Part of me wants to gatekeep this place, but the other part wants them to thrive for generations to…read morecome because experiences like this deserve to be celebrated. I stumbled across the Amalfi Monumental Garden while researching things to do in Amalfi after seeing a video filmed there. I was shocked to find it hadn't gone viral or been overrun by influencers--it had fewer than 10 Google reviews at the time. Considering the breathtaking views, its location just minutes from the city center, and everything that's included, it felt like one of Amalfi's best-kept secrets. With €15 cocktails being the norm along the Amalfi Coast, this was easily one of the best bang for your buck moments. For €35, you get an owner-guided 1 1/2 hour tour of a historic lemon farm, learn about Amalfi's famous sfusato amalfitano lemons & other varieties, see how traditional limoncello is made, and finish with a tasting of fresh lemonade, lemon cake, and limoncello -- all while taking in spectacular ocean views with only a handful of other guests. The experience begins when owner Gianmarco Aceto meets the group in town and walks everyone to his family's historic lemon garden. The Aceto family has farmed these gardens for seven generations, which is quite impressive. As we climbed the ancient terraces suspended between the mountains and the sea, Gianmarco shared stories about the family's heritage, explained their traditional farming methods, and talked about the famous lemons that have shaped Amalfi's agricultural identity for centuries. The group was small and intimate (12 of us), making the experience feel incredibly personal rather than touristy. The tour concluded on the Aceto family's private terrace, where panoramic views of the sea and Amalfi provided the perfect backdrop to enjoy freshly squeezed lemonade, homemade lemon cake, and their limoncello. Gianmarco then demonstrated how their family makes limoncello using simple ingredients before generously offering our group another shot to enjoy. I couldn't resist bringing a bottle home and am looking forward to opening it for a special occasion. We also had a lot of time to snap photos and we're never rushed to leave. That quiet terrace overlooking Amalfi ended up being one of my favorite moments of my entire trip. Away from the crowds and tourist traps, we were able to sit, relax, and simply soak in the incredible view. It felt like such a privilege to experience this side of Amalfi--one rooted in family, tradition, and genuine hospitality. I left feeling grateful for this unique experience and I'd recommend to anyone looking to experience beyond the usual tourist stops.

For the casual tourist, while not necessarily the largest cathedral, the Duomo di Santa Maria…read moreAssunta, aka Duomo di Napoli, aka Cattedrale di San Gennaro--still presents a visual feast for the eyes. For the spiritual visitor, this cathedral is the city's central catholic parish, seat of the Naples archdiocese, dedicated to the city's principal patron saint. San Gennaro (Saint Januarius)*, was a bishop martyred in 305 AD under Roman emperor Diocletian, later buried here. While little is known about his life, his body was transferred a few times, lastly in 1497 to Naples. This was at the behest of Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, where his remains were kept in the Succorpo, a richly decorated crypt constructed for this specific purpose. The most notable religious relics housed here include: 1) ampoules of the saint's blood that supposedly liquify three times a year in a miracle to show the favor of the saint upon the city, and popes that visit. For this reason it's become a pilgrimage site for those hoping to witness the miracle of liquefaction. It's debated what type of liquid is contained within the hermetically sealed vials, though scientific evidence is scant considering the contents cannot be removed in fear of damage to its contents. 2) the treasure of San Gennaro (for which a separate ticket must be purchased €13) consists of the many works bestowed upon or donated to the cathedral over seven centuries from royalty and lay persons, as signs of devotion. Paintings, busts, ex-votos, objects made with precious metals and jewels are included in this collection. While there are a few sections of the cathedral that are currently not open regularly to the public, including a) the Santa Restituta, where the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte is located (part of the church built earlier in the 14th century--you could peak in from the side though couldn't enter), b) the Chapel of the San Gennaro Treasury, c) the Minuto Chapel, --the parts the were open were very impressive. In the cathedral, highlights include the colorful soaring dome, golden coffered ceilings, and the decorative statue "Assumption" at the main altarpiece by Pietro Bacci (1739). Mid-afternoon lighting thru the windows cast a bright warm glow making the statue look like it was shining. The Succorpo was also one of the most ornate crypts I've ever seen. Open daily 9:30am-17:00pm, general admission is free and there are tours available with advance booking required (€10 adult, €8 student, €6 6-15yr olds, €0 for 5 and under and those with disabilities.) Tickets for rooftop access are €6. Good-sized gift shop. For more info - their website is very informative about the duomo's history and visiting details: https://duomonapoli.it/en/ *This is the same saint for which an annual festival Feast of San Gennaro is held.

Spiritually Full and Completely in Awe…read more Duomo di Napoli took my breath away the moment I stepped inside. I can't even fully put it into words... the calmness that washed over me was unreal. My heart felt full... my spirit felt fed... and I could've stayed there for hours just soaking it in. The architecture is beyond anything a photo can capture: the detail, the artistry, the reverence in every corner. You feel the history... the faith... the devotion... all around you. If you're visiting Naples, do not miss this cathedral. It's not just a tourist stop... It's an experience for your soul. Absolutely beautiful.

The Santuario del Carmine is a beautiful church in Sorrento. Located in the historic center of…read moreSorrento near Piazza Tasso, it was originally built in the 3rd century. The "newer" church was rebuilt in the 16th century. A primitive church was built around the third century, between 230 and 240. During the period of the rule of Diocletian, residents of Sorrento, Marco, Quartilla, Quintino, and Quintilla were executed as followers of the Christianity according to the laws imposed by the harsh Roman emperor. In the sixteenth century, a newer church was built on the site of the historic church. The church today has been restored in the classic Baroque style. Nice to go inside to view the single nave and side altars. The apse is decorated with paintings depicting some episodes from the life of the Madonna: Sant'Anna with the Virgin Child, the Assumption of Mary, and the Annunciation. On the main altar, there is a copy of the Madonna Bruna. Love paintings from the Neapolitan school especially the Madonna with Child. I was the only one in this church when I visited Sorrento during a shore excursion with Concetta Violante from World Tours. I said a prayer and made a donation. A very peaceful and beautiful church to visit.

Meandering down Corso Italia, this church set back from the street caught my eye. A simple facade,…read moreI figured to give it a go and check if it was open. Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo (Cathedral of Saints Philip & James), also known as the Sorrento Cathedral, is one of the most well-known and culturally significant important churches in town. As a functional parish, regular masses are held here and it's a central gathering place for local religious festivities. Dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption and Saints Philip and James, its history dates back to the 11th century, with a plethora of changes altering its appearance from its Romanesque origins to add Baroque and neo-Gothic components. An example of this is the cathedral clock tower, which sits apart from the main building, having been built later in the 16th century over ancient Roman ruins, with vertical extensions adding the top levels in the 18th century. Inside the church, multi-hued marble walls and columns, vibrant ceiling frescos with swirling gold acanthus leaves* and scenes of the aforementioned saints, baroque wall accents, and a number of side chapels in various states of decor, ornate wood inset paneling, etc. all combine for what appeared to me a somewhat restrained appearance (compared to most other church buildings I visited on this trip). A serene atmosphere pervaded the main building; since it was late afternoon on a weekday, only a handful of other visitors walked about. No fee for admission and I spent about 20 minutes here. Note there's a break in the daily hours so plan around it! Opening hours: 8:00AM- 12:30PM ​4:30PM - 8:30PM *I was today years old when I learned that's what those curling leaves are called which form the basis of much classic Greek/Roman architectural and ornamental painting motifs! For example used atop Corinthian columns.

While visiting Napoli during our Mediterranean cruise we made sure to visit Pompeii…read more U enter the park with your group & then u processed to walk around the entire area, this place is unreal to think this area was once inhabited by people seems so crazy. As u walk through the streets & ruins it feels almost unreal seeing how well preserved a lot of the structures & streets are is pretty cool. Seeing so much of this ancient city is fascinating, not a lot of the preserved bodies on display as I recall I think those are elsewhere, we saw 1-2 such an odd thing to see. The park is very well kept u can see Mount Vesuvius in the distance, this adds such an unreal factor, overall this was a very humbling & educational experience.

Since this is essentially a secondary listing for "Pompeii Ruins" on Yelp, just adding a few more…read morenotes here that I didn't include in my main review. Highlights for me were: 1) the Forum: on the south western side of the park, past the Temple of Venus which is fairly close to the entrance by Porta Marina. This was the main public square and socio-economic center for the city with many different government, religious and commercial buildings set around it. Some of the important ruins include the Basilica, the court of law and business center, and the Macellum, a covered food market and marketplace. Temples of Jupiter and Apollo served religious functions. 2) the bath houses: there are a few different locations Terme Stabiane, Terme del Foro, Terme Suburbane--though I went to the Forum location, was really impressed by how well laid out and preserved this building was. 3) thermopoliums: plural because around 80 different locations were found within Pompeii. These are the equivalent of street food vendors where the working class would procure hot food to go, since the majority of Pompeii's 10-35K residents at the time of its destruction in 79 AD didn't live in villas, rather in multistory buildings without kitchens, hence depended on these for sustenance. These L-shaped marble counters held terracotta jars of hot and cold food, such as stews, meats, and spiced wine. 4) "suburban" Villa di Diomede and Villa dei Misteri which require a separate fee of €8 payable in cash or card at the gate to that section of the park, if it's not already included in your particular combo ticket. These two villas underwent multiple restorations and haven't always been open to the public. Both are examples of larger, grand residences with more complex layouts, the latter housing famous colorful frescos depicting rituals related to an esoteric cult of Dionysus. 5) necropolises: a few different locations around the outskirts of the town, it was fascinating to see how ancient traditions of mausoleums carry into current conventions. 6) interesting signage: while I don't read Latin, from the translations I read about pertaining to some of the sites, they certainly got their point across. I chuckled at the mosaic with Latin phrase "Cave Canem" literally "beware of the dog" showing a snarling black dog, placed at the entrance of one of the domiciles. Side note there is restoration and excavation work ongoing at different sites within the park, so not every building is open to the public. Even some structures that were open within the past several months like the House of Menander and Lupanare di Pompei (Pompeii's brothel) were not open.

What a site to see and an absolute must while in Naples. My partner and I didn't arrive till the…read morelate evening but as we were walking up it was nice to see the beauty from the outside. Nicely lit in the evening many folks actually hang out on the bridge and around the grounds which made it fun and exciting. There are so many restaurants adjacent to the castle so make it a point to grab a drink and bite. After a quick search, Castel dell'Ovo has been a prison, a royal family's house, and a defense station. The name literally translates to egg castle fun fact! Don't forget this castle is on the water so it makes for some beautiful photos. Did I mention it's free to check out?!

This castle looked more like a fortress to me, probably why it's still standing today. It's free to…read moreenter, nice for some pics from inside too. It is located on an island. The name of the castle Egg castle. It isn't much to look at, but it's a strong testament to the skills of our fore fathers to build such an edifice, which is still intact to this day.

This simple yet imposing structure dominates Piazza Vescovado, the main town square in Ravello…read more With its origins dating back to the 11th century, its style mixes Romanesque and Baroque, though its current minimalist facade is a result of restoration in 1931. Dedicated to St. Pantaleone, the patron saint of physicians and midwives, martyred in the 4th century, he is also the patron saint of Ravello. The construction of this duomo was ordered by Orso Papice, the first bishop of Ravello, supported by the Rufolo family, a wealthy merchant household that also built the nearby Villa Rufolo (see my separate review for that!). The church is known for containing a relic from the saint, a vial of his blood that supposedly liquefies annually on his feast day July 27. Another notable feature are its ornate bronze doors, dating back to 1179. The bell tower of this church dates to the 13th century, I didn't climb up since it was close to closing when I visited, though I imagine the views are stellar. A small church museum is accessible via a side entrance, holds a notable marble bust believed to be Sigilgaida Rufolo, the wife of Nicola Rufolo, the 13th-century merchant who commissioned the cathedral's pulpit. Detractors maintain the sculpture depicts the Madonna or Joanna, Queen of Naples in the 14th century. For more info: https://www.ravello.com/attractions/duomo/

The itinerary did not include an event here, but to pass it several times a day is an honor. It's…read moresurprising to say no one has written anything about this quaint beauty. Until now. Perfectly located.

Unbelievable. The M.A.R. museum offers tours that include two crypts under the main church, and the…read moreremains of a Roman Villa under the crypt. The crypts are very cool - the villa is unbelievable. Currently only one room of the villa has been excavated, but that includes two walls with the most spectacularly preserved frescos - way better than any of the walls in Pompeii. The details are so well preserved that there are still plaster reliefs of cherubs, sea horses, etc. on the walls. It was stunning. The whole tour is absolutely worthwhile - our tour guide was great and knew a lot about the site. She said they're currently working on excavating other sites in the vicinity - hopefully that's successful! Either way this is a can't-miss stop in Positano. The tour was quick, about 20 minutes, and worth every penny.