Tuscany & Amalfi Coast, Italy

08/30/16

Summary


I visited Tuscany (4 nights) and Capri (2 nights) & Positano (3 nights) along the Amalfi Coast in Italy with my wife for our 5th wedding anniversary in August 2016. While we had both been to other Italian cities before, this is the first time we had been to Italy together and to these destinations in particular. We both loved Tuscany for the Brunello and Chianti wines (made famous in the Montalcino and Chianti towns/regions) and were excited about relaxing and exploring Capri, Ravello and Positano along the Amalfi Coast. Italy is an incredible destination that has a destination, travel type and cuisine for everyone and we may be back sooner than we think.

 

 

Accommodations


This was one of the rare trips where we splurged on accommodations throughout the trip (and we mixed in loyalty points as well). In Tuscany – specifically Montalcino – we stayed at the Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco which has a small village-like feel with a hotel in the center. It is owned by the Ferragamo family and has a magnificently picturesque location in the heart of Brunello wine country. On Capri Island, we stayed at the JK Place which was the most stunning boutique hotel we had ever been to. Close proximity to the towns of Capri and Anacapri and overlooking the sea, this hotel lives up to its reputation. Finally, in Positano we stayed at the famous Le Sirenuse situated above the town’s picturesque beaches. All three accommodations were different and unique in their own ways and made the stay experiences extremely unique and special.

 

 

Select Favorites 
    • Tuscany
      • Dining: We enjoyed walking through Montalcino town and the one dinner we had outside of the Rosewood was at Boccon Divino just on the town’s outskirts.  It has a nice terrace to sit outside and a magnificent view with a nice casual dinner menu. Another dining highlight was La Festa Della Domenica (the Sunday feast) at the Rosewood which took on a welcoming village feel with nice wine, family-style dinner, local craftspeople and live music 
      • Activities: Our focuses for Tuscany were Montalcino which has a nice, small town and is famous for Brunello wine and the Chianti region famous for Chianti and Chianti Classico wines. We spent much of our time walking through vineyards and enjoying the Rosewood’s village-like property. Our favorite wineries for Brunello included the beautiful Poggio di Sotto and famous Soldera. The Rosewood organized a private tasting/tour with legendary winemaker Gianfranco Soldera which was a memorable highlight. Banfi is also very popular as a beautiful destination to visit, to enjoy meals at La Taverna and to stay overnight. For Chianti, we loved Badia a Coltibuono and Castello di Ama but missed the highly-recommended Fontodi as it was closed. Castello di Ama makes great Olive Oil, pressed onsite
    • Capri
      • Dining: There are many nice, casual places on eat on Capri and it can take a few days to explore many of them. Some of our favorites included Da Aurora (outdoor table), Da Giorgio (by the windows) and sitting amongst lemon trees at Da Paolino. For the best gelato in town, check out Buonocore Gelato 
      • Activities: With its welcoming streets, eclectic shops, fabulous beaches and natural sights, Capri is a popular destination for either day-trips from the Amalfi Coast or a few nights (as we did). Our shopping stops included famous Sandals shop L’Arte del Sandalo Caprese by Antonio Viva, Capannina più (gourmet goods), 100% Capri (local linen clothes) and La Parisienne (capri pants). The Viva sandals remain our favorite purchase. Another fun activity is spending the day a beach club. We chose La Fontelina, where you can relax, swim and enjoy fabulous views of the dramatic Faraglioni Rocks. Another great activity is a boat tour of the island where you can hop in the water for a swim, check out the stunning views and visit a famous attraction on Capri – the Blue Grotto sea cave
    • Positano
      • Dining: There are many great casual or formal meal options around Positano. For lunch, we loved Max Restaurant post cooking class and Chez Black & Incanto on the beach itself. At Nerano Bay, we loved Lo Scoglio. For dinner, our favorites included Le Sirenuse’s Michelin starred La Sponda with its incredible views and Next2 was a perfect blend of food and casual ambiance on our last night. Nearby towns are great for day trips or even just for dining options. We spent an enjoyable evening in Ravello at the Palazzo Avino bar and then dinner on the terrace with spectacular views at Villa Maria 
      • Activities: Positano is among the more casually glamorous towns along the Amalfi Coast. It was fun walking through the town in the small alleyways and into / out of shops. Local beaches are bustling and relaxing at the same time and you can always enjoy a boat excursion to another coastal destination or to go for a refreshing swim. Le Sirenuse (or any hotel you stay at) can organize activities but this hotel in parricular includes many of its activities as part of the stay. Our favorite activities – in addition to walking through town and relaxing on the beach – included a boat trip to Nerano Bay for lunch, a sunset cruise and an Italian cooking class at Max’s Restaurant

 

 

Recommendation


Italy has so many amazing destinations to explore and it is worth considering multiple trips to hit even just the highlights. On this trip to Tuscany and Amalfi, we generally avoided specific tourist sightseeing and prioritized quality time together – relaxing, exploring and dining. Given how busy many of the popular destinations get, I would recommend some advanced reservations if there are any places that are must do’s on your list – e.g. wineries, restaurants, activities etc.. On a future visit to Tuscany, we would likely go the coast for a few days and visit Sassicaia and Ornellaia for Super Tuscan wines. On a future visit to the Amalfi Coast, we would likely try to stay at Il San Pietro in Positano and Hotel Santa Catarina in Amalfi town. Have an amazing trip!