of Naples. AMALFI. 10. Route. 155
S. Giovanni, a modernized basilica supported by columns, contains a
fine old pulpit. The adjacent garden (4 sous), formerly the property of the
d'Afflitto family, affords a fine "view of the valley and small town of
Minori, and of the more distant Majori as far as the Capo Tuinulo. — Other
points of subordinate interest may be visited if time permits.
The traveller will be amply rewarded by extending the excursion by
2 — 3 hrs. as follows : by Scala, a village with an episcopal church, and by
the ruined castle of Scaletta, to Pontone; thence a descent to the mill-
valley.
From Amalfi to Sorrento the bestroute is by water as
far as Scaricatojo (boat see p. 153; passage 2—'i^hrs.; thence
on foot or donkey in 21/., hr.), skirting the picturesque coast
(costiera occidentale) and passing the promontory of Conca, the
precipitous cliffs of Fuore, the village of Prajano with its luxu¬
riant vines and olives, and Vettica Maggiore in the vicinity; then
Positano, picturesquely situated at the base of the mountains,
under the kings of the Anjou family an important harbour. The
church of <S. Maria dell' Assunta contains a quaint sculpture of
a sea-monster, probably obtained from some temple of Neptune.
A large proportion of the merchants' clerks of Lower Italy are
natives of Positano. who assemble here annually to celebrate their
great church-festival and return in later life hither to spend
their declining years. The population therefore consists princi¬
pally of old men, women and children. The boatmen occasionally
propose to land their passengers at Positano, if the sea is at all
rough, under the pretence that there is no good landing-place at
Scaricatojo. Travellers desirous of continuing their voyage should
not allow themselves to be deterred by such representations, but
insist on being conveyed to their proper destination.
From Scaricatojo to Sorrento [21/., hrs.; a guide, not
absolutely necessary, may be engaged at Conti (see below), as far
as which the path cannot be missed (I1/.,—2 L); donkeys (p. 139j
not to be had at Conti] the path at first ascends by steps in the
rocks; after an ascent of 1 hr. Li Conti di Geremenna, a group of
houses on the height, is reached. Here in a straight direction.
avoiding the path to the 1. Immediately after the ridge is traver¬
sed , a view is disclosed of the Bay of Naples, Capri, Ischia and
Procida. After 5 min. a straight direction, avoiding the stony-
path to the 1. ; after 25 min., nearly at the base of the hill, the
path leads to the r. between walls: after 5 min., to the L; after
5 min. more, to the 1. by the narrow path to Sorrento (to the
r. to Carotto, p. 141); again, after 5 min., to the 1. between
walls and then by the high road to the 1. ; 25 min., Belvedere di
Sorrento; 20 min., Sorrento (p. 139).
From Positano to Sorrento (3lj.j hrs.; guide 2 L, not
necessary) the path ascends 1 hr. to the mountain-ridge, where
the first path to the 1. is taken, leading into the forest; after
7 min. an old stone gate is passed, whence the road descends
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