HERCULES OF AMALFI: between myth and reality
The romantic and ancient fascination of Amalfi Coast during the years has lured towards this land thousands of people. These places are characterized by their extraordinary beauty, a beauty that during the centuries has transformed the Divine Coast in a land of loves and passions. As the legend goes, in fact, Amalfi was named after a nymph who Hercules
, the greek semi-god, fell in love with. According to the myth, the young and beautiful nymph Amalfi was completely in love with the strong Hercules, who had decided to marry her, but unfortunately she died prematurely and this event broke the hero's heart. So, Hercules decided to find a worthy place where he could bury his beloved one and he has individuated this place along a land with wild coasts and where sea, sky and nature meet with the purpose to give extraordinary emotions to who visits her for the first time. Along this coast he found a small village, that in his opinion was beautiful, and that he has decorated with "trees of mellow fruits, fragrant and shiny as the sun, which he had stolen in the Garden of Hesperides" during one of his fatigues, and that from that day on are known as: LEMONS OF AMALFI. So, in the place where Hercule had buries his beloved Amalfi has born a nice and sunny village that is named after the nymph and where, even today, the lemon trees seem to smile, in sign of gratitude, toward the immortal hero...
Maybe this legend doesn't have an historical value, but it makes possible to explain that cloud of mysticism that wrap this land and that gives her this halo of fascination. While remembering this legend, often, the inhabitants of Amalfi make a parallel between the greek hero and a man who lives in a near village named Atrani who shares with the greek semigod an overhuman strenght, and that's where the myth and reality meet. This man is named Raffaele Criscuolo, but everyone call him LELLO...a solid and strong man, that really resembles the greek hero both in the physique and in his values, given his generousity and his braveness. Lello is what the Americans would call a self - made man, a man that has begun to build his future since his childhood. Everything has begun when Lello was 11. At that age he already knew how strong he was and so to help his father Cosimo, at that moment ill, he carried over his shoulders a few flour sacks that weighed 100 kilograms each...the rest is history. Lello with his only strenght has been able to elaborate a few techniques that have made possible to transform this ability, this gift in a real business. But Lello is not only a very strong man, in fact, despite his solid and confident figure, in him it's hidden an artist's soul who has an high creative sense and he's also a very generous person. In the area, Lello is known by everyone and even the tourists soon learn to appreciate his qualities; he's respected both for what he does for his village and even for his personality, for his being a man of other times and for his values. In his birthplace, Atrani, Lello is loved by everybody; especially because he's active in the town life and because he's the one that through his artistic sculptures gives extraordinary feelings. During every traditional festivities Lello cares about every little detail and his presence is fondamental; for example during the Christmas holidays Lello is the one who organizes the breathtaking CALATA DELLA STELLA, a show that amazes the turists and that warms the hearts of the inhabitans of Atrani who smile towards Lello at the same way the lemon trees seem to smile towards Hercules...
B&B ERCOLE DI AMALFI:
The idea to start a business of Bed and Breakfast was in the head of Lello and his relatives for quite some time, that's because Lello's wife: Rosetta is the owner of the structures that host the B&B and of the lemon gardens that are all around the B&B. The sunny village of Vettica di Amalfi is an area that allows to live the Amalfi Coast in an unique way because, despite his closeness to the centre of Amalfi, it's located in a more quiet and secluded position that gives to the guests the opportunity to relax and be far from the confusion. Lello, with the help of his family, runs this business with the judgment of a good pater familias and he treats his guests as family members. During the restoring phases of the B&B he has decided to focus a lot on the local area; in fact every material used are made in Campania. This policy is called KM 0 and it means that everything used in the business comes from the area, Lello's love for Amalfi Coast and the fact that he's an autodidact sculptor are the reasons why he has decided to use materials made here. Inside the rooms of the B&B there are installed "cotto" floors that are still handmade and cooked in wood-ovens, these features make the rooms even more homey and warm. Even the furnishing are made in the area and a few doors finishes have been realized by the same Lello, who is a complete artist. Nowadays give trust to local producers and to the product quality it is a synonym of braveness because in this era, the standardization it is ruling the hospitality business, but Lello and his relatives are sure that in the actual touristic market it's not more sufficient focusing just on the beauty of the location, on the contrary it is necessary to offer to the tourists useful tools that allow them to live an exciting experience which involves every senses and that push them to come back here in the future. Those who decide to stay at the B & B “Ercole di Amalfi” have the chance to enjoy a natural experience as it is surrounded by lemon and the customers will be in contact with nature. Here they can relax and enjoy the extraordinary comfort. The B&B is located in a strategic position that allows it to act as a hub for all the guest's needs, both for those who love the sea, the mountains and hiking, given the proximity to the sea, to the mountain complex of Monti Lattari and the ancient walking paths, also the property is easily accessible both for those who own a car and for those who use public transportation.
