Page 28 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – November/December 2022

Scenic Amalfi Coast
Images of Italy’s Amalfi Coast resemble postcards from a simpler time, when life was not only slower
but also more easily enjoyed. This beachside town, cradled by the Monti Lattari, could easily make a
by boat; therefore, hiring a guided rowboat is necessary. Rumored to offer the best lighting, the afternoon is ideal for viewing the natural phenomenon of the grotto.
Visitors to the Amalfi Coast will have an unforgettable experience, regardless of how they arrive. As the days pass during an Amalfi holiday, a sense of the sweet life leaves visitors spellbound and yearning for more precious simplicity.
traveler feel as though they are dreaming and never want to wake from their reverie. Life in this southern Sorrentine Peninsula town is easy and serene. Bright white and pastel-colored stucco buildings dot the cliffs overlooking the Gulf of Salerno’s sapphire-hued water. This is the destination travelers seek to experience the natural beauty and escape the hustle of everyday life.
The residents of Amalfi recognize their good fortune
of living here. In a town where daily schedules are organized around daylight, nightfall and the tide. Explore the winding alleys, formed from whitewashed building walls and walk up to the Via Annunziatella for magnificent views. Visitors embrace the wonderful simplicity of this historic town. Some buildings are almost 1,000 years old and Valle dei Mulini, or Valley of the Mills, is Italy’s historic papermaking region, a trade that was performed in the area since the 12th century.
Built in the 13th century, Amalfi’s Cattedrale
di Sant’Andrea, also known as Duomo, displays extraordinary architecture and detailed artisan work. The original Arab-Norman design has acquired additional details, influenced by many design styles throughout the centuries. In addition to the Duomo, visitors should be sure to explore The Crypt, the Basilica of the Crucifix, and the Chiostro del Paradiso.
Amalfi features an unforgettable adventure on the water as well as on land. Conca dei Marini, a bay located within the region, hides a beautiful surprise known as the Emerald Grotto or Grotta dello Smeraldo. Over time, dripping water has led to the formation of stalagmites and stalactites. The Emerald Grotto received its
name due to the hue of green that
is visible once rays of sunlight
enter the cave, illuminating the
water. The area is accessible only
of this Roman hallmark. Salvaged after an earthquake in A.D. 1349, pieces of its masonry were used in the construction of the Vatican and outer walls of Rome.
A trip to Vatican City highlights Rome’s Catholic roots. This walled enclave – surrounded by the city of Rome – is the smallest independent state in the world in both area and population. Inside the city, the Vatican Museum holds some of the most important pieces of Renaissance art: paintings by Caravaggio and Leonardo da Vinci, and The Gallery of Maps. Perhaps the most renowned work of
art is the Sistine Chapel, which is thought to have been Michelangelo’s crowning achievement.
Also located within the city is St. Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church. It houses the graves of more than 100 popes and empties into magnificent St. Peter’s Square. Bordered by massive colonnades topped by 140 saint statues, the central point of the square is an Egyptian obelisk flanked by fountains on either side.
While fountains might not always make it to the top of a must-see list, the Trevi Fountain merits a visit. There’s a long-standing tradition of tossing in a coin and making a wish (possibly perpetuated by the movie “Three Coins in the Fountain”). Whether or not the wish comes true, it’s the perfect excuse to linger at this majestic water display, which was once nothing more than the termination of an aqueduct.
Bella Roma
Standing amid the ruins of the Colosseum – if
they can even be called ruins – is a transcendent experience only Rome can afford. Corroded marble facades and cascading arches are the cornerstones
28 I NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022
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