Danielle - Great practical advice. My wife and I visited Southern Italy 13 times since 2010 and we encourage members of the community to follow your advice. Additional observations. We love Napoli. It is vibrant, people are engaging. Walking along Via Chiaia and checking out the cafes, bars, shops and restaurants is loads of fun. We have never felt threatened. Two tips - One do not go to a cafe or gelato shop when the Napoli soccer team is playing, because everyone, including the wait staff will have their eyes glued to the television :) As explained to us, every Napoli soccer match is like our Super Bowl. Actually, it is exciting to be in the City when the soccer team plays, particularly if they win as there will a parade of cars all honking their horns and the City explodes in excitement! Two - you have to try Neapolitan pizza. Although is is different than the pizza that our grandmothers and mothers made, it is delicious. Amalfi Coast - your advice is spot on. Only comment is we prefer to stay in the eastern most part of the Amalfi Coast - Vietri sul Mare. It is less crowded and for us it is walking distance to the City of Salerno. Wine tours - I am all in on Southern Italian wines. We have visited many small family operated vineyards, including the Di Pietro family's vineyard - the owners of the trattoria in Melito Irpino, the subject of your 8th episode. When you visit the small family wineries you are smothered with "Southern Hospitality". We have been to all the Southern Italian wine regions except Sardegna and Abruzzo. Our favorite region is Irpinia, notwithstanding my Lucanian roots (Corleto Perticara, Potenza). Cilento and Potenza are tied for our second favorite. I encourage members of the community to consider visiting these small family operated wineries for a relaxing quaint and informative visit. Danielle has connections with top tour guides - I know because I have used them.
Bob, thanks for posting. I’m making note of your tips for my next trip to southern Italy. My husband and I have visited twice in the last 2 years, and are already planning another trip (one of these days I’ll get north of Rome). There really is something special about Napoli, and the south in general.
Danielle - Great practical advice. My wife and I visited Southern Italy 13 times since 2010 and we encourage members of the community to follow your advice. Additional observations. We love Napoli. It is vibrant, people are engaging. Walking along Via Chiaia and checking out the cafes, bars, shops and restaurants is loads of fun. We have never felt threatened. Two tips - One do not go to a cafe or gelato shop when the Napoli soccer team is playing, because everyone, including the wait staff will have their eyes glued to the television :) As explained to us, every Napoli soccer match is like our Super Bowl. Actually, it is exciting to be in the City when the soccer team plays, particularly if they win as there will a parade of cars all honking their horns and the City explodes in excitement! Two - you have to try Neapolitan pizza. Although is is different than the pizza that our grandmothers and mothers made, it is delicious. Amalfi Coast - your advice is spot on. Only comment is we prefer to stay in the eastern most part of the Amalfi Coast - Vietri sul Mare. It is less crowded and for us it is walking distance to the City of Salerno. Wine tours - I am all in on Southern Italian wines. We have visited many small family operated vineyards, including the Di Pietro family's vineyard - the owners of the trattoria in Melito Irpino, the subject of your 8th episode. When you visit the small family wineries you are smothered with "Southern Hospitality". We have been to all the Southern Italian wine regions except Sardegna and Abruzzo. Our favorite region is Irpinia, notwithstanding my Lucanian roots (Corleto Perticara, Potenza). Cilento and Potenza are tied for our second favorite. I encourage members of the community to consider visiting these small family operated wineries for a relaxing quaint and informative visit. Danielle has connections with top tour guides - I know because I have used them.
Bob, thanks for posting. I’m making note of your tips for my next trip to southern Italy. My husband and I have visited twice in the last 2 years, and are already planning another trip (one of these days I’ll get north of Rome). There really is something special about Napoli, and the south in general.
Danielle - Great episode, as usual!