Enjoy Winter in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

After spending a couple of weeks in Rome and Tuscany, during the months of November and December, we drove down south where we spent 4 nights in the serene seaside enclave of Sorrento. Naturally, we took a tour of the stunning Amalfi Coast and went on a wet and wild stroll through the mysterious city of Pompeii.

Find a local guide in Sorrento, here.

Sorrento was dressed up and buzzing with holiday frivolity which made it extra special.  Our home base was the Hotel Antiche Mura, a conveniently located boutique hotel perched on top of a deep ravine.

At the bottom of the ravine is an old mill.  

The hotel was only a block from the Piazza Tasso, a cafe-lined square in the center of town.

Sorrento was busier than usual when we were there because an Italian film festival was being held there. Filmmakers and their entourages filled the cafes and crowded the sidewalks as they networked and made deals. We used our film industry connections to score free passes to the festival and were invited to several parties even though we didn’t understand a word of Italian. It was Felliniesque, to say the least.

We hired a private driver who took us on an all-day tour of the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii.  I believe it’s the best way to maneuver the winding coastal roads. Our driver was familiar with the terrain, knew exactly where to go, and was laid-back and relaxed.  He took us to an olive oil tasting and then to the towns of Positano and Amalfi.

The road was closed off after Amalfi because of a landslide, so we took the mountain route over to Pompeii.  Rain began to pour down but we traversed through the sparkling wet ruins in wonder. I think it made some of our photographs even better.

Sorrento, Italy

Sorrento is located on the coast of southeastern Italy, facing the Bay of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula. Below are some of the images I collected during our stay there.

To view the images below in FULL SIZE, click on the individual photos below.

The Amalfi Coast

The stunning Amalfi Coast is a 50-kilometer stretch of coastline along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, in the Campania region, and about an hour from Sorrento.

We stopped in Positano and Amalfi along the way. During the summer both of those towns are packed with tourists, but we were traveling in winter so it was easy to walk around and explore without the crowds.

Pompeii

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. it covered the city of Pompeii in ash. Now it’s a vast city in ruins in southern Italy’s Campania region. The rain that day made it even more mysterious and sparkly in these photos. Pompeii is only about 40 minutes from Sorrento.

Visiting Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast in the winter has the advantage of fewer crowds and friendlier service, according to some locals we talked to. It’s just as beautiful and much more laid back. Despite the rainstorm, the weather was comfortable but not bikini weather. I’d do it again in a heartbeat because there’s no place better to enjoy a class of Limoncello and people watch.

Favorite Restaurants in Sorrento

Ristorante Il Convivio – Via Correale, 19 Sorrento 80067 081 877 3530  This restaurant is owned by a man and his daughter.  They had fresh whole fish that they cooked and fileted at the table. They also served delicious homemade Scialatelli pasta (native to Sorrento) with fresh local fish. They don’t have a website but I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant.

Ristorante Da Filippo – This restaurant is located in the hills of Sorrento and is a favorite for locals. A driver from the restaurant picked us up from our hotel because it was difficult to find. The food was excellent.

Ristorante Pizzeria Tasso – Via Correale, 11d Sorrento 80067 +39 081 878 5809 – This restaurant is on the Piazza Tasso and was also delicious.

Check out the top things to do on the Amalfi Coast here.