One the most famous destinations of the Coast there is, without any doubt, the city of Amalfi, where the glories of the oldest Italian Maritime Republic still survive, between culture and breath-taking landscapes.
Discover Amalfi in Scooter
Leaving by scooter from Positano, Amalfi can be reached in about 20 minutes.
Amalfi is full of history; in its streets you can still feel its glorious past of Maritime Republic and commercial power. Every four years, in summer, it is possible to attend, the historical “Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics”, which commemorate the splendour of the medieval period.
What to see: 4 unmissable places
The most important monument of the city is the Duomo, which dominates the main square from the top of a monumental staircase and that was founded in the 10th century and rebuilt in the early 18th century in Baroque style. The polychrome facade and the atrium are a reconstruction of the late nineteenth century, but the Romanesque bell tower is original, as that the bronze door made in Constantinople and placed here in 1065.
Deserves a visit also the Cloister of Paradise, adjacent to the Cathedral and built in 1200 as a cemetery for the most important people of the city.
Another place not to be missed is the ancient Arsenal , still intact , where the original structure of the early Middle Ages remained the same and where is still possible to see the sloping floor that was used for the exit of the ships. Beside a lot of instruments and nautical charts, it preserves the Tabula Amalphitana, a code with the maritime laws and customs of the city of the 11th and 12th centuries.
Walking through the characteristic narrows of Amalfi, you will find the particular Via dei Mercanti, almost entirely covered, and called Ruga Nova Mercatorum, as all the shops used to be located there.
The seaside promenade is also very characteristic, it reaches the port and from its tip it is possible to admire the city.
What to eat in Amalfi: Ancient flavors and traditions to be discovered
Beside its history and landscapes, Amalfi is also famous for its gastronomic specialties. Very well known are the “ndunderi”, recognized by Unesco as one of the oldest pasta in the world. It is a kind of gnocchi, mixed with fresh ricotta and served with a simple sauce. Together with the “scialatielli all’Amalfitana”, a typical kind of homemade pasta cooked “allo scoglio” style (with seafood and fresh fish sauce), represent the most typical first course of the area.
Typical of the area is also the “cuoppo” : a cone-shaped foil that is filled with all kinds of fried food. It is served as an appetizer or as an aperitif, but it is also easy to find it as a “street food”. In Amalfi the most typical is the “cuoppo di mare”, with fried fishes like anchovies, sardines, cod, squid and shrimp.
Famous all over the world is without any doubt the limoncello of Amalfi, a liqueur made with the unique lemons of this area of Italy. In Piazza Duomo, it is possible to taste, buy and book a visit to see the limoncello making process. After that, we suggest a stop at the Sal de Riso Pastry Shop, located in Minori. Salvatore de Riso (or Sal) is one of the most famous pastry chefs in Italy and abroad for having created excellent desserts with the typical products of his land, such as the famous “lemon delight”.
Around Amalfi: Trekking suggestions suitable for everyone
For trekking lovers, north of Amalfi , we have the nature reserve of Valle delle Ferriere, one of the most famous natural areas of the Coast with a breath-taking charm. We are talking about a really characteristic place where it is possible to walk in the middle of lemon groves and small waterfalls.
