Amalfi

Together with Pisa, Genoa and Venice, Amalfi was one of the four best known maritime republics, holding the monopoly of commercial traffic with the East.

Together with Pisa, Genoa and Venice, Amalfi was one of the four best known maritime republics, holding the monopoly of commercial traffic with the East.

Its splendor today comes alive with history and traditions handed dow: towers, walls, monasteries and residences of the medieval merchant aristocracy.

The Cathedral, in Arab-Sicilian style, 63 meters high, stands out on the central square where the cheerful streets of the town branch off with artisan shops of leather sandals to colored and fragrant corners of the sea. From the church, you get access to the Cloister of Paradise, built as a cemetery for the ancient noble families of Amalfi.

Once you have left behind you the Church’s twilight, you are captured by the sunlight reflected from the sea of ??the Spiaggia Grande. From its pier, the boats depart to reach hidden coves, only accessible by sea.

Beyond the square, through a portico, you get to the remainings of the Ancient Arsenals, where the warships were built.

The hand processing of paper, called "bambagina", was one of the oldest activities of the Amalfi people; a visit to the Paper Museum is highly recommended.

Amalfi has its backs covered by the rocks of the Lattari Mountains. A particular place capable of condensing the wild beauty of the coast between the mountains of Scala and the hills of Amalfi, is the Valle delle Ferriere, crossed by the Canneto stream. Here sleep the ruins of the ironworks and the Amalfi paper mills, among waterfalls, springs and rare plants, surrounded by limestone walls covered with moss, ferns and maidenhair branches. It’s like a fairytale.

The valley can be reached via various itineraries starting from Amalfi, Scala, Atrani and Agerola. Very comfortable and spectacular is the one that starts from the village of Pontone, a hamlet of Scala, about 250 meters above sea level.

Visits:

• Sant’Andrea’s Cathedral
• Paper Museum
• Arsenal of the Republic

Sea:

• Main Beach
• Duoglio Beach (1.6 km from the center -400 steps)
• Santa Croce beach (reachable only by sea)
• The Emerald Grotto (reachable only by sea or by a lift from Conca dei Marini)

Trekking:

• Valle delle Ferriere

How to get around

By sea:

• Hydrofoils from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast.
  The rides from Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi are generally active from mid-April to mid-October. There are a couple of trips in the morning from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast and two in the afternoon from Positano and Amalfi to Sorrento. The journey time from Sorrento and Amalfi is about 40 minutes. To admire the best view of the coast, sit on the left side of the hydrofoil from Sorrento to Amalfi and on the right side from Amalfi to Sorrento.

By bus:

• SITA company offers the bus service from Sorrento to Positano or Amalfi. Our stop is the following Bivio S.Agata (Via Nastro Verde). Tickets can be purchased at newsstands, tobacconists or some affiliated bars.

By car:

• To reach the Valle delle Ferriere from Positano, take the ss 163 to the intersection with the ss 373, in the area of Castiglione di Ravello, then go up towards Ravello to the intersection with Pontone di Scala.

Our concierge is at your disposal to set up a car with driver and/or a guide to accompany you, to make the best use of your time and make your visit more comfortable.