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Ciao Amalfi

WRITING · May 2, 2009

Weekend Reads: The Beauty of Amalfi, an Italian Tale

One of the joys of starting this blog has been sharing the beauty of the Amalfi Coast with so many people around the world. This place has a way of enchanting people and creating a strong and lasting pull. I know it has for me! Over the past few months I have met people from all over the United States and Europe who have either been to the Amalfi Coast or who are dreaming of coming some day. It is wonderful to hear from all of you! Grazie mille for your wonderful comments!

Karen over at South of Rome just discovered another beauty of the Amalfi Coast, which I have to share with you all here. Head over and read her wonderful post from yesterday called The Beauty of Amalfi, an Italian Tale. She includes a link where you can go and read a book online called The Beauty of Amalfi, An Italian Tale, which was published in 1852 in London. I just downloaded the book for free (I love you Google!), and I can’t wait to get started! I plan on enjoying it just as Karen suggested, with a nice glass of wine and a comfortable reading spot. Many thanks, Karen, for sharing this wonderful book!

This is the first post in what will be a semi-regular feature called Weekend Reads. I am constantly reading anything I can get my hands on about the Amalfi Coast, Italy, travel writing, and the Italian language, and I look forward to sharing great reads here and hopefully starting a discussion with all of my lovely readers. If you have any book recommendations, please leave a comment or send me an email. Happy reading!

Posted In: WRITING · Tagged: Amalfi Coast, Amalfi Coast Books, Books About Italy, Weekend Reads

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Comments

  1. traveldreamsandmoonbeams says

    May 2, 2009 at 14:08

    Another great book I found in London is called “The Wedding Officer” by Anthony Capella. But since this was released in 2007 it won’t be digitized for free yet. 🙂
    It’s a WW II-era love story about an American soldier and an Italian girl in Naples. It’s so romantic and wonderfully written.

    Reply
  2. Sandra says

    May 2, 2009 at 14:30

    I also enjoyed The Wedding Officer and it is now out in paperback. It was well written and helped me get a better understanding of how things were in Southern Italy during the war. A good read…as I have been telling you Laura!

    Reply
  3. South of Rome says

    May 2, 2009 at 15:00

    Speaking of books, you must read “The Volcano Lover” — oh so good! I may have to join you with a Saturday book post. I always wanted to do an Italian themed book club but could never find any takers! (Well, lots of people want to read about Tuscany…) Happy reading!!

    Reply
  4. Laura says

    May 3, 2009 at 09:26

    Ciao Lisa! Thanks for the book recommendation! My Mom read the book and enjoyed it, and has passed it on to me. It is definitely on my to be read list. Thanks so much!

    Ciao Mom!!!! Your comment made me smile! Yes, I must read that book soon. But you know what books are on my reading list first! 🙂

    Ciao Karen! Oh, yes, I loved the Volcano Lover by Susan Sontag. Wonderful wonderful read! I read it two summers ago when I was on a trip that took me here to the Amalfi Coast and after to London for an architecture study program. I went to the British Museum and looked at some of the Greek vases that Sir William Hamilton collected and sold to the museum, and I saw paintings of Emma in two museums in England. It was fun to be reading that while traveling where the book took place. I highly recommend that book, too. (It’s on my bookshelf in the back room, Mom!)

    Ooooh… an Italian themed book club! I am in! Let me know if you want to do that. Thanks for the book recommendation!

    Reply

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La Festa dei Lavoratori 2009

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!

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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! 🇮🇹
My heart might forever wander, but it’ll probabl My heart might forever wander, but it’ll probably always take a crosswalk. E si fermerà chissà…
This morning was a little cloudy when I went out f This morning was a little cloudy when I went out for my morning walk like I do most mornings in Amalfi. Down the coast, across the Gulf of Salerno, rays of light were shining right on the city of Salerno. I had set out with Salerno on my mind because it was there that 82 years ago today—on September 9, 1943—the Landing of Salerno began during WWII. My Grandpa was in the Army during the war - a lot of it in Italy. Yet he would never speak of where he was or what he did, and certainly had no desire to ever see Italy again after the war. While he probably wasn’t in that first landing in Salerno, he would have been somewhere in Italy, perhaps further south in Calabria or in Sicily. I always think of him during these days and wonder about those hard experiences he must have had in Italy. And very grateful for what he and so many fought for and endured. 

If you ever visit Salerno, south of the city there’s an Allied War Cemetery that is a moving and important place to visit. 🤍
Have I ever shared one of my favorite poems about Have I ever shared one of my favorite poems about Amalfi? It’s by the American poet Sara Teasdale (1884-1933). It’s simple and it’s heartbreaking - like first loves so often are. But I think about it often, especially on night walks in Amalfi. 

Night Song At Amalfi

I asked the heaven of stars
What I should give my love —
It answered me with silence,
Silence above.

I asked the darkened sea
Down where the fishers go —
It answered me with silence,
Silence below.

Oh, I could give him weeping,
Or I could give him song —
But how can I give silence,
My whole life long?
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