If it hasn’t started to get rolling yet, the long weekend for Easter is the official start of the tourist season along the Amalfi Coast. In the days leading up to Easter last week, the mornings were already buzzing in Amalfi. Tourist buses have started to arrive nearly every day from Sorrento, Naples and other destinations. The parking lot in the center of Amalfi reserved for the blue and green SITA public buses and the tourist buses is filling up each morning. And after a quiet winter, the harbor is filled again with ferries to Positano, Salerno and Capri and smaller boats ready to go to the Emerald Grotto or set off for private boat tours.
While the warm beach days are still a month or so away, when the sun comes out you’ll now spot a few sunbathers here and there. And, of course, those brave few who don’t seem to mind the cold water!
While some people might grumble and groan at these first signs of the tourist season, I like watching the city change throughout the year. We hold our breath for a moment and make a wish that this season will be a good one, for us and for all the families that in some small way take part in sharing, promoting and protecting this beautiful coastline in so many ways.
Ah, beautiful. I always wonder at locals hating tourists. Where would their livelihoods be without them?
Denise
Ciao Denise! I’ve never heard locals saying anything bad about tourists here, because you’re right that so many people make a livelihood that way. If there are complaints, they often come in from people who don’t have any part of the tourism industry, which I personally find selfish and small minded. Tourism and its impact on place is a complicated subject, but in my experience Amalfi has adapted very well. Even on the busiest days, locals still go about their shopping, go for a passeggiata and the kids play in the evening along the harbor. I think the tourist season just brings another interesting layer to daily life in Amalfi!
Thanks Laura, 12 more weeks, I simply cant wait for my Summer in Italy wooohoooo!!! ๐ ๐ ๐
Keep counting those weeks down, Una! Summer on the Amalfi Coast will be here sooner than you think. ๐
Wishing Amalfi well for the forthcoming season, by coincidence my post today is on the start of the tourist season. ๐
Wishing the same for Marta! Guess the tourist season is just in the air. ๐ Enjoyed your post today, and am including the link here:
http://lindyloumac.blogspot.it/2012/04/tourists-in-town-festa-del-cioccolato.html
Thanks!
I want to be there!!! Tourists or no tourists!!!
You’re not a tourist … you’re mamma! ๐
How I wish that we could make a trip over there again. I guess I’ll settle for beaches over here and fake Italian food,
Hope you’ll be back in Italy one day soon, Gil!
One thing I like about the Amalfi area is if you get tired of the beaches you can take a nice day trip to either Salerno or even Sorrento and go to some of the bigger shopping areas. Both are within about ten miles from Amalfi.
Thanks for stopping by and for your comment, Mark! Yes, it’s nice having Sorrento and Salerno not too far away. But they’re certainly not close. From Amalfi it’s an hour drive to either Sorrento or Salerno, and not an easy one at that. I’m not even sure how many miles/ kilometers it is to either one, since no one on the coast talks about distance that way. It’s more about what time of year it is, what day of the week, are there any current blocks due to work or rock slides, what the weather is like … all things that can make the one hour drive easily quite a bit longer.
Ciao Laura,
I just discovered your blog and absolutely love it! I was at this same pier last spring and recognize these photos so well. I too love the Amalfi Coast and am going back next month for the 4th time! It can never be too much….I look forward to reading more from your blog!
Ciao Margie! Thanks for stopping by and for your nice comment. There is so much to love about the Amalfi Coast … and it’s never enough! ๐ Hope you have a wonderful visit in May! Warm wishes, Laura