POSITANO
POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
Cookbook / Travel Guide
by BELLINO
POSITANO TOTE BAG
POSITANO
AMALFI COAST
Dreaming of Positano
Rock Stars & Movie Stars on The Amalfi Coast
ROCK STARS WRITERS & MOVIE STARS
On CAPRI and The AMALFI COAST
ITALY
Humphrey Bogart and Gina Lollobrigida
BEAT The DEVIL
Ravello
Clark Gable & Sophia Loren
IT STARTED in NAPLES
Yes, Movie Stars, Rock Stars, and writers, they all go to the Amalfi Coast, Ravello (Gore Vidal),
and the beautiful Isle of Capri, like: Neruda, Valentino, Jackie Kennedy, and Italian film directors
Federico Fellini and Dino De Laurentiis. In the 50s and 60s Capri and the Amalfi Coast saw the likes of Sophia Loren, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Jack Lemmon,Vittorio De Sica, and Gina Lollobrigida all make movies in the area, to name but a few. We saw Jack Lemmon make another film in the area in the 1970s when he made Macaroni with the great Italian actor, the great
Marcello Mastroianni in the vibrant southern Italian capital city of Naples. It’s a marvelous movie, and if you’ve never seen it, we suggest you do.
The 1990s saw the likes of Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the late great
Phillip Seymour Hoffman shooting The Talented Mr. Ripley on the local islands of Procida and
Ischia. Parts of the film were also shot in Rome, Venice, and San Remo.
The 90s also saw Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, Fischer Stevens, and Billy Zane in a cute
Romantic Comedy that starts in Pittsburgh, moves on to Venice, a drive through Tuscan, and on to Rome before the finale in Positano on The Amalfi Coast. The characters stayed in the luxurious
Le Sirenuse Hotel. It’s a cut little film, and all the Italian locals are just gorgeous.
We don’t see another major American movie set on The Amalfi Coast until a small part of the film
Under The Tuscan Sun, starring Diane Lane is shot there in 2003.
Nowadays we are seeing lots of major celebrities vacationing on Capri, Positano and The Amalfi Coast. This past Summer of 2021 saw “Bennifer” Jennifer Lopez and beau Ben Affleck celebrating Jennifer’s 52nd Birthday on a Luxury Yacht moored off of Capri, Positano, and the namesake town of Amalfi. Rapper / actor LL Cool J was spotted hanging out with former NBA great Irvin Magic Johnson on the Isle of Capri, where Magic celebrated his 59th Birthday at a restaurant on Capri with his wife, friends, and family. Denzel Washington loves Positano as well, and has been spotted at
Chez Black and Music on The Rocks, both in Positano, and Best Selling Italian Cookbook writer Daniel Bellino Zwicke has been vacationing in Positano and Capri since the Summer of 1985. His latest book, is Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook & Travel Guide.
Sophia Loren in “Scandal in Sorrento”
SORRENTO 1955
Sophia Loren and Clark Gable
On CAPRI
“IT STARTED in NAPLES”
1960
Jen & Ben
aka “BENNIFER”
CAPRI
2021
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The YACHT
Chartered by JEN & BEN
BENNIFER
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER” !!!
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JLO & BEN
A KISS FOr The BIRTHDAY GIRL
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Exploring The Amalfi Coast Pompeii Naples
FIAT 500
On The AMALFI COAST
Do you want to explore the Amalfi Coast? And not just the Amalfi Coast, but some of the great sights all around? Sights and places like Pompeii, Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, a vineyard on the coast or nearby Benevento or Avelino, the home of Lacryma Christi, Taurasi, Falanghina and some Italy’s best wines. Take a Pizza run into Naples and hit some its famous Pizzerias, including Julia Roberts favorite in the movie Eat Pray Love. Take a boat to Capri, visit The Blue Grotto, have lunch and explore, there is much to do on The Amalfi Coast, in Naples, and the Sorrentine Peninsula, and not just laying around the beach in Positano all day.
Speaking of Positano, or whether you might be staying in Minori, Amalfi, or Salerno which makes a good home base for the Amalfi Coast, the hostels are just a fraction of those in Positano, and there is great transportation from this coastal city that lies one town over from the most southern town of the Amalfi Coast which is Vietri Sul Mare, and is the capital of Ceramics for the area. And speaking of ceramics, this can be one of those extra curricular activities while staying in Positano, or wherever? Vietri Sul Mare is the town where 90% of the beautiful ceramics you see in shops all over the region, they are made in Vietri Sul Mare, so if you want to buy some ceramics a lot cheaper that in Positano, you might want to go to Vietri.
POMPEII
A visit to Pompeii is one of the top tourist attractions to see when you are on the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Capri or anywhere in the region.
Pompeii is a vast archaeological site in southern Italy’s Campania region, near the coast of the Bay of Naples. Once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city, Pompeii was buried under meters of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The preserved site features excavated ruins of streets and houses that visitors can freely explore.
If you are staying in Positano and are not taking a private car and you wish to get to Pompeii, the easiest way is to take a bus to Sorrento, and in Sorrento you will jump on a local train the Circumvesuviana which will take you directly to Pompeii. This will probably take about 90 minutes total to get to Pompeii from Positano in this manner.
If you are staying in Sorrento or Naples, there are many bus tour packages to take you to Pompeii.
RAVELLO & AMALFI
While staying in Positano, a trip to Ravello makes a nice change of pace from Positano for the day. You can take a bus to Amalfi, where you will have to get another bus from Amalfi up to Ravello. There are many nice shops to browse, have lunch at a nice trattoria, and a visit to the gorgeous Villa Cimbrone is a recommended highlight of any half days tour of Gore Vidal’s favorite spot in the World, Ravello.
You can combine a couple hours in Amalfi with a day trip to Ravello, or simply just go to Amalfi. It’s a nice 50 minute boat ride from Positano to Amalfi, or you can take a bus instead, but I recommend the boat to avoid traffic on the Amalfi Drive. While in Amalfi, you might want to visit Cathedral of Saint Andrea (The Duomo), set in the center of town at the main piazza. While there, do not miss one of Italy’s most wonderful pastry shop / cafes, Andrea Pansa Pasticceria. Pansa makes the World’s best Sfogliatelle and is a great place for a Cappuccino and pastry, or to sit outside and people watch with a refreshing Negroni or Aperol Spritz cocktails. The town has many wonderful shops, which include fine paper products as the town is famous for its handmade paper. And of course there are all sorts of Lemon Themed items, and local crafts of all sorts, including ceramic plates and such.
Also if in Positano, you might want to a break from the beach to hike the Path of The Gods high above Positano and the Amalfi Coast. The hike is spectacular with some of the World’s most stunning views. A hike on The Path of The gods is a highlight of any trip to the Amalfi Coast, however it is not for everyone. No need to worry, you have many options, and one is just to go to the beach, swim, lie around doing nothing but sipping on Campari and Aperol, doing lunch in-between, going back to your hotel for a late afternoon nap, before a gorgeous seafood dinner on the splendid Coast of Amalfi.
Villa Cimbrone
A visit to Villa Cimbrone is wonderful and well worth your time.
Ravello, Italy
POMPEII
For many, an exploration of the Ancient Roman City of Pompeii and its
ruins is one of the highlights of their trip.
You can take an organized bus tour or go on your own. To get their from Positano, take a bus to Sorrento. In Sorrento hop on the Circumvesuviana train which stops directly at Pompeii.
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Area Map
Sorrento – Naples – Amalfi Coast
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Amalfi
AMALFI
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HOTEL SANTA CATERINA
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This is ATRANI
On the Southern Approach to Amalfi right
around the Bend
AMALFI COAST, ITALY
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PASTICCERIA PANSA
“My Favorite Spot in Amalfi’
PANSA
“YOU HAVE To GO HERE” !
They make the Best SFOGLIATELLE in the WORLD
The AMALFI COAST
COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE
Don’t Go to The AMALFI COAST
Without This BOOK
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On The Amalfi Drive
The AMALFI COAST
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Lo SMERALDINO
Author Daniel Bellino recommends Lo Smeraldino if you’re in Amalfi
and looking for a restaurant with Tasty Food and great view of the Sea.
For Dinner, he recommends Taverna Buonvicino or Da Gemma
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Linguine with Langoustines
Lo SMERALDINO RISTORANTE
AMALFI
READ of Eating at Lo Smeraldino
and The AMALFI COAST.
In Daniel Bellino Zwicke’s
Best Selling Travel Guide
Benifer Celebrate Jen’s Birthday on The Amalfi Coast / Capri
BEN Gives JEN a BIRTHDAY KISS
CLICK HERE to See More of BENIFER
Off CAPRI & The AMALFI COAST
“PROMISE”
JENNIFER LOPEZ
On a YACHT off CAPRI
ITALY
Procida
Procida
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Walking around Procida
More Pictures of Positano
Positano
Italy
POSITANO
AERIAL VIEW
Summer 2021
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Bar Internazionale Positano Italy
BAR INTERNAZIONALE
Via Marconi, Positano
POSITANO
ITALY
The Blue Sita Bus pulled into Positano sometime in mid-afternoon and stopped in front of the Bar International. I hopped off the bus and got my bags and headed into the bar to use the bathroom, throw some water on my face, and get a small bite to eat. I got a Prosciutto & Provala Panino and a glass of fresh OJ, sat down and relaxed, before heading down to the Villa Maria Antonietta. It was a good long walk down many stairs and through alleyways as I navigated further down to the lower part of town towards the sea. I was lugging two large suitcases, and the going wasn’t that easy, except that I was a strong young man of just 23, and so it really wasn’t a problem. Nowadays at nearly 60, the same trip would be significantly harder, but I could still do it. Anyway, I finally made it to the spot somewhere near the area called Mulini and asked someone for directions. A man told me exactly where the little pensione was, and so I headed over. It wasn’t far at all, and in no time flat, there I was at Villa Maria Antonietta.
Excerpted from POSITANO The AMALFI COAST Cookbook & Travel
by Daniel Bellino Zwicke …. Available on AMAZON.com
POSITANO ? “I’ve Arrived.”
This was the first place I ever went to in Positano. I got off of the Blue Sita Local Bus that I caught frome Meta, after taking the Circumvesuviana Train from Naples. I hopped off the train and waited at the little bar (caffe) for the bus to come. I had a Lemon Gelato and Apricot Juice as I waited for the bus to arrive. I jumped on the bus, and I didn’t even know what was to come, but the most beautiful, spectacular bus ride of my life, as the bus left Meta, to hop on the Amalfi Drive to take me to the charming town of Positano. I was in awe as the bus climbed the mountainside. The Tyrrhenian Sea was 1,000 feet below. The views and feelings were amazing, as the cliff shot up out of the blue azure sea, seeking the Heavens. My heart and inner being was filled with joy, as I witnessed the most beautiful views I’d ever seen. I was on the Strada Amalfitana on The Amalfi Coast, heading to Positano. Suddenly the town appeared as if the most lovely vision ever, and I was completely blown away. I was quite captivated, and it was Love at 1st sight, as I set my eyes upon the lovely little coastal town of Positano. I was totally enamored, and the feelings only intensified as I hopped off the bus to plant my feet on that town? Positano. I spotted a little cafe across the street, and walked over to it, Bar Internationale. I walked in.
The Summer of 1985, Daniel Bellino Zwicke
In POSITANO – CAPRI – AMALFI – WORLDWIDE
LIMITED EDITION
The Positano Sneaker has Arrived
Palazzo Avino Ravello Italy
Ravello
Palazzo Avino has a restaurant, seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center and bar in Ravello. With a garden, the 5-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The accommodations offers a 24-hour front desk, room service and organizing tours for guests.
At the hotel, all rooms include a wardrobe. At Palazzo Avino the rooms are equipped with a desk and a flat-screen TV.
Continental and buffet breakfast options are available every morning at the accommodations.
Spa and wellness facilities including a hot tub and a sauna are at guests’ disposal during their stay at Palazzo Avino.
The hotel also offers a car rental service and a business center.
Popular points of interest near Palazzo Avino include Maiori Beach, Duomo di Ravello and Villa Rufolo. The nearest airport is Naples International Airport, 24 mi from the accommodations.
PALAZZO AVINO
ITALY
POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
POSITANO CAPRI RAVELLO
NAPLES ISCHIA & SORRENTO
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