Ciaotraveler

The view on the train ride from Naples to Sorrento...Mt. Vesuvius in the background. Beautiful  Sorrento  is nestled in the hills overlooking the Bay of Naples, south of the city of Naples in southern Italy.  It has a steady stream of tourists since the town is known for its quaint charm and small streets.  There's approximately 16,000 citizens residing in Sorrento.  While staying in Sorrento, its easy to  visit the ancient sites of Pompeii and Herculinum (Ercolano) as well as Naples, Capri, Amalfi, Positano, and Salerno.  At the end of this post, there is specific travel information how to get to Sorrento and nearby towns and sites.  The main piazza in Sorrento.

The famous Faraglioni (Ones of the Light) rock formation on Capri Capri  is captivating...great dining, people watching, shopping and sight seeing all on a beautiful small island. At the end of this post I will tell you how to travel to Capri and how to see the sites.   Although we'd prefer to say "capri" like the pants, the correct pronunciation is "KAHpree".  Yes, the capri pants were made trends by Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Onassis (she ordered many of them in the same color) who'd buy many pairs of these cool fashion items.    Caprese salad was also invented here.  Sophia Loren and Jackie Onassis purchased their handmade sandals here by artisans who are still making them today.  Giada De Laurentis often talks about her grandfather,  Director Dino De Laurentis, entertaining many celebrities on the Island.

When in Capri like most of Italy, Italians enjoy full lunches and late night dinners with several courses...pasta, meat/fish, salad, dessert and of course the wine.  First, enjoy the views and then mangia... Capri dining like the views is spectacular.  The chefs create many simple fresh dishes using the locally grown ingredients.  Lemons, olives, and vegetables are locally grown and the  seafood is caught nearby.  At the end of this post you'll see the most fabulous "coffee" drink I've ever tasted...

My first photo taken with my sister on the left in 1973--a Vintage Colosseum photo... I took these photos in April, 2012.  Its all about the architecture and the artistry of the food. Above left Trevi Fountain; right Colosseum; lower left Santa Maria Maggiore; lower right is the Vatican Rotunda.   2015 photos After the British Museum in London and the Louvre in Paris, the Colosseum is the third most visited cultural site in Europe.   Since the  collapse of the House of the Gladiator's  in Pompeii, the Italian Ministry of Culture has been under fire to restore historic monuments before they are irreparably damaged. The government has begun to seek private donations to finance the renovations.  At the end of this post, you'll find Travel Information that will help you around Rome. The Eternal City Year 1999 photo I took. Inside the Colleseum...the top floor is missing to expose the undergro...

Pompei Pompei and  Herculaneum Ruins in Ercolano, Italy  are fascinating, historical cities that can be visited in a day while visiting Sorrento or Naples.   Both cities were covered with lava mud and ash (up to 20' deep) when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D.  Its truly amazing how these cities have been uncovered and naturally restored.  It was exciting to walk all over the grounds with very few areas off limits to visitors.   At the end of my post, look for the specifics about getting to both cities on the train.   

If you happen to be in Rome, take a half (or whole) day to venture out to the charming hilltop town of  Orvieto.  It's only one hour on the fast train from Rome...  When you arrive in Orvieto by train, step out the front and walk across the street to the Funiculare (middle photo)  which takes you up to the top of the hill.  Once you've arrived at the top, walk to the left through the archway (lower left photo) through the gardens to see the spectacular views (above photo).  Once you've seen the views, walk back through the arch and straight up the hill on the tree lined street.  This is Corsica Cavour the main street through Orvieto.   Via del Duomo intersects the Corsico and will take you directly to the Duomo.  This is a lovely piazza where you can dine and shop.  There are many quaint shops and fantastic cafes in the town.  We enjoyed Caffee Monanucci for fresh vegetable salad and Orv...