Discover the Amalfi coast

A balcony suspended between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno

Overlooking the Mar Tirreno (Tyrrhenian Sea), the Amalfi Coast is one of the 49 Italian sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Amalfi coast looks like a balcony suspended between the cobalt blue sea and the slopes of the Lattari Mountains chain, in a succession of valleys and coves between headlands , beaches and terraces planted with lemons, grapes and olive trees. A unique environment , protected by UNESCO as a perfect example of Mediterranean landscape with a setting of great natural and cultural value due to its topography and its historical evolution.

The whole area covers 11,231 hectares between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno and includes 16 beautiful towns in the province of Salerno: Amalfi, Ravello, Cava de ' Tirreni, Cetara, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Maiori, Minori, Positano, Raito, Ravello, Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino, Scala, Tramonti, Vietri sul Mare.

These cities and towns of the Amalfi coast are different from each other, with their own traditions and peculiarities that make them unique, but all are "branded" by architectural monuments such as the Saracen tower of Cetara, the Romanesque Cathedral of Amalfi and its "Chiostro del Paradiso" (cloister of Paradise) with a clear Arabic influence, the church of San Salvatore de ' Bireto in Atrani, where it was historically celebrated the investiture ceremony of the Doges of Amalfi, and Ravello with its beautiful cathedral and the splendid Villa Rufolo.

The charming village of Vietri sul Mare is considered the center of ornamental tiling, not surprisingly, the dome of the beautiful St. John the Baptist church and the facade of the arch of the 'Arciconfraternita dell'Annunziata e del Rosario' are covered with these colorful ceramics.

On the road from Amalfi to the "coloured village" of Furore, lies the charming village of Conca Dei Marini characterized by white houses of the 17th century and the famous emerald grotto. Even the fishing villages of Cetara and Maiori, some of the most popular local seaside resorts for their fine sand beach, boast two churches - St. Peter's and 'Santa Maria a Mare' - with the domes covered with majolica tiles .

Along the coast, another gem is the town of Minori, which is called the Eden of the Amalfi Coast for the fresh and cool climate.

In the "valley of the Dragon" there is the gracious Atrani, far from the tourists' masses. In this town that still preserves all its authentic seafood recipes, there is a beautiful square by the sea where you can enjoy everything we just mentioned about the food.

Among the most famous places on the coast, there is Amalfi, the town founded in the 4th century BC which gives its name to the whole Coast.

One of the four ancient Maritime Republic, Amalfi wielded for a long time the monopoly of trade in the Tyrrhenian Sea, exporting Italian products (wood, iron, weapons, wine and fruit) in Eastern markets and buying in exchange spices, perfumes, pearls, jewelry, textiles and carpets to trade in the West.

The environment and positioning of housing has an interesting Arabic influence and reminds a little of a souk, with groups of houses close together and cling to the steep slopes, connected by a maze of alleys and stairs.

Amalfi grew and developed the characteristic Arabic-Sicilian architecture, of which St. Andrew Cathedral is a perfect example. Reconstructed in Baroque style in the 18th century, with the magnificent staircase and its charming cloister, called Cloister of Paradise, the Cathedral is one of the most visited monuments of the coast.

Across the pretty Praiano you get to Positano, a beach resort since the time of the Roman Empire, with its white sloping houses down to the sea, gathered around the church of Santa Maria Assunta, whose dome is also made of majolica.

Its typical small streets rich in shops, where you can buy local handicrafts and the "steps " that connect the town with the beach make this lovely place unique in its way.

Among the main beaches, a special mention goes to the Great Beach and Fornillo Beach, both within walking distance; La Porta, Arienzo and San Pietro Laureano, all accessible mainly by boat.

Completely different instead are the mountain villages of the Amalfi Coast: Scala, Tramonti, Raito known for the characteristic " steps " which are the only means by which you can visit the country side, and Ravello.

Ravello, situated at 350 m above the sea level, is one of the charms of the coast for the elegance of its villas : the gardens of Villa Rufolo and the viewpoint villa Cimbrone with breathtaking views. On the Lattari Mountains' slopes there is Sant'Egidio del Monte Albino, famous for St. Mary Magdalene in Armillis Abbey and the lovely, little old town.