May, 2025
Overseen marvel and tourist hotspot
A decision on short notice and good weather forecast, however I did not anticipate the Pontifex to pass, so I left Rome aside and headed straight South as planned.
The two sites could not be much different, especially when it comes to today’s tourist behaviors.
Gaeta
Known as the “city of a hundred churches”, Gaeta is a beautiful sea town, at the border between Lazio and Campania. Old town is sitting on a spectacular “huge cliff” leaping into the Tyrrhenian Sea offering great views. While the ancient part offers narrow streets and houses, the modern part of town was built to serve mostly local people enjoy beach life during the bathing season. Consequently in the middle of April when the water was still fairly cool, the streets and beaches were almost deserted and locals very present.
It was very refreshing to be amongst Italians and their life in an Italian village, a huge contrast to the next days
Amalfi Coast
Driving from Gaeta to Sorrento passing through Naples (not around it by highway) had it’s own thrills but for me was part of indulging into Italian (driving) culture 😂.
Sorrento itself was busy filled with visitors from around the world. The main drag is already taken over by the international shopping names, Even so, I was a able to find a restaurant with an attached wine store that offered great food and a long wine list (it’s actually a book).
The famous drive on the other side of the peninsula offered the famous and truly stunning great views from the winding road above the coastline. I did it twice, during rain and sunshine. While there was already enough traffic on the narrow road on the rainy day, it was insane during sunshine. Most of the time one is actually stuck in stopped traffic and it easily takes 2 1/2 hours for 30 km. Luckily I got a brand new hybrid car I was enjoying taking pictures also straight from the car.
Clearly the Amalfi Coast is one of those destination which suffer from over tourism and it’s horrific implications. One doesn’t quite understand why there is not more done to control it.
