Amalfi Coast

Driving down the winding cliffside road into Positano, the scent of sweet lemon blossoms and salty sea breeze filled our vintage Alfa Romeo convertible. We arrived at Le Sirenuse, the legendary boutique hotel draped in bougainvillea overlooking Positano's iconic cascade of pastel villas. Standing on my private balcony with a glass of Franciacorta sparkling wine, looking out over the turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea, I understood why this coastline has captured hearts for generations.

My morning began with a private wooden Gozzo boat charter (€850 for the day) leaving Positano harbor. We cruised along the dramatic vertical cliffs, ducking into hidden sea grottos with luminous emerald water and pulling into secluded coves for a swim. We sailed past the Li Galli islands toward Amalfi, admiring the Moorish-Romanesque cathedral before climbing up into the mountain village of Ravello.

In Ravello, we strolled through the terraced cliffside gardens of Villa Cimbrone. Standing at the edge of the 'Terrace of Infinity'—lined with marble Roman busts suspended 1,200 feet above the sparkling blue sea—felt like standing on the edge of the world. For lunch, we took a shaded garden table at Ristorante Da Salvatore, savoring handmade scialatielli pasta tossed with fresh clams, zucchini, and Amalfi lemon zest (€28).

Late afternoon brought us back to Positano's Spiaggia Grande. After sunbathing on orange-and-white striped loungers, we dressed for sunset cocktails at Franco's Bar, sipping passion fruit cocktails under the neon glow as the entire town lit up like a cascade of golden candles against the cliffside. Dinner at Michelin-starred La Sponda was illuminated by four hundred flickering candles, serenaded by gentle acoustic mandolins. Positano is pure, intoxicating glamour.