Ciao! I'm Laura.
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Ciao Amalfi

About

A little bit about Laura

Ciao! I’m Laura, a writer, art historian, and photographer. I live on the Amalfi Coast, and I’m passionate about sharing an insider view of my home to help travelers discover and enjoy the most beautiful experiences on the Amalfi Coast.

The road to expat life in Italy for me was as twisty as the Amalfi Coast road. I was born right smack in the middle of America. Although I’ve had many adventures in my life, none was as big as moving to Italy. Fourteen years ago, I visited the Amalfi Coast and fell in love immediately – with the natural beauty … and my tour guide! I’m now married to that tour guide and a proud dual American and Italian citizen.

Ever since I set foot on the Amalfi Coast, I’ve been exploring every nook, cranny, and ancient stone pathway. I love my home and am passionate about sharing the beauty of the Amalfi Coast through my writing and photography.

I’ve shared all my local tips and more in Moon Amalfi Coast: with Capri, Naples & Pompeii published by Moon Travel Guides. Watch for the second edition and Moon Southern Italy coming soon!

About Ciao Amalfi

Ciao Amalfi started its journey as a personal blog for me to share my new life in Italy with family and friends. What I quickly discovered, however, is that there are many people around the world who love the Amalfi Coast just as much as me. Perhaps that’s you, too! Travelers come from across the globe to visit this very special place. And it is a place that bites deep, as John Steinbeck described Positano back in the 1950s. Once you’ve been bitten by the Amalfi Coast bug, it’s hard to recover.

That’s where Ciao Amalfi comes in! This website has transformed over the years to reflect my experiences living on the Amalfi Coast. From a personal blog it has become a trusted source of insider travel tips and a view into daily life. Here you’ll find inspiration for planning your holiday on the Amalfi Coast and beautiful moments throughout the year to keep you dreaming until you can return!

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The Ciao Amalfi Newsletter

Need a little bit of Amalfi Coast sunshine and beauty delivered to your inbox? That’s surely better than yet another work email! The Ciao Amalfi Newsletter brings the best of the Amalfi Coast right to your email in monthly doses of insider travel tips, local experiences and more. Be the first to find out about upcoming events, new openings and all there is to see and do.

The Ciao Amalfi Newsletter is also the place to sign up to be the first to hear about new Amalfi Coast book and photography projects I have in the works. If you love the Amalfi Coast and believe there’s no such thing as too much Amalfi Coast, this is the newsletter for you!

Find out more and sign up for the Ciao Amalfi Newsletter here.

Can’t Get Enough of the Amalfi Coast?

I know how you feel! If you need a daily dose of Amalfi Coast beauty, you’ll find me online posting regular updates via Ciao Amalfi on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Please do comment and share since I enjoy hearing about what you love about the Amalfi Coast and your favorite travel memories!

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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

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When I walked by this ceramic table in Praiano, it When I walked by this ceramic table in Praiano, it reminded me of one of my favorite Italian words: garbuglio. It means a tangle or a mess. But not just any mess, a conspicuous and intricate mess. I think we can all find a few of those around these days. Now you know what to call it in Italian!
Completely unplanned, I ended up getting off the b Completely unplanned, I ended up getting off the bus in Pontone this morning instead of Minuta. The steps up between these two hamlets of Scala are quite steep, but it was a perfect autumn morning. Brilliant sun but a cool north breeze and the air full of the honeyed scent of sweet alyssum (which I can spot thanks to Giacomo from @cookeatsquare!) and birdsong. As a little reward to myself for the unexpected effort, I meandered a bit to enjoy the crimson vines and some sunflowers dancing in the breeze. Autumn is coming - even on the Amalfi Coast! 🍂
You have to look close for any signs of autumn in You have to look close for any signs of autumn in Amalfi. Surrounded mostly by olive, lemon, pines, and other types of evergreen trees, we don’t have much for fall foliage right in the center of town. Oh but I look! In the golden moments of the morning just as the sun hits Amalfi for the first time, I’m out there imagining autumn colors. 🍂
This month’s newsletter continues the travels in This month’s newsletter continues the travels in Italy with American poet H.W. Longfellow in 1828 as he made his way down to Naples. Plus a look at Grand Tour volcano tourism and a bonus of 19th-century tips for now not to be a tourist. Link in bio!
Mmmhmm autumn is definitely my favorite season. 🧡 This morning I woke up a bit earlier than my alarm and looked outside somewhat perplexed. The entire sky, the town—everything—had a burnt orange hue. A hurried lacing up of the shoes and still bleary eyed, but I just had to see it better for myself. It was a glorious sunrise. Now the rain has just gently started falling and I’m in full autumn ecstasy.

Later I’ll return to the piano to pick up where I left off yesterday learning this beautiful autumn waltz by @andreavanzo_composer. 🍂
Just by chance I happened to catch the very beginn Just by chance I happened to catch the very beginning and end of season at @cantine_marisa_cuomo this year. It was fun to see the grapes on the same vines just before harvest begins. Swipe to the right to see the same grapes back in May. Happy autumn!
Huge thanks to @italia_magazine for the lovely fea Huge thanks to @italia_magazine for the lovely feature of the second edition of Moon Southern Italy in the August/ September 2025 issue. Love the great description of @moonguides as well. Grazie mille! 🇮🇹
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