The cliffs of the Amalfi Coast inspire many intense emotions, casting a spell with silent grottoes glowing with unearthly blues and bewitching white cottages drowning in fragrant flowers. Talented Italian drivers village-hop along Amalfi Drive, teetering around precarious curves edged by sheer drops. Starting with Sorrento, lookout points along the 69 km (43 mi) drive offer natural and historical sights of uncommon beauty.

Positano's Palazzo Murat has a 200-year-old garden, and the Spiaggia Grande is a popular place for a dip in the Tyrrhenian. Beaches can also be found at Atrani, Minori, Maiori and Conca dei Marini. Amalfi, named after a nymph that stole the heart of Hercules, is home to the mythic Emerald Grotto, and Ravello's summer festival, the Festivale Musicale di Ravello, celebrates the long life of music. Scenic Cetara is an atmospheric fishing village, and ceramics are Vietri Sul Mare's specialty. Praiano was once a summer home for kings, and the ancient Furore, Scala and Tramonti are also populated with castles. The final stop, the larger city of Salerno, remains intimate and attractive.