Town upon town dot the magnificent Costiera Amalfitana from the peninsula of Sorrento to Vietri sul Mare. While you can drive and take buses past the storied villas and lavish hotels, the road along the coastline connecting the villages is narrow and can be quite busy during the high season as everyone stops to take in the views. We recommend basing out of one area and taking day ferries to the places you want to visit.
Cookbook author, food writer, culinary instructor, and Amalfi Coast native Ursula Ferrigno shared some of her favorite local bakeries with us.
Follow Ursula’s culinary adventures on Instagram at @ursulaferringo.
Minori
URSULA’S PICKS: Try the torta ricotta e pere, a ricotta and pear cake with a hazelnut biscuit base, and Torta Caprese, a flourless chocolate and almond cake, from pastry chef Salvatore De Riso.
salderiso.it and on Instagram at @pasticceriasalderiso
Amalfi
URSULA’S PICKS: Don’t miss the famous Delizia al Limone, with every component owed to the Sfusato Amalfitano lemon. Coming in at a close second is the Sfogliatella Santa Rosa, made from crisp puff pastry and filled with semolina, ricotta, and candied orange peel. (Be sure to read more about Pasticceria Pansa in our Bakery Profile on page 29.)
pasticceriapansa.it and on Instagram at @pasticceriapansaofficial
Amalfi
URSULA’S PICKS: Babà al Limone, a sponge cake soaked in lemon syrup, which is a twist from the traditional rum-soaked version.
savoiapasticceria.it and on Instagram at @savoiapasticceria
The beautiful town of Vietri sul Mare anchors one end of the Amalfi Coast. If you’re familiar with the fine Italian ceramics from the North Carolina-based company VIETRI, this town was the inspiration and namesake for founder Susan Gravely. Today, you’ll find artisans still hand-painting at Ceramica Artistica Solimene, which is a great place to find a locally made souvenir. Be sure to stroll through Vietri sul Mare to admire the brightly colored tile door surrounds that decorate the shops in town and stop for lunch and a gelato.
ceramicasolimene.it
As you travel along the coastline, you’ll find several small stands welcoming passersby to stop for the view and a refreshing granita made from local fruits. Our favorite was between Vietri sul Mare and Maiori and was absolutely incredible and a highlight of our time in the area.
For our time on the Amalfi Coast, we based out of Sorrento and the five-star Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, where we watched incredible sunsets over the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius each evening from the Terrazza Vittoria. The hotel was just named number one in all of Italy, and it’s easy to see why. The entrance is the welcome of all welcomes as you drive through a lush Mediterranean garden and citrus grove. You might even see citrus being harvested for the hotel’s Marmalade Riserva that’s made by the culinary team and jarred so guests can take a taste of the Excelsior Vittoria home. Legend has it that the Roman emperor Augustus had a villa in the same location, but since 1834, the hotel has been owned and run by the Fiorentino family. Besides the fine amenities and service at the Excelsior Vittoria, it’s conveniently located above Marina Piccola, where ferries arrive and depart. There’s even a private elevator for guests that leads directly to and from the hotel, making exploring the area by ferry even easier. If you’d rather arrive in grand style, there’s a landing pad for helicopters, and the concierge service can arrange a transfer to/from Naples.
excelsiorvittoria.com and on Instagram at @excelsiorvittoria
Head to our YouTube channel and spend a day exploring the Divine Coast with us. Watch here.
The post Discovering the Divine Coast first appeared on Bake from Scratch.
