PARADISE REGAINED

As you disembark your cruise ship in Sorrento, meet your private driver and enjoy a full day of sightseeing along the Tyrrhenian coast. Some of Italy’s most marvellous landscapes will unfold before your eyes on your visit to three of Campania’s summer resorts.

Set at the foot of Monte Cerreto, the small town of Amalfi is, nonetheless, the largest on the coast. It may be hard to believe that in its 10th and 11th century heyday this tiny jewel of a town was a maritime superpower that successfully dominated Mediterranean trade routes, rivalling Genoa, Pisa and Venice. Folklore claims that Amalfi owes its name to a beautiful nymph with whom Hercules had fallen in love. After her premature and tragic death, the Roman hero searched the world over to locate a place that could match her splendour and decided to bury her on this very spot. Above her tomb he built a town in her honour ensuring her name and charm would live for eternity. A plaque welcomes visitors to Amalfi with the following poetic statement: “The day of judgment, for Amalfitans that go to Heaven will be a day like any other”. A treasure trove of artistic and architectural wonders, the town is sure to impress. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Amalfi’s lively streets, revel in breathtaking views from the waterfront and take a peek inside the medieval Cathedral of Sant’Andrea, sitting proudly atop a steep flight of steps on the main square. The mortal remains of Saint Andrew, stolen from Constantinople in 1206, lie under the altar in the lavishly decorated crypt. The adjoining Cloister of Paradise, with its interlaced Moorish-style arches enclosing a garden, is well worth a visit. Originally built in 1266 as a burial place for the local aristocracy, today this peaceful corner offers a shady retreat to visitors basking in the beauty of sunny coastal sights.

The next stop on your excursion will bring you to Ravello. With its beguiling hilltop location, unparalleled panoramas and splendid gardens, Ravello has captivated countless artists, writers and musicians throughout the centuries. Founded in the 5th century as a shelter against the Barbarian invasions, the town flourished under the rule of Amalfi when wealthy merchants built its most famous villas. Highlights include the Church of San Giovanni del Toro, home to the pulpit mosaics that prompted M.C. Escher to create his interlocking patterns; Villa Rufolo, whose atmospheric setting inspired the enchanted Garden of Klingsor of Wagner’s Parsifal; Villa Cimbrone, world-known for its belvedere poetically named Terrace of Infinity. Pottery shops selling exquisitely hand-crafted and minutely hand-painted ceramic pieces, including plates, vases, fruit bowls, mugs and coffee cups, are yet another of Ravello’s delights.

In the afternoon return to Sorrento, a picturesque cliffside town offering sweeping views of the Bay of Naples. According to tradition its name derives from the word Siren and is linked to the legend of Ulysses and the mermaids. These mythical sea creatures, half female and half fish, seduced sailors with their celestial voices and lured them onto the rocks causing shipwrecks. As the Odyssey recounts, Ulysses heard the Sirens singing as he was sailing past Sorrento and succeeded in defeating them by filling his companions’ ears with wax and asking his crew to tie him to the ship’s mainmast. The Sirens were so humiliated by their failure that they hurled themselves into the water and turned into the rocks that today rise from the sea, south of the Sorrentine Peninusula, and are known as Li Galli. Sorrento was a popular summer spot for wealthy patricians in ancient Roman times and remains a prime tourist destination today with its pretty streets, quaint shops, delicious gastronomic specialities and glorious weather. Limoncello, Italy’s golden liqueur, is also produced locally so don’t miss the chance to sample a glass before climbing back on board your cruise ship.