Idyllic Italy - 2 amazing weeks in April 2016
- F&F
- Apr 9, 2020
- 21 min read
Updated: May 6, 2020
<<This post is work in progress... while I continue to add more days>>
"It’s late afternoon and my daughter and I are leaning out of our living room window, looking down at the usually bustling square in Rome’s historical centre where we live. On any normal day, we’ll watch groups of meandering tourists, couples walking their dog, a gaggle of nuns or a lover’s quarrel. Today, the piazza is empty. There’s just one person wearing a mask and gloves walking quickly down the street. A calming, eerie lack of noise blankets the neighbourhood. This is the new Rome, and the new Italy." - BBC Travel Story, March 26 2020.
Today, as I sit here at my laptop trying to reminisce the memories of our beautiful 2 week trip 4 years ago, we are living in an unprecedented world, where staying locked down inside your homes is the safest place to be. Italy has been staggering under the effects of the Covid19 pandemic for weeks. Hospitals and even some morgues in the country hard-hit by the pandemic are stretched beyond capacity. The entire country of more than 60 million people are under lockdown… the BBC travel story that you read above is the story of every Italian family today...During these trying times, I wanted to capture some of our amazing memories from just 4 years back - those mesmerizing couple of weeks we spent in this beautiful country of beautiful people!
April 2, 2016 - First glimpse of the vibrant city of Rome
"Italy" - a dream trip that we have been planning in our hearts for many years. Finally, the day arrived and we got to on-board our flight from the Vancouver international Airport (we drove to Vancouver from our home in Seattle, since the flight was ridiculously cheaper from there) and after a couple of stop-overs - first in Seattle (yes, we drove all the way to Vancouver, only to have our first stop in Seattle), and then at Heathrow, we landed in Rome a little after midday. After getting off the aircraft and making our way through customs, which was amazingly quick, we met our shuttle driver outside arrivals to take us to our apartment, Sweet Inn Apartments - Ambrogio, right in the heart of the Pantheon district of Rome. The apartment was in an amazing location, within a 15-20 minute walk of major sites and attractions like the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Colosseum, Palatine Hill— you name it. The check-in process went smoothly - the hostess was there to greet us and hand us the keys. Although we were exhausted by the time we settled into our apartment, we resisted the urge to nap and made our way out to explore in the hopes of fighting the jet lag. We were starving too but it was somewhat an awkward time between lunch and dinner so we decided to have an early dinner. We ventured out to the Trastevere area, and had dinner at the very highly-rated Dar Poeta restaurant. Our first taste of bruschetta and caprese salad was just out of this world!
The first bite of pizza, however, disappointed us a tad bit, it was good, but not as great as we had expected. Surprisingly we still had some gas left in us after dinner, so we set out for some exploring in the direction of the lively piazza of Campo di Fiori, to enjoy the vibrant display of fruits, flowers and miscellaneous items at this famous outdoor farmers market.
The stroll at the piazza made us a bit hungry, so we decided to feed our sweet tooth, making a quick stop to get the best gelato in town at the Frigidarium. We still had some gas left, so decided to stroll to the nearby Piazza Navona, one of the largest and most beautiful piazza squares in Rome with the three very impressive fountains and the baroque church of Sant'Agnese in Agone providing an elegant backdrop.
Finally, exhausted from the long plane journey and all the activities after, we were ready to retire at our apartment, so we headed back home for the night.
April 3, 2016
After a good night's sleep, and breakfast at the apartment, we were ready to venture out for out first full day of Rome exploration. We took bus 81 from the bus stop close to our apartment, towards San Giovani. The plan this morning was to visit Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, the cathedral church of Rome and the official seat of the Bishop of Rome - the Pope. We were surprised to learn that this Basilica ranks above all other churches in the Roman Catholic Church, even above St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican! All of us were mesmerized by the late-baroque architecture of the towering structure, surmounted by the high statues of Christ, St John the Baptist, John the Evangelist and the 12 Apostles. The cavernous interior was simply a breathtaking sight with the golden gilt ceiling, the 15th-century mosaic floor, and a wide central nave lined with the sculptures of the apostles.
The original plan for our next stop was the Colosseum, but little did we know that today was a free-entry day, and the lines were just too long to handle during our short trip. We made a quick change in plans and decided to go to the Palatine Hill instead. The other great thing was that the ticket gate for the Palatine Hill had no queues at all and is located midway down the road Via di San Gregorio that runs from the Colosseum and is less than 5 minutes' walk from the Colosseum. After we purchased our combination tickets ( which is valid for 2 days) for the Forum, Palatine Hill and the Colosseum, we started walking uphill passing under the shadow of the trees and through the maze of the gorgeous wild flowers. From the top of the hill, we took in the breathtaking views of the ancient labyrinthine ruins of the Roman Forum, which also served as a great initial orientation of the area we were going to cover next.
Strolling through the Palatine Hills, we were soon at the Roman Forum, which was the commercial and political center of Rome for over a thousand years. Today, only a few select buildings, arches and columns, and statues are recognizable in their semi-original forms; the rest of what we saw were only fragments of history, but was enough to be able to imagine just how grandiose the Forum once was!
After all the walking in the morning, we were now ready to get a bite. We wanted to get something close to our apartment, so that my mom and the kids could go over for a short nap right after lunch. On the way home, we passed Altare della Patria, an architecturally striking monument that was built in honor of Victor Emmanuel– the first king of a unified Italy. We didn’t have time to go inside for a tour, but just getting the photo opportunity outside was a treat itself.
For lunch, we found a little cafeteria-like place, Latte Più by accident and took a peek inside. What a pleasant surprise! The service was amazing, and the home-style food tasted great! The kids tried pasta, while me, my husband and my mom went for the open-faced sandwiches.
After lunch, we dropped off the kids and my mom at the apartment. Me and my husband decided to go for an after-lunch walk around the area. We did our own self-guided tour, walking leisurely, taking our time exploring the cute cobblestone pathways of enchanted Rome, soaking in the blend of culture and history all around. Ornate fountains and statues seemed to greet us at every turn of the city's streets. We took a quick photo stop at the Piazza Margana, and then went to the ornate Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara Coeli, enjoying the awe-inspiring 15th century frescoes adorning the interior walls, and the beautiful giltwood ceilings.
It was time to head back home to bring back the rest of the family. The plan was to head over towards the Trastevere side, crossing the Tiber river, but we decided to first make a quick gelato stop at Punto Gelato. Once on the other side of the Tiber, our first stop was the Piazza di Santa Maria. This square, a bit off the beaten track from Rome’s central tourist area, is located in the tranquil residential area of Trastevere. Here we got a chance to appreciate some interesting artwork by street artists, while the kids got a chance to stretch their feet running around. We also got to marvel the beauty of the Basilica and the Fontana di Santa Maria located at this square.
After we spent a while at the Piazza, it was time to head back. To cross the river, we took Ponte Sant'Angelo - the most beautiful bridge connecting the two banks, enjoying the gorgeous views of the CastleSant'Angelo and the Vatican in the light of the setting sun. The views from the bridge were simply gorgeous!
We were all getting hungry, and chose to have dinner at a place very close to the Pantheon and our apartment. Before dinner, we stopped to soak in the grandeur of this true architectural wonder. We had plans to come back during the day and enter the Pantheon, but for now, we spent a good half hour marveling at the enigmatic exterior of this colossal structure.
It was now time to eat! Pasta was on the list, so pasta it is tonight… I am not able to recall the name of the restaurant we had our dinner, but the good thing is that the food was moderately good, so nothing to miss out.
The hearty meal was finally over - we finished every bit of it. Despite being very full and tired after dinner, we didn’t want to call it a night just yet and the Trevi fountain was just minutes away, so why not venture over? Towering over the small cobbled avenue on which it sits, this is the largest fountain in Rome and an amazing example of Baroque sculpture. Despite the massive crowds, seeing the Trevi Fountain all lit up at night was simply breathtaking (I highly recommend seeing the Trevi fountains both during the day and at night for two different views - both gorgeous in their own way).
It was a long and tiring day - and we were ready to head back to the apartment and rest for an even exciting day ahead…
April 4, 2016
We woke up early in the morning and kicked off the day with a quick but filling breakfast prepared at the apartment. The plan today was to go visit the top attraction in Rome - if you’re anything like me, seeing the Colosseum is the #1 on your list. We had already gotten our 2-day valI’d combination tickets at Palatine Hill yesterday (definitely the recommended way to get the tickets if you haven't already purchased online), and were ready to hit the entry lines this morning. After a short 15-30 minute wait in line, we were finally ready to enter this iconic landmark. Visitors can relive the history of the Colosseum by touring the structure on their own or taking a guided tour of the building - we chose the self-tour option. As we entered, we found ourselves in the audience seating area, where spectators used to spend hours, for some occasions even days, waiting and watching their favorite shows of gladiators fighting against each other and against wild animals. One thing to keep in mind is that the general area is open to anyone with an ordinary ticket, while the arena and the underground are only possible to access with a guide. We chose the first option due to the limited time we had.
It was time to grab a bite. This time, we planned to make it quick, keeping enough time to explore more of the city in the afternoon. We got a quick bite to eat at a local pizza/shwarma place, and got some mouthwatering gelato for dessert.
After lunch we headed out again to The Pantheon, this time hoping to get a glimpse of the interior as well. The structure was originally a Roman temple, but now functions as a church. Admission is free and we only had to wait in a 5 minute line before entering! Once inside, we were awestruck at the vast domed roof. Gazing up to see the Oculus: the eye in the roof of the Pantheon, felt like gazing up to the sky. The light peeking in from the oculus created a mystic blend of unique lighting and shadows on the colorful Italian marble on the floor - it was simply mesmerizing!
Exiting from the Pantheon, we spent time leisurely walking around the cobblestone streets of the city, stopping to appreciate the random unique monuments and structures that came our way. For dinner, we had a reservation at a very highly recommended restaurant in various travel sites - the Il Gabriello. The recommendations did not disappoint! The menu was mouth-watering, our food was simply delicious and the service was impeccable. Although a bit pricey, I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
Despite being totally full and exhausted after dinner, we didn’t want to call it a night just yet. We headed over to the Spanish steps (which was unfortunately closed for construction) before deciding to walk back to the apartment. I highly recommend these night walks in the city, since the night-time beauty is totally surreal, and not the same as what you would see during the day.
April 4, 2016 - A Day at the Vatican City
The morning started as usual, with breakfast at our own apartment. Today our plan was to hit the Vatican city.
Visiting Rome without seeing the St. Peter's Basilica is of course out of the question. Not only is it exciting to see the place from where the pope gives his annual "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, the place itself is an architectural marvel. To go to the Vatican, we took the 20 minute bus ride from the stop near our apartment to reach the Cavaleggeri – San Pietro stop just outside the Vatican walls. It was a 10 minute walk from the stop to the Vatican Museums. Having started really early in the morning, we were at the entrance lines by 8 am in the morning, in hopes of beating the crowds. We had also purchased our tickets online beforehand (I highly recommend it).
The entry line for people who had tickets already was pretty short in comparison to the reviews I had read and the pictures I had seen, and we were inside by 8:15 am, ready to explore the Vatican museums!
What awaited for us upon entry into the museums was beyond imagination - the many halls and galleries we went through were teeming with gorgeous artifacts. Displaying over 20,000 works of art collected by several popes over the past few centuries, the Vatican Museums are made up of several different museums, galleries, and rooms, each featuring vast collections of world-renowned paintings and sculptures. There’s so much to see, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We realized we wouldn’t be able to see everything on a single visit, so we did our research ahead of time and made a list of the must-see things inside the Vatican Museums. Also, we had already downloaded Rick Steve's Audio tour to our phones so that we could self-pace our tour of the museums as desired - I would highly recommend doing this. The Gallery of Maps was one of the most visually stunning places within the Vatican Museums, stretching down a long hallway. We stared in admiration at the highly decorative ceilings above and the geographical frescoes depicting Italy and its provinces lining the walls .
The most attractive part of the entire Vatican museum was yet to come - the tour of the Sistine Chapel. This building is most famous for the frescoes that adorn the ceilings and walls, painted by Botticelli, Perugino, Ghirlandaio, and of course—Michelangelo. Among the myriad of frescoes adorning the ceiling are paintings that illustrate the Creation, the legend of Adam and Eve, and the tale of Noah. This place is also home to the acclaimed ‘The Last Judgement’ by Michelangelo. We spent a good half hour just admiring the artwork all around, following along with Rick Steve's Audio tour. Photography was not allowed at the Sistine chapel, so we had to rely on memory (and google) to preserve this wonderful experience.
Our next stop, naturally, was the St. Peter’s Basilica, located in the heart of the lively St. Peter’s Square. This massive religious center with its 119 meter tall dome simply captivated us with its breathtaking grandeur. The intricately sculpted dome of the Basilica is one of Michelangelo’s best artistic creations. We had read in different reviews/travel blogs that the dome is very much worth visiting, so me, my husband and my then 11 year old daughter decided to venture the challenging and narrow 320 steps (after taking the elevator for the first level) all the way to the top, fighting our way through the claustrophobic, narrow, corkscrew staircase. The 360 degree stunning views that awaited us at the top made the entire climb worthwhile - St Peter's Piazza appeared below in all its majesty, the views of the city of Rome were just unbelievable.
The climb was too much for my mom and my then 7 year old son, so they decided to stay behind at the first level (the one reachable by elevator). There was a small café at this level, and once we got back from the top of the dome, we had our lunch there - the very ordinary panini sandwiches and pizza slices tasted amazing to the five starving souls.
Having fed the hungry tummies, we did our own self-guided tour of the main floor of the St. Peter's basilica, resorting to Rick Steve's audio tour to guide us around. Stepping into the basilica, we were awed at the imposing size of the interior and the Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces to marvel at in every corner including Bernini's Baldacchino and Michelangelo's Pieta.
Dinner today was some simple paninis at Da Simo Pane e Vino - we had read really great things about this place, and neither the sandwiches nor the service disappointed us. Gelato in Italy is a must, so we did 2 rounds after dinner - yes, 2 rounds from 2 different gelato places. In between the two, we made a brief stop at the Piazza della Rotonda in front of the Pantheon, where the kids wanted to run around a bit, and the adults wanted to walk around in the hopes of digesting some of the food, only to fill in what was lost with round 2 of gelato at the highly rated Tentazioni Urbane. By now we were completely exhausted after the long day and ready to call it a night - this would be our final night in Rome.
April 6, 2016 - Naples and the ruins of Pompeii
The plan for today was to bid farewell to Rome and head off to our next destination. We had a quick breakfast at our apartment, and finished the last bit of packing before heading out to the Roma Termini station, to board our train towards the Napoli Centrale station, where we were going to meet our amazing tour guide and driver Luigi Demartino, who would be our tour guide and with whom we would develop an intimate friendship over the course of the next few days. I cannot recommend this wonderful gentleman highly enough as a tour guide, for the unforgettable experience he created for us in the Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi Coast area.
We were a little worried about the train ride from Rome to Naples since the reviews we had read had been somewhat mixed, but honestly the process of getting on the train was really easy. We just made sure to give ourselves enough time before our departure in case something went wrong. We had reserved seat numbers on our tickets so we knew exactly where to go once we boarded. The train ride itself was really nice and comfortable. In total it was a little over an hour for the journey, and we reached Naples by a quarter past 11. Luigi was promptly at the station to pick us up.
I had bookmarked a few spots in Naples, so for some quick exploring we headed up towards the Piazza del Plebiscito, one of the largest squares in Italy, located in the heart of the city, surrounded by the Basilica of San Francesco di Paola, the Royal Palace, the Prefecture’s Palace and the Salerno Palace.
We didn’t have any specific destination in mind within the square and just wandered around soaking in the magnificent architecture around us. Kids spent time feeding some pigeons, which they can happily do for hours at a stretch or until the crumbs run out.
By the time we were done exploring, and made it to Luigi's car, we were all starving, so Luigi recommended we have lunch at the most authentic Neapolitan pizza place - Gino Sorbillo. I still remember how fascinated we were with the taste of the pizza here, which was simply made to perfection – thin crust, the magically aromatic tomato sauce and the rich and creamy mozzarella. This moment – eating this heavenly tasting pizza sitting at an outdoor table with a magnificent view over the blue waters of the Gulf of Naples will stay in my mind forever. I recently read the unfortunate news of this pizza place being closed down due to a bombing incident nearby - cannot say enough of how shocked our entire family was to hear this… deep in our hearts we always had the intent of going back someday to relive this heavenly taste of pizza - hearing the soothing sound of those waves - not anymore.
After thoroughly enjoying our lunch, we were ready to head over to view the many well-preserved ruins left behind by a city buried in Vesuvius’s wake in the year 79 A.D. Yes, I am talking about the archaeological site of Pompeii, just 16 miles south of Naples. It took us about 20-25 minutes to get there by car. Once there, we purchased tickets and were ready to walk through the cobblestone lanes of history. The tickets included a map and small pocket guide to the site, which was the best way to lead us number by number through the not-to-miss sights at Pompeii. Fortunately for us, like most Roman-built cities, Pompeii is well organized with a clear street plan, however, the modern day signs posted are not always correct. Walking through the grounds, we had to pick and choose what we would be able to see and what we would have to miss, due to our time crunch. There were was so much to do in this historical place that it was quite overwhelming. Each turn of an old cobblestone road showed another story of what it was like to live in this Roman city. We first went to see the Roman Forum, which was Pompeii’s commercial, political and religious center.
Next was one of the most hair-rising parts of our visit - the Grain Stores alongside the Forum, where there was a display of many of the victims of the explosion, plaster-casted to preserve the exact shape during their moment of death.
The Forum baths, equipped with all the bathing facilities that Roman citizens could desire, was one of our notable next stops. There were facilities for changing rooms, provided with wooden wardrobes for bathers to store their clothes and stone benches along the walls, for them to change. There was the Calidarium with its hot water bath and, on the far wall was the Frigidarium - a provision for a bath with cold water for people who needed to cool off. The temperature in the room was maintained by the circulation of warm air in a cavity between the walls and a lining of tiles.
On the very opposite end of Pompeii and following Via dell’Abbondanza was the ruins of the grand Amphitheatre, built on the outskirts of the main area of Pompeii. It’s well worth the walk to the Amphitheatre, which is the oldest building of its kind in the world. Like the Colosseum in Rome, some 20, 000 spectators sitting at this amphitheater would watch the bloody and violent confrontations of the gladiators with other gladiators, and wild animals.
We were running out of time, and our tour of Pompeii had to come to an end - it was an awe-inspiring few hours walking around what was once a sprawling city full of life. We felt like Vesuvius had destroyed the city, but somewhat also effectively preserved it, stopping life in Pompeii in its tracks, mesmerized at how intact so many things still were, providing us with a view into the history of this ancient town. We went back to Luigi's car, and after making a few photo stops on the way, he dropped us off at our apartment (Corso Italia Suites) in Sorrento, our next stop. We probably picked up something for dinner on the way, could not find any pictures of where we stopped, and honestly, I don't remember anymore. It had been a long and tiring day, and was time to retire.
April 7, 2016 - Amazing Amalfi Coast
Today would be another eventful day. The plan was to head out with Luigi to tour the amazing Amalfi Coast, and end the day with a dinner at the Agritourismo Le Grottelle. We were having our quick breakfast at the apartment when Luigi let us know that he was waiting outside, to pick us up. May I mention one more time how glad I was that we found Luigi - he was simply an expert on the area and was able to point out so many things to us we would’ve never even known to look for had we attempted to explore on our own. He suggested we head out to pick some seafood of our choice for the dinner tonight, so we headed out to a local seafood store he recommended - Ittica S. Agata. The collection of fresh fish at the store was simply amazing, and the prices were surprisingly reasonable.
After picking some of our favorite fish and seafood, we spotted a cute little café right across the street and decided to make a quick stop for some authentic Italian Sfogliatella Santa Rosa pastries served fresh out of the kitchen at the Bar Pasticceria Fiorentino. The coffee at this place was simply fabulous, so were the cakes and pastries - the Sfogliatella we tried here was the best one no doubt.
After the sweet sets of teeth were satisfied, we were now ready to hit the gorgeous winding stretch of the Amalfi coastline along the southern edge of Italy’s Sorrentine Peninsula, in the Campania region. I simply couldn't wait to check out if the sights were truly as breathtaking as the dreamy photos I had seen and the rave reviews I had read during my research before coming here. But not just yet - we first needed to drop off the ingredients we picked for dinner at Le Grottelle so that they could get the prep going. The Le Grottelle agriturismo is situated on the Sorrento hills with a breath-taking view over the deep blue waters of the Bay of Naples. Upon arrival, the trellises with grape vines draped around them and the line of the olive trees spread out artistically on the slopes of the hillside immediately brought an authentic Italian vibe! We decided to take some time to walk around the farm for sometime soaking in the spectacular views of the vineyards, barns, and ocean view vistas from the hilltop, before starting our original itinerary for the day ahead - the Amalfi Coast drive.
Magically nestled between the turquoise sea, the blue skies and the verdant hillside cliffs, the Amalfi coast was like an artist's palette, characterized by a picturesque series of small coastal towns along the way. Following the natural course of the coastline, the road was full of bends and hairpin turns, opening up to a new enchanting view as Luigi navigated our car carefully through each turn. To make this amazing drive even more enchanting, the magical voice of Luciano Pavarotti, suffused with deep emotion, played in the background - and again, this was another one of Luigi's influence in our lives...
Our first stop was Praiano, an authentic Italian town, characterized by the colorful and intricate maze of steps and narrow alleys, making their way through the Mediterranean vegetation, terraced gardens and the quaint houses with flowered balconies, going all the way down to the blue waters of the sea.
Our next stop was the postcard town of Positano, known popularly as the pearl of the Amalfi Coast. The cluster of quaint little houses clinging precariously to the steep ledges of the Lattari Mountains, surrounded by the intense fragrance from the lemon trees and the vivid purple hue of the wisteria in full bloom, the labyrinth of narrow alleys and stairways with tiny little shops selling cute little local crafts and paintings - Positano felt like it was a town right out of a movie set.
We were famished by then so we skipped all the "yelping" to choose the best food in town and went straight to the first pizza place we could find on our walk back to the car. The Ristorante Pizzeria did not disappoint - the outdoor seating had perfect views of the cliffside town, and the food was pretty good as well - the five hungry souls feverishly devoured every last scrap.
After the hearty lunch, we were back on our drive along the winding coastal roads, with unrivaled vistas of the idyllic hillsides. Our next stop on the route was Ravello (we decided to skip Amalfi and maybe stop if we had time on the way back), but instead of continuing straight on, we made a quick detour to stop at the Hotel Santa Caterina, to enjoy some coffee and the iconic cliffside views from the expansive outdoor balcony perched on the hills overlooking the bay. As you may have already guessed, this was one of Luigi's suggested stops, we had no way of knowing about this amazing gem along our route, and hence had no reason to stop here.
Perched on a rocky outcrop, at about 1200 feet, Ravello, the home to the spectacular cliffside gardens, is situated right in the middle of the Amalfi coast drive, overlooking the Gulf of Salerno. The winding cobblestone streets bordered by the little mom-and-pop shops, the cozy little restaurants and wineries, the historic stone structures, queues of lemon trees lined along the sides of the roads and the gorgeous gardens gave the town a much more medieval village-like feel, as opposed to the more crowded touristy vibe of Positano. Luigi suggested we visit the Moorish-style Villa Rufolo, perched on a steep cliffside and enjoy the far-reaching views of the blue oceans from its terraced rooftop gardens. Needless to say, the views at the Villa did not disappoint.
Ravello was our last stop on the route, it was time to turn back, however, we could not skip the iconic town of Amalfi, the town that gave the Amalfi coastline its name. We did not have much time to spend at this charming and touristy resort town, but decided to not skip the famous Cathedral of St. Andrew in Piazza Duomo. The duomo, an iconic example of medieval architecture with Moorish influence, can be reached by climbing an impressive flight of 62 steep steps leading up from the main piazza. We spent about half an hour walking around the Cathedral, admiring the impressive architecture, but unfortunately could not spend more time in Amalfi, since we had to head back for dinner.
Our final stop for the night was for dinner - at the Le Grottelle… This is the first time we got to meet the owner Maria and her family. These people were just amazing - I simply cannot say enough about their hospitality and kindness. Maria's husband, chef Tony was super friendly and kind enough to let us into the kitchen and let my then 10 year old daughter cook a few dishes with him. Needless to say, she was elated at the opportunity of cooking at a professional kitchen, at the close supervision and guidance of a real Italian chef!
The dinner we had, was one of the most satisfying culinary experiences in our entire trip. The antipasti platter consisted of salad, bruschetta made from the very fresh tomatoes grown in the farm, an assorted platter of homemade cheese, fresh picked artichoke, and the warm fresh baked bread soaked in olive oil made from the fruits of the olive trees on the property. The aroma and unique taste of the fresh homemade, artisan ingredients gave each of the dishes their unique flavors and taste. We were almost filled up by the starters when the dinner was served - gnocchi, seafood pasta dish with delicious cheeses, perfectly done fresh fish (I am sure I am forgetting many of the items), that we had purchased in the morning.
This farm-to-table experience is a definite "must do" if you are near the Sorrento area. If we ever go back to the Amalfi coast area, or anywhere nearby, we will be sure to have at least one dinner at Le Grottelle.
After a long and fulfilling day, we were ready to head back to our apartment in Sorrento.
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