Look! Up in the sky! It's a hotel. It's an apartment. It's Pallazo Dogana!
What is this place? Our accommodation was a bedroom with a sitting room that opened up to a kitchen, all with stunning views through large windows across the marina at Agropoli and out into the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Cool white tiles, white walls and ceilings accented with deep blue curtains, giving it a serene, Mediterranean feel. There is a restaurant downstairs that is open in the summer time, and breakfast is an opt-in affair. We visited in late October, after the summer rush was over, but before the rains set in.
Just outside the Palazzo is a small beach better suited for catching some rays than swimming, although there are plenty of clean beaches to swim at within a 20 minute walk. To the rear of the building is the bustling Old Town, from which it's an easy to walk up the hill to the promontory where the old convent and castle are surrounded by cosy apartments and trattorias.
What struck us about Agropoli is the generosity of everyone we met. This is not a wealthy area, but people offer what they can, making even non-Italian-speakers feel welcome as if special guests in their home. Sounds corny, I know, but you'll know what I mean if you ever go there.
What about the food, you ask? The best stuff comes from the sea and it is without parallel. Simple, flavorful, textured, plentiful and CHEAP. This is a wonderful part of the world, genuine, friendly and much better to our minds than the nearby Amalfi Coast. read more
