Daniel J. Matyola <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Tomorrow my wife and I leave for 7 days in Sorrento. We anticipate > short trips to Amalfi, Positano, Capri and possibly Naples. > > Any advice about places to visit, places to avoid, restaurants, > museums,and photo opportunities would be greatly appreciated. >
Hi Dan, You give me the occasion to post again... :-) The weather is nice in this period, we have around 20°C (68°F) today. I don't know if you have everything planned for your arrive to Sorrento, but if you don't, the following tips may be useful (otherwise skip the first part...) Are you landing at Napoli Capodichino? If so, you can take the 3S (Euro 1 for a 90' ticket) or the Alibus, a express bus (Euro 3 for a one way ticket); both bring you to the Central Station in Naples, where you may take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento (if you can, try to take a express train, the so called "direttissimo" - the code is DD, if you want to save 20 minutes on the route). Try to avoid the taxi unless you want to spend quite a lot more (they are less expensive than in other Italian cities, though). With the Alibus you arrive to Piazza Municipio too (read: the port) where, from the dock Molo Beverello, you may take the ferry. Amalfi, Positano and the coast in general are worth the trip. Try not to miss Ravello, with its Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, they say from there you can see the most beautiful view in the world (I guess it was Gore Vidal who said that, but Ravello was deeply loved by Goethe and Wagner too, so I may be wrong...) >From Sorrento in 30' (Circumvesuviana train again) you can reach Pompei (I won't say anything about it, you should already know...) and Ercolano, the ancient Herculaneum that shared Pompeii's fate (that's where I live - not in the ancient one, of course...) In Naples there are several things you should not miss: Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace, downtown Naples); the Reggia di Capodimonte (Royal Palace of Capodimonte - now showing an important exhibition of Tiziano - on the hill at the back of the Museum); the Certosa di San Martino and the Castle of Sant'Elmo, both on the top of the Vomero hill - visible from almost every place of Naples. A walk around the narrow streets of the Centro Antico (the part of Naples built over the Greek-Roman city) is definitely worthwhile, if you take the needed precautionary measures: never, NEVER wear something that is or seems valuable (especially expensive watches, necklaces, earrings - even expensive sunglasses); avoid to have the camera around your neck or over your shoulder, wrap the strap wround the wrist and hold it firmly (you'll be ready to shot something interesting that may happen...); try to avoid strange places and little crowds of male people (the area around the Central Station is quite stressing, get out of there as soon as possible); when you walk in the most crowded places (and in buses, trains, underground, etc.) don't have anything like documents and cash in easily accessible pockets, or in backpacks. I'm probably making it more scary than it is, but better be more careful than needed. I'll be back later with other tips... If you want to ask something more specific you are welcome. Ciao, Gianfranco _ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
