TypeInstant - Amalfi Coast, Italy

We start this journey in the city of Salerno, on the eastmost side of the coast, with its lively historical center full of tradition and places to explore.

For this trip I took my faithful Fujifilm X-Pro 3 camera with three lenses: the 23mm f/1.2 manual lens from Voigtlander, and the Fujinons 16mm f/2.8 R WR and 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM WR — which I have barely used if not for just a handful of photos on board the ferry. The vast majority of images I took with the 23mm lens, with an approximate field of view of 35mm in full frame terms it proves to be a perfect all-rounder lens to travel light and compact.

— Salerno —

View from hotel window.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/9

Minerva Gardens

On the first day we have visited the Minerva Gardens, uphill in Salerno. There's an option to take an elevator up to the gardens entrance and from there proceed with the visit.

This botanical garden is different from the traditional ones, in the sense it is a garden of "simples" — founded in the early 14th century by Matteo Silvatico. The garden stretches for five floors (or levels) offering a stunning view of the city and its bay.

View from Minerva Garden.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/9

The following day we departed to Amalfi itself, where we would spend the next couple of days. There are a few different ways to get around from Salerno to Amalfi and the best one by far is by boat. It is a bit on the more expensive side, with tickets costing 12€ one-way. However, the views (and the shorter travel time when compared to the bus alternative!) are totally worth it.

Ferry from Salerno to Amalfi.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/11

Fisherman near the coast of Salerno.
Fujinon XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM WR @f/8

Arechi Castle overseeing Salerno's bay.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/8

— Amalfi —

We reached Amalfi early in the morning, just in time to take a swim by the beach. We checked-in the hotel and went straight to the seaside. Amalfi is quite a small town but with a lively center full of restaurants, patisseries, gelaterie, and souvenir shops.

View from Amalfi's port.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/9

Kayak by the Amalfitan Coast.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/11

"Il Teatro" restaurant.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

The Cathedral

St. Andrew's Cathedral can't be missed. Amalfi is quite small and the main square overseen by the Cathedral is among the first sights you are blessed with, the moment you land in the town.

The opening times were quite tight and we didn't make it in time to enter the Cathedral as well as the cloister. However, just the sight of it is enough to take your breath away. St. Andrew's Cathedral is nothing short of beautiful.

Cathedral of St Andrew Apostle.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

Stray cat in the alleys of Amalfi.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/13

View on the way to Atrani.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/11

Paper making process.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/8

The Paper Museum

The hotel hostess suggested us a few places to visit and where to eat in Amalfi, and after lunch we headed straight to the Paper Museum just a few minutes away from the main square. It sure is an unexpected activity, running away from the Amalfi stereotype of beaches and cocktails and diving into a cultural tour inside a traditional paper mill from the 13th century.

Visits are guided-only and are available in English and Italian every 10 or so minutes and the tickets cost 7€.

Figs tree in the Amalfi-Atrani road.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/11

Faces next to St. Andrew's Cathedral.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

— Atrani —

Atrani seaside.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/11

Atrani

That city from the Ripley series and the smallest town in Italy with an incredible extension of merely 0.18 Km².

Atrani lies less than a 15 minutes walk from Amalfi's center. It very easy and straightforward to get there by foot, but be aware you will be walking by the road with few sidewalks available.

Access to Atrani beach adn center from the main upper road.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

— THE PATH OF THE GODS —

The following morning we took a bus from Amalfi's center to the town of Bomerano uphill. From there we would start our hike across the so called "Path of the Gods" — or "Sentiero degli Dei" — route marked CAI 327.

First stretch of the Path of the Gods in the Bomerano - Positano direction.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/6.4

Bomerano

The CAI 327 trail starts right at the small town of Bomerano. Since we left the hotel in quite a hurry, we took our time here to have a slow breakfast. The main square, close by the bus stop, has one specialized shop with hiking gear and souvenirs as well as a handful of cafés and a "Gastronomia"; where we ordered hefty sandwiches for breakfast.

Now fed and revigorated, we shot ourselves into the trail that would last around 4 hours downhill from there and until the city of Positano, 7km away.

Gastronomia in Bomerano.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

CAI signs.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

Private beach on the way from Arenzio to Positano.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/9

After a couple hours we reached the village of Nocelle. From there once can follow another branch of the trail until a bus stop that takes you straight to Positano or continue the trail through the 1400+ steps downhill towards the shore. In front of the village's church you have a coffee with lemon skin, granita or a sorbet. The Amalfi coast is all about lemons after all! There we stopped at the main square for a refreshment while enjoying the wonderful view from the balcony.

Positano as seen from the Path of the Gods.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/11

View from the Path of the Gods trail.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/9

The views

The hike itself is quite forgiving following the direction we took. If coming from Positano and going uphill the story is completely different.

Up on the trail, the landscape is surreal, with the low clouds mixing with the waters, creating a blue infinite with no distinction between sky and sea.

View from the Path of the Gods trail.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

— The end of the road —

Back in Salerno

We have spent our last afternoon of the trip walking around in Salerno, killing time until our train departure; while visiting the main sites including the Duomo di Santa Maria degli Angeli and the crypt of San Matteo.

San Matteo crypt.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

Salerno beach.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/1.2

Salerno alleys.
Voigtländer NOKTON 23mm F1.2 @f/5.6

And just like that, our trip came to an end.