic Italian pasta, you're going to do so while soaking in some of the world's most spectacular backdrops; whether on a black sand beach at Ristorante Le Arcate in Atrani or at the helm of a galleon that's been carved into a mountainside (at Il Pirata in Praiano). You'll also enjoy the quintessential European cafe experience at the Piazza Duomo and the Amalfi's best pizza at Pizza Duomo. Just don't get the two confused.
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