We hope to be going to the Amalfi Coast in early October for a week and trying to determine where we may go afterwards. Giving serious thought to driving south along the coast from Salerno along (through ? Around? ) Parco Nazionale del Cilento and further along the Basilicata and Calabrian coasts perhaps down as far as Tropea.
I do not know this area at all. We enjoy small towns, interesting places, maybe some nice beaches. When we left Venice end of September driving south, we were very surprised how closed down all the beach towns were. Beautiful weather, but restaurants and hotels shuttered. Will it be the same here? I welcome any opinions and suggestions about doing this drive. Is it safe? Is it boring? Is it fun??
Grazie!
Posted by
8 posts
I too am planning to drive this same itinerary in October, A friend who lives in Calabria told me she was going to the beach and swimming up til October 23 last year.
As far as safe - yes totally - drive in the daytime (unless just returning from a restaurant) and NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING in the car that can be seen through a window. Anything should be in the trunk locked. But this goes for ANYWHERE in Italy.
Everything in Italy is fun - these people really know how to enjoy life and make the most of every situation. Telling an Italian "No, that's not possible" only means not that way - find another way - and they always do. BTW I'm Italian - born on the Island of Capri.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15163 posts
If you google "Cilento" you will find a lot of ideas on what to visit. Below are some from an Italian website.
https://www.10cose.it/cilento/cosa-vedere-cilento
If you run out of time, try at least to go as far as Maratea, which is beautiful. Tropea is a bit of a drive further south, so it depends on how much time you have.
Yes, in October many of those places will be very very quiet. It's already past peak 'beach' season and schools are back. Maybe a bit more people might visit Maratea and Palinuro especially on weekends, if the weather is nice, but overall tourists will be few once you go south of Salerno. It won't be anywhere like July and August but I'm sure many restaurants and hotels should be open.
It's certainly safe, and it is certainly beautiful. Boring and fun depends on what you enjoy. If you like the Miami Beach scene during Spring break you won't see that there in October.
Posted by
OP
59 posts
Grazie Tamara e Roberto! Some encouraging information. Other than Maratea, are there any other towns along the way that you may suggest we make an effort to see or spend a night or two?