Ciao! I'm Laura.
  • Journal
  • About
  • Writing
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Journal
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • About
    • Writing
  • Contact

Ciao Amalfi

My Menu, Sorrento, Sunday Shout-out · April 26, 2009

Sunday Shout-out: Welcome to Sorrento Leanne!

After a perfectly uneventful day of travel, I am very happily back home on the Amalfi Coast. Both of my flights left early, I had time to go look at the Saarinen TWA Flight Center (exterior only), had lots of space on the JFK to Roma flight, my mound of luggage arrived safely, and we hit no traffic at all on the drive home. I was a bit worried about traffic since yesterday was La Festa della Liberazione, which is an important national holiday here in recognition of April 25, 1945 when Allied troops finally were able to liberate Italy during World War II. Apparently it is one of the worst traffic days of the year, especially here on the Coast, but I was lucky and got in early in the morning and was home by 11am. I unpacked, enjoyed the sun by cleaning the garden and cutting the grass (yes, I actually did do that after an international flight . . . it is amazing what the sun can inspire!), made an excellent dish of pasta con salsicce (pasta with sausage) for dinner, and enjoyed the evening with my boyfriend. Always good to be home! It is definitely la primavera here! The mountainsides are green now and flowers are in bloom everywhere.

It is really the perfect time to come to the Amalfi Coast! That being said, I would like to give a warm welcome to the area to Leanne, writer of the fun blog From Australia to Italy, who has just relocated to the beautiful city of Sorrento.

Leanne and her bel ragazzo

I have enjoyed reading Leanne’s blog for awhile now, and I am looking forward to meeting her someday soon here on the Amalfi Coast. While Sorrento is only about an hour drive away, it is a city I have not explored in depth yet. I would likely head over there more often if I didn’t have my current predicament with driving. Leanne was worried about driving the Amalfi Coast road, which she has to do often for work, but it turns out she is a natural! Head on over to From Australia to Italy to read about Leanne’s driving adventures and first taste of Sorrento. I am anxious to see the city through her eyes, and to have a great reason to head over and get to know Sorrento myself.

Welcome to Campania, Leanne!

Related Posts

Sunday Shout-out: Bell’Avventura

Sunday Shout-out: Celebrating Easter in Italy

Sunday Shout-out: Olio di Oliva e Sogni di Vino

Sunday Shout-out: Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino

Posted In: My Menu, Sorrento, Sunday Shout-out

You’ll Also Love

Capri in Sight
Sunday Shout-out: Welcome back to Florence Katie!
Sunday Shout-out: BlogHer, The Blogger Guide & Bell’Avventura

Comments

  1. Scintilla @ Bell'Avventura says

    April 26, 2009 at 15:08

    Welcome back Laura. We’ll have to organize a blogger get together this summer. There seem to be quite a few of us in the area now!

    Reply
  2. Lola says

    April 26, 2009 at 19:04

    Welcome back Lauretta!
    I agree with Scintilla, and although I don’t qualify as a “local” per se, I candidate myself as Campania blogger and raise my hand up high in yea for the blogger get together.
    Ciao sweet friend

    Reply
  3. Laura says

    April 26, 2009 at 19:56

    Ciao Scintilla! Grazie! Yes… assolutamente sì! I think a summer blogger get together sounds lovely. Let’s do it! Let me know how to contact you via email … mine is ciao.amalfi@gmail.com … and we can make plans when the time comes. Great idea!

    Ciao Lola! Of course you count as a local blogger! You know more about this area than I do, and I love hearing your stories about growing up here. Would love to hear some of them in person over a nice glass of limoncello! Ciao ciao, your Lauretta

    Reply
  4. traveldreamsandmoonbeams says

    April 26, 2009 at 22:55

    Hey Laura, I’m an old pro driving the Amalfi, where do ya wanna go? Days to go 🙂

    Reply
  5. Laura says

    April 27, 2009 at 12:22

    Ciao Lisa! Counting down the days! Ravello Ravello Ravello! You will love it. You are more than welcome to drive! 🙂 See you very soon friend!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

Heading Back to the Amalfi Coast

Trending Now

  • ciao-amalfi-winter-things-to-do Visiting the Amalfi Coast in the Winter – 5 Things You Need to Know
  • Amalfi Coast Webcams New Live Streaming Webcams of Amalfi!
  • Amalfi Coast Travel Positano Beach Spiagga Grande A Guide to the Beaches of Positano
  • Amalfi Coast Beaches Colourful Sun Umbrellas at the Marina Grande Beach in Amalfi - Horizontal A Guide to the Beaches of Amalfi

Ciao!

My name is Laura and the Amalfi Coast is my passion and my home. I’m a writer and photographer who is endlessly inspired by the incredible beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Welcome to Ciao Amalfi!

Ciao Amalfi

  • Journal
  • Moon Amalfi Coast
  • Newsletter
  • Contact

Amalfi Coast

  • Amalfi
  • Positano
  • Ravello
  • Amalfi Coast

Explore

  • Travel
  • History & Culture
  • Food & Drink
  • Shopping

Laura Thayer

  • About
  • Writing
  • Book Reviews
  • Work with Me

Latest on Instagram

The 66th Regata delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare The 66th Regata delle Antiche Repubbliche Marinare is here! This weekend is full of exciting events as the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics returns to Amalfi after 6 years. This event sees teams from Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa, and Venice compete in a boat race in historic galleons as well as a historic parade. Stay tuned for photos and videos from the parade today and the boat race tomorrow. Forza Amalfi! 💙

#amalfi #amalficoast #ciaoamalfi #visitamalfi #italyhistory #italytravel
Last month I did a mini staycation in Positano and Last month I did a mini staycation in Positano and I loved it! Even though it’s just down the coast from Amalfi, I enjoyed the quiet of the early morning and breakfast with those famous Positano views. And a relaxed dinner without a long (and twisty!) drive home. This view from above Arienzo beach is one of my favorites of Positano.

#positano #amalficoast #positanoitaly #amalficoastitaly #costieraamalfitana #italytravel #positanoview #arienzo #amalficoastview #ciaoamalfi
That this place is just down the coastline is stil That this place is just down the coastline is still a marvel to me. Yesterday morning the colors in Positano were brilliant. 💙

#Positano #AmalfiCoast #ciaoamalfi #amalficoastitaly #positanoitaly #amalficoastbeaches #positanobeach #positanoview #positanoamalficoast #expatlife #italyexpat #italyexpatlife #italytravel #italyiloveyou
You know that feeling when you’re walking around You know that feeling when you’re walking around with something weighing on your mind? I didn’t even realize that’s what I’ve been doing until I had a follow up exam yesterday and got the all clear. At the same office in Amalfi where this whole journey with breast cancer began last June. I took a different sort of walk afterwards and that cloud over Amalfi made me laugh a bit. All clear! Float away little cloud of worry that has been following me around. Vattene! 🌬
After Flavio Gioia, the next natural stop for the After Flavio Gioia, the next natural stop for the #AmalfiCoastCompass series is the Arsenale, where the galleys and ships were built and repaired during the Republic of Amalfi. Just a few steps from Piazza Flavio Gioia, the Arsenale is the only medieval shipyard in Italy to have survived intact. Dating back to the 11th century, its two long aisles with stone cross vaults and pointed arches creates an evocative space.

Today the beautifully restored Arsenale is the setting for art exhibitions and cultural events. Yesterday was the opening for Kerameikos (April 8 - May 10, 2022), an exhibition of contemporary Vietri ceramic arts curated by professor and art critic Massimo Bignardi and organized by @agarte_fucinadellearti. The show brings together 160 works by four master ceramicists from the Amalfi Coast: Salvatore Autuori, Vincenzo Caruso, Giuseppe Di Muro, and Ferdinando Vassallo.

Take a look through the photos to see a glimpse of the exhibit. Second photo: I loved the bright colors and geometric shapes of Salvatore Autuori's work. Third photo: beautiful historical elements in pieces by Giuseppe Di Muro. Fourth photo: look closely at the textures from nature in Ferdinando Vassallo's ceramic series. Fifth photo: the mix of colors in this vase by Enzo Caruso was stunning in person.

The exhibit is free to visit and is open from 10am-1pm/ 4pm-4pm Wednesday to Sunday. For more information check out www.arsenalediamalfi.it.
It’s already back to rainy in Amalfi, but yester It’s already back to rainy in Amalfi, but yesterday was something splendid when the sun came out. Colors quite like this don’t come along with the storms. I’ll take it all!
One of the first things I noticed about the Amalfi One of the first things I noticed about the Amalfi Coast was that I had a lot of questions. It was unlike any place I had ever been. Just over 15 years later, I still have plenty of questions and am constantly seeing new things. This place really has taught me to slow down and look closer.

With that spirit, I’m starting a new series called #AmalfiCoastCompass where I’ll show you places you might have missed, things you might have wondered about, and ideas for your next trip to the Amalfi Coast.

There’s no better place to start the Compass Series than with this statue in Amalfi. Have you noticed it before in the middle of Piazza Flavio Gioia? It’s a statue of Flavio Gioia, a figure from the 13th century credited with inventing the compass for sailing. He stands holding a bussola, or compass, gazing intently downward at the instrument in his left hand while his right points forward. 

While the existence of this particular mariner is questionable, what is sure is that Amalfi was Italy’s first maritime republic and its sailors not only crisscrossed the Mediterranean and traveled as far east as Constantinople but also created maritime codes that were used for centuries. So while the exact creator or individuals behind the perfection of the compass for navigational use will likely never be known, the statue represents Amalfi’s contribution to travel as we know it today. 

This statue was created by Alfonso Balzico, an Italian sculptor born in 1825 in Cava de' Tirreni - not far from Vietri sul Mare on the Amalfi Coast. He studied in Naples and created many important statues around Italy. His statue of Flavio Gioia was created in 1892 and won a gold medal at the 1900 World Exposition in Paris. (Flavio Gioia was still getting around the world!) It was on display in Rome after Balzico's death in 1901 until the city of Amalfi acquired the statue and it was placed in Piazza Flavio Gioia in 1926. It’s been moved a couple of times (at least) but now it’s located in the center of the traffic circle surrounded by a fountain and little landscaped garden. And one last little curiosity: the statue of Flavio Gioia is oriented facing north.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Disclosure

Copyright © 2022 Ciao Amalfi · Theme by 17th Avenue