Summer has certainly arrived on the Amalfi Coast. The beaches are now covered with brightly colored umbrellas and driving and parking along the coast has turned into the usual summer chaos. But I love summer here! The sky and sea are intensely blue, as if in competition with one another, and vibrantly colored flowers fill the air with unbelievable delicious scents. And then the cruise boats arrive!
This is the Star Clipper, and it came into the Port of Amalfi this past week for a day. From my bedroom window I can see these beautiful ships come into port, and then watch them put up sail and head out of port in the evening. It is simply stunning! The other day I was down in Amalfi and walked to the end of one of the piers to take a closer look. If I were to cruise, this is the way I would go!
While I was down on the pier looking at the boat, I heard church bells ringing that I had never heard before. I looked around the city and realized it was the church of Sant’Antonio, which is located in the center of the first photograph in this post. (You can see the little bell tower.) Today is the feast day celebrating Sant’Antonio da Padova (Saint Anthony of Padua), and here the church bells often start ringing during the week leading up to the feast day. I made a video so you can hear the bells and see a moment of summer life in Amalfi:
The procession of Sant’Antonio in Amalfi is rather elaborate, and I am looking forward to seeing it for the first time this evening. Since the church of Sant’Antonio sits between Amalfi and Atrani, the procession begins in Atrani where the statue of Sant’Antonio is put on a boat. The boat procession then continues to Conca dei Marini where there is also a lovely church dedicated to Sant’Antonio. From there it returns by water to Amalfi and the procession continues on foot. This evening I should be in one of the boats following the procession, which will be a truly spectacular experience.
The festival of Sant’Antonio is one of the first major summer religious festivals on the Amalfi coast. On Monday will be the festival of San Vito in Positano, and coming soon will be San Giovanni Battista in Pontone, and then one of the two major celebrations of Sant’Andrea in Amalfi at the end of June. Let the summer festivals begin!
Grazie for making me realize how much I miss summer there. I LOVE the first photo; it reminds me of little round dishes of gelato on a beach. And the Star Clipper is so intriguing; it was in port last time I was in town. Have fun on the boat tonite 😉 Take more photos!
Photos look great! I will soon be there myself for first hand viewing. The atmosphere in the video brought me back straight away. I've seen that boat at Positano. Apparently Rod Stewart's yacht is parked in front of our house right now too.
ciao Laura,
thanks so much for this video, with the sound of the bells in the background. Church bells are such an integral part of Italian life…hearing them always brings back treasured memories of my travels there.
grazie mille,
Marybeth
USA
Yay Summer!
Ah! Saint Anthony Day! If I have a Patron Saint it has to be Saint Anthony. What a wonderful festival to see first hand. Your descriptions and photos are just beautiful…and so inviting. Hope to see pictures of the festival …Enjoy!
It is nice to hear the bells, Thank You!! Enjoy these wonderful festivals!
Ciao Lisa! I love your comparison of the beach umbrellas to dishes of gelato. By the way… you know that gelato we didn't have time to get? Chocolate and orange in Amalfi… divine! La prossima volta! 🙂
Ciao Scintilla! I am glad you will be here soon! That is why everyone on the coast has binoculars, because you never know when Rod Stewarts yacht will be outside your house. 🙂
Ciao Marybeth! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Very nice to meet you! As I type I can hear the Sunday morning church bells ringing all over the area. You are right that it is such a integral part of life here! I just love them!
Ciao Karen! Are you holding on tightly? You can come back to Amalfi and throw yourself down to the beach and hang onto the beach umbrellas! 🙂
Ciao Mom! I thought of you all day! You *have* to see this procession next year. It is amazing!! I have some amazing pictures and videos for you to see!!
Ciao Chuck! I have an ongoing collection of videos of the church bells here on the Amalfi Coast. I love it when I hear a new one for the first time. 🙂
It looks fantastic there, 🙂 hopefully one day I will be there. I love you video too. 🙂
I wonder when Scintilli is going to be there?
Ciao Anne! I hope you can visit here some day soon, too! I am not sure when Scintilla will be here, but I think in July. Looking forward to meeting her! 🙂