Learn more on Amalfi - travel guide Amalfi
Author: Giuseppe Longo
The seaside resort of Amalfi lies on the south coast of the
Sorrento peninsula at the northern edge of the Gulf of Salerno ,
in the region of Campania 24 miles southeast of Naples. It lies
at the mouth of a deep ravine, at the foot of Monte Cerreto
(1,315 meters, 4,314 feet), surrounded by dramatic cliffs and
coastal scenery. The largest and most popular resort on this
mountainous stretch of coastline, Amalfi is a popular holiday
base for tourists wanting to explore the area. The Republic of
Amalfi was once a major seafaring power, and the town's
traditions and historical buildings bear witness to Amalfi's
glorious past.
Arrival Plane Naples Capodichino Airport offers
connections to all Italian cities and major European destinations
with traditional or low-cost airline companies. From the Arrival
area of the Airport there is a daily bus service to Sorrento
provided by Curreri, or there are two possibilities to get to the
main train station in Naples: ANM bus 3S (30mins, every 15mins)
to Piazza Garibaldi, or the Alibus airport bus (20mins, at least
hourly) to Piazza Municipio. The nearest Intercontinental Airport
is Rome's Fiumicino, with the possibility of getting to Naples by
air besides the train.
Train The nearest train station to Amalfi is at Salerno, which
is connected by many trains to all of Italy. From Salerno you may
take a taxi, a SITA bus, or a ferry to Amalfi. Naples is next
nearest station. From Naples you can take the Circumvesuviana
train to Sorrento then take a SITA bus to Amalfi via Positano.
For train times please consult the Trenitalia site.
Bus Bus from Rome: A bus company called Marozzi run a fast
efficient coach service from Rome to Amalfi (summer season only)
or to Sorrento (all year round). Rome-Amalfi bus service operated
from 1st June to 30th September, every day except Sundays. The
daily bus leaves Rome at 6am, and stops in Sorrento, Praiano and
Amalfi, arriving in Amalfi at 10:30am.
A company called SITA runs blue buses along the coast, from
Salerno to Amalfi, from Amalfi to Sorrento, and from Amalfi to
Ravello. Other small buses provide transport within the
towns.
Sea Ferries connect the principal towns of the Amalfi Coast
area, and can be much quicker than buses. Travelmar run
connections between Salerno, Minori, Amalfi, Positano and
Sorrento. In Salerno there is a tourist information office to
your right as you leave the station; they can give you a
timetable for the boats.
From Naples Beverello Wharf, the pier in front of
Castel Nuovo, many hydrofoil and ferries depart for Sorrento; the
hydrofoils (aliscafi) are twice as fast as the ferries and the
service is usually more frequent in summer. From Beverello Wharf,
during May to October, there are two daily runs to Amalfi with
Metrò del Mare.
From Salerno there are regular connections operated by Coop to
Amalfi and other coastal centers. Sant'Andrea, Metrò del
Mare and Alicost. Salerno to Amalfi takes 35 minutes, and costs
?4, with eight departures daily in each direction.
Car From Rome and from the north take the highway A1 and A30 up
to Salerno, exit at Salerno Centro and continue on state highway
163 Costiera Amalfitana until destination. From Naples take
instead highway A3 up to the exit at Vietri sul Mare and then
continue on state highway 163 up to destination. Coming from the
south, travel on A3, and exit at Salerno Centro and continue on
state highway 163.
Transport Tickets for the local buses are
available at tobacconists, newsagents and bars. Several rental
companies hire out scooters and cars. Taxis are also
available.
History and Culture According to legend Amalfi was founded by
Constantine the Great, but Amalfi is first mentioned in the 6th
century CE, and soon acquired importance as a maritime power,
trading its grain, salt and slaves from the interior, and even
timber, for the gold dinars minted in Egypt and Syria, in order
to buy the silks of the Byzantine empire that it resold in the
West. Merchants of Amalfi were using gold coins to purchase land
in the 9th century, while most of Italy worked in a barter
economy. Later, the whole coastline, along with Amalfi, became
property of the Duchy of Naples, until 839, when the city
declared its independence and became an autonomous republic.
During the Middle Ages it was an independent state with a
population of some 70,000, ruled by self-appointed dukes who
later became hereditary. In 1077 the town was incorporated by
Robert Guiscard in the Norman kingdom; through its active trade
with the Orient it rose to influence and wealth. As a sea power
Amalfi came into conflict with Pisa and Genoa. Amalfi's code of
maritime law (Tavole Amalfitane) prevailed throughout the whole
of the Italian Mediterranean until 1570.
Soon, Amalfi's wealth not only attracted the attention of
pirates, who were promptly driven back by the city's army, it
also became the target of neighbouring states. In 1131, after a
long succession of attacks, Amalfi was annexed to the Kingdom of
Sicily, although still retaining a certain degree of autonomy in
the management of maritime commercial affairs. Gradually,
commercial relations with the East began to dwindle, checked by
the policies of the Normans and Pisans, who landed on the coast
in 1135, to plunder and destroy whatever they found there.
Over the following centuries, Amalfi's population dropped
considerably, mainly due to the continuing attacks on the zone by
pirates. In 1343 a large part of the lower town was destroyed by
a tsunami, and its harbor is now of little importance. But the
greatest disaster hit the region in 1643, when the plague took
the lives of a third of the coastal population. One of the
results of this tragedy was the progressive impoverishment of the
area, aggravated by the interruption in maritime trade. The
economy began to converge on the cultivation of olives, vines,
and citrus fruits and on the crafts industry. Around the second
half of the 19th century the Amalfi coast began its revival
thanks to tourism, and artists such as Ibsen and Wagner drew
inspiration from the region for some of their famous works,
further fanning the curiosity of travellers to the coast.
Churches and Museums Duomo Sant'Andrea The Duomo Sant'Andrea at
the center of the town, originally built in the ninth century to
honour the St. Andrew the Apostle, was remodelled in Sicilian
Lombard-Normanesque style in 1203; the campanile dates from 1180
to 1276. The magnificent portico, with pointed arches, was
completely rebuilt in 1865. The front which was restored in 1890
is decorated with modern mosaic; the fine bronze door were the
first in Italy, made from bronze brought back from Constantinople
by a local nobleman, Pantaleone di Mauro Comite. Inside there are
ancient columns of Paestum, supporting the choir. The crypt
contains the remains of the Apostle St Andrew, brought here in
the 13th century. To the left, in the portico, is the entrance to
the cloister (Chiostro del Paradiso, 1266-68), which contains
ancient sarcophagi, marble and mosaics.
Museo Civico From the harbor it is a short distance by way of
Piazza Flavio Gioia to the Town Hall; the facade is decorated
with modern mosaic. The municipal museum (Museo Civico) is housed
in the Town Hall; its major attraction is the "Tavole
amalfitane", a medieval document with the maritime law of ancient
times.
Paper Museum Housed inside an old paper mill, the museum
exhibits ancient machinery for production of "Bambagina" paper,
which is still in working order.
Ancient Armories of the Amalfi Republic Houses artifacts that
witness the republic's glory as a maritime power.
Historical buildings and monuments Capuchin Monastery About 500m
west of the cathedral, high above Amalfi (also reached by lift
from the coast road), is the former Capuchin monastery (now a
hotel) with a beautiful cloister and affording fine views.
Places of Interest Grotta dello Smeraldo There is an attractive
trip by motorboat (15 minutes) to a stalactitic cave, the Grotta
di Amalfi, also known as the Grotta dello Smeraldo or Grotta
Verde, west of the Capo Conca. Emerald Cave became a marine cave
as a result of changing ground levels due to the influence of
vocanoes in the region. The water is so clear that it is possible
to see through to the bottom (10m below), and is colored a
beautiful emerald.
Events Wagner Music Festival - from June to September.Ravello
This extraordinary musical festival dedicated to Richard Wagner
first debuted in 1953, presenting a series of symphony and
chamber concerts every year, along with opera, ballet, cinema and
theater.
Festa di Sant'Andrea - November, January and June Amalfi's
patron saint is celebrated on two separate occasions: On November
30 (birthday celebration) a statue of the saint is taken from the
Cathedral and carried in a procession through the streets and
squares of the city. June 27 is the commemoration of the miracle
that saved the city from the pirate Barbarossa (1544). The statue
is carried to the sea, where a festival of music and fireworks
awaits the procession.
Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics - May/June Every year
in springtime, Amalfi celebrates her glorious past as a Maritime
Republic with an Historical Regatta, including perfectly
recreated period costumes and sea vessels, representing the four
ancient Maritime Republics: Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa and Venice.
Bizantine New Year's Eve - 31 August New Year's Eve is
celebrated the old bizantine way About the author: www.filcoo.com
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