a Guide Inside

2009

An absolute highlight of my first trip to the Amalfi Coast was my tour with Angela. She almost embodies Ravello itself — beautiful, understated, and full of marvelous stories. It was an amazing day from start to finish, with special access to the hidden treasures of the town and its rich and colorful history. It was unlike any tour I have ever taken, as it was more like a celebration—a celebration of food and culture and romance and community. Thank you, Angela, for making my introduction to Ravello and its surrounding towns so special and memorable. Thank you for sharing your passion for your birth place and home, and for creating a day that unfolded as naturally and captivatingly as a great book. This trip was just the beginning of what I know will be a life-long love affair.

As for our minds and spirits, we fed our souls with evening concerts at the Villa Rufulo, enriched our minds meandering through villages with Angela Imperato, the best guide in Ravello, learning about the architecture, art and history of the Amalfi Coast. To our delight, as a 36 year resident of the Campania region, she also shared her “insider’s knowledge” and availed us to exploring restricted sites and a magnificent private collection of coral and fine art.

One day Angela took us to Maiori where, among other activities, we had the opportunity to purchase gorgeous leather sandals custom made at the family-run sandal shop … that has been making sandals for 40 years. We also visited a fine ceramics factory in Vietri sul Mare where we enjoyed a private tour, learned about their hand-crafted process and watched the artisans as they worked. A real treat was visiting a private residence that until recently was the famed villa of Gore Vidal, named “Rondinaia” (the Swallow’s Nest), a stunning property clinging onto the side of the highest cliff. This was Vidal’s sanctuary of inspiration, where he penned many of his books and where he entertained notable guests such as Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Maria Callas and Rudolph Nureyev.

Angela’s services were recommended in an article from the 24 May 09 on Kentucky.com.

if you want a guide, ask them [Hotel Caruso] to arrange for Angela.

Thank you Angela for a superb day. Our visit to Tramonti visiting local families making wines and producing cheese was a privilege.

The kitchen experience with the chef and his wife was a real treat and something we shall remember for a long time.

We have enjoyed the opportunity to feel part of your culture as opposed to just looking at it, and feel the day has represented exceptional value.

All the best

Experiencing the delights of rural Tramonti was a Mediterranean highlight for us. You planned a day where we experienced the true culture of the Amalfi people.

We visited a family-run winery where the people were very endearing and where they were only interested in pleasing their guests. They are developing some extremely fine local wines & eagerly wanted to share their adventure with us. Another local family operated a farm where wonderful mozzarella & ricotta cheeses are made. This family shared their joy of entertaining and had prepared an amazing sample of their beautiful cheeses to taste.

The third part of our visit was extraordinary and beyond our expectations. We were introduced to a delightful young couple who owned an amazing restaurant where we were invited into the chef’s (the owner) kitchen and where we watched intently as he skilfully prepared eight dishes for us to enjoy. The ingredients were all locally-sourced and the chef willingly shared his culinary ‘secrets’ with us. He allowed us to make thorough notes and encouraged us to take regular photos of his processes and dishes. Our group of 6 was served this wonderful food, one course at a time, with locally-produced wine to accompany and enhance each plate. Chef Giuseppe and his wife were incredibly hospitable and we left feeling that we had really been absorbed into Italian village life.

We would thoroughly recommend this extra experience to anyone who loves making or eating simple, highly-flavoured, delicious cuisine.

Our sincere thanks to Angela (Ravello) & Ali (Great Village Holidays, NZ) for recognising a need for an activity such as this in our stay in Ravello and organising it to such a degree of perfection.

All the best

2008

Angela, Thanks for making our trip enjoyable. Wonderful to have someone that speaks such fluent English – it was a joy to listen to your informative commentary.

Delightful flowing commentary with familiar terms. Informative but not overwhelming. Frequent breaks too. Frankly I’m impressed.

Our Best Guide in Italy – without doubt.

Thank you so much for sharing your exquisite weaving samples with me. I will follow up the web site. Your bubbly personality and amazing knowledge has certainly enhanced our journey. Thank you Angela.

Thank you Angela – such interesting information making for a great day.

Thanks Angela, We very much enjoyed your informative commenting – your knowledge of the Amalfi Coast’s history and architecture is amazing.

Angela, An absolute delight meeting you and listening to your fluent and attractive accent. Looking forward to a long association with you!

2007

Angela – What a gem you are! We are glad that Bev found you so we had the pleasure of your knowledge! I hope one day to have the experience of travelling with you again. Thank you so much for adding a special touch to my trip.

Angela – Thank you so much for showing us a wonderful tour of the Amalfi Coast area. Your knowledge is wonderful and has made our trip one of a kind. You have made it able for me to understand Italian culture. Thank you so much.

Angela – You have made our trip such a great experience. Your knowledge is amazing and makes our excursions that much more enjoyable! You’ve got a great personality and fabulous jewelry!!

Angela – Thank you so much for making this trip as wonderful as it was. You are amazing with your knowledge and friendly personality. I would recommend you to everyone who is thinking of coming to Italy.

Angela – Your wonderful personality and knowledge of history has made our tour so special and wonderful. Thank you so much for such a special experience. When I return to Italy you are the person I want to be with and I’ll tell all my friends.

Angela has been, for some years, a key part of our Italian programme in giving our clients a brilliant insight into life in Italy with her love and thorough knowledge of the Amalfi Coast Region.

A wealth of knowledge of the Amalfi culture both past and present, and a joy to be in your company.

Angela – you are knowledgeable and FUN! I look forward to working with you in the future.

We found Angela to be a delightful addition to our time in Italy. She is knowledgeable, interesting and fun! Plus the added bonus of no language barrier!

Angela, it’s so special to have a local person give us insight and share the love of Italy! Asking questions and getting knowledgable answers was a delight. Plus I loved your laugh and sense of humor. Thank you.

Your knowledge and experience regarding this region is unparalleled! It was wonderful to have an insider’s guide to the most amazing finds in Italy. Your professional attitude is an asset. I would welcome your guidance on any future journeys to the Amalfi Coast!

Thank you Angela. We enjoyed the two trips of the area that we took with you. I so appreciated your historical knowledge and the wonderful contacts you have and scheduled for us to visit. Ron and I both enjoyed the time we spent with you!

Angela, your knowledge is as wonderful as your grace.

To come without a guide would have been a less informative trip and our knowledge of this area has been increased extensively because of Angela’s knowledge that she has shared.

A very knowlegeable guide and easy to understand, with nice English voice.

A good knowledge of history and able to give us knowledge in good English.

Angela – enjoyed very much your narrations, stories, history lessons and enthusiasm. Thank you, grazie.

Thank you Angela for giving us a local’s view of the passage of history.

Angela, thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge of this amazing area.

Very knowledgeable about ‘things’ Italian, perfect English, a great sense of fun, approachable and helpful. Angela you are a guide with a ‘Wow’ factor. Thank you.

Angela, without your guide commentary, our holiday would not have been nearly as enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and love of the Amalfi Coast with us. Your spoken English and sense of fun is most appreciated. Grazie.

Angela, thank you for your warm, calm and informative way you told us about the Amalfi Coastal area. The love you have for your country is wonderful to experience and made the trip more enjoyable for us.

2006

After such a lovely trip in May, we returned in October and once again used Angela as a guide. As before, both the weather and Angela’s services were fantastic, and I’m sure our trip would have been nowhere near as much fun without her.

The weather was fantastic, but it was Angela’s attentive service as a guide which made the trip so memorable.  She brought each spectacular location to life with the kind of information you never get from a guide book.

From the buffalo at Vannulo to the ruins at Paestum to the hills of Ravello, Angela was the indispensable guide.

Angela was our guide part of the Everyday Gourmet travel tour in Amalfi. She is extremely knowledgeable of the area and a lot of fun to be around. I would highly recommend her for any travel group.

Angela is a marvelous ambassador for Ravello & enthusiastic.  She was the interpreter for Mamma Agata during our cooking classes.  She was invaluable.  Angela would be a wonderful resource and/or guide.

2005

Angela was our guide during a visit to the Amalfi Coast in May 2005.  She was knowledgeable, articulate, and interesting!  An excellent guide!

Dear Angela,
I would like to say a special thank you from myself and my friends who comprised the small group that you accompanied on a lovely excursion down the Amalfi Coast, one beautiful day in October.

You were a wonderful escort, and you provided us with a wealth of information about the area.  Of course, we could have rented a car and made the journey by ourselves … armed with map and guide book, but there is something so much nicer about being accompanied by an engaging escort, such as yourself.  You answered all of our questions, and were a delight to be with.

Seliano was a fun excursion.  It was interesting to see the farm and how it works … all of the animals were fascinating.  The lunch was fantastic!

Paestum was more than I expected.  The temples were huge, and so well-preserved.  The background information you gave us beforehand, perfectly set the stage for our wanderings through the ruins.  The museum was a high point of the day.  It was a brilliant stroke to plan a stop in Vietri on the return trip to Furore.

I think that we were all in a ceramic fog when we finally set out for the Inn.

Again, many thanks for contributing to the beautiful memories of a small group of Americans.  You did a fantastic job!  Warm regards,

I have just spent a week in Ravello and the experience was made all the more pleasurable for having Angela show us around as she has such knowledge of the area and is fluent in Italian and English.