The Amalfi Coast Maiori Italy

 Sat Oct 15 - Tour day # 8. 

We are on our own for a full day to enjoy the Amalfi Coast!  Some took boats, and buses to all different destinations.  I stayed close and went to the neighboring town.  

Because I am in Italy, where over 80% of the population is Catholic, I started the day at the big Catholic church in town.  It was Santuario Santa Maria a Mare.  I am glad I went and read the info on the walls, because it just occurred to me that in Italy, the churches were the center of the communities and not just a place to worship or to go to on Sundays.  For example, during WWII, during some close bombings, townspeople sheltered together in this church.  (The Allies landed to the south of here). There is also a cool organ in the church, here is info about it - The monumental organ that towers above the main entrance was built in 1904 by the renowned firm of Zeno Fedeli of Foligno and was commissioned by the City Council. At the national level, it is one of the most intact of the original organs of Zeno Fedeli that has survived alterations and transformations.

After stopping in the church, I walked “the Path of the Lemons” on the cliff between my town and the next Minori.  It was a beautiful walk along a mountain side where they grow ….. you guessed it …. Lemons.  It was over 400 steps in total up and down, so it was not for the light hearted (or bad of knee).  After walking the hour long path, I stopped In at another local church - Basilica di Santa Trofimena in Minore Italy.  Of course when I saw they had a crypt with the artifacts of St Trofimena, I had to go down in the crypt- it wasn’t as creepy as the Roman crypt that I posted before. 

Speaking of Rome, my next stop was a archeological site of a Roman villa from the 1st century AD in Minore Italy. It was originally found in 1873, but not excavated.  It was still used as cellars to current homes until 1932, when one of the upper homes collapsed and they found Roman frescos  below.  It opened to the public in 1953. 

After all that history, I found a place that made homemade limoncello!  The girl giving the tastings out said “mamma made it”.  And there was momma sitting there pealing what looked like limes - but what do I know?  Of course I bought some before I realized that I was 400 steps and an hour away from my hotel! Luckily, there was a a way to get back to my hotel that didn’t involve mountains, but it did involve a very narrow, scary hillside road.  Since I am posting this, you know that I made it.  

After making it back alive, I found out that my hotel has its own access to the water with umbrellas and everything, so I got a towel and found a place to relax by the Tyrrhenian sea (I wish I had brought a bathing suit now).  

I am taking a break from pictures for the rest of the day.  I am sure it is just relaxing by the sea, tourist shopping and dinner with a couple from the tour! 

Pompeii tomorrow!  I hope I am not all “Ruined” out, because that is one of the reasons that I choose this tour!!

Check out the winding road below the castle.  That is the scary road that I walked between towns on. 

This was the organ that I wrote about. 

No lemons in the picture, but it was a pretty walk anyway

People live on these steep hillsides, you can’t just run to the store, but they do overlook sea. 

Old church along lemon walk 

Cool looking steps and walls at the end of the path of the lemons 

Roman villa ruins 

Getting a mug shot of me in the Roman ruins 

If you look real close you can still see painting(frescos) on the wall 

Look close for the tiles on the floor, you can make out the shape of a bull.  Last of the Roman ruins pics!!

Mamma

Church with the crypt

I have to always add a silly statue guy 

The picture above and the 2 below are taken from  walking along that scary narrow road between towns  look how clear the water is . 

I waded in the sea 

I saw a 6 foot guy get out of this car!!