Famous throughout the world for its enchanting beauty and breathtaking villages , the Amalfi Coast is the portion of the Campania coast that extends from the southern Tyrrhenian Sea and the province of Salerno to Positano . The Amalfi Coast is one of the Italian attractions that since 1977 has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites .
The Divine Coast , so nicknamed, has also been the cradle of numerous artists who, through a painting or a book , have described its priceless beauties.
Amalfi Coast, historical notes from the Roman Empire
The beauties of the Amalfi Coast contain years of history, in fact, in ancient times, it was part of the Roman Empire. Proof of this are the majestic villas that you can come across on the coast: one of the most beautiful is located in Minori , a small town in the province of Salerno where the imperial Roman aristocracy spent their holidays.
Also during the ancient Roman period , the inhabitants of the Coast allied themselves with the Byzantines during the Greek-Gothic war , in exchange they received greater autonomy with respect to the main Empire. After being conquered by the principality Longobard of Salerno , the portion of the coast became autonomous again and, in the 10th century, the Republic of Amalfi became a Duchy .
Even after the Second World War , the Amalfi Coast became one of the favorite destinations of the world jet set : from the first Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to King Vittorio Emanuele III of Savoy .
The Amalfi Coast, first stop: Salerno
The city of Salerno rises right in the gulf of the same name and this splendid town is the first stop that you must take into consideration before embarking on the actual journey on the Amalfi Coast . Salerno is a welcoming city , rich in history and full of surprises, from the breathtaking colors to the flavours, discovering is a step that you just can't miss. Here, then is what to visit in Salerno:
· Cathedral of Salerno : characterized by a majestic Baroque facade . Inside you will be able to visit a quadriportico (four-sided portico) which will give you the idea of having entered a wholly oriental atmosphere , with colonnades which refer to the ancient Roman Forum . Furthermore, you can admire the loggia with mullioned windows or the arches decorated with volcanic stone . The crypt, on the other hand, has been contaminated by Baroque renovations and preserves the remains of San Matteo , patron saint of the city. The Cathedral of Salerno also has an Arab-Norman bell tower almost 52 meters high .
· Historical centre : the ancient city is almost entirely pedestrian and easily passable on foot. Full of shops, clubs and craft workshops, it is ideal for spending an evening of shopping. From the station you can walk towards Corso Vittorio Emanuele and walk along the parallel to the seafront.
· The Minerva garden : the first University of Medicine in Europe was built in Salerno in the year 1000. According to a legend, the Medical School of Salerno was born on a stormy night under the arches of the Salerno aqueduct, in which by chance, the four founders would have met : the Arab Adela, the Greek Ponto, the Jew Elino and the Latin Salerno . The Minerva garden was precisely the place where students analyzed the properties of herbs, which is why it is considered one of the first botanical gardens born in Europe .
· Castello Arechi: Arechi II, the Lombard prince, decided to transfer the capital from the Duchy of Benevento to Salerno . For this, he chose to live in a fortress built 300 m above sea level. Today, the Castle houses a medieval museum with weapons, coins and ceramics that narrate the ancient history of the city.
· Santa Sofia complex: it is an old Benedictine monastery built around the tenth century. Recently it housed the civil court and a school state , to then be restored and used as a venue for events, exhibitions, demonstrations and cultural festivals . Inside stands the Church of the Addolorata , built by the Jesuits around 1600. The Latin cross -shaped building has a transept, side chapels and a neoclassical-style facade with a triangular tympanum at the top and an order of pilasters formed by Corinthian capitals .
· Art Gallery of Salerno: located inside the Palace Pinto , one of the finest in town. Built in the seventeenth century, it overlooks the historic center street, Via dei Mercanti. You will be able to admire a collection of works ranging from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century, from the Southern Renaissance to Late Mannerism .
From Salerno to Vietri sul Mare, the tour of the Amalfi Coast
Moving about three kilometers west from Salerno , you will meet Vietri sul Mare . The small inhabited area rises close to the coast, it is the cradle of majolica and right here you can visit the splendid dome of the church of San Giovanni Battista and the Archconfraternity facade dell'Annunziata and the Rosario , both covered with ceramics.
The beaches of Vietri sul Mare are characterized by very fine sand and, even in the seaside resorts, there are marvelous churches: in Cetara you can find San Pietro and in Maiori you can admire Santa Maria a Mare. The panoramic point of the town is Capo D'Orso and you cannot help but visit the abbey carved into the rock , Santa Maria de Olearia .
Going down to the neighboring areas you can stop in Tramonti , land of the master pizza makers and with a small detour you will arrive in Minori , the Eden of the Coast for its cool and breezy climate.
Still below you will descend to Atrani , a little known but beautiful land and in Ravello you will be able to admire the enchanted gardens of the Amalfi Coast.
From Amalfi to Positano: the two most famous destinations on the Amalfi Coast
Amalfi , since the 9th century, was considered one of the most important port towns in southern Italy . At the time it clashed with Genoa, Venice and Pisa as one of the four Maritime Republics . The millennial history that preserves this magical town begins with the Cathedra Of Amalfi : the structure is characterized by the Romanesque and Baroque styles , with Roccocò influences due to the renovations that have taken place over the centuries. The cathedral is dedicated to St Andrew and is the main Catholic place of worship in the country.
In the same square there is also the Sant'Andrea fountain , restored in 2018. It depicts the Patron Saint with the cross of Martyrdom , the water jets derive from the Sele river. In the city you can visit the Arsenale Museum and the Paper Museum .
About thirty kilometers later you can find Positano , the fishermen's town and center of luxury shopping . In fact, the city is characterized by precious boutiques and craft shops that gladly welcome the requests of tourists. The women can lose themselves in the villages admiring the wonderful beach dresses hand-sewn by local craftsmen and seamstresses.
Positano is also the ideal town for a romantic weekend full of love. Couples will be able to reach the seafront, for example, via the Path of Lovers . Positano also hosts a rich nightlife , suitable for the youngest.
Not to be confused with the Via degli Dei, here you can also take the Path of the Gods , a path in the name of nature which from the ancient mule track connects Agerola to the village of Nocelle , a hamlet of Positano. The name derives from an ancient legend according to which the ancient Greek deities would have undertaken this path to help Ulysses imprisoned by the Sirens and by the inhabitants of the island of Li Galli .
The trail splits into two, the Sentiero Alto and the Sentiero Basso . The best advice is to take the second one starting from Bomerano and arriving in Nocelle : you will go downhill and the panorama of the Amalfi Coast will give you the intense blue of the sea . Once you arrive at the Borgo you can reach the center of Positano by taking a staircase of 1600 steps or board the shuttle that will take you back to the city.
From Sorrento to the Gulf of Naples: wonders of Southern Italy
If you have a few more days to spend on the Amalfi Coast , you cannot miss a visit to Sorrento , also called the city of citrus gardens. Sorrento embraces the gulf of Naples and is the main starting point for a trip to Capri, Ischia, Ecolano, Pompeii or Naples itself .
The center of Sorrento extends over a high tuffaceous terrace which, from a height of 50 meters, dominates the sea and is characterized by rich and thick vegetation . The ancient historic center shows traces of the passage of the Romans and, in certain points of the town, one of the most beautiful sixteenth-century walls of the peninsula still stands.
To visit in Sorrento there is certainly the Duomo of the city , rebuilt in the 15th century and which has a neo-Gothic facade as its main feature. Also not to be missed is the Villa Comunale , built at the end of the 19th century. The structure stands on the vegetable garden of the Franciscan friars and from there you can admire the entire panorama of the Gulf. Next to the Villa Comunale is the Cloister of San Francesco where three different architectural styles intertwine, you will find a real heavenly corner where you can spend a pleasant day.
In the center of Sorrento, you can find the Vallone dei Mulini : a ruin of an urban settlement which has a mill used until 1900. The valleys of the Sorrento Peninsula are five in all and divided the boundaries of the city, even if that of Sorrento is completely abandoned many tourists like to photograph it and visit it externally . Also in the historic center are the Cathedral of Saints Philip and James and Piazza Tasso . The latter stands where the Aragonese Castle once stood, demolished at the end of the 19th century. Here is the monument dedicated to Torquato Tasso , the shopping street also starts from here, overlooked by narrow streets marked by street food stands and local culinary products.
Beaches of the Amalfi Coast: which ones to visit
Not only historic centers and monuments , if you decide to visit the Amalfi Coast you absolutely cannot miss the beauty of the beaches and the local sea . Where to go, therefore, to spend a day of relaxation, sunbathing and a few dives ? Here is a selection of the beaches:
· Marina Grande beach in Positano : one of the most sought-after beaches for the jet set and its worldliness, the Marina Grande beach in Positano is the perfect place to spend a few hours under the sun and enjoy an aperitif with friends .
· Marina Grande beach in Amalfi : homonymous to the first one, this beach is very central and very popular with tourists from June to September . Here also boats leave for excursions and for other coves accessible only from the sea.
· Marina di Vietri beach : in Vietri sul Mare there is one of the few beaches on the Amalfi Coast to have very fine sand . It is very large and equipped, which is why it is especially favored by families with children.
· Atrani beach : small and beautiful village, has the beach right in front of the central square. Here, the seabed is shallow and sandy and the coast is surrounded by a beautiful rock face.
· Marina di Praia beach : it is located in Praiano, and it is a small beach full of pebbles with a tower overlooking the sea. From here you can reach the famous Africana and Suppraiano caves and also Cala di Gavitella .
After this tale are you looking forward to spending a summer full of sun, sea and breathtaking landscapes? Then discover our offers now and pack your suitcase to enjoy your dream summer on the Amalfi Coast!