Amalfi Coast

Situated just off the coast of mainland Italy, the Isle of Capri is an absolute must when cruising the Amalfi Coast. Indeed, even the Emperor Augustus had a holiday villa on the island (the foundations of which can still be seen). Famed for its beauty since the time of the ancient Greeks, there is a mythical charm about the island, with nowhere more mythical than the island’s famous Blue Grotto. A bathing place for the Romans, this limestone lagoon is full of small grottos where, when the sunlight filters through, the pools of water light up and sparkle, dazzling visitors with the most beautiful shades of blue.

Nestled in between the towns of Amalfi and Positano, Praiano has more of a relaxed feel and has many small pebble beaches, some of which are only accessible by boat. It also enjoys the most sunshine on the Amalfi Coast, in the height of summer lasting until 8 p.m.

Locals will more than happily mystify you with the legends surrounding Positano, her charm utterly magnetic. One of the most photogenic towns in the Mediterranean, the brightly coloured buildings that perch precariously on the cliff’s edge provide a stunning backdrop to this inlet. Quality restaurants abound, and the Grand Beach is the place to be seen; indeed, it was this town which was the first in Italy to import bikinis from France in the 1960s.

The eponymous town of the region, and one of the most luxurious. Made famous by the Hollywood actors of old who graced her winding mediaeval streets, Amalfi maintains a feeling of classic Italian glamour. This is where you can find the best Limoncello, made from the delicious local lemons, unlike those you will find anywhere else. They are extraordinarily large, and prolific throughout the town. A sight not to be missed.

This prestigious mediaeval town is noted as the crowning place of the Doge, the local leaders of the time. Step back in time as you wander through the narrow-cobbled streets, under archways and through vaults, happening upon sun-drenched piazzas filled with traditional Italian shops and bars.

Sorrento can be defined as one of the best-known international tourist resorts, hometown of the poet Torquato Tasso, land of colours and Mermaids, city of orange and lemon groves. The early 18th century was a time of cultural, economic and social rebirth for the whole Sorrento peninsula, which peaked during the 19th century. This was when the area’s tourism vocation was born, and cemented with its inclusion in the so-called “Grand Tour”: a journey through the most important Italian sites that every young European noble of the time had to make to complete his cultural, historical and literary education. Important guests such as Byron, Keats, Scott, Dickens, Goethe, Wagner, Ibsen and Nietzsche came to stay in Sorrento in search of sun and inspiration.