Insiders

Amalfi Insider: Le Sirenuse's Carla Sersale

Carla Sersale, the stylish insider behind Emporio Sirenuse, shares her top picks for where to eat and shop and what to do on the Amalfi Coast and beyond.Related: Best of Capri Dining

How long have you lived on the Amalfi Coast?

I’ve been here since 1992. I arrived when I was expecting my first child, 25 years ago. My father-in-law, who was also an old friend of my family, told me ‘you are a woman, you will be in charge of my little shop.’ He had opened it two years prior, and I, freshly graduated, in law—with a criminology thesis, perfect for managing a store—had no idea about fashion or running a store. But I was given total freedom and I started experimenting right away.

What should every visitor be sure to do while on the Amalfi Coast? I always suggest doing as little as possible. This place is all about watching the view, being romantic. Swim, read, rest—and eat and drink. The food here is very important and extremely good.

Related: Indagare Insiders: The Women Behind Three of Capri’s Chicest Shops

What inspired you to start Emporio Sirenuse?

In 2012 I decided to join my niece, Viola Parrocchetti, in Mumbai and started my own label, Le Sirenuse Positano. She is still my designer. It was so successful that now in my little store in front of Le Sirenuse Hotel in Positano, I sell just the collection.

Any favorite restaurants in the area? Apart from La Sponda, our Michelin-starred restaurant, and our Champagne and Oyster Bar, go to Da Adolfo a Laurito for lunch, a shack on a beach with the best food on earth. Or have a pizza at Le Tre Sorelle at the main beach of Positano (Via del Brigantino, 27/29). Rent a boat and go to Nerano to eat the famous pasta with zucchini at Lo Scoglio restaurant. On the way, stop for a swim at Li Galli Island, where Odysseus was tempted by the sirens.

Related: Capri Top Shopping Guide

Favorite rituals?

When you return from a long day on a boat, and you are cooked by the sun and overheated, have a lemon granita in the Piazza dei Mulini in Positano—delicious and very refreshing. In the evening, go to Franco’s Café for an aperitif before dinner or a night cap before you go to sleep.

What to bring back? Get yourself a pair of sandals, made-to-measure, in one of the many small local workshops. They will be a memory of your trip and they are lovely.

Related: Just Back from Southern Italy: Where to Eat and What to Do on the Amalfi Coast, from Positano to Pompeii

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