Through Italy. day 1

I know this is a UK travel blog. But I would be selling you and myself short not to share this amazing drive through Italy.

A Scenic Journey Through Italy

We started our journey on a Saturday mid-morning. Our plan was simple: take our time and enjoy the trip. Each day, we would drive until an hour before we wanted to stop. This approach felt risky, but with a bit of clever planning, we hoped to avoid any issues.

The Drive to Messina

Driving to the ferry at Messina is a short journey from Catania. We headed north on the E45 Autostrada, passing Taormina. This beautiful place is now a bit touristy, but it still holds charm. As we continued towards Messina, the stunning coast was always on our right. The beauty of the landscape was captivating.

Along this route, we discovered lovely towns like Acireale. This town features a quaint little square. On Saturday mornings, there’s often a small antiques market. Locals set up tables to sell their treasures. I found some fascinating World War II memorabilia there. Once, I bought two paintings: one was a pencil drawing of Mussolini on a horse, which was stolen from me, and the other was a post-war style painting of Mussolini. I wish it were an original, as the artist is now quite sought after.

Leaving Sicily is always bittersweet. However, the journey through Italy makes up for it.

Ticket Trouble at Messina

We arrived at Messina without tickets, mistakenly thinking we could buy them on-site. Oops!

After loading the car, we found ourselves at the front of the ferry. We didn’t plan to be first off, but that’s how it worked out. Once we reached the mainland, we had to go to the ticket office at the port of Villa San Giovanni in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria to get our tickets.

Getting ready for the drive

With that sorted, we started our drive north. For the next five hours, we were surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of Calabria. I was thrilled to show my wife this beautiful drive. When I first traveled to Sicily, this part of the journey surprised me the most. While I had planned to drive through the Alps, Milan, Rome, and Naples, Calabria was the hidden gem.

The Rugged Beauty of Calabria

Calabria is a region often overlooked by tourists. Its mountainous, rugged countryside is dotted with small towns. However, it’s also known as the home of one of the world’s most notorious criminal organizations. Many small towns are influenced by these groups. Mayors are financed, elected, and sometimes killed with alarming regularity. Businesses either thrive or struggle, depending on their connections to this powerful organization.

We often simply stopped to take in the stunning views.

Finding Accommodation in Salerno

Our destination for the night was Salerno. We planned to find a place to stay and then decide whether to explore the Amalfi Coast, head directly into Naples, or continue north to Rome the next day. We had several great options ahead of us.

After some online searching, we found a charming spot just south of Salerno called Agriturismo Terre Delle Monache. This place is one of many that offer a unique hotel experience in the beautiful countryside. They are often attached to small farms, providing fresh and local produce. Since it was March, the area was quiet, but they were open. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by the owners and shown to our modest yet spotless room. We were informed that the restaurant was open until 22:00.

Agriturismo Terre Delle Monache

The food was delicious. I ordered a fresh pasta dish while my wife, Alda, chose a plate of various barbecued meats. Both plates were bursting with incredible flavours and aromas. You could tell the food was fresh, local, and made with passion. I’ve always found that when travelling, it’s best to eat at places like this instead of busy tourist spots.

Amazing choice of food

We decided not to take the Amalfi coast route. It would have ended up taking an extra day at least. It may not look a long drive around to Naples. But I have driven it before and because you have to stop and take in many places Positano, Amalfi itself, Archie, Marmorata, the list of places to take in is endless and the road twists and turns up and down the coastal hills. Which makes it a much longer drive than you think.

So onwards north towards Rome. Let's see what's next?