Just an hour away from B&B La Corte is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world: the Amalfi Coast. A ribbon of rock and sea that UNESCO has proclaimed a World Heritage Site, where every bend in the scenic road reveals postcard-perfect views that have inspired artists and writers of every age.
State Road 163, known as the “Blue Ribbon,” snakes for 50 kilometers between Vietri sul Mare and Positano, providing breathtaking views at every hairpin turn. This is one of the most scenic roads in the world, carved into the limestone rock that plummets sheer into the crystal clear sea of the Gulf of Salerno.
Amalfi, which gives its name to the entire coast, was one of the four Maritime Republics that dominated the medieval Mediterranean. St. Andrew’s Cathedral, with its gilded mosaic facade and monumental staircase, holds the relics of the fisherman saint. The Cloister of Paradise, with its intertwined arches in the Arab-Norman style, tells of the trade that connected Amalfi to the East.
Positano climbs the mountain like a colorful nativity scene. Pink and white cottages, connected by stairways and alleyways, descend toward the beach of Marina Grande. This was the birthplace of swimsuit fashion in the 1960s, when Positano became a haven for international artists and intellectuals. The boutiques on Via dei Mulini still sell the famous “positanesi” linen and cotton dresses.
Ravello, perched 350 meters above the sea, is the “city of music” where Richard Wagner composed Parsifal. The gardens of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone offer panoramic terraces that Gere described as “closer to heaven than earth.” During the summer, the Ravello Festival transforms the town into an open-air stage with concerts that have the endless blue sea as their backdrop.
Furore, the “village that is not there,” is hidden in a natural fjord carved by the Schiato stream. The fishing village, reachable only on foot, retains intact the charm of the most authentic Coast. This is where “Furore DOC” wine is produced, born from heroic vineyards cultivated on terraces carved into the rock.
Cetara still thrives on fishing and preserves the traditions of tuna fishing and menaica anchovies. The Aragonese Castle dominates the small harbor where boats laden with anchovies return, which are processed according to ancient recipes to produce the famous colatura di alici, the “liquid gold” of Campanian cuisine.
Paths of the Gods connect villages through ancient mountain trails. The most famous runs from Bomerano to Amalfi, offering spectacular views of Capri and Positano. These trails were the ancient communication routes between villages, which have now become a trekking paradise.
The cuisine of the Coast combines land and sea: from freshly caught fish to Sorrento PGI lemons, from San Marzano tomatoes to buffalo mozzarella. Seafood pasta, fish soup and artisanal limoncello are the authentic flavors of this sun-blessed land.
Vietri sul Mare ceramics color the Coast with their traditional decorations. Hand-painted majolica tiles decorate domes, gardens and terraces, creating the color palette that makes every corner of this coastline unique.
Returning to B&B La Corte after a day on the Coast, you will carry in your eyes and heart the absolute beauty of a landscape that has conquered the world, where nature and man have together created a timeless masterpiece.
