By the end of our first week in Italy, the rhythm of the Amalfi Coast had already started to sink in. We spent the morning exploring the tiny village of Atrani before making our way into Amalfi for the afternoon. With our Airbnb tucked up in the hills of Scala for three nights, we had driven down earlier that morning and parked in the garage between Atrani and Amalfi—one of those practical decisions that ended up shaping a perfectly slow, walkable day. From there, everything unfolded on foot, exactly the way the coast is meant to be experienced.

Atrani may be the smallest town in Italy, but when we visited it was anything but quiet. Even in November the small piazza and narrow alleyways were buzzing with people, cafés were full, and laundry hung between pastel buildings stacked into the hillside. After wandering the lively streets for the morning, we crossed the pedestrian bridge into Amalfi where the energy picked up even more. We first walked down to the beach to take in the deep blue Mediterranean before heading toward the cathedral square, where we unexpectedly heard an orchestra performing at the base of the Duomo’s grand staircase. After the performance ended, we climbed the stairs ourselves and paused at the top to admire the view over the piazza and out toward the sea. From there we wandered down Amalfi’s main street, grabbed a cone of fried seafood from a local vendor, and popped into a few small shops while Sage napped in the stroller. Before long we picked up some limoncello and headed back to the beach, where we spent a few hours relaxing by the water. Andrew, who absolutely loves the ocean, was in his element, and Sage even joined him for a quick dip. With the cliffs rising behind the town and the Mediterranean stretching endlessly in front of us, it was one of those afternoons that felt easy and unforgettable.

Eventually we wandered back into town for one last stop—gelato, of course—before making the walk back toward the parking garage and driving up the winding road to our Airbnb in Scala for the evening. It was one of those travel days without much of a plan, just wandering, good food, and time by the water. Looking back, it was the kind of afternoon that captures exactly why the Amalfi Coast feels so special.

XOXO