Ravello

First stop on our post engagement celebration…

When we first arrived to the Amalfi Coast Nic had booked us at the most charming boutique hotel, Hotel Palumbo. Hotel Palumbo offers stunning views of the Amalfi Coast in the quaint commune of Ravello. Ravello is known to be the hidden gem of the Amalfi Coast and Hotel palumbo is quite famous after making an appearance for a scene in the hit movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Our stay at Hotel Palumbo was nothing short of a dream come true, with a homestyle Italian breakfast buffet served every morning for you to enjoy on the terrace overlooking the gardens and ocean views below, you cant help but to pinch yourself and wonder if it all is just a dream.

Nic wanted to give us the chance to explore Ravello and Positano (Positano Blog Post here), and so he thought this was best course of action Since Positano is only a short driving distance from Ravello. This allowed us to spend time in both places, a couple of nights in Ravello, and a couple of nights in Positano. Ravello tends to be a bit more quaint at night which gives an additional element of authenticity considering it’s not as flooded during the Summer months with tourists, but more locals. Ravello is absolutely magical , I couldn’t help but to fall in love with the midnight strolls home under the night stars and along the old and authentic cobblestone paths lit up only by the moonlight of the sky. It was one of the most romantic things I had ever experienced in my entire life, and I can not recommend it enough.

The first Night we had arrived In Ravello, Nic had a beautiful moonlit dinner reserved for us at Rossellini’s at the beautiful Hotel Palazzo Avino. Here we dined under the stars with night views of the Mediterranean for as far as the eye could see. Easily one of the top most beautiful dinners we have ever had in the history of us. It’s here we planned on meeting one of my best friends that flew in from London to help celebrate us and our new engagement. One of the best nights of my life! We all spent hours indulging in our favorite bottle of red and talking amongst one another under the night stars. It was truly magical. In fact, It was such a memorable time that we actually closed down the establishment and Rossellini’s gave us a set of keys to lock the doors and close down the restaurant ourselves when we were ready to leave. Now there’s something you would never see in America. We stayed until 4 a.m. catching up, reminiscing on old times, and laughing under the moonlit sky, even catching a bit of the breathtaking morning sunrise. I could not BELIEVE they allowed us to stay and close down one of the most sought after restaurants along the Amalfi Coast. I cant help but to feel even at the most posh of places in Italy, there’s always a heartwarming sense of community, trust and friendship. Just one more reason why I absolutely love Italy so much.

Our first day was spent exploring the local shops, boutiques, and enchanting gardens that seem to blanket the romantic commune of Ravello. On our last day in Ravello, Nic, myself and our friends decided to rent a car to take in the breathtaking views in Ravello before heading to Positano. As We parted ways with our friends and took off to head to Our next destination, Nic and I discovered an old fortress turned restaurant. Naturally, being the foodies that we are, and the fact that we came across this gem randomly, we took it as a sign of faith and did what any foodie would do. We stayed for lunch. With a jaw dropping view and stunning historical venue, we couldn’t help but to feel we had truly stumbled across a real hidden gem along the Amalfi Coast. We later found out that this restaurant is not a known tourist spot, which attracted us to it even more. As we dined on the terrace soaking in every bit of the ocean breeze, we learned of the history of restaurant is dated all the way back to the 1700’s and acted as a fortress. Not to mention, this Michelin star restaurant offers some of the best and exquisite local eats around. It’s truly a site to be seen, and I can not recommend it enough.