Journey time: 2 hours plus each stop
The Amalfi Coast is famous all over the world for the incomparable beauty of the landscape. A road cut into the rock, unwinds in a myriad of curves and bridges between the end of the Sorrento Peninsula and Vietri Sul Mare, at the gates of Salerno.It is less 50 km but it takes almost two hours to cover it all. Often the road overlooks very high precipices towards the sea, AT other times the landscape softens, offering all the colors of the Mediterranean maquis. In the middle of the sea, deep and intensely blue, you can see the beautiful Li Galli Islands and other islets.
Between Praiano and Vietri sul Mare, the very steep mountain has been terraced to allow the cultivation of lemons, famous all over the world.The terraces are ancient and beautiful, and still made with dry stone walls. Fishing, tourism and the cultivation of lemons – from which the famous Limoncello is made—are the main resources of the area, together with the ceramics of Vietri, sold throughout the coast.
The most important villages are Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, but there are others, less known but equally fascinating, such as Nerano, Conca dei Marini, Furore and Cetara, famous for its anchovy sauce.
SINCE 1997,THE AMALFI COAST HAS BEEN DECLERED A PROTECTED AREA AFTER UNESCO
POSITANO
Positano is located in the heart of the Amalfi Coast, exactly where the Sorrento Peninsula bends towards the south, entering the Gulf of Salerno.
- Opposite Positano, in the middle of the bay, you can see the Li Galli Islands, formerly called Islands delle Sirene, in honor of the legend according to which they were inhabited by the sirens, who called to the sailors on the ships that happened to be nearby, with their melodious and irresistible songs.
The houses of Positano are built one above the other, and frame the large volcanic beach in the middle of the village. They cling to the rock in an amazing and very colorful manner and are connected to each other by a single carriage road that goes around the town. A myriad of narrow streets and stairways connect the various levels of the town.
The beach is the center of all the activity in Positano .
- Just above the beach is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. The facade was rebuilt in the 1930’s by the parish priest, Don Saverio. This is why it is different from all the other churches in the area. The inside is very majestic. It is painted white and gold, with a large central nave and two aisles.
AMALFI
40 minutes from Positano.
Estimated time for the visit: 1 hour.
Amalfi is the oldest of the four Italian Maritime Republics and reached the height of its splendor in the tenth and eleventh centuries, with its own merchant colonies in the main ports of the Mediterranean: Byzantium, Alexandria, Beirut and Cyprus . The maritime laws of the city, contained in the famous “tabula amalphitana”.
FOR centuries they have been the accepted code and used throughout the Mediterranean.
In the XII century, following the conquest of the Normans, Amalfi lost its significance in the Mediterranean trades and was reduced to have only a modest local mercantile role. The new reigning dynasty became Naples and throughout southern Italy
It supported the other maritime republics for the conquest of the kingdom and for commercial traffic, first in Pisa and then in Genoa.
- The Cathedral, founded in the 9th century, remains intact, despite various alterations through the centuries . The Baroque facade suffered serious damage during the 1800’s and was rebuilt. The restoration brought to light the ancient Romanesque facade with arches, columns and mosaics (a fragment of a 12th-century mosaic is preserved in the cloister), a façade similar to the original one was built. The work was completed in 1891. The bell tower dates back to the Middle Ages.
- The Cloister of Paradise is a delightful example of Arab-Norman architecture and is also worth visiting along with the small museum with its Byzantine mosaics and bas-reliefs
RAVELLO
1 hour from Positano.
20 minutes from Amalfi.
Estimated time for the visit 2 hours.
- The Cathedral of Ravello, dating from the 11th century, was built by Orso Papirio in 1086, the first bishop of Ravello.
Well preserved is the original bronze door by Bansano da Trani (1179). Inside, IS the pulpit by Niccolò di Bartolomeo da Foggia and the ambo built by Bishop Constantine, with two mosaics representing the story of Ciona. Also noteworthy are the crypt and the Cathedral Museum where sculptures,
ancient mosaics and relics are kept. The Arab-Norman style bell tower is an important archeological element typical of the period .
- Villa Rufolo (13th century) was the residence of Charles of Anjou and later of the musician Wagner, who composed Parsival in his Moorish garden. Today, it is the seat of the Antiquarium and preserves important Sartifacts from the Roman, barbaric and medieval periods. The gardens of Villa Rufolo are home to an important season (summer) of classical music concerts. Ask at the reception for the most up to date program..
- Villa Cimbrone, known for the Belvedere terrace IS decorated with several well preserved sculptural busts and provides a magnificent vantage point overlooking the sea
- Church of S. Giovanni del Toro (12th century), HAS three very high apses, the dome and the coeval hall, which also should not be missed
ATRANI
45 minutes from Positano.
5 minutes from Amalfi
Duration of the visit: 1 hour
- A few bends away from Amalfi is Atrani, in the valley formed by the mouth of the Dragone.
Monte Aureo, with the medieval tower, Torre di Zirro, served to watch over the coast, is the border between the two locations. The smallest municipality in Italy has an area of only one km. The houses and churches cling to the slopes of the Dragone valley as if they were baroque cakes with cream in pastel shades, and are connected to each other by narrow alleys, SOME partly covered, and by steep stairways.
- In the Middle Ages, Atrani was part of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi. This was the favorite place for the merchant aristocracy to construct their residences. In the church of San Salvatore de’ Birecto the elected doges where crowned
- The town center is Piazza Umberto I, which is not overcrowded even in the high season.
From here the winding roads that lead to the churches of Atrani branch off. In the Middle Ages the town had 300 sacred buildings; however, it was a little larger than today and developed towards the east.
- TO VISIT THE CHARCH OF SANTA MARIA MADDALENA OVERLOOKS THE SEA