Movie Stars on The Amalfi Coast Capri

 

ROCK STARS WRITERS & MOVIE STARS

On CAPRI and The AMALFI COAST

ITALY

Humphrey Bogart and Gina Lollobrigida

BEAT The DEVIL

Ravello

Clark Gable & Sophia Loren

IT STARTED in NAPLES

Yes, Movie Stars, Rock Stars, and writers, they all go to the Amalfi Coast, Ravello (Gore Vidal),

and the beautiful Isle of Capri, like: Neruda, Valentino, Jackie Kennedy, and Italian film directors 

Federico Fellini and Dino De Laurentiis. In the 50s and 60s Capri and the Amalfi Coast saw the likes of Sophia Loren, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Jack Lemmon,Vittorio De Sica, and Gina Lollobrigida all make movies in the area, to name but a few. We saw Jack Lemmon make another film in the area in the 1970s when he made Macaroni with the great Italian actor, the great

Marcello Mastroianni in the vibrant southern Italian capital city of Naples. It's a marvelous movie, and if you've never seen it, we suggest you do.

The 1990s saw the likes of Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the late great

Phillip Seymour Hoffman shooting The Talented Mr. Ripley on the local islands of Procida and 

Ischia. Parts of the film were also shot in Rome, Venice, and San Remo.

The 90s also saw Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, Fischer Stevens, and Billy Zane in a cute

Romantic Comedy that starts in Pittsburgh, moves on to Venice, a drive through Tuscan, and on to Rome before the finale in Positano on The Amalfi Coast. The characters stayed in the luxurious

Le Sirenuse Hotel. It's a cut little film, and all the Italian locals are just gorgeous.

We don't see another major American movie set on The Amalfi Coast until a small part of the film

Under The Tuscan Sun, starring Diane Lane is shot there in 2003.

Nowadays we are seeing lots of major celebrities vacationing on Capri, Positano and The Amalfi Coast. This past Summer of 2021 saw "Bennifer" Jennifer Lopez and beau Ben Affleck celebrating Jennifer's 52nd Birthday on a Luxury Yacht moored off of Capri, Positano, and the namesake town of Amalfi. Rapper / actor LL Cool J was spotted hanging out with former NBA great Irvin Magic Johnson on the Isle of Capri, where Magic celebrated his 59th Birthday at a restaurant on Capri with his wife, friends, and family. Denzel Washington loves Positano as well, and has been spotted at 

Chez Black and Music on The Rocks, both in Positano, and Best Selling Italian Cookbook writer Daniel Bellino Zwicke has been vacationing in Positano and Capri since the Summer of 1985. His latest book, is Positano The Amalfi Coast Cookbook & Travel Guide.

Sophia Loren in "Scandal in Sorrento"

SORRENTO 1955

Sophia Loren and Clark Gable

On CAPRI

"IT STARTED in NAPLES"

1960

Jen & Ben

aka "BENNIFER"

CAPRI

2021

.

The YACHT

Chartered by JEN & BEN

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER" !!!

"BENNIFER"

JLO & BEN

A KISS FOr The BIRTHDAY GIRL

LOOKING For a ROOM

POSITANO CAPRI The AMALFI COAST

BOOKING.com

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

COOKBOOK & TRAVEL GUIDE

PACK IT in YOUR BAG

AMAZON.com

La Scogliera Beach Club Positano

 

Positano

Terrazzo at La SCOGLIERA BEACH CLUB

I first spent a couple wonderful days at La Scogliera Beach Club way back in the Summer of 1985. I was a young man of just 23 back then, and getting a Chaise Lounge and hanging out at La Scogliera was like a dream come true. Like I had seen in movies as a kid, Agent 007 James Bond and the like swimming exclusive Mediterranean Beach, lounging at exclusive beach clubs with beautiful European Women, and living "The Good Life," and here, so was I. Yes it was a dream come true. Most young men my age would have opted for one of the free beaches, but not I. I would pay more to be among the beautiful people. Especially the gorgeous bikini clad girls. Or just half a bikini? Just the bottoms as the sun bathed going topless, I must say I enjoyed it all so very much. I had my chaise lounge, Campari & OJ, lovely music playing, the Sun, the Sand, the Beach, Beautiful Women, "yes, I was in 7th Heaven," to say the least, I felt like a King back then. Being in Positano, gorgeous girls, great Italian Food, Cocktails, gelato, properly pulled Espresso, the World's Best Pizza, the Casa Albertina, "what more could I want?" Not much I tell you. I was oh so happy those days in Positano, on the Amalfi Coast, Italy, for I was living my dream. My dream I saw on all those James Bond movies, growing up as a young boy in 1960s and 70s America.

We went to the Rivoli Theater in Rutherford, New Jersey. Yes I watched Bond, Sean Connery and Roger Moore, and I wanted to be just like them. Well, not a Secret Agent, but I wanted to travel the World, going to exotic locals with beautiful women, Deluxe Hotels, cars, Champagne & Caviar, as they say. Yes, movies like Summertime (Venice), William Holden in Hong Kong in The World of Suzy Wong, Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, "that's what I wanted," and here I was at the exclusive beach club La Scogliera in Positano, on the Jet-Set Amalfi Coast. My dreams had come true. I savored it all, took it all in, and was appreciative at being there, in this one of the World's most beautiful spots of all.

I spent my day, just hanging out, either lounging on my chaise lounge, sipping my Campari, soaking in the Amalfi Coast Sun. I swam a lot. Yes, I'm not usually a beach person, except when I'm in places like; Capri, Positano, the Costa Brava, or French Riviera. Then I become one. A beach person, and so when I'm on Capri or Positano, I hang at the beach and spend quite a lot of time swimming the Mediterranean (Tyrrhenian Sea). I go in the water, and I'm swimming at least 15 to 20 minutes at a time, even up to 30 minutes before getting out of the water. Oh yes, I love swimming the waters of Capri (Da Luigi Beach Club) and Positano. I swim out and just float there at times, looking at the town that just seems to sprout and shoot up out of the sea, straight up to dizzying heights above. This scene is quite dramatic and awe inspiring, both on Capri and Positano, and I love it. Yes I love floating on my back and looking out at the beautiful scene before me, the seagulls are singing, and I can faintly hear the music at the club, and chitter-chatter of people on the beach. It all blends together for the most lovely sound. That special sound of the seashore, do you know what I mean?

Yes, back in 1985, as a young man, I paid more ($8) to be and the beach, and felt it was worth every penny to be there. These days, a chaise lounge can run you anywhere from 20 to 40 Euro for the day, depending upon the time you are there, the price varies. Now I would not pay 4o Euro a day, that's a bit much. I would however pay 25 Euro to have a private chaise at La Scogliera Beach Club, Positano. That's the price (25 Euro) I pay for a chaise lounge and towel at Da Luigi Beach Club on by the Faraglioni Rocks in Capri. Expensive? Yes, but worth every penny to treat yourself to a special treat, "don't you think?"

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

At The BEACH

La SCOGLIERA

The Restaurant

La SCOGLIERA BEACH CLUB

.

POSITANO

View from La SCOGLIERA BEACH CLUB

The AMALFI COAST

ITALY

Looking For a HOTEL

Swimming at La SCOGLIERA

La SCOGLIERA.com

BEACH CLUB

POSITANO

ITALY

.

.

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE

EVERYTHING YOU NEED to KNOW

NAPLES - CAPRI - The AMALFI COAST

ITALY

AMAZON.com

Exploring The Amalfi Coast Naples

FIAT 500

On The AMALFI COAST

Do you want to explore the Amalfi Coast? And not just the Amalfi Coast, but some of the great sights all around? Sights and places like Pompeii, Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, a vineyard on the coast or nearby Benevento or Avelino, the home of Lacryma Christi, Taurasi, Falanghina and some Italy's best wines. Take a Pizza run into Naples and hit some its famous Pizzerias, including Julia Roberts favorite in the movie Eat Pray Love. Take a boat to Capri, visit The Blue Grotto, have lunch and explore, there is much to do on The Amalfi Coast, in Naples, and the Sorrentine Peninsula, and not just laying around the beach in Positano all day.

Speaking of Positano, or whether you might be staying in Minori, Amalfi, or Salerno which makes a good home base for the Amalfi Coast, the hostels are just a fraction of those in Positano, and there is great transportation from this coastal city that lies one town over from the most southern town of the Amalfi Coast which is Vietri Sul Mare, and is the capital of Ceramics for the area. And speaking of ceramics, this can be one of those extra curricular activities while staying in Positano, or wherever? Vietri Sul Mare is the town where 90% of the beautiful ceramics you see in shops all over the region, they are made in Vietri Sul Mare, so if you want to buy some ceramics a lot cheaper that in Positano, you might want to go to Vietri.

POMPEII

A visit to Pompeii is one of the top tourist attractions to see when you are on the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Capri or anywhere in the region.

Pompeii is a vast archaeological site in southern Italy’s Campania region, near the coast of the Bay of Naples. Once a thriving and sophisticated Roman city, Pompeii was buried under meters of ash and pumice after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The preserved site features excavated ruins of streets and houses that visitors can freely explore.

If you are staying in Positano and are not taking a private car and you wish to get to Pompeii, the easiest way is to take a bus to Sorrento, and in Sorrento you will jump on a local train the Circumvesuviana which will take you directly to Pompeii. This will probably take about 90 minutes total to get to Pompeii from Positano in this manner.

If you are staying in Sorrento or Naples, there are many bus tour packages to take you to Pompeii.

RAVELLO & AMALFI

While staying in Positano, a trip to Ravello makes a nice change of pace from Positano for the day. You can take a bus to Amalfi, where you will have to get another bus from Amalfi up to Ravello. There are many nice shops to browse, have lunch at a nice trattoria, and a visit to the gorgeous Villa Cimbrone is a recommended highlight of any half days tour of Gore Vidal's favorite spot in the World, Ravello.

You can combine a couple hours in Amalfi with a day trip to Ravello, or simply just go to Amalfi. It's a nice 50 minute boat ride from Positano to Amalfi, or you can take a bus instead, but I recommend the boat to avoid traffic on the Amalfi Drive.  While in Amalfi, you might want to visit Cathedral of Saint Andrea (The Duomo), set in the center of town at the main piazza. While there, do not miss one of Italy's most wonderful pastry shop / cafes, Andrea Pansa Pasticceria. Pansa makes the World's best Sfogliatelle and is a great place for a Cappuccino and pastry, or to sit outside and people watch with a refreshing Negroni or Aperol Spritz cocktails. The town has many wonderful shops, which include fine paper products as the town is famous for its handmade paper. And of course there are all sorts of Lemon Themed items, and local crafts of all sorts, including ceramic plates and such.

Also if in Positano, you might want to a break from the beach to hike the Path of The Gods high above Positano and the Amalfi Coast. The hike is spectacular with some of the World's most stunning views. A hike on The Path of The gods is a highlight of any trip to the Amalfi Coast, however it is not for everyone. No need to worry, you have many options, and one is just to go to the beach, swim, lie around doing nothing but sipping on Campari and Aperol, doing lunch in-between, going back to your hotel for a late afternoon nap, before a gorgeous seafood dinner on the splendid Coast of Amalfi.

Villa Cimbrone

A visit to Villa Cimbrone is wonderful and well worth your time.

Ravello, Italy

POMPEII

For many, an exploration of the Ancient Roman City of Pompeii and its

ruins is one of the highlights of their trip.

You can take an organized bus tour or go on your own. To get their from Positano, take a bus to Sorrento. In Sorrento hop on the Circumvesuviana train which stops directly at Pompeii.

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE

NAPLES - CAPRI - SORRENTO

AMAZON.com

 

Amalfi

 

AMALFI

NAPLES - CAPRI The AMALFI COAST

BOOKING.com

SANTA CATERINA HOTEL

AMALFI

HOTEL SANTA CATERINA

This is ATRANI

On the Southern Approach to Amalfi right

around the Bend

AMALFI COAST,  ITALY

PASTICCERIA PANSA

"My Favorite Spot in Amalfi'

PANSA

"YOU HAVE To GO HERE" !

They make the Best SFOGLIATELLE in the WORLD

The AMALFI COAST

COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE

Don't Go to The AMALFI COAST

Without This BOOK 

AMAZON.com

Lo SMERALDINO

Author Daniel Bellino recommends Lo Smeraldino if you're in Amalfi

and looking for a restaurant with Tasty Food and great view of the Sea.

For Dinner, her recommends Taverna Buonvicino or Da Gemma

Linguine with Langoustines

Lo SMERALDINO RISTORANTE

AMALFI

READ of Eating at Lo Smeraldino

and The AMALFI COAST.

In Daniel Bellino Zwicke's

Best Selling Travel Guide

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

AMAZON.com

History of Capri Pants

 

BRIGITTE BARDOT in CAPRI PANTS

There’s some fashion trends come, go and maybe decades later are resurrected, others never go out of style. Classic, casual, elegant, chic and sporty, the timeless style of Capri has lived on beyond its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s to almost attain the status of a lifestyle. Even today, you can see pieces of Capri-inspired fashion in the collections of the world’s most famous designers.  I love how this iconic style lets me dream of leisurely days spent by the azure shores of the tranquil Italian island of Capri and warm nights under the stars with good friends. Everyone can recognize the signature items of Capri style, including the eponymous pants, but just how well do you know the story of this vintage fashion?

Beyond Capri’s natural beauty and glamorous vacation life, hardly anyone realizes that the island has a long tradition of master tailoring. According to legend, the island’s namesake Capri pants were inspired by the pants of Italian fishermen. In 1948 the  the mid-calf length design, which allowed men to keep dry and have great freedom of movement when they worked in the sea,was given a graceful feminine interpretation by the fashion designer Sonja De Lennart.  While she wasn’t Italian, De Lennart loved vacationing on Capri and dedicated her collection to the island.

Jackie Kennedy wearing CAPRI PANTS

Strolls through CAPRI with VALENTINO

Capri were introduced by fashion designer Sonja de Lennart in 1948, and were popularised by her and English couturier Bunny Roger. The name of the pants is derived from the Italian isle of Capri, where they rose to popularity in the late 1950s and early '60s. The actress Audrey Hepburn was among the first movie stars who wore Capris, and the pants quickly became synonymous with her classic style. The French actress Brigitte Bardot notoriously wore Capri pants at a time when trousers were still a new thing for women. Marilyn Monroe always travelled with Capris.

Capris' acceptance in the United States was influenced by the 1960s television series The Dick Van Dyke Show. The character Laura Petrie, the young housewife played by Mary Tyler Moore, caused a fashion sensation – and some mild controversy – by wearing snug-fitting capri pants during the show's run.

By the mid 1960s, Capri-style tight-fitting cargo pants became popular among teenage boys; a good example was the superstar teen actor of that era, Luke Halpin, who wore them in some episodes of the popular Flipper. After a drop in popularity during the 1970s through the 1990s, Capris returned to favour in the mid 2000s.^[12] Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal wore Capri pants in the majority of his matches before 2009 following a deal with Nike to wear sponsored Capris, a deal that Roger Federer had turned down before him. The Thirteenth Doctor from Doctor Who wore Capri pants. Kate Middleton wore Capri pants for outdoorsy events.

In 2017, the superintendent of the Douglas County School District in Georgia sent out an email qualifying Capri pants as inappropriate garments for the school environment, thus raising the question of what pant's length remain acceptable.

Audrey Hephurn

Capri Pants and a Coffee

Jackie Kennedy on Capri

In Capri Pants of Course

Emilio Pucci

The popularity of Capri pants and headscarves is also due in great part to Emilio Pucci who opened his first boutique on Capri in 1950. Pucci’s designs reflected Mediterranean colors, transforming them into a sophisticated kaleidoscope of color – lemon yellow, Emilio pink, lavender, Capri blue, tangerine orange and mint green – that quickly became the designer’s signature style.

CAPRI / POSITANO

The AMALFI COAST

COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE

AMAZON.com

FIND a ROOM on CAPRI

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST

And WORLDWIDE

BOOKING.com

Da Gelsomina Hotel / Restaurant Capri

 

MAMMA

Da GELSOMINA

ANACAPRI, CAPRI

THE HISTORY OF RISTORANTE DA GELSOMINA

Ristorante Da Gelsomina opened in the 1950's, when Gelsomina and her husband Raffaele decided to open a small eatery tucked among the vineyards and orchards of the Migliera on Capri, Italy.

One of their first loyal clients was the Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe, who mentioned Gelsomina's mother, Filomena, in his famous book "The Story of San Michele".

Thus was born this tiny spot serving sandwiches, wine, and homemade specialties. Patrons were won over by their handmade cheeses, sausages, and marinated vegetables, and word spread across the island. Their clientele grew quickly, and Filomena and Gelsomina began to prepare more substantial dishes in their home kitchen: rabbit alla cacciatora, "pollo al mattone", "ravioli capresi", and "spaghetti alla chiummenzana" with garden fresh tomatoes. From a humble eatery, Da Gelsomina grew to become a true restaurant. Today, your hosts are Gelsomina and Raffaele, Filomena's grandchildren, along with Gelsomina's husband Pasquale along with her brother Raffaele and his wife Rossella.

HOTEL GELSOMINA

ANACAPRI, CAPRI