Visit Amalfi
Amalfi is a popular town centrally placed within the Amalfi Coast, just south of Sorrento.
History of Amalfi
The town has an interesting history - from the 6th until the the 14th century Amalfi was a very large and important Italian port town. The decline began in the 12th century when the town was besieged and changed hands a couple of times - firstly by King Roger of Naples in 1131 - and its fate was then sealed by a tsunami that hit Amalfi in 1343 and destroyed much of the lower town. It never regained its earlier importance, and has remained a quiet harbour town since that date - until the arrival of tourism in the 20th century.
Visit Amalfi
Amalfi is in a very impressive location, below Monte Cerreto that rises steeply behind the town and on the beautiful Amalfi Coast. It is the largest of the towns on this part of coast, and has a few attractions to admire over and above the general setting and attractive streets, lined with whitewashed houses containing restaurants and boutiques.
The main square in Amalfi is the Piazza Duomo, which not surprisingly (since duomo is cathedral) is dominated by the 11th century Saint Andrew's Cathedral, the very decorative building at the top of a flight of steps that lead up from the square. Within the cathedral there are some large paintings and statues in marble and bronze to admire.
The 13th century Chiostro del Paradiso (next to the cathedral) owes its style more to the Arab world than to the Euopean cloisters that it also resembles. It contains a selection of interesting remains dating in part back to Roman times, and in the 13th century was where the noble families of Amalfi were buried.
Places to visit near Amalfi
Atrani, a little way to the east, is also attractive and much less visited than Amalfi.
There are several walks that leave from Amalfi and head into the hills behind
The Smeraldo Cave (Grotta dello Smeraldo) is a few kilometres outside the town, and can also be reached by boat from Amalfi. A lift takes you down to the grotte itself, where a boat will carry you across the deep green water.