Surroundings
The Amalfi Coast, the "Divine Coast"
The Amalfi Coast, the "Divine Coast" is a land with a thousand stories to be discovered. For an unforgettable experience, visitors should come with enthusiasm and patience. In Amalfi, myths of the past come alive. Centuries of history bear witness to the unique character of the people of this land, who have lived as protagonists like in few other places. Plots of terraced land with lemon groves and vineyards, characteristic of La Costiera, have been created by dedicated generations of back breaking labor; for this reason she is known as "The Terraced Lands"-lands the have been carved right out of the chalky soil of the Lattari Mountains, which slope abruptly into the sea forming the inlets that have been ideal for settlement since ancient times.
Even the houses, in keeping with the landscape, hug the vertical cliffs, often close together and one on top of another; in many cases these homes are accessible only via a maze of innumerable steps, stairs and paths. Those familiar with the tradition of nativity scenes will see similarities in the landscape. In contrast, one of the most recent and modern features of the Amalfi scenery is the main road that today connects Amalfi with Vietri. The Touring Club has named this tortuous state road one of the most spectacular drives in Italy for its winding path through the jagged coastal mountains. Visitors to the Amalfi Coast can enjoy the region during all seasons, ensured the opportunity of rest and relaxation surrounded by unparalleled natural beauty.
Main Coastal Towns
The following is a brief description of some of the marvelous towns and villages that are highly recommended while visiting the Amalfi Coast.
Minori, City of Tastes
Minori, City of Tastes, where most of our residences are located, is situated along a pleasant inlet in the heart of the Amalfi Coast. The town's strategic position allows for short excursions to many interesting places. Once an ancient holiday resort, Minori is the site of an ancient Roman maritime villa dating back to the 1st century CE; the ruins of the villa also house an impressive collection of many well-preserved paintings and mosaics. In the year 987, the town became the Episcopal seat, an honor held until 1818; overall, a total of 57 bishops had resided there. Not to miss are St. Trofimena's Basilica and the Church of St. Lucia & St. Nicola. The area is pleasant, warm and welcoming with easy access to the sea. The south-facing beach is sunny until late afternoon. Minori boasts excellent local cuisine and is especially famous throughout Italy for its delectable pastries. Plenty of open air cafés, tiny streets and piazzas await the curious visitor. Quaint mountain hamlets tucked away in the surrounding hillside can be reached by foot: Torre, Villamena, St. Nicola. Tourist services and resources: Pro Loco (local travel info), tour/travel agencies, local library with internet, bus tours and taxis. Public Transport: SITA Line, which goes through all the Costiera long.
Ravello, City of Music
Ravello, City of Music, can be reached from Minori by car in just 15 minutes. Alternatively, Ravello can be reached by foot in 30 minutes via a network of steps and paths that cross terraced vineyards and lemon groves while enjoying breathtaking views along the way. Quiet and refined, Ravello is on a terrace of land, overlooking the sea, with some of the most spectacular natural beauty in the world found nowhere else. During the summertime, Ravello plays host to an international crowd as it opens its gardens and the doors of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, historic homes, churches, convents and fine inns to music lovers from around the word; outdoor concerts are held in the gardens of Villa Rufolo, overlooking the sea.
Scala
In Scala, not far from Ravello, is the imposing Valle del Dragone (Valley of the Dragon) that dominates the landscape. There are many ruins of historical significance here: old fortifications, the main Cathedral, the numerous Roman and Byzantine churches and the former aristocratic residences of Scala's important past.
Atrani
Atrani marks the perfect end to a Minori-Ravello-Scala day trip. Don't miss the piazza at sunset; there are plenty of cafés where you can enjoy an aperitif and a bite to eat while watching the sun go down, in anticipation of an excellent dinner at the many local restaurants. During the summertime, Atrani has plenty of nightlife and is quite popular with the local young crowd.
Amalfi
Amalfi, Ancient Maritime Republic, is a must-see destination during your trip to La Costiera. From Minori, Amalfi is just 15 minutes by car. This ancient maritime republic's life story can be found in the narrow, winding streets and curious stairways and alleys here. The splendid Duomo di St. Andrea is not to be missed during your trip to the Divine Coast. Just to the left of St. Andrea is a small cloister, distinctly Arabic in style, called "Chiostro del Paradiso", now a museum. Along the seashore is the Arsenal, where the largest galley ships where built during the middle ages. At the old Paper Mills in the Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills), visitors can still find surviving traces of paper production for the valuable Amalfitana paper used for letters and the most esteemed of publications. In just 1 day, visitors can explore boutiques, visit museums (Civic Museum and Paper Museum) with time for a nice swim. Spiaggia Grande, the main beach here, is a bit posh and often crowded; however, just down the Cavalieri shore toward the harbor, are small, quieter beaches. Leaving from the port (Spiaggia del Porto) are plenty of convenient and comfortable boats to take you to some of the most pristine waters and beaches and to spectacular scenery of the area: Duoglio, Santacroce, Le Marinelle, La Vite, Marina di Conca, and on to Praiano. Some of these beaches are accessible by land, but the roads are more difficult to travel. In Capo di Conca there is the fascinating Grotta dello Smeraldo. This cave is special for its underwater nativity scene that draws a procession of scuba divers from all over Italy at Christmastime. Marina di Conca can be reached directly off the state road by way of a long stairway. Upon arrival, visitors can relax at the many restaurants ad cafés or hop on a ferry to nearby "la Vite" beach. In Amalfi visitors can also rent motor boats and sail boats for unforgettable sightseeing and exploring.
Day-trips for excursionists: Amalfi can be reached from Ravello by foot, starting out from Campidoglio village, heading past Punta d'Aglio, arriving at the Ferriere Reserve and from there reaching the castle. Or from the waterfalls, you can go down toward the Valle dei Mulini-site of the old Cartiere (Paper Mills) along the torrents, named Ceraso, Chiarito and Canneto-all the way to Amalfi. Amalfi can also be reached from Scala via a path with spectacular views that takes you through the medieval hamlets of Pontone and Minuta (Tower of Ziro) on into the center of town.
From Amalfi (near Pastena-Lone), heading toward Vettica, continuing on to Tovere and then reaching the top of Capo Conca you will arrive at the once splendid, but striking nonetheless, Convent of Santa Rosa. After having been converted into an inn, the Convent was frequented by Princess Margaret of England in the 60's. Continuing toward Agerola is the scenic Sentiero degli Dei "Path of the Gods". The path begins right at the little town of Nocelle, which is accessible only by foot. Down below you will see Positano and the islands of the sirens, Li Galli.
Positano
Positano for many years has been a huge attraction for visitors to La Costiera because of its characteristic homes perched along the slopes of St. Angelo right above the sea. From Amalfi, Positano can be reached by car, bus or ferry. The town can be explored almost entirely on foot via a single street, which descends toward the sea; along the way, there are plenty of clothing boutiques offering great deals. In the 70's, Positano gave rise to the fashion style known as "Moda Positano". The area is also known for locally crafted leather sandals that are often made to order while you watch. From the small beach, hydrofoil connections to Capri-Sorrento-Salerno leave regularly. For those with time and interest, there are stunning walking trails up into the hills to Montepertuso and Nocelle where il Sentiero degli Dei begins.
Maiori
Maiori is 10 minutes away from Minori by foot toward the direction of Salerno. Set in a natural amphitheater, Maiori has been endowed with a beach of the finest sand. Boat and scooter rentals are available for exploring the area by sea or by land. Located in an alluvial plain, the city has over the centuries succumbed to flooding of its river, Rheginna Major, now covered. Much of the city therefore has been rebuilt, and unfortunately much the original character of the city has been lost; however, traces of former past glory can be seen in the ruins of castles and towers. Sights include the Church of St. Maria of the Sea, the Sanctuary of St. Maria delle Grazie and the Abbey of St. Maria di Olearia, a 10th century monastery. From the sea, heading down the coast past Maiori toward Salerno is the Grotta Sulfurea and the Grotta Pannone. You will also find the picturesque hamlet of Erchie, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cetara
Cetara is toward the direction of Salerno, if heading down from the direction of Maiori. This charming fishing village, nestled in the valley under Mt. Falerio, is not to be missed for seafood lovers. In addition to wonderful food, visitors will be treated to beautiful scenery and a nice beach.
Vietri sul Mare
Vietri sul Mare is a charming seafaring village of Etruscan origins located very close to Salerno. Set along the slopes of Mt. Liberatore, this town has a center of ceramic trade since the 15th century. Ceramics once destined mainly for monasteries, can now be seen adorning the walls of houses in town. The area has plenty of shops where one can window shop or purchase the locally handcrafted ceramics, which are famous around the world. The shoreline from Costa da Cetara to Vietri has plenty of assessable beaches. Two km from Vietri, inland, is Cava dei Tirreni home to the magnificent Benedictine Abbey built in 1011. Visitors can get here by car or bus-a Minori-Cetara-Vietri-Cava excursion for sightseeing including breaks for shopping can be done in just 1 day.
Ravello, City of Music
Paestum is must see for those passionate about archeological sites. Located in the Sele Plain to the South of Salerno, plan to spend a full day on your excursion to Paestum (if starting out from Minori). Paestum is one of the most precious archeological gems of Italy, world renowned for the spectacular Doric temples and the Archeological Museum which safeguards the famous painting of the Diver (470 B.C). Although legend attributes the founding of Paestum to the Argonauts of Greek mythology, it is now accepted that the inhabitants of Sybaris founded Paestum in the 6th century BCE. After its founding, the city, originally called Poseidonia, quickly flourished as a Mediterranean outpost. Its demise coincided with the fall of the Roman Empire.
Archeological area of Pompei and Herculaneum
The Pompei area extends over 66 hectares (about 35 acres), of which 49 have been excavated and 12 are open to the public. The buried city was rediscovered in the 16th century, but exploration only began in 1748, and continued systematically through the nineteenth century up to the most recent excavations, aimed at restoring and attributing the proper value to the ancient city and its exceptional archeological heritage. With reference to the Herculaneum archeological site the excavations officially began in 1738. The technique of burrowing through underground passageways and exploring wells was continued until 1875. After a very long interruption period, work was carried out again in 1927 until 1958. In 1961 further work was undertaken in the northern sector, while over the last 20 years the ancient beach has been explored which existed at the same time as the southernmost strip of the archaeological area. The excavations which have been carried out here since 1981, have revealed many interesting discoveries: around 300 skeletons of fugitives and a boat about 10 metres in length being among them. Recent excavations have been carried out at the grandiose Villa of the Papyri, a large part of which is still buried. These two archeological sites recognised worldwide are must-see destinations. (for more info: http://www.pompeiisites.org).
Vesuvio Protected Area
Vesuvio Protected Area Somma-Vesuvio is the most important active volcanic group of continental Europe. Situated in the Plain of Campania, it is a typical example of fenced-in stratovolcano consisting of two different morphological structures: Somma caldera and Vesuvio Great Cone. Somma caldera, formed by the homonymous mountain, has a semi-circular shape and reaches its highest point with Punta Nasone (1,132 m above sea level): it represents what it remains of the ancient volcano, whose activity dates back to at least 30,000 years ago. Suggested for hiking lovers.
Connections
Amalfi Coast has excellent transportation connections:
- Vietri, the first town along the coast, can be reached from Autostrada A3.
- Salerno can be reached by direct bus service From the Napoli-Capodichino Airport.
- Buses leave every hour from Salerno to Amalfi.
- From Amalfi, there are bus connections to Positano and Sorrento (Company: SITA).
- Minibus tours are available for the route Maiori-Minori-Ravello-Amalfi-Positano-Sorrento.
- Ferries and hydrofoils connect Salerno-Minori-Amalfi-Positano-Sorrento ports as well as Capri and Ischia islands. (Company: TRAVELMAR).
- If travelling from Rome or other parts of Italy, there are many options for getting to the Amalfi Coast: you can take a train to Naples or to Salerno. From Salerno you can take the SITA bus to Amalfi and then take a bus connection onward if necessary (or from Salerno you can take a ferry all the way to Amalfi).
- From Naples you can take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento and then take a SITA bus to Amalfi via Positano.
- Alternatively, you can take a bus the entire way from Rome. A bus company called Marozzi runs a fast, efficient coach service from Tiburtina Station in Rome to Amalfi (summer season only) or to Sorrento (all year round). The buses are usually fast and comfortable.
