A Hike in Amalfi

At one point in my life I thought that taking a ride on a local bus in Mexico would be the scariest bus ride I would ever experience.  Come to find out, after venturing from Sorrento to the coastal town of Amalfi, a bus ride in Italy takes the cake.  After barreling along a cliff side with only room for one lane Vespas, cars, and busses honking and speeding down the mountain in the opposite direction, I have nominated the ride from Sorrento to Amalfi the most frightening, yet completely worth it, bus ride in the history of time!

We caught a bus at the station in Sorrento, along with a pile of other tourists and some locals.  The bus ride took us along the coast to the towns of Positano and Amalfi.  On one of our excursions out of Sorrento we decided to take a hike back in the hills of Amalfi.  We learned that there were lemon groves and trails back behind the town.  (Amalfi and the surrounding region is known for its lemon groves which also bring about its famous beverage…Limoncello!)

We didn’t exactly know how to get to the trails, so we decided to talk a walk behind the town where we had seen some steps heading up into the lemon groves and homes of Amalfi.  Perhaps we would find the trailhead if we just headed up.  As we hiked up stair after stair and gave our leg muscles a run for their money we passed several lemon groves.  Coverings protected the tops of each grove but by peeking through crevices in the stone walls and looking through gates and doorways we were able to see in.  At one point along our adventure up the steps we even found an open gate and were able to climb into one of the lemon groves.  The grove was incredible with lemons hanging from the rows of trees.

We spent quite a while just enjoying the uniqueness of the lemon grove and soon got back to our stair climbing.  We eventually ended up on the trail that sent us back into the lush mountains behind Amalfi.  Being from Colorado it is definitely hard to beat the beautiful hikes of the Rocky Mountains, but I do have to say that the almost exotic feel of these Italian woods took me aback.  On our way back we came upon a perfect view of the town of Amalfi sitting below the lemon groves and stairways.

After hiking there was nothing better than sitting in the piazza of Amalfi, drinking espresso and watching people.

Most definitely take a hike into the lemon groves and mountains of Amalfi.

Travel Tips and Info:

• When heading to Positano and Amalfi, try to sit on the right side of the bus.  The view of the Amalfi coast is breathtaking and best seen from the right side.  On the way back to Sorrento, sit on the left side to enjoy the view coming back as well.
• If you are not feeling up to climbing several sets of steep steps, it might not be a good idea to choose this particular hike.
• Try the Limoncello!