An Awesome Amalfi Coast Alternative

Every once in a while, I get amped about a place.

Right now, it’s a guesthouse on the southern coast of Italy, called Il Cannito.

I can imagine myself poolside sporting my straw hat and cotton dress, with one leg dropped into the water, reading my book. Then later, just because, I’d sit under the bright orange umbrella and ponder something important, like if I’m gonna have that third cappuccino.

For dinner, I would start on the homemade cavatelli pasta, then tuck into the fried calamari. As usual, I would linger to coax the spicy sauce onto my last morsel of crusty bread. (This Italian eating ritual is called, la scarpetta).

As the dessert would pass my way, I would politely decline, “No, I couldn’t possibly eat anything else”. Then, feeling the hedonism that Italy inspires, I’d change my tack and sink my choppers into a tartlet filled with garden strawberries. And then I’d probably have another one.

Il Cannito feels like a place I would bring my friends. Although just escaping with my husband and daughter for a quiet vacation of three sounds incredibly energizing too!

Il Cannito is hidden: the small rustic buildings that contain the guest rooms are completely tucked into the treed slopes of the Mediterranean landscape. Not too tucked away mind you, you still have a bangin’ view of the island of Capri. The paths that wind through the property are filled with orchids and olive trees. Take one and meander down to the private beach.

The Cilento coast barely gets a mention in most travel books. It just doesn’t have the same fame as the Amalfi coast, although it’s so close you could whip over for dinner. But maybe you wouldn’t even bother, as you relish in an under the radar slice of Italy.

To get to Il Cannito, you’ll need to rent a car in Naples, and then drive south, past Amalfi. The guesthouse is barely visible from the roads. It’s not a flashy resort, or a chain hotel; it’s the antithesis. It only has four rooms. It’s a labor of love, and a lifestyle curated by a tight knit family. And they’re on a mission to extend warmth and hospitality to whoever travels down their driveway.

It’s a place to return to year after year. Because you’re treated like family. You know you’ve found your people, when, each time they see you, they sit you down, ask how your trip was, and then immediately…feed you. The best hosts always do.

If Il Cannito speaks your language, then here’s the scoop:

• They have 4 adorable rooms decorated with local art and groovy furniture. They rock you heated floors, jacuzzi tubs, lovely showers, and thankfully for the summer months, aria condizionata

• It’s located on 37 treed acres of oak, elm trees, myrtle, and juniper

• It’s five minutes from the village of Paestum, where you’ll see some of the world’s best preserved ancient Greek temples. (It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wikipedia it up. The temples are incredible!)

• You can book a boat cruise along the coast in their private speed boat

• They run food tours to boutique production farms, where you’ll see how they make fresh mozzarella cheese and olive oil

• They arrange excursions to the Amalfi coast or the city of Salerno

Bed + Breakfast rates are 250 euros per night, for any room. They’re open seasonally, from March 1st to October 31st. You can email the lovely owner, Antonella Gorga at antonella@ilcannito.com.

Getting there:
Il Cannito,  is in the southern Italian province of Campania. It’s one hour from Naples. You can rent a car from the airport to drive there. Or take the three hour train from Florence to Salerno, and they’ll swing over to the train station to pick you up.

What do you think? Could you hack a few days here? If you have any questions, just ask!

With love + strawberry tartlets,

Bianca

{This post in partnership with Il Cannito.}