It's been a tumultuous last 12 days. We've experienced a lot, both wonderful and difficult and have managed to find a little piece of heaven here on the Sorrentine peninsula. This is a working farm, which produces products that are then sold in a boutique, rather rustic, shop in Sorrento, just off the main square, the Piazza Tasso. From our room, we have sweeping views down over the steep hills to the Gulf of Salerno. Just up the hill, you can also see across the Bay of Naples to the city and Vesuvius. Our dinner last night and breakfast this morning were sumptuous - simple but delicious and in overwhelming quantity.
The Amalfi coast was beautiful but crowded, overrun, exhausted. My afternoon trip to Capri was interesting but more of the same - just joining the vast river of tourists streaming around these places. Here, we're away from all of that and in a little sanctuary of quiet and peace. Late this morning we drove down the meandering road through Nerano to Marina del Cantone. I went for a swim from the white pebbled beach while Nadia sat and enjoyed the warming sun. This afternoon, we drove down into Sorrento and were both pleasantly surprised by it - a picturesque old town, lots of tourists but not so overwhelmingly so as along the Amalfitana.
We discovered this place quite by accident when driving from our hotel in Praiano - we got to the end of the Amalfi coast proper and drove up to Sant'Agata sui due Golfi to enjoy the views. We'd read in the Lonely Planet guide about an Agritourismo farm called Le Tore and thought we'd have a look at it - instead, we ended up stumbling upon this place and promptly made a booking for two nights. A brief look at Le Tore confirmed our feeling that Terranova was much better - even more rustic, with the option of meals and with stunning views.
So, we're about to head over for dinner again - our last before returning to Rome. It's been a lovely few days away - the highlight being this place.
