Visit Atrani
Atrani is situated in Campania between the sea and high cliffs, at the entrance of Dragon Valley. It is on the Amalfi coast close to Amalfi itself and classified as one of the 'most beautiful villages in Italy'.
With its typically medieval urban structure, its landscape and its beach Atrani offers many tourist attractions - although a small village, there are many places to visit, in part because at the time of the Republic in Italy it was the favourite residence of the most noble families of Amalfi.
The most representative monument in Atrani is the Church of San Salvatore de Birecto, where the coronation of the highest government officials once took place. Remodelled in the neoclassical style, the church is actually very ancient. Founded in 940, it contains a marble pluteus from the 11th century, showing reliefs in a Byzantine style and some figures derived from the Lombard style. The bronze door was made in Constantinople in 1087 by the nobleman Pantaleone Viaretta.
On the slopes of the mountain behind Atrani is the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, built in the 13th century as a thanksgiving to Our Lady by the inhabitants after their deliverance from the Saracen pirates. The church consists of a single rectangular room covered by a barrel vault, lit by two windows from the Baroque period. In the sacristy there is a cinerary urn of white marble. Inside the church there is a painting by Andrea from Salerno (1484-1530, and after Antonello da Messina (1430-1479) the most remarkable Renaissance painter of South Italy), representing the “Doubting Thomas.”
Next to the church is the so-called Masaniello Cave, beneath which is the house of Tommaso Aniello aka “Masaniello” (1620-1647), the famous Neapolitan who led the insurrection against the Spanish in 1647. Just above the old road linking Atrani and Amalfi, lies the so-called Cave of the Saints, probably part of the ancient Benedictine monastery of Saints Quirico and Juliet, founded in 986. The cave is shaped like an irregular quadrilateral, with walls decorated with Byzantine-style frescoes, dating from the 12th century and depicting the four evangelists. St. George stands on a green background, with an arm raised to hold a lance.
In front of the Church of Carmine you can see the remains of the wall which, in medieval times, surrounded the village, while on the inside there is the ancient northern gate of Atrani.
The church of Santa Maria del Bando, built in the twelfth century, is situated on a rocky hill under the “Torre dello Ziro”, which overlooks both Atrani and Amalfi. It is also called the “Torre del Bando” ["Tower of the announcement"], because it was here the sentences and bans were read to the people during the Republican period.
Atrani cuisine
The old traditions of Atrani are also preserved in the local cuisine, which reflects the Neapolitan cuisine, using fish, seafood and traditional recipes. Among the types of fish, note especially the so-called “blue fish”. Other notable local products, besides fish, are the cheeses from the hills (mozzarella, provole), and fresh tomatoes "a piennolo," that is grouped in clusters, which are kept until winter. We suggest tasting also the pasta such as the "scialatelli" and “laganelle”. Atrani have also delicious desserts, like "o 'bocconotto" with cream and cherries and “o pasticciotto”, which is more abundant; the “cassata” or the “sfusato of Amalfi”, which is undoubtedly the finest in the Mediterranean. Among the liquor made from ancient peasant recipes the “limoncello” is most famous, but try also the “nocino” (or "nocillo").
See also history of Atrani