There are many ways to enjoy the stay in the villa and at the coast. Some will prefer to stay in the villa as their hideaway, enjoy the fabulous views and relax. Some will also want to explore the coast or the mountains and the nearby world famous attractions like Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, Capri, Pompeii, Paestum, the Vesuvio... Very beautiful hikes are waiting for you, which start at the villa. See more detailed information in the "our experience" section of this web site. Below find some suggestions what you could do and related information.

Stay in the villa:
- You can enjoy the view, swim in the sea or pool, take a sun bath, read, relax in the hanging chairs, have a drink. From the platform at the sea you can snorkel along the rocky coast. Quite nice because of under water rocks and differend fish. We counted more then 20 species.
- Listen to music. In the villa you find a selection of CD´s, mainly Italian/Napolitanen music.
- Games: In the villa you find chess and other games,decks of cards and a dart board.
- Fitness: Some of you may want to do something for their fitness. Either you continue your regular exercise or you have a new start. You find two Sissel Pilate circles and Thera bands Books about Pilates and the Egoscue method are also there. I found the simple Egoscue exercises very helpful to overcome back pain.
- Cook your own meals in the fully equipped kitchen. All items can be delivered. You can also hire a cook.

Jogging: Jogging enthusiasts can do very panoramic runs along the Amalfitana. If you want to run off the road, you must be ready to jog uphill. Either first going to the east till the Furore gorge and take the path uphill after the bridge. Very beautiful but also quite steep! Or you go to the left and leave the road before the bridge in Marina di Praia and take the path uphill - again quite steep. In Marina di Praia you also jog down the valley, then along the sea towards the restaurant Il Pirata and then before reaching it up the hill till you reach the road and then back to the villa.

Enjoy the views:
- Morning bar: Our favorite is Bar del Sole in Vettica Maiore (part of Praiano). Here Italians take their short breakfast a café and may be a cornetto (croissants). You have a splendid view from the terrace as far as Positano and Capri. The cornetti and other morning pastry are world class. To go there drive or take a bus to Praiano. The bar is opposite the impressive church on the right side of the road. Closed on Mondays.
- Watch sunset: Enjoy the often spectacular sunsets with a glass of prosecco or another drink from the terrace of the Bar del Sole.

Drinks in the evening:
Try the bar in the hotel Le Fioriere (where you got the key) in Vettica Maiore (part of Praiano). Luigi has good music and drinks. There is also a nice bar in the restaurant Il Pirata in Marina di Praia.
After we had dinner in Amalfi we sometimes have a drink on the terrace of the hotel Santa Catarina, which is built in a panoramic position about 1 km before Amalfi. They have free valet parking. Just tell the guard that you want to take a drink.

Coastal experience: (see here a photo gallery from a boat trip from the villa to Capri)
It is a wonderful experience is to see the Amalfi coast from the sea side. You have multiple alternatives to explore this:

- Go by boat to one of the sea side restaurants Le Sirene or Gavitella: Combine a dinner with romantic boat trip with an excellent meal. Call the restaurant (see the phone numbers in the restaurant section of this web site) and ask them to pick you up at the platform below the villa. You should go there in the evening as it is a great place to watch the sunset; and to go back in the dark and seeing the coast by night is magic - very recommendable.

- Rent a boat/yacht with and without a crew: Explore yourself or with a captain the beauties of the Amalfi coast and Capri. We always rent a boat ourselves and drive along the coast, stop where we want, go swimming, have lunch in one of the excellent sea food restaurants along the coast or on Capri. All of them have a valet "parking" service. You just go closer, wave and make yourself understood that you want to eat, and then a boat comes and brings you to the restaurant. Often boats with the name of the restaurants are already waiting. Some restaurants display the phone number so you can just call them.See a selection of these restaurants in the restaurant section. With a 40 hp boat (the most powerful you can rent without license) it takes about 1, 5 - 2, 0 hours to go to Capri. For boat rental call La Sibilla Tel. 089 874365, mobile phone: 334 3078344, in Marina di Praia or in Amalfi Amalifsails Tel. 3356451 400, web site: www.amalfisails.it/. Both will come with the boat to the platform of Villa la Madonnina and pick you up there. If you drive yourself you go back to Marina di Praia/Amalfi and you drop the driver there.

- A great experience is to go out for a boat trip with Barbara from Positano either on a special trip only for you and your party or on a scheduled excursion. They will help you to discover the beauty and delights of the Amalfi and Sorrento coast. For many of our guests this was one of the highlights in their vacation. They can come to the platform below the villa and pick you up there. See her web site: www.barbarapositano.it/ or Tel. +39 333683 9004.

- Join a scheduled excursion: Check at Marina di Praia, if they have an offer or with more choices in Amalfi and Positano.

- Take a scheduled baot trip from Amalfi or Positano along the coast, to Capri, Sorrento or Naples. Same view but no explanation. From Sorrento you can also go directly to Capri and Ischia. To start from Sorrento to go to Capri will also be your choice if you want to have more flexibility for your schedule. Also in winter boats take off regularly to Capri. For more information call the tourist office in Praiano. Tel. 089/874557.

Pedal boat: combine exploring the panoramic vicinity of the coast with some physical activity by renting a pedal boat in nearby Marina di Praia.
Diving: In nearby Marina di Praia is the Boa Diving centre where you can rent equipment and join dives. Tel: 089/813034, Mobile: 0335/345739.
Water skiing: La Sibilla in Marina di Praia Tel 089 874365, mobile phone: 334 3078344
Other water sport: Windsurfing, Jet Ski, sailing boat: In Amalfi you can rent the equipment. For more information call the tourist office of Amalfi. Tel: 089 871 107.

Other activities:
- Rent a bike or scooter: For those who fell comfortable with driving a scooter, it is real fun and the fastest means of transportation along the coast. You have a better view and parking is far easier. For the slower scooters you dont need a special driving license. Biking is a big sport in Italy and the Amalfitana is a great place to exercise. You can rent bikes/scooters in Praiano, Praia Costa in Praiano, Tel. 089 813071.

- Classical music at Ravello and other sites: It is a great experience to listen to classical music in a wonderful setting in Ravello or other beautiful places. For the program for the whole year see the information in the villa or visit: Ravello chamber music. Reservation through Financial Tours, Amalfi: 089 87 1046, or Praiano Tourist office: 089 874557 or you book on line by going on the web site www.ravelloarts.org/.

- Eco museo Marina di Furore: To walk in about 15 minutes to the impressing valley of Marina di Furore (Fiordo) is both worthwhile for the breathtaking scenery of the coast and the valley itself. You just go to the right when leaving the main gate and follow the road till the bridge which spans the valley. The museum is at the bottom of the valley. It covers three main topics: the unique plants which survived here from the times before the ice age, the films which were produced in this romantic place and the industrial history with paper production and mills. The original buildings/machines were nicely restored. Guided tours are sometimes available in Italian and English: for reservation call 328 88 15 393.

- Discotec: Closest disco is the once famous Night club Africana which you find after the tower you see from the villa. Struggles for survival as there are not too many guests and may be closed. Ask Luigi for more in discos.

- Golf: There is no golf course in reasonable distance. But - as you know - a break and working on the mental side of golf can be more beneficial than practicing too hard.