The Ferriere and mulini valley, a lost paradiseA hidden jewel into the Amalfi coast, the Ironworks valley is a very important historical site, discover why Amalfi was of one of the most important city in Italy. A beautiful walk into a natural reserve above Amalfi, among waterfalls, crystal clear torrents, wildlife, ancient mills, and ironworks.Everybody knows the beautiful town of Amalfi, but not everybody knows the astonishing natural reserve just above it. The Amalfi coast is well known for its breathtaking landscapes and colourful town leaning on the cliffs of the Mediterranean sea, but it’s much more than that…Table of Content01 – Introduction02 – Arrange your trip03 – Ironworks routes04 – Start from Pontone05 – Start from Agerola06 – Natural Reserve07 – My suggestion08 – What to bring?09 – The starting point10 – Ferry companies11 – Photography12 – My Conclusion13 – F.A.Q.14 – Recent postsQuick linksIronwork Valley Official websiteAmalfi – Ironworks Valley trailAmalfi Paper museumSITA Bus – public transportFerry Companies Contact InfoSorrento to Amalfi bus time tableNational rail (Ferrovie dello Stato)Overground (Circumvesuviana)IntroductionThe Ferriere and Mulini valley is a natural reserve situated between the little town of Scala and, further down, Amalfi. The natural reserve has always been an incredible resource for the locals, it started by providing fresh water to irrigate the crop fields, then in the middle age supplying energy to power the mills and ironworks and now it represents a natural jewel which attracts numerous tourists every year.Due to its geographic location and rocky confirmation, the valley has its own microclimate. The rocky conformation protects the valley from the northern winds and exposes it to the southern warm winds from the sea, which allowed the diversification of the vegetation and to many plants, to survive for millions of years. This is also one of the reasons why this valley is very famous and attracted the interest of many scientists.The upper part of the valley falls within the territory of Scala, due to the presence of ironworks, which is called Ferriere Valley (ironworks valley). The lower part near Amalfi, due to the presence of ancient paper mills also run by water, is called the Valley of Mills. Old ironworks ruins Ironworks valley Ironworks valley river silk effect Old ironworks ruins alley Ironworks valley river with bridge Ironworks valley, waterfall Ironworks valley Ironworks valley❮ ❯ Photography wise this natural reserve represents a huge opportunity to have fun in different photography disciplines and take a beautiful pictures at the same time. It offers astonishing landscape photos opportunities, and due to the abundant presence of torrents and waterfalls, an ND filter and tripod are a must. The valley is also the natural habitat of the Italian frog, which can be found only in the Italian territory. This is a great opportunity to take home a perfect macro image, the frogs are used to humans so they don’t get scared easily and it’s very easy to find them.118 Ambulance – Forestry Corps and fire emergency 1515 – Fire brigade 115 Common Italian frog.Arrange your tripThe Ferriere Valley (click to open official website) the natural reserve can be accessed from 3 main starting points:1 – Easy: Start from Amalfi, the low trail, so-called because it goes from sea level up to the hill, it lasts around 3 hours and terminates at the Natural Oriented Reserve. It is considered to be easy level, is suitable for children; 2 – Moderate: Start from Pontone/Scala, the high trail, so-called because it goes from the hill down to Amalfi. It is 5km long and can be completed in 4 hours, not suitable for “difficult children”;3 – Expert: Start from Agerola/San Lazzano until Amalfi. This is the full trail and runs along Giustino Fortunato’s path, it has a total length of 10 km and can be completed in 6/7 hours. It starts with a 1.5km road/stairs going up but afterward it goes all the way down to Amalfi. This is considered the expert trail due to its length, not suitable for children, elderly people, and unfit adults;The Ferriere and Mulini valley routesStarting from Amalfi is the best option, you can visit the town and the natural reserve on the same day. The starting point begins 20 minutes away from the city Cathedral, standing in front of it you have to walk towards your left going up the street, (via Lorenzo D’Amalfi then continue on via Pietro Capuano and end at via Delle Cartiere). After 15 minutes walk through the city center (very pleasing), you will find some stairs on your right-hand side that lead to the natural reserve. It is very easy and you can always ask the locals for directions. This approach involves a 30 minutes walk through various sets of stairs before you enter the park, but after that is very easy and relaxing, leaving behind the heat of the town center.Trail number 325: Amalfi to Oriented Natural Reserve, Valle Delle Ferriere. Click on the image above to open the CAI (Alpine Italian Centre) official webpage.This trail is called “The low trail” (Sentiero basso), If you choose this option, after the stairs you will slowly enter into the natural reserve, and you will face easy, relaxing hiking among torrents and waterfalls following the route of the Canneto torrent. You can take beautiful pictures while your family or friends can just chill out and have a bath. It’s very safe to go around the mills to reach the torrent but you can also go inside them, just be careful because is slippery. First, you will pass by the mills and later on the ironworks. Along the route you will encounter many torrents, waterfalls, little bridges, and many other photogenic subjects, to find the right spot for a picture you may have to leave the main trail but no worries, it’s safe and very easy, most important you can’t get lost, so don’t be afraid to explore the surrounding area. The trail ends at the Riserva Naturale Orientata (Oriented Natural Reserve), which is optional but I strongly advise you to visit it.Cathedral of Amalfi.The path from Pontone (Scala, near Salerno)At the entrance of the natural reserve, there is an info point; where you can book a visit to the Natural Oriented Reserve or, buy the ticket; later at the entrance of the reserved area. Around the info point, there is a parking area, you can buy a whole day ticket for around 15€ at the info point itself or at the machines along the road. The first half-hour of the journey is through a lemon field and you can admire a beautiful view of Amalfi from the top.Trail number: 301 Pontone to Oriented Natural Reserve, Valle Delle Ferriere. Click on the image above to open the CAI (Alpine Italian Centre) official webpage.After the first half-hour walks the landscape changes completely, you find yourself surrounded by vegetation and consequently the temperature drops, if you do it in the summertime from now on the hiking becomes much more pleasing as you leave the heat behind you, if you do it in springtime you may start to wear something more… At this point, you will find a fork where on the left you can reach the Mills valley (so towards Amalfi) while the right path leads you to the Natural Oriented Reserve. I would advise you to go for the Natural Oriented Reserve first and afterward go for the rest of the trail. From the fork to the reserve is a 10 minutes walk but it is very intense, not suitable for children. Once you leave the reserve, you start the journey down the path to the Museum of Paper, where you can admire a beautiful collection of 3000 books about the famous and ancient paper of Amalfi, and the ruins of a paper factory from the 13th century. When you arrive at Amalfi you can chill out around the town and when it’s time to go back, there is a bus, public transport, that will take you back to Pontone, then after a short walk you can reach the parking and pick up your car.Link for SITA Bus Amalfi – Pontone time table (Place Amalfi into the top field and Pontone into the bottom one and download the timetable (.pdf), or make a new search).When you open the time table look for “Autolinea: Scala – Ravello – Amalfi”. The bus ticket can’t be bought on board, but must be bought prior to your journey, you can buy it at the “Tabaccheria” (newsagent).The trail from AgerolaThis trail, the most difficult among the three, starts from San Lazzaro a neighbourhood of Agerola, a town on a mountain between the coast of Naples and Salerno. This trail is quite long so it’s difficult to describe you step by step the route you have to take, so instead, I will go for the main landmarks and give you a link to the Alpine Italian Center official webpage where you can download or print the maps and moreover you can download the GPS file for the trails. The first step is to reach mount Murillo, starting from “Piazzetta Santa Lucia” (Saint Lucia square) via the “salita Radicosa” through trail 369.Once you go around the top of mount Murillo, take the only trail that goes down the Nespola valley (on your right-hand side). Pay attention to the red-painted signal along the trail and go on the other side of the valley. After passing a chestnut wood, the path opens onto a clearing, characterized by the strong presence of bracken and cut copses. Continue on the narrow mule-track without taking any detours, until you enter the woods again. After a few meters take a narrow rocky path that leads 500m down the road until the fork, take the left to the source “Acquolella“. From here keep walking down the path to an open space where you can admire the Ironworks valley from the top.From the left side go down through the chestnut trees and keep the left following the path that from Pogerola (a little town) goes until the water source “Fico ‘a noce“. Here you will find a steel board stating the name of the next trail: Giustino Fortunato’s trail.After a few meters, you will find the Ceraso river, the main one of the valley. Follow the only path that leads to the heart of the Ironworks valley. Once the descent is finished you will arrive at a flat area, where you can see the Ceraso river, continue on the path that, skirting the ancient aqueduct, leads to Amalfi, passing the remains of paper mills, an ironworks, and an old refurbished hydroelectric plant, with an adjoining museum. Turning left, however, you reach the area of Oriented Natural Reserve.Sentiero Giustino Fortunato.The Oriented Natural ReserveUnfortunately, this part of the valley is not free, but the ticket is just 5 Euro pp, and it helps to maintain and preserve the area. Staff will allow the entrance every 30 minutes in a group of 20 people and will guide you for a 30 minutes tour. Booking is not mandatory unless you are in a group of 20+ people, then is mandatory to book. Please arrive 20 minutes earlier as the delay will deny you the entrance, moreover, your ticket won’t be valid for the next tour so you will have to buy a new one, if available. Within this part of the reserve, you can find a fern dating back to the pre-ice age of the Woodwardia Radicans.My suggestionIt all comes to you, are you in a good shape? do you have an adventurous spirit? how long do you have? Are you using public transport or do you have your own car?As a local I like to explore different paths, I am in a good shape and I don’t have time limitations. In general, I would recommend you to start from Amalfi in the early morning, as the Natural Reserve closes around 13:15 (while the Ironworks valley never closes), so in order to enjoy the trail and have enough time to spend in a protected area, I think this is the best option. On your way back you will do the reverse route ending in Amalfi. This way you can visit the park in the morning and in the late afternoon Amalfi. This is also the best option if you are using public transport as the last journey is around 19:30 (bus and 20:30 the ferry). If you, can try to avoid the last bus because everybody wants to make the most of this experience and tend to wait for the last one available, result: the bus is overcrowded and you may not find a spot, then you have to call a taxi… (good luck). This option is also the best one if you have children or are not in a good shape, it’s easy but at the same time, you can see the best spots in the valley without missing anything, and have enough energy to visit Amalfi at the end of the trail.What to bring: EquipmentThis hiking experience involves 3 different approaches, easy, medium, and expert, so what taking with you really depends on which trail you chose. In general, I would recommend you:Bottle of water;Food;Hiking shoes;Sun cream;Hat;Camera for unforgettable memories;Binoculars, if you are happy to take pictures just with your phone; Backpack around 20/30 litres to hold all your stuff;Bathing suit and towel (for the summer time)An extra jacket or hoodie (for the spring time);Usually, tourists hike along the Ironworks valley between April and October when the temperature outside of the natural reserve is on average around 20 degrees (with the pick of 37/40 around July and August), and 4 or 5 degrees cooler into the valley, so clothes is a really important choice. Wear trekking shoes and comfortable light clothes, possibly cotton one and not synthetic materials, wear something that let your body breathe and keep you cool. A t-shirt and shorts will be perfect. Take flip-flops as well as when is really hot it's great to walk into the torrent instead of the path, the torrents are not deep and strong and you can easily walk in them. Although you may not be a photographer I definitely recommend you to take a camera with you.How to reach the starting pointFrom Naples to AmalfiBy car take the A3 from Naples Piazza Garibaldi and Via Galileo Ferraris to Angri. Exit the A3 at Angri and take the Chiunzi pass to Ravello until Amalfi. 1hour 14 minutes – 61km. By ferry from Molo Beverello (Beverello dock), Naples, the journey is covered by 2 companies: Alilauro 1hour 15 minutes. Contact: +39 081 4972222 – www.alilauro.it 12 journeys per week. The second company is NLG 1hour 50 minutes 3 journeys per week contact: +39 081 5520763 – www.navlib.it The dock, where the ferry journey ends in Amalfi, is 5 minutes away from the Cathedral.By bus don’t do it… It’s a very long journey with many possible routes and you could end up on the bus for 3 hours. Although is cheaper than the ferry there is no way I would choose this option.By train you have 2 options:National rail (Ferrovie dello Stato) you have to take the train Napoli Piazza Garibaldi to Salerno, is 45 minutes journey for €18.50 (one way), then you have to walk to the port to take the ferry to Amalfi, for a total journey time of 2 hours 25 minutes from Naples;Overground (Circumvesuviana), you have to take the train to Sorrento (1 hour 20 minutes) then take the Bus (in front of the train station) to Amalfi or take the ferry (30 minutes walk) to Amalfi. The bus journey can be amazing due to the beautiful views if you are extremely lucky, so no traffic and you get the bus straightaway or a nightmare if you have to wait for the bus to depart, big queue to board it and huge traffic, which will make the journey never-ending. If you go on the ferry bear in mind you have to walk quite a lot but there is a bus from the train station to the port (you can buy the ticket from the newsagent (edicola) just outside the train station down the stairs on your left;From Naples to PontoneBy car take the A3 from Naples Piazza Garibaldi and Via Galileo Ferraris to Angri. Exit the A3 at Angri and take the Chiunzi pass to Ravello until Pontone. 1hour 08 minutes – 58km. By ferry is the same journey described above to Amalfi, the only difference is that from Amalfi you have to take the bus to Pontone; Link for SITA Bus Amalfi – Pontone timetable.By train Overground (Circumvesuviana), you have to take the train to Sorrento (1 hour 20 minutes) then take the Bus (in front of the train station) to Amalfi and exit at Pontone or take the ferry (30 minutes walk) to Amalfi and again take the bus to Pontone. From Naples to AgerolaBy car follow P.za Giuseppe Garibaldi and Corso Arnaldo Lucci to Via Galileo Ferraris 2 min (600 m), then follow A3 and SS145 to Via Castellammare/SS366 in Castellammare di Stabia. Take the exit towards Gragnano/Agerola/Amalfi from SS145. 1 hour 49km.By train Overground (Circumvesuviana), you have to take the train to Sorrento (1 hour) and exit at Castellammare via Nocera. Afterward, you have to take the Bus (in front of the hospital) to Agerola (15 minutes walk from the train station to the bus stop). By ferry from molo Beverello (Beverello dock), Naples, to Castellammare di Stabia, then you have to take the bus from Agerola (bus stop 30 minutes away walking).From Sorrento to AmalfiBy bus take it from the stop in front of the train station, you can buy the ticket from the newsagent (edicola) just outside the train station down the stairs on your left, the journey time should be around 1hour but it depends on the traffic. Sorrento to Amalfi bus time table.By ferry is 1 hour for 18€ via Alilauro company.By car don’t follow google map, you should go to Amalfi through Sant’Agata dei due Golfi – Colli di Fontanelle – Positano – Amalfi. This is the shortest route.From Sorrento to PontoneBy bus take it from the stop in front of the train station, you can buy the ticket from the newsagent (edicola) just outside the train station down the stairs on your left, the journey time should be around 1hour but it depends on the traffic. Sorrento to Amalfi bus time table. From Amalfi take the SITA bus to Pontone.By ferry is 1 hour for 18€ via Alilauro company. From Amalfi take the SITA bus to Pontone.By car don’t follow Google Maps, you should go to Amalfi through Sant’Agata dei due Golfi – Colli di Fontanelle – Positano – Amalfi then stop at Pontone just a few km before Amalfi. This is the shortest route.From Amalfi to AgerolaBy car drive towards San Lazzaro - Pianillo – AgerolaBy bus take the SITA bus to Agerola, the journey time is around 55 minutes, you can buy the tickets from any Tabaccheria (tobacco shop), edicola (newsagent). Check the timetable on the bus company website.Ferry companies contact infoTravelmar +39 089 872950 – www.travelmar.itAlilauro +39 081 4972222 – www.alilauro.itAlicost +39 089 871483 – www.alicost.itNLG +39 081 5520763 – www.nlg.itPositanoJet +39 089 875032 – www.lucibello.itCaremar +39 081 18966690 – www.caremar.itSNAV +39 081 4285555 – www.snav.itMedmar +39 081 3334411 – www.medmargroup.itCapitan Morgan +39 081 4972215 – www.capitanmorgan.itPhotographyPhotography wise you will need a wide-angle lens, particularly fast as most of the time you will be into the shade, other areas are very sunny and due to the abundance of torrents and waterfalls, an ND filter and tripod (and shutter release, optional) are a really good idea. A flash on the other hand is essential if you are planning to take portraits. A telephoto lens will give you the flexibility to focus on some landscape zoom and wildlife, so bring it with you but remember not to overload your backpack because you gonna need a bottle of water and something to eat. The last time I was there I had a Tamron 35-150 f2.8-4 most of the time, and personally, if I had to choose a second lens I would take a macro one, there are plenty of flowers, and if you are lucky enough you can spot the Italian frog or a salamander.ConclusionThe Amalfi coast is well known around the world for its beautiful landscapes and picturesque town, but the Ironworks valley and the Oriented Natural Reserve are equally beautiful, just less known. You can be a pro hiker or, like me, just a photographer in a good shape, but visiting the valley is absolutely a must, is relaxing, and takes you away from the summer heat of the city. From a photographer's point of view, the Ironworks valley is a countless source of opportunity, landscape, macro, portraits, you can use ND filter to create beautiful and original pictures of waterfalls and torrents. I can guarantee you gonna have so much fun.Thank you very much for reading my post, I hope you found it interesting and it answered all your questions about Ironworks valley, I had to admit that on the Internet it is not really easy to find everything you need to know, so I decided to add a bit of personal experience and write this article… If you have any further questions or just need advice, please don’t hesitate to contact me, I will be very happy to help you.Frequently Asked QuestionsIs the park open all year round?Yes, the natural park is alwasy opened, but during the raining season (October/November), I suggest you not to do it as it can be dangerous due to the slippery ground. Moreover bear in mind that the valley has its own micro climate, meaning it is always colder and more humid compared to the area around.Is it suitable for children?Yes, all kind of trails are suitable for children as long as supervised, after all you are still into a natural park.Is there a parking area nearby the starting point?It depends where you start the trail. From Pontone there is a parking right next to the visitor centre and along the street. The price is 15€ for the all day or 2€/hour. From Amalfi is very difficult to find parking and is very expensive. For this reason maybe you should consider using public transport to reach the starting point.Is it necessary to hire a guide? Can I visit for free?No, all the trails are very easy to follow and it is very difficult to get lost. The only reason to hire a guide, is to have someone that explains you the history, fauna and flora of the area.Is there any guided tour?Yes, but it is not really necessary. There are many sign along the route and it is very difficult to get lost, moreover at the visitor centre in Pontone you can have a map for free. Anyway, if you feel more confident hiring a guide on the internet you can find many guided tours.Do I need any particular equipment or gear?Comfortable shoes, water, some food and if you go during the summer time bring bathing suite and beach towel, as there are many spots where you can relax and refresh into crystal clear and fresh water.Are pets allowed?Yes, pets are allowed into the park, but not into the Natural Oriented Reserve.Are there any resting areas along the route?There are some areas where you can relax and stop for your meal, although there are no tables or chairs, as the park is kept wild.What is the best time to visit?Its own micro climate makes it perfect to visit from March to October. If you are in the Amalfi coast during the summer time, the Ferriere Valley is the perfect refuge from the summer heat.How long does it take?It depends from the starting point, from Amalfi is around 4 hours and from Pontone is around 6 hours go and back, including the visit to the paper museum.Is the Ironworks valley free to enter?The natural park is free to visit, but the Natural Oriented Reserve requires a ticket that you can buy at the visitor centre or at the park entrance, and it costs 5€Can you swim into the water?Yes, but bear in mind the water temperature is chilli even during the summer time, and the water depth is just around 1m in the deepest point.Recent posts Path of the GodsTravel Sometimes we travel to the other side of the world to see something that it’s right under our nose, the Path of the Gods is something I discovered a few years ago…May 02,2020 Read more Costa Rica land of dreamsTravelA National Geographic documentary experience. 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Southwest U.S.A. National Parks20 days across all the best southwest USA parks on the road“Have you ever thought of driving around the USA? The American dream! An amazing, adventurous trip by car, where you stop anytime, anywhere. What about if you like photography and like me, plan your trip based on the most scenic spots to take beautiful pictures?An amazing photography journey through all the best national parks in the southwest of U.S.A.Table of Content01 – Introduction02 – Few advices…03 – Day 1: San Francisco04 – Day 2: Mission District05 – Day 4: Yosemite Park06 – Yosemite Key Advices07 – Day 7: Las Vegas08 – Day 10: Antelope Canyon09 – Lake Powell10 – Day 11: Monument valley11 – Day 12: Grand Canyon12 – Day 14: Los Angeles13 – Must see in LA14 – Conclusion15 – F.A.Q.16 – Recent postsQuick LinksAmerican Southwest National ParksTourist VISA applicationAlcatratz IslandYosemite National ParkAntelope Canyon tourLake PowellHorseshoe bend canyonGriffith ObservatoryHollywood signWarner Bros StudiosStaple CenterIntroductionHello everyone and thank you so much for reading my blog, hope you find it interesting and helpful.My trip was based on 20 days holiday (or vacation as Americans say), moving roughly every 3 days (depends on the location), across all the best cities and National Parks in the southwest USA. Of course, it was a bit stressful but definitely, it was worth it. I gonna describe my experience so you can take advice to plan your American trip, moreover, this blog is based on photography so all my advice will ease your life as a photographer there, for example, what to take with you in the Antelope Canyon, how to take a beautiful picture of the Golden Gate bridge e so on.You can see a complete and very accurate map of the American southwest national parks clicking on the link below: South west American parks mapBefore we start a few advices…We tried to book and rent everything in advance in order to avoid the queue and get the spot, some places are very busy and you have to book well in advance;When you pick up the car you rented, take some pictures inside and outside so when you return it no one can claim any damage you didn’t cause, make sure to understand what is the deal with the petrol when you return the car, do you have to return full tank? Do they do it for you? What does your car insurance cover? How many people can drive a car?We didn’t rent sat navigator or use our sim card to call, we simply bought an American sim card with 50 Gb data and used google map to move around all the time, it worked very well and it was very accurate, also we used “Whatsup” to text and call home.For European tourists it is easy and quick to get a touristic VISA, is cheap and everything is done online in one day, just google ESTA USA touristic VISA and you can apply online (link ->) VISA application websiteIt is not expensive (around 20 American dollars per person), and remember to print the certificate they send you by mail, you will need it before you board the plane at your local airport. It is not expensive (around 20 American dollars per person), and remember to print the certificate they send you by mail, you will need it before you board the plane at your local airport.Day 1: San FranciscoSan Francisco is a beautiful city in California and even if you are not into big cities it is worth visiting, moreover if you, like me, love photography you can take beautiful pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, Lombard street, etc…Public transports are ok but for the whole trip to the USA I highly recommend you rent a car online when you plan your holiday and pick it up at the airport, it gives you the freedom to go anywhere, anytime and the petrol (or gas) is very cheap. If you want to take a breathtaking photo you cannot rely on public transport… When you are going to plan your holiday I recommend you to go to the Rock, the Alcatraz island. It is now a national park and you can take beautiful pictures inside and outside the prison. You are going to take the ferry from pier 33, the price is around $45 pp, anyway, you can find all the info at the official website Alcatraz tickets. Try to book a ticket for the first trip, around 9 am, so you can avoid the mid hours where the light is too strong and shadows too hard and the prison is not overcrowded. You are going to need a wide-angle lens (better if very fast for the indoor pictures) and a telephoto, a plus would be a tripod and ND filter for the outdoor pictures if you get a part cloudy day. Alcatraz is busy all the time so it is going to be difficult to use the tripod inside the area of the cells. It is a really nice place to visit with a lot of history, so peaceful and away from the noise and chaos of city life.Alcatraz island, view from the ferryBack on the mainland, you can have lunch at Pier 39 located in Fisherman’s wharf. There are many shops and restaurants for all tastes… The area itself is vibrant, colorful, full of life, and offers many opportunities for nice pictures.After lunch you can take some pictures of the sea lions peacefully resting at the end of the pier, posing for tourists with their big cameras (you are going to need a telephoto lens), and for the pier itself a wide-angle lens. Afterward, you can go to Lombard street, to be honest, it was quite difficult to take a good picture here due to the crowd and traffic, also it was very sunny so I wasn’t very happy with my pictures, but the place is worth seeing. You can finish your day at the Golden Gate Bridge to take pictures of the sunset with the bridge in the background. At the Golden Gate bridge, you can stop at the viewpoint or go down the bay to take pictures from the classic point of view.Day 2: Mission DistrictThe day after I advise you to go to the mission district, the art district of San Francisco, where you can take some beautiful photos of graffiti. When taking graffiti pictures you have to shoot multiple pictures to include the whole length of it, so think at post-production, try to include part of the street and the sky because you are going to lose something when you merge all the photos in Photoshop (or any other editing software). Try to look for an interesting angle, don’t always take pictures of the whole graffiti, a portion of it can also be very interesting. Once in the mission district stop at tapas restaurant for lunch, you are not going to regret it, they serve the best tapas in the world.Carlos Santana graffiti mission districtSan Francisco is a big city so it’s your call how long you gonna stay, anyway, I think 3-4 days would be enough. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that much time but I recommend you to see Golden Gate Park, Oakland and Dolores Park.If you have some spare days or if you planned to stay longer and most important if you love wine, consider a tour to the famous wine yard outside San Francisco, and remember don’t drink too much if you are going to drive 🙂San Francisco – Yosemite Park 3h 11 min (167,3 mi) via I-580 E and CA-120 EDay 4: Yosemite National ParkYosemite national park is the main reason I visited the USA, it is absolutely beautiful, every spot is a great picture, you can shoot landscape, wildlife, astrophotography, play with ND filters while shooting waterfalls and rivers. Bear in mind is a national park, you have to walk a lot, so choose carefully which gear you want to carry with you. I would spend 2 days in the valley where you can walk to the mirror lake, waterfalls and take some iconic pictures of the El Captain and Half Dome. The nighttime is great for astrophotography, you are going to need a remote controller, tripod and a wide, fast lens (I used a Sigma 24mm 1.8 Art), a torch. No light pollution also means pitch black, a torch is going to help you find and set up equipment, moreover to come back home and to look around and find something to do…Yosemite valley glacier point landscapeOutside the Valley, you can drive to Glacier point to watch a spectacular sunset, unless you want to hike for 12 hours… Bear in mind during the busy season (June, July, August) some streets are closed but there is a replacement bus service (free), just be prepared, it is going to be very busy and you are not going to be the only photographer… Yosemite valley landscape Yosemite valley river silk effect with bridge Yosemite valley glaciar point sunset❮ ❯ Yosemite National Park Key AdvicesBook the hotel inside park or as close possible at least 6 months in advance.This is a crucial point which is going to heavily affect your experience, you want to stay as close as possible to the park in order to:Flexibility. Wake up early and catch sunrise;Don’t drive in and out the park, it takes time and after the whole day going around you are going to be very tired and don’t want to drive a lot to reach your hotel, it’s a waste of time and dangerous (I almost fell asleep while driving) . Unfortunately I made this mistake and if I could I would come back in time, spend $300 more and stay in a hotel inside the park;Time wasting. Have a designated parking spot (during peak time parking gets full very early and very quickly) you don’t want to waste time going around looking for it;Save energy. Have a rest during the peak time, too many people around, too hot and the light is not the best for photography. If you are not really into photography, use these hours of the day to rest along the river, pic nic with your family or in general relax;Night photography – Astrophotography, stay up for the night a take some astonishing pictures of El Captain and Half Dome with a spectacular sky full of stars;Any hotel inside or nearby the park is significantly more expensive but the alternative is to drive every day 2/3 hours to go to the park and then back home… not the best.Watch this video you will understand how beautiful is Yosemite National parkYosemite National Park official video, Youtube video.Yosemite Park to Bishop 1h 30 min (75.8 miles) via US 395SWe left the park quite late after the sunset so we chose to stay in a nice town just outside the park, Bishop. After walking the whole day we thought it was a good idea to drive as little as possible. The city is quiet and nice. We had dinner then drinks and a pool game (my girlfriend destroyed me) in a nice bar close to the motel where we found really nice and friendly people. Chat and laugh the whole evening before heading back to the motel.Bishop to Las Vegas 4 h 21 min (266 miles) via US-95 SThe journey between Bishop and Las Vegas is mainly in the desert, there are some interesting spots to stop for a picture, plus you will have plenty of time being almost alone. Have a look at the street sign, I noticed most of them have bullets holes…Monument Valley desert streetDay 7: Las VegasLas Vegas is an amusement park for adults… Photography wise during the night offers great opportunities for city skyline photography, long exposure, and lights trails, obviously, you will need a tripod and a shutter release (or delay the shoot by 2 sec). Find some high spots where you can take amazing photos, for example, the Stratosphere hotel is a good option, anyway, even those bridges to cross the street are good spots to catch the cars' light trails and create beautiful pictures. Las Vegas to Page 5h (275 miles) via I-15 N and US-89 SThis is the only motel I will mention, just because is in a great, convenient location and cheap: Motel 6 Page. Address: 637 South Lake Powell Boulevard, Page, AZ 86040, USAPhone: +1 928 645 5888Laundry facilities are available on site. Free parking is provided. WiFi. No breakfastDay 10: Page, The Antelope CanyonPage is a city in Coconino County, Arizona United States, near the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. Page was founded in 1957 as a housing community for workers and their families during the construction of the nearby Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River.Antelope canyon rainbow effectThe Antelope Canyon is part of the Navajo’s natural reserve and considered by the native Americans a sacred and holy place. If you want to visit it you must book it through one of the online Navajo websites. There are many options but my experience was great and Nick, our guide, has been very helpful and kind, so I feel to recommend his services. Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tour.Navajo canyon tour Phone:(928)380-1874 Email: aacptreserve@gmail.comAs always book your tour in advance as the Antelope Canyon gets really busy during the high season. Each website offers different packages but essentially you can choose between a normal tour and a photography tour. The difference is that on the normal tour you can’t use the tripod and you are surrounded by people (depends on the period, winter is less crowded), so it is very difficult to get a clear shot.In the photography tour you can bring a tripod, which is crucial in order to expose correctly the pictures without pushing too much on the ISO, (is quite dark but it is beautiful to play with shadows, light rays, and colors) and also your guide will hold all the other people in different sections of the canyon, so in each one, you will have roughly 3-4 minutes to shot almost alone, your guide will give you tips for composition and settings. Antelope Canyon hourglass effectThere are some rules you have to respect, remember is a sacred place, so respect them if you don’t want to be kicked out:no backpack (any tour), so choose your gear prior start the tour. My advice is to pick a fast wide angle lens (min f2.8). Don’t take any other lens with you as the canyon is very dusty (look after your camera sensor…), and you have limited amount of time, so don’t wast it changing lens. Take a cleaning lens kit (just brush and air blower) as your front lens will get dusty;no water, spill water in the canyon is offensive and can cause the canyon to shut;no toilet, so do your stuff before you enter, don’t even think to do it there…no children;you have to stay with your guide all the time, you can’t go around on your own;It is a beautiful experience and a dreamy place for photographers, I highly recommend you to go for it and book the photography tour. It’s such a fascinating place where your creativity can produce amazing pictures, you can play with light rays, rocks shapes, sand, I advise you to look for some pictures online and have an idea of what to do, unfortunately, you have a limited amount of time. The Lake PowellLake Powell cruise in the afternoonLake Powell is located at the border between Utah and Arizona, is a cool place to visit for a few hours cruise. When you book the cruise you can choose between a short trip and a longer trip which includes an excursion to the Rainbow Bridge national monument. On the boat, you will need a telephoto lens with a polariser filter, when you go for the excursion a wide-angle lens would be better. Here is the link to the official web page for the Lake Powell cruise: Lake Powel official websiteLake Powel cruiseIf you have some spare time you can spend the day there and wait for the sunset, it is really easy to reach and has a small restaurant in case you get hungry.Powell Dam is on the Colorado River in northern Arizona. It is worth a visit, with nice views and a really interesting tour inside the dam, I wouldn’t spend too long in there but it is a really nice place to visit once you are around.Powel damThe Horseshoe bend is one of the most scenic views in the USA. Still, in Page the Horseshoe bend is very close to the hotel I stayed and in general, it’s a few minutes away from the town. It is accessible via hiking from a park area just off the main street. If you can, try to go for the sunset, is a breath-taking view. In this place, I would recommend you to bring a tripod, a wide-angle lens, and a telephoto lens. You can go around and take pictures from different angles and different subjects but for the sunset, I would definitely suggest you use HDR, take multiple shots in order to capture all details, the light conditions are very difficult and HDR is the only way to get a correctly exposed picture.Horseshoebend websiteBefore you leave Page bear in mind that some of the tours for the Grand Canyon start from here, so plan your journey carefully.Day 11 Page to Monument Valley 2 hours via AZ-98 E and US-160 E (122 miles)Day 11: Monument valleyMonument Valley (valley of the rocks) is located on the border between Arizona and Utah within the Navajo reserve. It’s been a location for many American western movies, so you will probably recognize some spots. Once you reach the visitor centre you have to sign a register, so in case you get lost they come to rescue you… Bear in mind in the summertime it gets really hot, so don’t forget a bottle of water. From the visitor centre you can take an astonishing picture of the whole valley and I suggest you to stay after the sunset to take some pictures during the nighttime, the sky full of stars is a show!!! In this case, a tripod and a fast wide lens with remote control are a must.During the day you can drive around the valley but you need a 4×4 car because the ground is quite irregular and a normal car will get stuck or worst damaged. Being able to drive through the valley allows you to carry more gear, so take everything with you because you will have the opportunity to take amazing pictures.Monument Valley sunsetDay 12: Grand CanyonKayenta to Grand Canyon 2 hours 50 min via AZ-64 E/Desert View Dr and US-160 EFor the Grand Canyon same recommendations as for the Monument Valley, beautiful experience, but this time going through the canyon is not easy as in Monument valley, you gonna watch it from the rim and walk alongside a pathway, pretty long and busy, take water and don’t overload your backpack, there is a lot to walk… I would say you gonna need a wide-angle lens for panorama pictures and a telephoto lens to catch some details of the canyon, if you stay after the sunset don’t forget a tripod and remote control for some astrophotography. We stayed in Williams a beautiful town, very picturesque crossed by the famous Route 66. The journey from Williams to the Grand Canyon is roughly 30 minutes, so very convenient location.Grand canyon landscape panoramaWilliams reminded me a lot of Bishop in California, it’s a really cozy town where everything is about Route 66 and the Grand Canyon. People are very nice and I felt very safe. Unfortunately, I stayed here just over a day, but if I could I would have stayed more, especially because the Grand Canyon takes more than one day to be fully appreciated. But let’s put it this way, it’s an extra good reason to come back…Day 14: Los AngelesGrand Canyon to Los AngelesLos Angeles was the final stop of this amazing journey. We stayed some extra days because the city deserves it… Here in LA, you gonna have plenty of options for photography, is a great city with endless photogenic spots. Do your research and select what you want to see, a year would not be enough to see everything so prioritize, but if you need inspiration keep reading and have a look at my must-see list in Los Angeles!Must see in Los Angeles1 – The Griffith Observatory. As the official website states: “Southern California’s gateway to the cosmos”. I have seen it in movies, TV series, documentaries and now I have seen it myself. Griffith Observatory official websiteWeekdays (Tuesday – Friday): Open 12:00 noon – 10:00 p.m.Weekends (Saturday – Sunday): Open 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.Mondays ClosedEven if you are not into science and you don’t want to visit the observatory I strongly advise you to pay a visit. The view is breathtaking, the whole city is at your feet, you can watch the sunset (if you find a spot, it gets really busy and not just tourists), and potentially you can spend the whole day here, you can visit the Observatory in the morning, have a picnic in the park and then walk to the Hollywood sign, watch the sunset there or come back to the observatory. There is a car park around but it gets very busy and after a certain hour, it is difficult to find a spot. There is a bus to the observatory but we preferred to call an Uber.The Observatory offers a planetarium, exhibits, public telescopes, cafe, bookstore, and the admission is free except for Samuel Oschin Planetarium ($7 for adults). Once inside, you can look through telescopes, explore exhibits that are very engaging even if you are not a genius… I could write a whole article just about the observatory, writing about the movies shot in there, the history, the beauty of the building itself, exhibits, science and so on but you can find all this information online, or on the Griffith Observatory official website.Photography wise I would recommend you to take a tripod, a flash, a wide-angle lens, and a telephoto, a bit of everything, the views are beautiful and you gonna spend a lot of time taking pictures, the flash will be very useful to take portrait once the sunset starts, and after why not.2 – Hollywood sign. Since 1923 the Hollywood sign has become a city icon, every year thousands of people hike on Hollywood Hill to reach this city landmark, for curiosity or to admire the view that it offers. There are 3 trails to the Hollywood sign: MT Hollywood trail (Easy);MT Hollywood trail (Easy);Brush Canyon trail (Medium);Cahuenga Peak trail (Hard);You can find more information on the official website (link below) under the section “Seeing the sign/Hiking the sign/We reached the sign starting from the Griffith Observatory due to lack of time. We combined the two activities on the same day. Ideally, you want to reach the sign from a different starting point, in-fact if you start, like us, from the Observatory you are going to end up at the back of the sign. There is a better trail where you park the car down the hill and hike for roughly 30 minutes, it’s a bit tough but it offers a better view.If you decide to combine Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign and you want to use public transport here is the link for the Bus Company:Bus to the Griffith Observatory3 – Warner Bros Studios. I am a big movie fan and Warner Bros for me means Friends. I loved that sitcom, I watched it many times and I loved all its characters. I visited the Studios because I wanted to see the locations where it was filmed, seat in the Central Perk Cafe, feel part of something that made happy and laugh so many times. Honestly, this is the main reason why I booked this tour. When they took us to the Central Perk Cafe they shot a sequence of a Friends episode and they used the crowd as actors, I played Ross… It was very funny, I loved it, I also realized that I can’t be an actor, I didn’t feel natural reading the lines, but I had fun anyway. Obviously, there are many more attractions for all tastes and it was very interesting to find out some of the film maker’s secrets, wonder around fake buildings and go inside houses that, only later I realized were the scenes of famous movies and sitcoms that I didn't recognize straightaway.We bought the tickets online while we were in Los Angeles, but just to be sure I recommend you to buy yours online in advance. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to visit the Universal Studios as well, but if you plan it well I think you can do both on the same day, half-day into the Warner Studios was enough to see everything (we started in the early morning with the first admission).You can take your camera with you, it is allowed to use it, just don’t overload your backpack, a 24-70mm or 35-150mm with a flash will cover all your needs. Don’t take the tripod you won’t be able to use it. Just enjoy the day and take some beautiful pictures to remember the day.4 – Staples Centre. When I thought about going to Los Angeles first things that came into my mind were Warner Bros Studio, Friends, Santa Monica, and many other things, but my girlfriend’s first thought was the Staples Centre. She loves basketball and after this experience, I have to say, so do I. The whole experience was amazing, it’s not just the match itself, the shows among the match breaks, the building itself, the people, the atmosphere, the surrounding area, I absolutely loved it, I will never thank my girlfriend enough for taking me there. If you manage to find a ticket (buy it online well in advance), go for it, even if you are not a big basketball fan.Photography wise, big professional cameras are not allowed into the building, moreover, you have to leave your backpack at the entrance, also to be able to photograph players you will need a big telephoto lens and even if you only take the camera with one lens I don’t know if they will let you use it, I didn't risk it, I left my camera at home and enjoyed the show. You can always come back the day after to take some pictures outside the Staples, the area is vibrant and there are a lot of statues of famous former Lakers players and more…Staple Centre official website5 – Santa Monica beach and Pier. The Santa Monica Pier is a large pier located at Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica. It contains a small amusement park with a Ferris wheel, areas for views and fishing, aquarium, restaurants, pubs, arcade video games, and a lot more. The area is very vibrant and busy, being able to find a car park wasn’t easy if you can use Uber for a stress-free experience. After the whole holiday wonder around deserts, national parks, casinos, and highways, we finally took a day off on the beach to relax and enjoy the sun of California. In the afternoon we moved to the Pier, walking among street artists, shops and tourists when we suddenly passed by a hot dog kiosk and I realized that during the whole holiday I didn’t have a simple, pure and original American hot dog… done! A nice walk on the Pier and afterward along the beach and it was already sunset time, beautiful.Photography-wise, according to your plan you can split the experience into 2 days, the first enjoy the area, the second take pictures. Honestly, I wanted to relax on the beach, swim in the ocean without worrying about my backpack being left unattended on the beach. The area is worth a day taking pictures, the opportunities are endless, street photography, landscape, the portrait you name it. A simple piece of advice, travel light, take one lens and the flash, that’s it.Santa Monica pier website6 – Walk of fame. I always thought that this was something I would never have been interested in, but you know what, I was in LA, I couldn’t miss a walk in Hollywood. The fuzzy area and the hundreds of street artists impersonating the stars made the walk much more interesting. Yes, it’s nice to read the name on the stars but after a while, you get bored of starring the pavement… Along the street, there are a lot of famous buildings, including the Chinese theatre and the Dolby Theatre where Oscar’s ceremony is hosted, and yes you can buy yourself a ticket, visit it and take a picture with the Oscar! It was nice and I would do it again but it’s just a relaxing nice walk.We have reached the last day in Los Angeles and I felt like I just arrived. The city has so much to offer that you should have a whole year available to do everything properly, unfortunately, I had 5 days… So here is my list of things to see next time I am going to visit the city of angels:The Getty CenterThe Universal StudiosThe Petersen Automotive MuseumThe Broad MuseumThe Walt Disney Concert HallThe Dodger StadiumThe National History MuseumThe Forever CemeteryAnd of course next time I gonna watch a baseball and football game!!!Conclusions: The end of my journeyThis was my first time in the USA and I must say I absolutely loved it, every bit of it, everything I saw, everyone I met, every single mile I drove, every meal I had. It’s a unique experience that any European should live. I started to miss it the moment I boarded the plane and while flying I was already thinking what to see next time I would have come back. The USA is a great country so different in terms of lifestyle and habits that we are used to, somehow is a different world where everything is bigger, the cars, the streets, the shops, and the meals… I am looking forward to coming back, there is so much to see.I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience and you found it useful my advice, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me, let me know if you liked it, share your experience with, let me know if I should have mentioned something regarding any aspect of the journey, any criticism is welcome… Thank you very much and enjoy the USA!!!!Frequently Asked QuestionAntelope Canyon, is it necessary to book a tour?The Antelope Canyon is part of the Navajo natural reserve, the only way to visit it, is to book a tour via one of the Navajo tour operator, it is not possible to visit the canyon on your own as it is considered a holy place by the Navajo population.Antelope Canyon, what is the difference between a normal tour and the photography tour?During the normal tour you are not allowed to take a tripod, bulky camera or backpack, moreover there are quite a lot of people and it is impossible to take a clear shot without people. On the other hand during the photography tour you are allowed to take a tripod (necessary for good pictures due to the low light into the canyon), and a small backpack. The biggest advantage of the photography tour is that you will visit the canyon in small groups (5 to 10 people), the guide will hold the other groups and you will have few minutes to take a clear shot without people around. The guide will also give you some tips for great pictures.Yosemite Park, where to stay?The hotels nearby by or inside the park are expensive and hard to find, for a good reason. During the touristic season it’s very difficult to find a parking spot for your car, especially if you arrive late. Staying inside the park will save you a lot of time every day. Moreover staying inside the park will save you at least 2 hours drive to and from the park, every day. All hotels get booked very quickly, so try to book your spot as soon as possible. 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