The Italian Dream

Last summer I travelled to Italy for the first time and instantly fell in love with the Amalfi Coast. As somewhere that has been treasured by many celebrities and locals over the years, it really is an extremely enchanting place. From the unspoilt beauty of Positano, to the hills of Ravello with its rich, green vineyards, the Amalfi has become a playground for the rich and famous and a destination at the top of every travellers bucket list.

View of Positano from above

The sloping streets of Positano create an intricate maze lined with boutiques and delicious local delicacies, leading you down to the picturesque harbour. Some of the main attractions of Positano include the locally produced Limoncello digestiv which is sold on a small stall down at the main harbour and the multi-coloured, patchwork effect of the painted houses nestled in to the protruding mountains. My fondest memory is walking beneath arches of deep pink bougainvillea flowers and perusing market stalls in the cool, shaded streets.

If you are planning a visit to Positano make sure you visit the Santa Maria Assunta Church with its majolica tiled dome and 13th century icon of a black Madonna and don't miss the La Zagara bakery which has the most delicious pastries, cakes and desserts you are ever likely to eat!

Delicious creamed filled pastries at La Zagara bakery

The town of Amalfi is is focal point at the heart of this coastal paradise and is a UNESCO world heritage site. A magnificent cathedral known as the Sant'Andrea towers above the Piazza Duomo. It dates back to the 11th Century and is adorned in late Baroque style decor with beautifully painted ceilings by Andrea d'Aste. As soon as you walk through the main gates in to Amalfi it feels like you have stumbled across a hidden gem.

Sant'Andrea Cathedral

Nothing prepares you for the intricate streets and delightful businesses tucked away from the main harbour and you most definitely don't expect to find a tiny little Cioccolato called the Andrea Pansa, where they not only sell a local delicacy of chocolate coated lemon and orange strips, but also decadently rich 'shots' of pure chocolate mousse. Pure bliss!

Andrea Pansa taken by Laura Thayer @ciaoamalfi

The Amalfi Coast is completely captivating and I can't help but agree with John Steinbeck when he once said, "It is a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone."