The Costiera Amalfitana for its fertility and the amenity of the coast of its own sea and the fruitfulness of his fields of earth, is well-known ad well as for its historical and artistic beauty, natural wonders and culinary traditions. Indeed Campania and its Costiera Amalfitana is still one of the most beautiful area of Italy. Thousands of tourists from every corner of the world each summer hit the streets of Amalfi, Positano, Vietri sul Mare in search of the attractions that have made this region one of the most recounted by poets and writers. The small town of Campania are able to engage all of your senses, giving you a memorable holiday. We will discover the splendid town of Amalfi, beloved among Brits and Americans mostly.
The town keeps its sense of marvellous stemming from the scent of the sea and the noble heritage of its seafarer Republic, who once fought against the like of Pisa, Genoa, Venice. The tourist flow reaches its peak in July-August, so it will be better to travel in the area either May-June or September, when it is less crowded and to take a bus on time is not being on a mission.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most celebrated natural wonder of the world, the Amalfi coast is one of the jewels of Campania in the province of Salerno. This area of natural and artistic beauty goes from Positano to Vietri sul Mare, and welcomes, throughout the year, tourists of all the planet. So as the name suggests, the Amalfi Coast in Amalfi has one of its most important locations. If you have decided to come on vacation in a tourist paradise, Amalfi is really the right place where you can combine art, culture, sea, good fish and relaxation.
Founded in the ninth century by the Romans, Amalfi became famous all over the world when it developed the maritime trade in the Mediterranean. His fame was outstanding when it became one of the four Maritime Republics. Amalfi, nowadays, has become a prestigious holiday destination and his reputation remained intact. From here you can reach other pearls of the Amalfi Coast in a few minutes such as Minori, Maiori or Cetara. Indeed Maiori and Minori are close such a beautiful nature and unique natural feature as the Fjord of Furore. You can reach it via bus or via 1200 stairs from the tiny village of Furore. Here the view is breathtaking: actually this is the only example of fjord formation in Italy!
The presence of landscapes of indescribable beauty and the immense historical and artistic heritage. The town centre is quite small, and you’ll have no problem finding a hotel with a sea view, or just a short distance from the most important attractions such as the St. Andrew’s Cathedral, symbol of the entire coastline. Of ancient origins, the cathedral of Amalfi was built and rebuilt, following different styles: Romanesque, Baroque, Rococo and neo-Moorish. You can access the interior through a magnificent bronze portal, which is located on top of a spectacular staircase. The interior, dating mainly to the Middle Ages, it is very impressive. Among the works preserved here, you can admire the frescoes of the thirteenth century and Roman sarcophagi. Inside the crypt, accessible via a side door, you can enjoy an important relic of St. Andrew, patron saint of the town of Amalfi. Quite charming is the Chiostro del Paradiso (“Cloister of Paradise”) built by Filippo Augustariccio between 1266 and 1268 and a burial cloister for noble families of Amalfi. It is a open-air museum, with Roman and medieval pillars and sarcophagi.
Near the cathedral are also several features shops where you can buy local products and nice souvenirs. Not far away are also the Museo della Cartiera, Inside it, there is the opportunity to see all the old technologies for the production of paper (pile hammers, Dutch machine, paper machine in plan) that have been restored and made functional again. In fact it is a museum that is situated within a paper mill and traces the process of the ancient and famous paper “Wadding” of Amalfi. Fun also to visit the Civic Museum, the Museum of the Compass and the Duchy fishing.
At the foot of the staircase are some of the most renowned restaurants and pastry shops of Amalfi to taste sweet and delicious dishes of the local tradition. Gastronomic symbol of the town is the lemon, also known by the name of “sfusato Amalfi” used especially for the preparation of limoncello liqueur, typical product of these areas.
It’s nice and interesting to discover this small town during its typical festivals. Important is the festival dedicated to the Patron Saint Andrew, patron of fishermen and fishmongers. The celebrations in the coastal is on at the end of June and more specifically 25 to 27 June. According to the legend, in 1544 the saint unleashed a storm to prevent the terrible Saracen pirate Kair-Ad-Din conquered the city. This festival culminates by a procession around the country. The statue of the saint is carried up the beach and then be delivered to the fishermen who bring it to ride to the Duomo climbing the stairs for a show not to be missed. The evening ended with beautiful fireworks.
Another wonderful event is the Historical Regatta of the Maritime Republics. An event that involves the town of Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa and Venice, taking turns to host the regatta. Every four years, on a day in the period from May to July, Amalfi is animated by a “medieval” spirit . The sports competition evokes the ancient (and dusted) rivalry of the four cities. Eight rowers on the galleons depart from Cape Vettica and arriving at Marina Grande for a distance of approximately two kilometers. The regatta is preceded by a procession of figures in historical costume.
But the true wonder of Amalfi is the sea. Near the bus stop, a short walk from the Cathedral, you will find a small beach lapped by crystal clear waters, where you can relax and enjoy the natural beauty of this unique place in the world.
Italy’s Amalfi Coast is a really famous and a very romantic destination. Its coastline is unbelievable interesting, fantastic sea, and good climate has fascinated guests since Roman period. The Amalfi Peninsula is very interesting and beautiful: let’s go and explore the Amalfi Coast towns and the island of Capri from the towns of Positano and Amalfi.