Amalfi In Italy, The Most Precious Jewel Of The Amalfi Coast

Amalfi is the heart of the Amalfi Coast, a strip of about 50 kilometers along a promontory, which constitutes one of the most beautiful coastal areas in Europe.

Surrounded by cliffs, in a kind of maritime valley, it is the most important municipality in the area, perhaps a little less touristically exploited than Positano, but with a lot of charm, natural beauty and history.

A nymph named Amalfi

Its name comes from a mythological love story, it is said that Hercules fell in love with a nymph named Amalfi. As a gift, he founded a city with his name because his eyes were as blue as the blue of the local sea.

When his beloved died, the Greek hero wanted to bury her in the most beautiful place in the world, in Amalfi, in order to make his beloved immortal, surrounded by sea and rocks.

History of Amalfi

This city was an important marine center, it was the capital of the old “Amalfi Marina Republic”, it was founded in 840 and reached its splendor in the 11th century, when Mediterranean navigation was governed by the Amalfi Tables, the code oldest marine in the world.

In 1343 it was hit by a bloody earthquake that destroyed the city and decimated its entire population. They say that most of the old city with its entire population simply slipped into the sea.

Today, it is an important and exceptional tourist destination on the Amalfi Coast, thanks to its unique natural environment, its beautiful beaches and coastlines, its cliffs, incredible landscapes and its attractive mix of history and traditions.

What to see in Amalfi

Beaches

Amalfi has the most beautiful beaches on the Amalfi Coast, highlighting among them the Duoglie-Lido degli Artisti beach, which can be reached through the sea or by going down a large staircase.

Also fantastic is the Marina Grande, near the center of Amalfi, or the Corso delle Repubbliche Marinare beach, where you can even rent a boat that goes around Lugomare dei Cavalieri until you find somewhere to enjoy a good dip on the coast.

Duomo of Amalfi

The Amalfi Duomo is one of the great tourist attractions of the city, it is located in the Piazza del Duomo and is a cathedral dedicated to Saint Andrew the Apostle. It was built in the 10th century and is made up of Sicilian and Arab-Norman masonry.

In it , its bell tower, from the 13th century, and its huge bronze doors from Syria stand out. The interior is dominated by the Baroque style and its mosaics dating from the years 1200 to 1300.

The cathedral underwent many modifications over the years, which imbued it with different styles. The frescoes in the dome are especially beautiful, as well as its main altar.

Cloisters of Paradise

The Cloisters of Paradise are located next to the cathedral, they were built in the thirteenth century in order to be the final resting place of its most important inhabitants. Its Arab arches located on the marble columns that run around the entire contour of the garden stand out.

From there you can access the Crocefisso basilica, which contains a collection of frescoes and religious elements dating from the 1300s. Below the basilica is the crypt that houses the body of Sant’Andrea.

Civic Museum

The Civic Museum is a small museum that contains the Tavole Amalfitane, a version of its famous maritime code, in addition to some other priceless documents.

It is also interesting to visit the oldest paper mill in Europe, which is in the Museo della Carta, where the original paper dams are located and still in operation.

Via Lorenzo d’Amalfi.

If after going to the beach you want to take a walk or go shopping, there is  Via Lorenzo d’Amalfi, where there are a variety of shops where you can find ceramics, limoncello and gifts made of paper.

Valle delle Ferriere

If what you are looking for is nature, the Valle delle Ferriere is home to a fabulous landscape of waterfalls and plant species that have survived time, including endemic species that can only be found in this corner of the Mediterranean.

Amalfi is definitely a jewel of the Amalfi Coast, in fact it proudly gives its name to this beautiful area. A city with a lot of charm, history and traditions that you cannot miss.