Surrounding
Area
Don Alfonso 1890 is an excellent choice for those that wish to explore the Sorrentine Peninsula during all seasons, due to the year-round pleasant climate. The hotel’s location, in the center of Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi, is ideal, as it is only a few minutes car or bus ride from Sorrento (from here you may take trains and motorboats), from Positano and from the Amalfi Coast, along with the archeological sites of Ercolano and Pompei.
Below we have outlined only a few possible itineraries; in the hotel you will find all the necessary information in order to explore the most famous and beautiful places in the Sorrentine Peninsula.
Sorrento and Fishing Tours
Sorrento is only 10 kilometers away from the Don Alfonso 1890 hotel restaurant. From the hotel, you can drive to Sorrento in 15 minutes, and it only takes slightly longer by bus. Sorrento has always been a destination for poets and scholars from all over Europe. In this town, you can stroll through the ancient “decumano” roads as well as the perpendicular alleys, where the aristocratic residences face intriguing ancient structures such as the Sant’Antonino Basilica, Tarsia Lignea museum and workshop, the Roman Cathedral, the Sedile Dominova and the Correale Villa, which is surrounded by a splendid orchard with a striking balcony facing the sea. You can experience a cultured, yet simple atmosphere in the San Francesco cloisters , a marvelous area which hosts prestigious events such as book club meetings and evenings with classical music and jazz.
The fishing tours are a must-have experience during a gourmet holiday at Don Alfonso. From the small port in Sorrento, at either dawn or dusk, you will sail away aboard a fishing boat to try your hand at fishing, as well as to enjoy the splendid landscapes at Punta Campanella, and to taste fresh fish such as the Nassa shrimps and the prawns, prepared using the fishermens’ typical recipes.
Ercolano and Pompei
Ercolano and Pompei are 50 and 40 kilometers respectively from the Don Alfonso 1890 restaurant hotel. These two places can be reached in roughly an hour, either by land, or via the sea on a motorboat (using the Sea Metro, which only runs during the summer). These are the worldwide famous archeological sites, which serve as testimonies to the world of the Ancient Romans. The sites are almost perfectly preserved until today due to the apocalyptic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., which covered Ercolano in 25 meters of mud, and Pompei in 4 meters of ash. Several must-sees in Ercolano are the Papyrus Villa (Villa dei Papiri), the hotel house, and the splendid house with mosaic designs in the atrium. And in Pompei, don’t forget to see the Mystery Villa (Villa dei Misteri), the Faun’s house (Casa del Fauno), the amphitheatre, and the Vettii’s house.
Positano and the Amalfi Coast
Positano and the Amalfi Coast are only 15 kilometers from the Don Alfonso 1890 relais restaurant. Along this coastline, you will find small villages, great panoramas, and glimpses of unequaled beauty between the seaside and the hills.
Positano is characterized by the colorful majolica dome of the Santa Maria Assunta Church, which stands out amongst the many small houses on the hillsides leading down to the sea.
The precipitous coastline of the Amalfi Coast is spectacular, and includes breathtaking places such as Furore, a fjord which winds around the hills.
Amalfi is a beautiful and noble place. The glorious past of the seafaring republic can be felt in the portentous residences and in the rich medieval cathedral with its enchanting Paradise cloisters. Amalfi is characterized by small streets, squares, and arches; hand-crafted paper stores; objects and jewelry made of coral; and delicious Amalfi lemon-based specialties.
The coastline then rises up a hill until you reach the enchanting Ravello. Here everything is beautiful: the landscapes, panoramas, churches, palaces, and squares. The cathedral, the Rufolo Villa, the Coral Museum, and the Wagner balcony, are only a few of the places to visit.
Capri and Punta Campanella
A mini cruise in Capri and at Punta Campanella is one of the most pleasant excursions to undertake when on vacation in the Don Alfonso hotel.
Capri is a beautiful, chic place, and has its own brand of unique charm due to the breathtaking views, the calm stillness between the streets and villas surrounded by greenery, and the liveliness of the main square. The sea is an extraordinary shade of blue, the beaches are enchanting, and the famous Azure Grotto is always surprising due to the incredible colors therein.
Punta Campanella is an enchanting headland which divides the waters between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno. Here, in Termini, you will find Alfonso Iaccarino’s country houses Le Peracciole. This is a precious estate where the cultivation of lemons, olives, grapes, and vegetables occurs, all of which are delicious key ingredients for the restaurant kitchen.
The area where the myth of Odysseus and the sirens took place, known as Li Galli; Queen Jean’s bathhouse (an ancient Roman villa on the sea); and the ocean bed, which is an inestimable source of archeological and natural treasures: all of these constitute a part of the spectacular landscapes in the Park and Marine Protected Areaof Punta Campanella.