Legend has it that the Amalfi Coast is named after a nymph with whom Hercules was madly in love. After she died, Hercules searched the world for a burial site worthy of his love and chose the craggy coastline where we just enjoyed the most exquisite stay. The Amalfi Coast combines natural and man-made beauty forms -- at the highest levels. 

Here are my recommendations for your trip to this magic place. 

Naples 

Best pizza:

• Pizza 3.0 - Ciro Cascella
• Concettina a tre Santi

Shop:

• Doctor Vintage 

Do: 

• Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara - gorgeous monastery with a majolica ornamented courtyard. 

Key People:

• Luigi Cammarota was the most informative, reliable driver. His website is here.

 Stay: 

• Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel - not fancy but perfect

Pompeii

Only advice is to hire a guide. 

Amalfi

Food:

• Hike to Agricola Fore Porta for lunch
• Ristorante Il Chiostro for dinner 
• Lemon sorbet in a lemon at any of the gelato shops 

Do: 

• If you are interested in cycling, book a bike tour with Cycling Amalfi

Positano

Food:

• The restaurants at Il San Pietro and Le Sireneuse were extraordinary for the food, service, views.
• We loved the vongole and calamari at Bucca di Beppo in the port. 

 Stay: 

• Hotel Montemare - spacious, clean rooms with comfortable beds. Just note that if you arrive through the port with baggage, you must hire a porter

Do: 

• So nice to rent a small boat to see the little beaches and grottos. You are able to negotiate pricing, and there are many vendors in the port.
• We stoped at Conca del Sogno. Highly recommend the zucchini pasta. We chartered a boat from Boat Experience Positano (boatexperiencepositano@gmail.com) - perfect size for 2 people. 

Capri

• La Fontelina - go by foot in supportive shoes; the views are amazing, but the climb is steep, and many fall.
• Da Paolino ("The Lemon Tree") - charming lemon-filled restaurant, very photogenic
• Aurora - the pizza 

To set a table at home to feel like you are in the Amalfi Coast, click here.