The Enchanted Isles of Le Sirenuse
Welcome to the home of the mythological sirens, the women whose alluring song would tempt sailors from the safety of their ships.
According to writers in the Middle Ages, such was the beauty of these mermaid-like creatures, that your eyes would glaze over, and you would be enchanted by the melody that hung lightly on the warm breeze… We don’t mean to sound superstitious here, but we notice that same effect still happening to this day. To see the Amalfi Coast Islands for the first time is to be carried away to an older world, a world of where the fantastical might just unfold before your very eyes. To put it simply, there is still a magic lingering in the air. And if you book with us, you too can get carried away without risking your life like the sailors of old.
The Amalfi Coast islands are a magical place
If you needed any proof that the islands exist in some magical realm, look no further than Gallo Lungo. When viewed from above, it looks as though a dolphin has been turned to stone and laid to rest in the cool lapping waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. For over a thousand years, different groups have laid claim to this mysterious island, and it has been everything from a monastery, to a prison, and more recently a dance studio for Soviet defectors during the Cold War. Today, however, the Amalfi Coast islands are the private residence and boutique hotel. To moor and explore Gallo Lungo on foot requires a booking at the hotel, where you are exclusively waited on by a staff of seven. Fortunately, anyone is free to frolic in the waters, which run from a brilliant turquoise in the shallow rock shelf, before gradually fading to a rich azure as the water deepens.
A stones throw away lies the island of La Casteluccia. The island shoots up from the ocean and towers almost loftily in the air. It is mostly uninhabited, but for a small stone hut that nestles into the crook of the rock face. There is a simple untamed beauty to the island, and a day spent anchored in the shallows is a day well spent. The many crags and inlets in the island give you the feeling that if you just peaked around past the bend, you might see the smallest splash of a Siren’s tail as she vanishes into the calm waters. Magic aside, these islands are breathtaking in and of themselves.
In short, a tour of Le Sirenuse offers something which is hard to come by on the Amalfi Coast; Tranquility. Stillness. The feeling that you are tapping into something almost mythological. The towns on the mainland are beautiful, but a brief respite from the hustle and bustle can be as refreshing as the freshly squeezed Lemonade from the streets of Positano. It gives you that little burst to carry on. It also gives you the opportunity to see the beautiful Amalfi coast from a perspective few will ever see; The sudden upswing of jagged rocks, almost monolithic. The roads which traverse the cliff, weaving in and out of tunnels. The towns themselves, terraced and layered on the slope, checkered with earthy tones and spires. The islands themselves are stunning, the view of the coastline, equally so.
When you hear the siren song of the Amalfi Coast islands, it is not a call to be ignored. Instead, you should give in to the allure, the magic of these little grottos. Come and see the stunning Amalfi Coast at its best.
Come and be enchanted.
Ciao
