Italian Road Trip
During the fall of 2019, I was fortunate enough to travel to Europe for the first time. Behind the wheel of a modern-day Family Truckster, I traversed over 500 miles of Italian coastline and countryside with my Mom and sister. Here are some of my photos from our journey.
Palinuro & Marina di Camerota
Upon arriving in Napoli and securing our rental Peugeot station wagon, we were off two-and-a-half hours south, along the coast past Vesuvius, Pompei, and Sorrento towards the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park. Our AirBnb was nestled equidistant between two seaside towns, and arriving a solid six weeks after peak travel season, we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a completely empty beachfront.
We filled our mornings with cooking and reading, and spent the afternoons hiking the park, climbing through grottos at low tide, and comparing gelato shops.
Tropea
“Coast of the Gods” is the name given to a section of Tyrrhenian shoreline in Italy’s Calabria region. As soon as we arrived in Tropea, it was evident why. The town plummets off a beautiful hillside dotted with small farms, directly into the crystal blue sea below. At the edge of town, along the sand, the architecture and landscape become one, forming some of the most unique structures I’ve ever seen.
Our days in Tropea were spent meandering the narrow streets, shops, alleyways, and restaurants. We ate our fill and then some, but somehow always managed to have room for gelato.
A water voyage along the coast capped off an incredible second leg to our travels. After stocking up on some of the regions famed chilis, red onions, and wine, we were on the road towards Napoli.
Napoli
The first two stops of our trip had been filled with rest and relaxation – Napoli’s energy was a great way to snap back into ‘reality’ before returning to New York.
Our rooftop AirBnb provided incredible views, and a comfortable recluse from the liveliness below, but it was Napoli’s buzzing streets that gave us a real taste of the city. In two days we covered nearly twenty miles on foot, and tried at least five pizza shops along the way.
Incredibly grateful for the opportunity to visit this beautiful country for the first time, especially with my Mom and sister. Looking forward to the ability to safely travel again!