Our longest stay in Italy was in the town of Maiori on the Amalfi coast. We could not have chosen a better place for us. Our AirB&B complex sat across the street from the beach and our room afforded us the view of a lemon grove and a sneak peek of the Mediterranean Sea. We spent 5 days here..

Maori is a smaller town on the Amalfi coast that is not as populated as Amalfi or Positano but is easily accessible to both by a quick ride on the ferry. We enjoyed our first full beach day here that included my favorite hobby.. searching for sea glass! I think I’m bring home about 5 pounds worth!! We also hiked the Sentiero dei Limóni, the Path of the lemon. This path connects Maiori with the neighboring town of Minori. It was not lemon season but the greenery and large green lemons were still lovely to see on the overhead trellises and against the stone of the path’s walkways and walls.

Main Street in Maiori
View of Maiori from Sentiero dei Limoni
Walking under the lemon trees

We appreciated the smaller crowds in Maiori and the local feel of the village. The people were amazing and our AirB&B host was top notch. One gentleman, Giuseppe, gave us a behind the scenes tour of the Our Lady of Sorrows Church (Madonna Addolorata) and took time to explain how it had been used as a hospital for American soldiers during World War 2. He brought us back to where the priests dressed and led us to a hallway filled with photos of Americans being treated in the makeshift hospital. Another day, a local fruit vendor talked proudly to us about his son who is studying in the U.S and took time to write out some sightseeing recommendations for us. And, our host, Rafaela gave us lots of local food and restaurant tips and even sacrificed her shoulder one night to force open a sticky front entrance!! A bit awkward for Ray but kind nevertheless.

Tree growing out of an abandoned church building
Awesome seafood pasta
That is a huge piece of melon under the fresh mozzarella
Madonna Addolorata

One recommendation from the kind fruit vendor was to go to visit the mountainside town of Ravello. This became one of our favorite small Italian towns. Sitting high above the coastal towns below gave Ravello the upper hand for coastal views. The pictures we took from there turned out amazing! No wonder Ravello is a favorite spot for weddings. We saw at least 5 bride and grooms in town center traveling around with a photographer. As for places to visit in Ravello, the Villa Rufolo is a must see. Most of our surreal looking photos were taken from its gardens.

Villa Rufolo, Ravello Italy

Crowded, yet beautiful, the Amalfi coast will forever be in our hearts. The sea and beach made us long for home in Mexico yet also feel at home there. The beauty of the area is staggering and the respite from the bigger cities welcomed . Strongly suggest visiting if you find yourself in Italy!