Casanova Favorite Cafes and Wine Bars in Venice that You Can Still Go To – Open

On August 30, 2025 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

GIACAMO CASANOVA

VENICE, ITALY

Do MORI

VENICE

Inside Cantina do Mori

One of CASANOVA’S Favorite Bars

Cantina Do Mori is Venice’s oldest bacaro (tavern), founded in 1462 and located near the Rialto Bridge. Its name, meaning “two Moors,” may refer to two early servers, and the tavern is rumored to be where Casanova took his first dates.

Cantina Do Mori continues to serve a variety of small sandwiches, known as cicchetti or “Francobolli” (stamps), and is a historic spot to experience Venetian culture.

The Bar at Do MORI

VENICE

Giacamo Casanova

At Do MORI

Typical Cichetti at Do Mori

Panini, Baccale Mantecate, Mussetto and ???

SPAGHETTI con GAMBERONI

Do MORI

RECIPE

Caffe Florian

Piazza San Marco

VENICE

Since 1720

Caffe Florian’s was a favorite of Giacomo Casanova where he began many a Seduction over the years. Caffe Florian opened its door in 1720 and has been serving the citizens of Venice and the World ever since.

Caffe Florian has seen the likes of : Napoleon Boanaparte, Winston Churchill, Maria Callas, Aristotle Onassis, Jackie Kennedy, George Clooney, Jude Law, Gwyneth Palthrow, Matt Damon, Ernest Hemingway, Kings, Queens, Princes & Princesses, US Presidents, Heads of State, writers, artist, Film Makers, Movie Stars, tourists, and the people of the World in its almost 300 years of operation, serving, Espresso, Cappuccino (Coffee), Wine, Tea, Prosecco, Campari Aperol, Sndwiches, and Sweet Treats. Have you been there? Casanova has, and if you haven’t been, no trip to Venice is complete without at least one or more visits to this historical spot.

Do SPADE

“Drink where CASANOVA Drank”

Calle Spade, San Polo, Venice

One of the most ancient Venetian Osterie, the Cantina Do Spade is only a few steps away from the Rialto Bridge. This Bacaro offers a variety of cicheti: small typically Venetian snacks like fried squid rings, Meatballs, Mozzarella in Carrozza, Baccala Mantecato etc. Here our friendly staff and atmosphere will make you feel at home, but with the opportunity to taste fine and fresh food.

Inside Do SPADE

VENICE

Have an Ombra

Drink Wine where CASANOVA used to Drink

.VENETIAN SEAFOOD RECIPES

In The FEAST of The 7 FISH

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CICHETTI & WINE

At CANTINA DO MORI

VENICE – ITALY

Sophia Loren

Seafood Recipes

For ITALIAN CHRISTMAS “The FEAST of The 7 FISHES”

LENT and ALL YEAR ROUND

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Giacomo Casanova

(1724 – 1798)

Giacomo Casanova was born in Venice on 2 April 1725, the eldest son of a Spaniard Gaetan-Joseph-Jacques Casanova and his Italian wife Zanetti Farusi, both actors. His father died when he was around nine or ten and his mother continued traveling with her acting troupe, leaving her six young children as always with their maternal grandmother Marzia Farusi; Casanova and his siblings don’t seem to have had much of a relationship with their mother then or later in life. Casanova describes himself as having being ‘a vegetable’ until the age of eight, by which we should infer nothing much interesting or eventful happened in his early growing years. However he did begin his education and showed himself to be an unusually bright young fellow. Not bright enough to have developed a complete understanding of himself as yet though. His first choice of a career, funnily enough, was Priesthood – even in an era when nobody was particularly chaste or saintly, he would have been a real disaster in that role. Fortunately for him, his roving eye ruined this prospect before it even began and, never the one to be cast down by anything for very long, he shrugged, studied Law instead, and let himself loose on the secular world next.

For the rest of his life, Casanova was to remain, what can only be described as, a Jack of all Trades – and Master enough of himself to get out of all the sticky situations that these Trades invariably got him into. He developed into a real tolerant, open-minded individual – he usually refrained from pointing fingers at other people’s morals and never hesitated in giving them plenty of reasons to be sniping about his in turn – if they sniped too much and too loud, he was always forward in inviting them to duel – and he was rarely the one to be carried off the field with many wounds to lick. He made time for practically all the fools he came across – to fleece them for all they were worth – and for most of the women and girls that crossed his path. He nearly married on several occasions, but last minute escapes prevailed every time. On one occasion he almost married his own illegitimate daughter – he had several illegitimate children that he either never heard of or came to hear of, like on this occasion, a mite later in life. Certainly though, he never worried his head too much about them. But then he wasn’t prone to worrying too much about anything. This perhaps was the main ingredient of his carefree existence. If one thing doesn’t work, well, never mind, let’s move on to something else, let’s see what’s around the next bend. And if it was necessary to bend a bit to get around the bend, hey, no problemo whatsoevero, in this life of ours some adjustment is always necessary.

Casanova’s talent for adjustment saw him traveling widely – Florence, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland, Germany, England, France, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Turkey – and coming into contact with a wide spectrum of society, from peasant-folk to city thugs to ordinary middle-class people to the very rich and affluent to the aristocrats and royalty. He had close social contacts with the King of France, with Catherine The Great of Russia, with George III of England, with Frederick The Great of Prussia, with Joseph II of Austria, with Benedict XII in Rome, with the French thinkers Voltaire, Rousseau, d’Alembert, Crebillon, and many other eminent personalities of the day. He also found himself a prisoner of the Inquisition in Venice’s notorious Piombi prison for 15 months – for expressing his personal opinions on religion and morality a little too publicly – he would probably have languished there forever except for his irrepressible spirit – after one failed bid to escape, he tried again and his hair-raising second attempt was a success. Unlike one of our modern heroes, Casanova doesn’t appear to have suffered from much post traumatic stress as a result of this ordeal. He dusted himself off and coolly went back to the business of living. He always took care to live particularly well, with good food, clothes, and lodging. He made a great deal of money from his various schemes and lost it all rather quickly. The concept of saving was just beyond him.

Some twenty years later, needing money, he was back in Venice, opportunistically seeking employment with the very people that had once arrested him. It seems they were as prepared to be forgiving and he worked for them as a Secret Agent from 1774 to 1782. Then he left Venice for the last time and went to Paris. Here he met Count Waldstein who invited him to come live on his property, the Chateau Dux, in Bohemia and work there as a Librarian. Quite a career change, but perhaps a little peace and quiet was just what Casanova was looking for. He accepted and spent the next fourteen years at Dux.

It wasn’t demanding work and gave him ample time for intellectual pursuits of his own – aside from his memoirs, on which he worked diligently, he wrote on Mathematics, Philosophy, Grammar, Poetry, Short Stories, Plays, and so on. He also maintained a voluminous correspondence with friends, acquaintances, and former lovers. Age didn’t in any way diminish his general enthusiasm. Just prior to his death – on 4 June 1798 – he was described by the Prince de Ligny as: “At 73, no longer a god in the garden or a satyr in the forest, he is a wolf at table.”

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Remembering BAR DeMARTINO – Positano

On August 28, 2025 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

The TERRACE of BAR DeMARTINO

Where I Once Sat

Drinking CAMPARI OJ ESPRESSO

We knew this a little while ago with a message we did not even believe. E ‘died Ciro De Martino, the owner of the homonymous bar in Via Pasitea (where is now the Cafè Positano) that was considered the “good retreat” of artists, writers, intellectuals. The “world” of culture and the real “aficionados” of the pearl of the Amalfi coast “recognized” in this place where time flowed with the slow rhythms typical of that atmosphere of timeless Mediterranean places. Here you happened to meet the great showman, like the poet Gregory Corso (pictured) or artists like Ibrahim Kodra and beyond. You could stretch out from the nightlife of the big beach, then very busy for the by night, climb to “La Scalinatella” and drinking a gin and tonic the time passed chatting until dawn, between adventures and winking, reflections or discussions, a guitar playing and two laughs, when Ciro churned out the hot croissants and, without ever complaining about a presence beyond the maximum term of common tolerance, you could taste them at sunrise. . I remember when he told me about the Beatles, who still owed him something for drinking a latch, or the many artists and painters Hundertwasser, Corsa, Lieto, Rudi and Vali …… Peter Thomson .. He, like the many operators of the past, with a big heart and hands incalled by the hard and honest work of a life, he always welcomed everyone with kindness and humanity. From his bar passed and met the world .. so many stories, unfortunately, we can not hear them anymore … Now Ciro, who ended his days in his little house in Praiano down the stairs of Gavitella, in the “heart” of the coast of Amalfi, it’s not anymore.

Michele Cinque

TERRACE of BAR DeMARTINO

Sadly is No More

It’s Now BAR POSITANO

A Much Differrent Place

THE DEMARTIN BAR

WAS THE TERRESTRIAL PARADISE OF GIRITIELLO

OF HIS SOLITUDE SECRET

FACEVA THE PASTRY

AND IT WAS THE MOST SWEETING PERSON OF HER DESSERTS … ..

LOVE!

WOMEN WITH SIMPLICITY

GIVEN EVENING MUSIC TO ALL ITS CUSTOMERS.

GUITAR AND MANDOLINI ALZAVANO ANIMI.

I saw you ALL EXCITED, MELODIE BREEDS.

They WERE WITH THE MIND IN ESTASIS IN THE HIGH SKY.

AND WITH HANDS STRINGED IF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN ….

KNOWN IN THAT MAGIC BAR OF GIRITIELLO !!!

YOU WANT ALL A FAVORABLE LIFE TO THE SENSES …

ACTORS POETS AND ARTISTS COME FROM EVERY PART OF THE WORLD

EVERY YEAR THEY WENT AND RETURNED TO FIND AGAIN THERE ….

AL BAR DE MARTINO.

GIRITTEEL NOW LIVES WITH HIS GAI MEMORIES

IN A VILLA IN PEAK ON THE SEA

WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY,

DISPROVED THAT NOW IS EVERYONE CHANGED

Angela Mammato

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

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The Isle of Capri – Lemons Lemonade and La Dolce Vita

On August 5, 2025August 10, 2025 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

CAPRI

“Looking to Mariana Grande”

Photo Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Lucky me, I’m going to Capri. Capri, like Positano, has many charms. Its main attribute being its unmatched beauty, which is exceedingly spectacular. The island springs up out of the sea and soars to very high heights, making for the island’s breathtaking beauty. Capri has long been a playground of the rich, the Jet Set, so-called beautiful people, and those wealthy enough to anchor their yachts off the waters off this gorgeous Paradise. But although Capri is the playground of the rich, most anyone can go, and will be warmly welcomed. Go to Capri and have the time of your life. Yes I love Capri, as it was Love at first sight way back in 1986.

I had seen the island in movies, saw many pictures, read about it, and saw it on The Lifestyles of The Rich & Famous with Robin Leach. I have always had the Wanderlust, ever since I was a young boy and saw William Holden in The World of Suzy Wong, Katherine Hephurn in Summertime (in Venice), and Sophia Loren and Clark Gable in “It Started in Naples” which was set on Capri. I’d go to the Rivoli Theater, watching James Bond, Agent 007 in Hong Kong, Rome, London, Venice, all over the World. I wanted to do the same. I yearned to go to Rome, Paris, The Orient, everywhere, so in the Summer of 86 I would chalk Capri off of my Bucket List. I did; Rome, Florence, Barcelona, Positano, Naples, and Venice the year before. I went nuts for Rome and Positano, and was going back again, though this time, I did 4 days on Capri in between. Back then there was no internet and no Booking.com to find hotels. You had to get info in Travel Guide Books, of which the Frommer’s Guides were always my favorite. They’d have a list of budget, mid-price, and luxury hotels, and the pickings of info was rather slim, compared to the vast array of info you get these days. The list of budget hotels in my 1985 Frommer’s Guide to Italy was rather meager, and if I believe correctly, there were only two budget hotels listed for Capri, one being the Villa Tosca, which was $38 a night, so I figured I’d stay there.

So, also in the Frommer Guide, I got my info on how to get to Capri. After spending a few days in Rome, I took a train from Rome to Naples Central Station. I then jumped in a taxi that took me to Porto Molo Beverello where I bought my ferry ticket and waited for the next boat to Capri. Back then, they had beautiful old ferry boats which were much nicer than the ugly modern ones they have these days. I wish they still had those nice old boats, but they don’t, so C’est la Vie. Anyway, I waited for the ferry, walked on the gang-plank, gave the guy my ticket, and found a seat on board. It was a lovely one-hour ride to Capri, and the weather was just perfect, and the boat didn’t make any noise like these new ones do today. I sat outside and enjoyed the ride, as the sea breeze blew in my hair, “I was on my way to Capri. How Lucky am I,” I thought? And I was, very much so. Yes, it was all quite a delight. As we got closer to Capri, I became very excited at the thought of it all. In a few minutes I’d be on the beautiful Isle of Capri. A place I’d only dreamed of, and yearned for, before, and now I was there, I made it happen. I could see it in the distance. The boat got closer and closer, and Capri was looking larger and larger, as it seemed to just burst out of the azure blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. “What a sight? Capri. It was absolutely gorgeous, and I was going there. Again, “Lucky me.”

The boat pulled into Marina Grande. Me marveling at it all. When I got off the boat, I made my way over to a caffe to make a telephone call to Villa Tosca to see if they had a room available for me. That’s how you did it back then (booking a hotel). They did have a room. Again, lucky me.”

I walked over to the Funicular that takes you from down by Marina Grande, up to the main part of Capri known as Capritown. When the Funicular arrived at the top, I hopped off, and immediately spotted the cute little Lemonade Stand across the way. I walked over and ordered one. A Lemonade. So refreshing, made with Capri Lemons, “wow, what a treat?” This was the first of many Capri Lemonades over the years, at this stand, at the end of the Via Tragara, and the one on the Via Certosa near my hotel.

I drank my lemonade, then made my way down the street to get to the Villa Tosca Pensione. I got my first glimpse of the Piazza Umberto where I would have many wonderful times later on in the trip. After about 200 feet you come up to The Grande Hotel Palma, another place where I’d have quite good times as well. About 300 feet past The Palma, I caught my first glimpse of the Grande Quisisana Hotel, where the man on the phone from the hotel, told me to go down the alleyway next to the Quisisana, walk down to the end, make a right, walk a few feet and make the first right and there I’d see the signs to Villa Tosca, just follow them and you are there.

The hotel Tosca was lovely. Well it was pensione at the time. Nothing that special other than the fact that it was very affordable, I had a roof over my head, it was clean, and it is located in one of the most gorgeous spots on Capri. It was amazing, and it still is, though now it’s a little boutique hotel, called not Villa Tosca anymore, but La Tosca. It’s still owned by the same family. The son took it over from his parents, and turned it from a modest pensione into a cool little boutique hotel. Anyway, there is a nice terrazzo where I tell you, the place has one of the most beautiful views in all of Capri. As I sat there on the terrazzo back in 1986, the Carthusian Monastery is just about 500 feet away, you can also see off to the Via Tragara and spot the lush Villas that line it along the way, but most of all are the majestic Faraglioni Rocks that shoot up out of the sea, and are the islands main attraction, along of course with the Famed Blue Grotto nearby. Yes the view from the terrazzo of the Villa Tosca is gorgeous, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of the Faraglioni, they were pulling me to them. Seriously, I had no idea. I looked at them, shooting out of the sea, and they pulled me. I just had to go over there. And so I put on my swim trunks, and I asked Giuseppe how to get there. He gave me directions, and I was on my way.

I had to go back towards the Quisisana, and turn right onto the Via Tragara, and take it all the way to the end before taking the walking path that leads you down to the two beach clubs by the Faraglioni Rocks, Da Luigi and Fontelina Beach Club. I have to tell you, right before you go down the pathway to the beaches, there is another Lemonade Stand there at the very end of the Via Tragara. “You just know, I had to get another Lemonade.” And so I did, and along with the beauty of Capri, the swimming that I love so much, the piazza, the trattorias, and caffe’s, the lemonade stands of Capri are something I’ve always adored. Everytime I’m on Capri, you know I get my fair share of Capri’s tasty Lemonade. It tastes so good. “It’s the best in the World.”

On my trip to Capri, in the Summer of 2015, I made my way back to the Faraglioni Rocks, to swim once again at Da Luigi Beach Club. I hadn’t been to Capri in a few years, so as always, whether swimming at Marina Piccola, La Fontelina, or at Da Luigi, that day in 2015, I had the most wonderful day. I had picked up my tasty beach lunch of an Arancini, Eggplant Parmigiano, and a small bottle of Aglianico at the Salumeria Capri. I got lunch and it was down to the Via Tragara and off to Da Luigi. I couldn’t wait.

As usual, I spent the day lying around on my chaise lounge, looking out to the Faraglioni, the yachts, Goza Boats bobbing off the shore. It was a gorgeous sunny day in Capri. “I Love it.” And though I’m not normally a beach person, when I’m in Positano, on the Amalfi Coast, or on my beloved Isla of Capri, I just adore swimming there. I hang out doing nothing, that’s what you do on Capri. Well, you swim, lounge around, eat lunch, and have a cocktail or two when it’s Aperitivo Time. This is what you do on the beautiful Isle of Capri, pretend you are Sophia Loren, Or our old pal Marcello. One can “Dream, can’t one?”

On that first trip to Capri, I was so lucky to wander into the Palma Hotel one night. There was a girl singing at the piano bar, and it was quite a lovely little scene. The crowd was cool, and a good crowd more than anything else is what makes a place, whether you’re in a bar, a cafe, club, or cocktail bar, it’s all about the people, “are they cool.” And the fact that you are in a lovely hotel, and you are on Capri, you just can not help having “the time of your life.”

As I sat at the bar, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted Tony. Tony used to own a little clothing boutique on Broadway in the East Village of New York. I had bought some pants, and a couple shirts a few weeks earlier. And there he was, Tony from New York was at the bar on Capri. “I love it.” And so we had our cocktails and chatted, and then I met a girl Alessandra, who was from Napoli. She lived in New York, and had a little house in Capri as well. I chatted with Alessandra, and so we became friends, and I had fun hanging out with her for the rest of my time in Capri.

Boy I tell you it’s crazy, I met Maria and her daughter when I was swimming at Marina Piccola one day. Actually, her daughter started talking to me and was so excited to meet other people from New York. Maria was from Naples originally and moved to New York and she and her husband owned Benitto II Restaurant in Little Italy, New York. Actually, I was hanging out on the beach at Marina Piccola, and this girl started talking to me, and when she found out I was from New York she got quite excited, and told me, “please, you have to come and meet my mother and my nonna.” And so I did, and that’s when I met Maria who owned a Benito II restaurant in New York City. So when I got back to New York, I went down to Benito and met Maria’s husband Sal. For a number of years I’d go down and eat at Benito a few times a year, but eventually I stopped going and I sort of lost touch with Maria and Sal, and their daughter Maria. And it’s such a funny thing, that a couple days later when I was leaving Capri and going to Positano, when I was sitting in a caffe for a few minutes before I was getting on the Funicular, I met another woman and her daughter at the cafe, and I couldn’t believe it, the lady (forgot her name from 30 years ago) owned a restaurant in New York as well. She and her husband owned Martel’s on 3rd Avenue. I couldn’t believe it. What are the chances of meeting two different women on the island of Capri, and they both own restaurants in New York? Quite high I’d say.

So, as usual when I’m on Capri, Positano, Ischia, or anywhere on the Amalfi Coast, what do you do? Well it depends. Mainly, you will eat at different restaurants and trattorias, and just enjoy all the wonderful food of the islands and the Amalfi Coast, and you drink the local wine, chit chat with your friends, go to the beach, swim, sun bath, and soak up the lovely Mediterranean Sun. You “Live the Good Life” if for only a week or two a year. Now you might do a little sightseeing, or you might not, you don’t need to. Some people just want to go to the beach, go for lunch, go to another nice place for dinner, have some espresso, gelato, and aperitivo in-between, then go back to the hotel to sleep, and do it all over again the next day. You do whatever you want, it’s your vacation. And that’s what I always do. The first 3 times to Capri, Positano, and the Amalfi Coast, that’s what I did, I didn’t do much sightseeing, but all the subsequent times I did, here and there, seeing Pompeii, exploring Napoli, going to Ravello, Cetara, some vineyards, and Vesuvio, but mainly when I’m on Capri, I just swim, eat, relax and live the good life, “La Dolce Vita”

Basta !

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Excerpted from my forthcoming book –

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

TRAVEL GUIDE – COOKBOOK

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The BOAT to CAPRI

Author Daniel Bellino Z

CAPRI TAXI

My FAVORITE LEMONADE STAND

BEHIND THE QUISISANA

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The WORLDS COOLEST BARBER

The CARTUSHIAN BARBER SHOP

CAPRI

The Poseidon Hotel Positano – The Amalfi Coast Italy

On June 23, 2025 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

POSITANO’S MOST GORGEOUS VIEWS

At The HOTEL POSEIDON

TERRACE at The POSEIDON

POSITANO

“WELCOME to The POSEIDON”

INFO & RESERVATIONS

A TYPICAL ROOM

The POSEIDON HOTEL

POSITANO

RESERVATIONS & BOOKING

The POOL

Looking The Other Way is One of The Worlds Most Beautiful Views

The HOTEL POSEIDON

Formerly a private seaside villa built for summer holidays at the coast, the sought-after property was converted into a hotel by the Aonzo family in the 1950s, and still remains under their watchful guidance. During its 65-plus years of operation, the hotel has welcomed tourists from all over the world, giving them a little slice of Positano paradise.

One of the initial fully-serviced hotels in the area, the hotel also boasts an extraordinary wooden elevator that was the first one built in Positano back in 1965. Home to a total of 50 rooms and suites, this charming retreat presents elegant hospitality in harmony with Amalfi tradition, and ticks all the boxes from sumptuous accommodation to spellbinding views and morish cuisine.

ROOMS & SUITES

The property has a variety of quaint rooms & suites to select from, all of which vary in size and boast a unique character. Along with the usual luxe amenities like air-conditioning, minibars, personised bathrobes and slippers, flatscreen televisions, free and unlimited internet as well as daily housekeeping and turndown services, each room (except the Standard Double Rooms) features a private terrace or balcony with panoramic views of the sea, Positano town and the Amalfi Coastline. Meanwhile, the Standard Double Rooms have lovely private terraces that look out onto the hotel’s lush gardens. The hotel is family-friendly, and there are various accommodation options for those travelling with children, with either large suites or interconnecting rooms available to make guests and their little ones feel right at home.

The interiors of the rooms reflect the Villa’s history and locale: each is individually furnished and boasts a distinctive Mediterranean flair. The floors are tiled in hand-painted maiolica and the sentimental décor includes furniture that belongs to the founding family, making the spaces feel warm and inviting. Elegant accents complete the spaces, such as wrought iron headboards and antique frames. Each room also has a beautiful bathroom with a bathtub and/or a shower – many of which have large windows overlooking Positano’s colourful houses perched on the cliffs.

The hotel has various offers allowing guests to take full advantage of its comfortable accommodations, including their latest ‘Work From Hotel’ package. This offer allows guests to tailor their stay at the hotel, ensuring they have all the necessary facilities to work effectively, while still enjoying everything Hotel Poseidon has to offer.

GASTRONOMIC DELIGHTS

The hotel’s signature Il Tridente Restaurant has become one of Positano’s must-visit destinations, especially for those looking to dine al fresco. Whether it’s a laid-back lunch or a romantic dinner, every meal is a memorable occasion under the flora-enveloped pergolas on Hotel Poseidon’s restaurant terrace.

Serving the freshest and most delicious Neapolitan cuisine to an enchanting backdrop, Mediterreanean living doesn’t get better than this. The dishes which have traditional roots have been thoughtfully reinterpreted in a modern way, with the chef paying special attention to using only local and seasonal ingredients. The vegan and gluten-free options are equally as tasty and are prepared with the utmost care.

Il Tridente’s Bar is just as delightful as the restaurant. Caressed by a fresh breeze that cools off a summer day, and gently illuminated by candlelight, the bar’s terrace is a truly special spot to sip on a cocktail or two at sunset. The terrace enjoys a 180-degree view over Positano, the sea and the rest of the Amalfi Coast, and on colder nights, two fireplaces create a romantic atmosphere indoors.

The hotel also boasts an impressive wine cellar with national and international wine labels and a wide liquor selection. This ensures that guests have access to their preferred beverages, with the drinks menu catering to a variety of tastes. A good array of local Amalfi wines are also available, and the hotel can arrange wine tastings for groups.

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Nestled amongst fragrant orange and lemon trees, summer lingers a little longer here – and what better place to soak up the sun than lounging at the pool? Hotel Poseidon boasts one of the nicest pools in Positano, complete with enough space on the terrace for every guest to enjoy the afternoon on a sunlounger – a somewhat rare occurrence in this neck of the woods.

Enjoy the striking view while taking a dip in the pool, and when you get peckish, order from the all-day bar which serves drinks and snacks directly to the sunbeds. For the quintessential Amalfi Coast experience, don’t miss tasting the iconic Limoncello Spritz!

After a day exploring the city, the hotel’s L’Onda Beauty Centre is the idyllic spot for a bit of downtime. The first beauty centre to be built on the Amalfi Coast, L’Onda is a living legacy. Greatly valued and visited by both locals and returning visitors of Positano, guests can relish massages, body treatments and aesthetic treatments in a tranquil setting. For the ultimate pampering, enjoy some time in the Turkish bath that’s built directly into the cliff rock.

EXPERIENTIAL OFFERINGS

Other than its exquisite views, magical setting and close proximity to the town, Hotel Poseidon offers its own unique experiences for guests to enjoy. Marco Aonzo, one of the owners of the Hotel Poseidon, is a classic car collector and one of the hotel’s experiences pays tribute to this passion, allowing guests to take a Volkswagen Convertible Beetle on a spin around the region’s scenic winding roads (free of charge).

Hotel Poseidon’s location also makes it the perfect wedding and event venue. For over four decades, it has been a sought-after event destination, hosting everything from intimate weddings to chic birthday parties. The traditional style of the architecture, the beauty of the gardens and green areas that surround the hotel and, of course, its view, create a timeless atmosphere that is ideal for celebrations. With a knowledgeable hotel team that’s keen to assist, each event can be effortlessly tailored to the guest’s wishes and expertly executed with the help of local suppliers.

A town filled with rich history and culture, there are a variety of exciting activities to enjoy in and around Positano that the hotel can assist with booking. Some of these include a boat excursion to Capri (and its Blue Grotto) or to Amalfi, stopping for a dive at the incredible Furore Fjord; exploring the Amalfi Coast by air by flying in a CESSNA plane; visiting wine farms and Limoncello factories or taking cooking classes in first-rate restaurants or authentic Italian homes. For those wanting to keep fit, Positano makes this easy with its varied outdoor activities: take a scenic hike on the Path of the Gods or partake in a kayak tour towards Praiano.

LOCATION

The hotel’s location is one of its biggest drawcards and explains why it’s been a much-desired filming destination for TV Shows and movies since its opening. In a strategic position that enables it to be near to the town’s main attractions, but high enough to enjoy the most breathtaking view, there are few properties in Positano that can rival Hotel Poseidon’s locale. It is also one of the few hotels in the famously stair-filled cliffside village that can be accessed directly from the street.

The property is only 800 meters from Positano Main Beach and Positano Ferry Dock (an 8-minute walk) and the Napoli Capodichino Airport and Salerno Ferry Dock are 62km and 54km away respectively. Pompeii, Herculaneum and Paestum are also less than 2 hours away (by car or by ferry), which make for an easy and insightful day trip out of Positano. There are also a host of delightful restaurants nearby, and a grocery store on the hotel’s doorstep.

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Going to Calabria – Tropea

On April 27, 2025April 27, 2025 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

Going to The AMALFI COAST ?

Why Not Shoot Down to CALABRIA ?

TROPEA

CALABRIA, ITALY

“TROPEA”

CALABRIA

A ONION VENDER

TROPEA

TROPEA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS SWEET RED ONIONS

“NDUJA”

A Calabrian must-have for every visitor, the classic ‘Nduja is a fiery, buttered sausage that is most commonly savored as a paste or spread.

It’s made from a blend of pork parts and chili peppers and is often served on a loaf of bread with a drizzle of olive oil.

If you’re a lover of hot food, it’s simply a match made in heaven.

CACIOCAVALLO

The Calabria cheese known as Calabrian provola is known for its exceptional flavor and is arguably one of the finest cheeses in the world.

It is great for eating as an appetizer all on its own, or for use as an ingredient in a dish.

Easily distinguishable in its distinct shape and yellow velvet rind that encases a solid core, this cheese is popularly served smoked or grilled just like other stretched-curd cheeses.

CACIACAVALLO

Caciocavallo is another signature stretched-curd Italian cheese that originates from Southern Italy. Procured on Sila, an ecologically virgin plateau, this cheese goes from a salty to a more spicy taste as it seasons and is best paired with wines.

Owing to the seasoning, the cheese develops a granular texture, making it a perfect choice for grating.

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Famous “TROPEA ONIONS”

TROPEA, CALABRIA

Tropea Onions, also known as red onions from Tropea, are a distinctive Italian onion variety grown primarily in the Tropea region of Calabria, Italy. They are known for their sweetness, mild flavor, and slightly torpedo shape. The onions are often eaten raw in salads or cooked in various dishes.

TROPEA ONIONS & ANCHOVIES

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Sicily 10 Best Places to Visit in Sicilia – Italy

On March 27, 2025 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

“EREMITI”

by Daniel Bellino

San GIOVANNI degli EREMITI

PALERMO – SICILY

SICILY

10 BEST PLACES to VISIT

The MARTARANO

PALERMO

Author Daniel Bellino

At The CHURCH of MARTARANO

PALERMO, SICILY

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ARANCINI – CAPONATA – PASTA – ZUPPE

And MUCH MORE …

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All ITALY & WORLDWIDE

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The PALENTINE CHAPEL

PALERMO

The Palatine Chapel is theRoyal Chapel of the Norman Palace in Palermo, Sicily. This building is a mixture of Byzantine, Norman and Fatimid architectural styles, showing the tricultural state of Sicily during the 12th century after Roger I and Robert Guiscard conquered the island.

“EREMITI”

PALERMO

San Giovanni degli Eremiti (St John of the Hermits) is an ancient former monastic church located on Via Benedettini #19 in the ancient quarter of Albergariaof the city of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. It is about two blocks south from the Palazzo dei Normanni, adjacent to the church of San Giorgio in Kemonia. While the interior is virtually devoid of decoration or furnishings, the red Norman-Byzantine domes, the medieval cloister ruins, and garden make this small church a symbol of ancient Palermo.

The church is notable for its brilliant red domes, which show clearly the persistence of Arab influences in Sicily at the time of its reconstruction in the 12th century, the Arab-Norman culture. In her 1882 Diary of an Idle Woman in Sicily, Frances Elliot described it as “… totally oriental… it would fit well in Baghdad or Damascus“. However, the Red color of the domes are not original, as they were painted in this color by Patricolo who found pieces of red plaster on the domes and therefore decided to paint all the domes in red.

The church lies with a flank on a square construction. The church is on the Latin Cross plan with a nave and two aisles and three apses. Each of the square spans is surmounted by a dome. The presbytery, ending with a niche, has also a dome.

“STILL LIFE in CATANIA”

by Bellino

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Le Sirenuse Hotel Positano – Italy The Amalfi Coast

On February 9, 2025 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

Le SIRENUSE

POSITANO

HOTEL “Le SIRENUSE”

One of The World’s Most Luxurious Hotels”

Info & Reservations

Le SIRENUSE

HOTEL SIRENUSE

POSITANO

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DINING al FRESCO

Le SIRENUSE

“The WORLDS BEST”

FRNCO’S BAR

FRANCO’S BAR

POSITANO’S HOTTEST APERITIVO SPOT

Le SIRENUSE

Le SIRENUSE – “One of The WORLD’S GREAT HOTELS”

Centrally located in Positano, Le Sirenuse is just 656 feet from the coast and its beautiful beaches. It features an oyster bar, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and elegant rooms with a private balcony. There are also a free swimming pool, hammam, and fitness center.

The spacious and air-conditioned rooms have a white-themed décor and full views of the Mediterranean Sea. Each offers a satellite flat-screen TV with Blu-ray player, an iPod dock, and a fully equipped private bathroom with a large spa bath and soft slippers.

At the Sirenuse you can unwind at the oyster bar, where you will find a variety of oysters that you can enjoy together with champagne. The Michelin-starred restaurant has a spacious terrace overlooking the sea.

INFO & RESERVATIONS

“Le SIRENUSE”

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

ITALY

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Remembering Arthur Frommer – Travel Guides Europe Italy

On November 21, 2024 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

Arthur Frommer, known for the guidebook Europe on 5 Dollars a Day and other titles on budget travel, has died aged 95.

Pauline Frommer, his daughter, confirmed his death in a statement on his website.

The writer, who began his journalism while on military deployments abroad, passed away at home surrounded by his loved ones.

“Throughout his remarkable life, Arthur Frommer democratised travel, showing average Americans how anyone can afford to travel widely and better understand the world,” Pauline wrote in her statement.

“I am honoured to carry on his work of sharing the world with you, which I proudly do with his team of extraordinary and dedicated travel journalists around the world. We will all miss him greatly,” she added.

Frommer was the founder of Frommer’s guidebooks – a series of travel books that included planning and travel tips to destinations around the globe.

The series was based on Europe on 5 Dollars a Day – one of his first publications, which came out in 1957 and sold millions of copies.

The book detailed how average Americans could afford to take trips that many thought were only accessible to the wealthy.

Europe on $5 on DAY

The FIRST ONE

“Wow ! Imagine it? Europe on $5 a Day”

The GOOD OLD DAYS

“This is a book for American tourists who a) own no oil wells in Texas, b) are unrelated to the Aga Khan, c) have never struck it rich in Las Vegas and who still want to enjoy a wonderful European vacation,” he wrote in the original guidebook.

Frommer was drafted during the Korean War. He was sent to Europe and served in Germany because of his language skills. While deployed, he wrote what would be his first travel guidebook for his fellow service members, The GI’s Guide to Travelling in Europe.

As well as a writer, Frommer was a TV and radio host whose work helped shape others’ approach to travel.

In one essay, Frommer wrote that travel “broadens our lives”.

“Travel has taught me that despite all the exotic differences in dress and language, of political and religious beliefs, that all the world’s people are essentially alike,” he wrote. “We all have the same urges and concerns, we all yearn for the same goals.”

EUROPE on $25

by Arthur Frommer

Early 1980s Edition

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My FIRST TRIP to EUROPE

“And Using a Frommer Guide”

My own Frommer travel experience. After dreaming of going to Europe since I was about 16 or 17 years old, I pulled the plug in the Summer of 1985. Yes I yearned for several years, dreaming of hanging out in cafes in Paris, going to Rome, Venice, Amsterdam, maybe Switzerland, I don’t know, I had to figure out an itinerary.

I was influenced by people I knew, and settled on Italy: Rome, Florence, Venice, and Positano and The Amalfi Coast, and over to Barcelona to meet up with some friends from New York.

Well I didn’t end up going to Paris (another trip), but I did make it to Nice, Monaco, and The South of France. Everything would be wonderful, but I would have to plan. I had my Frommer Travel Guide, Europe on $40 a Day. I think it was that one. All these years later (2024) I can’t remember of it was the $25 a Day edition or $40 a day. Anyway, the book was a great help. I had also bought Rick Steves 1st travel guide, Europe through the Back Door which was nice, but not filled with nearly much info, on many more places as the Frommer Guide by Arthur Frommer.

Europe on $5 ($25, $40) was the standard at the time, which Arthur Frommer started in 1957 with his 1st of many guides, with Europe on $5 a Day. “Wow, imagine that” ? Those were the good old days, when European Travel was “Dirt Cheap” I must say, I was lucky to catch the tail-end of very affordable (cheap) European Travel on my first few trips.

On that first trip, I stayed in a Pensione in Rome for just $14 a night, just $6 a night in Barcelona, I think I payed about $25 – $30 for a room in Nice, $35 a night at the Hotel Firenze in Venice, and $40 for a room at the Pensione Maria Antoinette in Positano. Though it was Europe on $40 a Day at the time, I decided to give myself a budget of $60 a day. I wasn’t backpacking it, I had luggage as opposed to a backpack, and I didn’t want to stay in hostels, but I did want the most affordable accommodations a step or two up from hostels. This was Pensione accommodations, which gave you a clean room, but usually not with a bathroom. There were shared bathrooms on each floor of a typical Pensione. I didn’t have any problem with not having my own private bath in the room. “Hey, at least I wasn’t staying in a hostile with other people in my room?” Not that there is anything wrong with that.

The Europe on $40 a Day covered the main attraction cities like Rome, Paris, Venice, Florence, Vienna, Athens, Amsterdam, and others. For each city, the main tourist attraction such as The Coliseum in Rome, Eiffel Tower in Paris, The Parthenon in Athens would be covered. Local transportations options were cover, with sections called “How to Get There” and “How to Get Around,” which were very helpful. For each city there was a small listing of inexpensive Hotels to choose from, a few mid-range options, and maybe t deluxe hotel recommendations, which were classified as “Splurge” options, for both hotels and restaurants.

Then of course there were restaurant suggestions, mostly in the affordable category, as well as a few of the most popular dishes that any particular city or region was famous for.

Most important to me was the hotel section of any particular city. Back then (1985) there was no Internet, which has made travel much easier to naviagate, with limitless information on vacation destinations around the World, and companies that book hotels all over the World, such as Expedia, Booking.com and others, where you have websites that list hotels in every budget, you can sift through the pages, pick a hotel, make room reservations, and book hotel rooms, all on your computer or Smartphone.

I was 22 years old when I made my first trip to Europe. I book a flight on PanAm from JFK New York to Rome. It was $55o. I can’t tell you how excited I was on the flight over, and those first 5 days spent in Rome, and I was in total euphoria as I explored The Eternal City. I just couldn’t believe it. I was like a young child on Christmas Day. That’s the feeling I had, super excited and oh so happy. And again, I was in a state of euphoria. That’s how much I loved it.

I met a couple on the plane, we shared a taxi from the airport to Rome Central Station. I took a cue from my Rick Steves travel guide, and checked my luggage at the train station while I went looking for a pensione with a list I made from the Frommer Guide listings. I got a room on my first try with in a pensione that was just 2 blocks from the train station. I told the desk clerk I would take the room, and went back to the train station to retrieve my bags. After going back to the station, I laid down for a few minutes, couldn’t fall asleep (to excited) so I took a shower, got dressed, then went out to explore Rome, The Eternal City.

I walked about 5 blocks and came upon a Kiosk Cafe by small park across from the Piazza della Repubblica. I went inside and saw these little sandwiches on the counter (Tramezzini). They looked good and were cheap (900 Lire – .50 cents) so I got a couple, along with an Apricot Juice and my 1st Italian Espresso in Italy. I took my stuff and went outside to sit at one of the cafe tables. I was in “7th Heaven.” No big deal to most, yet it was blissful to me. I was in the Ancient City of Rome, eating my first ever meal in Italy, and Europe at the same time. the sandwiches were tasty, the juice refreshing, and the Espresso was amazing. “I loved it all,” and this some 39 years later, I can still remember it all, and I savor the memory. The sandwiches were so tasty (but not filling) that I went inside and got two more. This would be my breakfast for the next 5 days while in Rome. I found a cafe I liked the next day, and went there for the following 4 days, for a caffe (espresso_ Apricot Juice, and 2 or 3 Tramezzini Sandwiches. I loved it.

Anyway, back to that first day. I walked and found my way to The Spanish Steps. I marveled at the sight. I walked up to the top. There was a food truck up there, and I got a Coca-Cola. This was around the time that Coca-Cola had the foolish idea of changing the recipe of “Coke.” A big mistake. People stopped drinking Coca-Cola and the company was forced to changed back to “The Original Recipe.” I had my Coke and gazed out upon The Eternal City. Up on top of The Spanish Steps, you get a wonderful view of Rome, spread out before you. I savored it all.

From here. I walked down the road toward the Borghese Gardens and the Piazza del Popolo beyond. I came across a beautiful little garden caffe an stopped in. I got a little something to eat. Sorry, can’t remember what it was. What I do remember was that it was enchanting sitting in the garden and again, looking out over Rome. Absolutely beautiful.

After leaving the garden caffe, I continued on my exploration and walked on the road and descended down into the Piazza Popolo with its two beautiful little “Twin Churches,” and a couple famous caffes, including Rosati that my friend Rene Ricard told my that I had to go to, along with visiting the two Twin Churches. Of course I did.

Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke

“The TWIN CHURCHES’

PIAZZA del POPOLO – ROME

After visiting the twin churches of Santa Maria Maricoli & Santa Maria Montesanto, I continued on. In a few minutes, I came upon the monument to Victor Emmanuelle, The 1st King of Unified Italy. Adjacent to this monument is the Roman Forum, and The Colosseum beyond. Wow, The Colosseum ? This really blew my mind. Ancient Rome of 2000 years ago/ I couldn’t believe it.

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

….. to be continued …

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Capri – Provola and The Amalfi Coast – Salami and Provolone Sandwiches Panini

On October 14, 2024October 14, 2024 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

View of Marina Grande CAPRI with Sorrento in the distance, from Anacapri

Provolone, for many Italian-Americans it’s their favorite cheese. Case in point, its mine, my favorite cheese, as is with my sister Barbara, we both love it. The love of Provolone is more prevalent with Italians who are over forty years of age. The younger generation is more apt to go for Burata, something that didn’t exist in America previous to the past 15 years or so. Growing up in a 60’s 1970’s Italian-American household there were a few Italian Cheeses that most everyone ate and used in cooking their favorite dishes, put on antipasto platters and in sandwiches. There was Ricotta that went into making Lasagna and Manicotti or Stuffed Shells, Cheesecake, Cannoli, and other items. You normally didn’t eat Ricotta on it’s own as you might Mozzarella or Provolone, the ricotta was usually in cooked dishes, however I always loved taking a couple tablespoons, eating it fresh out of the container, all smooth and creamy. Yum!For many years Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano were the most popular cheeses as they were grated over pasta and used in various recipes. Mozzarella came in third in popularity in Italian-America. Mozzarella is most famous for being a topping of millions upon millions of Pizzas, or in the popular Insalata Caprese, a thing of simplistic beauty and taste. A Caprese Salad looks lovely and fresh and just like an Italian Flag, the colors are the same, the Red of the fresh Tomatoes, the creamy white Fresh Mozzarella, and bright green fresh Basil comprises the classic Insalata Caprese, which of course is drizzled with a little bit of Italian Olive Oil to complete this wonderful dish, that’s simple, yet perfect, and based on the best top quality fresh ingredients. All this being said, using the Mozzarella in this way wasn’t the most popular way of getting this cheese in an Italian household. Mozzarella in Italian-America is most popular when it is cooked (melted) into a multitude of Italian dishes like; Lasagna, Manicotti, Stuffed Shells, on Chicken and Veal Parmigiano, in Baked Ziti and on Pizza. Yes we would have a Caprese Salad now and then, but more often if we were eating fresh uncooked Mozzarella it was usually on a sandwich or in the ever popular Antipasto-Misto platter of which the ingredients would vary according to who was making it, but most often it would consist of Salami, fresh Mozzarella and or Provolone, Roast Peppers, Olives, and fresh Celery.

Provolone, always my favorite cheese when I was growing. It was my sister Barbara’s favorite as well and whenever we went to Barcelona’s Restaurant we always ordered a plate of Provolone along with Mussels Marinara, Baked Clams, and all our other favorites. Yes, Mozzarella was fine, but for my sister Barbara and I it just couldn’t keep up with the big bold flavor of Provolone.

Girl Making My PANINO

I used to love walking into Belevedere Salumeria around the street from our house. The place had large torpedo-like Provolone (weighing 40-50 lbs.) hanging from the ceiling, along with Sopresseta, Prosciutto, and various types of Salumi. The smells dominated by the Provolone when you walked through the door were intoxicating. My friends and I, when we had a couple extra bucks we would treat ourselves and run over to Belevedere Italian Deli and get an awesome sandwich of Gabagool (Capicola), Salami, and Provolone, one of the world’s great sandwiches. Oh my God it’s making me hungry just thinking of it! I want one now!

So along with those boyhood memories of eating a piece of sharp Provolone off the antipasto platter or on one of those great Belvedere Sandwiches, I now have some more fond memories of Provolone Cheese. They come from my latest trip to Italy. I was down on the Amalfi Coast for the first time in a few years, and got a nice panino at a Salumeria one day. I was looking in the refrigerated glass case of Salumi and Cheese looking over their products. I decided on and ordered a panino made with Sopresseta and Provola Afumicata (Smoke Provolone). The counterman made my sandwich and when I ate that baby, boy the combination was absolutely amazing. I couldn’t believe it. I never had this combination before and I just loved it. Simple, just some Sweet Sopresseta and Smoked Provola, the combination was out of this world. It was simple, but each wonderful ingredient of perfectly cured Sopresseta Salami and wonderful Smoke Provolone on a nice Italian Roll, it just made for a great tasting sandwich. What more can I say? I ended up eating about 6 of those sandwiches from various salumerias on Capri, in Sorrento, and on the Amalfi Coast on that trip. I’d get a sandwich or an Arancini to hold me over between meals, if I was going to the beach or taking a boat ride from Amalfi to Capri, or whatever. The sandwiches were all so very tasty and an unexpected pleasure that I hadn’t expected at all. So now after eating all those tasty Panini I now I go to Faicco’s Pork Store around the block and buy some nice Sweet Sopresseta, Smoked Provola and get a loaf of Italian Bread, and I’m all set, right back there on Capri, eating my special Panino di Provola Affumicata e Sopresseta. This brings me back to Capri, Amalfi, and memories of a trip. A trip of beauty, tasty food, and recollections, the beauty of Capri and the Amalfi Coast, eating Vongole, Pasta, Arancini, and Provolone. I tell you folks, “it just doesn’t get much better than that.”

Panino di Proval Affumicata e Sopresseta, Minori

Now talking of these things, the Sopresseta, Provola, Capri Sorrento, and Napoli, I’ve got to bring up one more pleasure of that trip, the Aperol Spritz and Summer on the Amalfi Coast. It’s not that I’d never had an Aperol Spritz before. No, the first time I had one was way back in 1995 in Venice, the place where the Aperol Spritz was invented. I was on my exploratory trip of Venetian Wine Bars (Bacari) when I had my first Spritz. One evening I was walking around doing the Venetian Wine Bar tour. While walking on the Strada Nuova in Canareggio I dashed into a Bacaro I had spotted. I made my way up to the bar and surveyed the scene a moment before ordering. As I stood there I notice people drinking this particular drink. I asked the barman what they were drinking and he told me that it was a Spritz, “Prosecco with Aperol and soda.” OK, I said, “I’ll take one.” The barmen made me one in no-time flat, and that was my first Spritz, and I’ve had a number of them since then. Now getting back to that Summer 2015 on Costiera Amalfitana and the Aperol Spritz, they were everywhere, glasses of Aperol Spritz one after the other, bar after bar, caffe after caffe, table after table, everywhere you looked people were drinking this refreshing cocktail, the locals and tourists alike. Well I’d come back from the beach on my way back to my hotel, and as usual when on the Amalfi Coast when done at the beach for the day, I head to a nice bar or caffe for an Espresso, a glass of local White Wine, a Campari, or some other cocktail. Now all of a sudden it seemed that the Spritz had moved into high gear. The drink was quite popular, and as I’ve said, it was everywhere and everyone was drinking them. So I headed to the Piazza Umberto one day after a day at the beach (Faraglioni) as I usually do. There’s a few very popular caffe’s there, and it’s just a matter of picking one to spend your time at. I chose one of my favorites, the Bar Tiberius. I took a seat at a table outside and waited for the waiter to come over. The waiter came and I ordered an Aperol Spritz. He came back a few minutes later with a refreshing looking Spritz and a little bowl of peanuts for me to munch. Yes, it was good. My Aperol Spritz, Capri, the Piazza Umberto and all that goes with it, like a scene in a movie, set on the beautiful Isle of Capri. And you’re in it. Now that’s something.

So, I ended up drinking a good number of Aperol Spritz’s on that trip. I had them in Capri, Positano, in Sorrento, and at caffé in the piazza in Ravello. It’s a great drink that’s light and refreshing and a great way to start any evening, slow and easy, that’s the Aperol Spritz, it eases you into the evening with its lightness and refreshing taste. Enjoy one some time, I do.

So there you have it, the Provolone of my youth with those great Provolone & Gabagool Sandwiches at the Italian Deli Belveder, the Aperol Spritz, Capri, Napoli, Sorrento, and my Provola Panini on The Amalfi Coast. That’s Italy, Italian-America, Italian Food and memories of this blissful never-ending journey of Italian Food, the culture, people, places, and events. It’s all quite wonderful. Don’t you agree?

Excerpted from Daniel Bellino ‘s forthcoming book MANGIA ITALIANO …

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“APEROL SPRITZ TIME” !!!

MAKING PROVOLA

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Visit Procida

On October 6, 2024October 6, 2024 By Daniel BellinoIn PositanoLeave a comment

PROCIDA

The BAY of NAPLES

ITALY

Tour Info

PROCIDA GUIDE

PROCIDA

“Procida, in my opinion more beautiful than the sisters Ischia and Capri, a former fishing village where time seems to have stopped. Come and discover with me the beauties of this place still unknown to many tourists.”

… Gaetano ….

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

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CAPRI PROCIDA ISCHIA

NAPLES SORRENTO

Voted # 1 Amalfi Coast Travel Guide

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PROCIDA

This volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples seems almost out of time, in the idyllic setting of fishing boats and small villages perched on hills.

Here a typically Mediterranean beauty and from literature to film it was starred in many works. In the late 1950s, Elsa Morante dedicated the book L’Isola di Arturo to this island.

Procida is the queen of slow tourism and should be discovered calmly, with no rush. It offers a perfect mix of natural beauty, glimpses of a long history and unmissable beaches. You can get around easily on foot, but buses or taxis are also available.

The territory of Procida is divided into nine contrade, called grancìe. These are Terra Murata (the oldest), Corricella (the fishing village), Sent’cò (with the commercial port of Marina Grande), Semmarezio, San Leonardo, Madonna della Libera (or Santissima Annunziata), Sant’Antuono, Sant’Antonio and Chiaiolella (a marina). At 16 kilometres in length, every corner is impressive, starting with the many small streets that open onto beaches hidden in bays.

The historic core is the hamlet of Terra Murata , which is in some ways its heart, but equally interesting is the small island of Vivara, connected to Procida by a bridge. Its peculiarity is that it is a protected natural island, which winks at a more informal tourism.

Procida can also be visited in one day, the most important thing is to plan your movements or, alternatively, to let yourself go by instinct or the tips of the locals.

To get there, take the ferry from the port of Naples or Pozzuoli, a one-hour boat ride. You will get to Marina Grande, the harbour and beating heart of the centre, divided between craft shops, bars, small boutiques and rental points for mopeds, bicycles, minicars and various boats.

From here you can move towards the historic centre, climbing up Via Principe Umberto to Piazza dei Martiri, passing by the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie and stopping at the Belvedere dei Cannoni to observe Marina Corricella in all its wonder.

Terra Murata is the ancient historical centre. Here you can visit Palazzo D’Avalos, which used to be a palace and prison, and get lost among courtyards, stairways and small squares until you reach the 11th-century Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo. In addition, it boasts a museum complex on the three floors below.

The fishermen village, Corricella, is a place you can walk to. The small houses of different colours are reflected in the transparent waters of the marina and it is one of the most beautiful and characteristic views of the island.

PROCIDA

The BAY of NAPLES

PROCIDA – CAPRI – ISCHIA – NAPOLI

Visit The Beautiful Island of Procida

Full Day Tour NAPLES to PROCIDA

TOUR INFO

Enjoy a day exploring the tranquil island of Procida
Stop for lunch at a traditional local restaurant
Travel round-trip by ferry from Naples

Spend a day exploring the quiet, mysterious island of Procida on your own. Travel by ferry from Naples and discover all the island has to offer. Explore lemon groves and cobbled alleys, soaking up the relaxing atmosphere.

Stop for lunch at a typical local restaurant and watch the world go by. Enjoy 3 delicious courses accompanied by a glass of wine.

Visit Terra Murata, the oldest village on the island, and see its castle and prison. Stop at the marina of Corricella picturesque village of fishmen and wander through the port of Marina Grande in Sent’cò. Admire best view of Coricella village from Belvedere dei Cannoni and Belvedere di Elsa Morante.

PROCIDA TOUR INFO