On a beautiful summer day recently, we piled into the car and set off to toward the very tip of the Amalfi Coast. Past Positano the road widens slightly and begins to climb higher and higher. At Sant’ Agata sui due Golfi, where you can see both the Bay of Salerno and the Bay of Naples, we followed the narrow road that winds down through olive grows toward the village of Nerano. Our goal was even more specific, the beachside part of town called Marina del Cantone.

Nerano was one of the few villages on the Amalfi Coast that I had only seen before passing by on the ferry to Capri. But it always looked so charming and quiet, and it turned out to be exactly that. Here is the small, colorful harbor of Marina del Cantone in Nerano.

The view the other direction shows the rock formation that is the distinctive marker of Nerano. Just beyond those mountains, it isn’t far at all to Capri.

The beach was lined with these large terracotta vases full of beautiful red flowers. (Anyone know what kind they are?)

We stopped for lunch first at one of the seaside restaurants to try pasta with zucchini, one of the traditional dishes of Nerano. They make it in a slightly different way there, heavier, more Parmigiano cheese and a touch of something extra. It was lovely – a beautiful lunch with a beautiful setting!

After that it was time for some sun and a quick splash to cool off in the sea. This is the spot we picked out, although there are plenty of options for renting beach chairs and umbrellas.

With the beautiful surroundings (& big lunch!), I was more for exploring with my camera than swimming. This shot is truly Nerano to me:

Nerano still has the feel of a sleepy fishing village, with some beautiful buildings down by the sea. Here are some shots I took along the waterfront.

As the sun fell behind the mountains and the sky took on a soft pink hue, we packed up our bags and headed back toward the car.

An afternoon in Nerano wasn’t enough. This was one of the most peaceful spots I’ve experienced on the Amalfi Coast, and I’d go back in a heartbeat. Next time we’ll leave early in the morning and plan an entire day here relaxing on the quiet harbor, watching the small boats come in and out, and trying out another one of the lovely restaurants. If you’re looking for a truly quiet spot on the Amalfi Coast, consider staying at one of the hotels or bed and breakfasts in the area. There’s even a small campground! Although it is possible to reach Nerano by bus, I’d plan on arriving either by car or boat as it’s quite far out of the way. That’s part of what adds to the lure of Nerano – peace and a chance to truly escape from it all on the Amalfi Coast.