Destination: Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento - Sorrento is perched on a dramatic line of steeply rising cliffs, overlooking the Bay of Naples, on a stretch of coastline of great beauty, on the northern slope of the Sorrentine Peninsula. The town is surrounded by orange and lemon groves and lush thickly wooded hills where vines and olives are grown. A deep gorge runs down to the port on the sea. The town has pretty pastel-colored houses and several quaint small squares. On a clear day you can see the city of Naples about 25 miles away on the other side of the bay, as well as the slopes of the majestic Mt. Vesuvius, and the island of Ischia. According to legend, it was at Sorrento that Ulysses heard the tempting song of the Sirens, the nymphs who attempted to seduce passing sailors. Local specialties include seafood, almond cakes, smoked cheeses and limoncello, a sweet-sour liqueur fermented from the lemons that grow in the area.

The Amalfi Coast - This is a beautiful 50 kilometer stretch of mountainous coastline situated on the Sorrento peninsula between Sorrento and Salerno, just south of Naples, in the region of Campania. This coastline is dotted with small picturesque villages and towns. The small towns of Amalfi, which is the oldest maritime republic, and Positano, a small village made famous by Hollywood are popular tourist and summer resort centers. Then there is the quiet fishing village of Praiano.