Amalfi
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 6 January 2023
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To the untrained eye, Amalfi may appear as just another pretty Italian seaside town but delve a little deeper and you'll discover a quite illustrious history. Its idyllic setting at the heart of the Amalfi Coast draws visitors from far and wide but its past is compelling.
Amalfi's present-day population is just over five thousand but during the 10th and 11th centuries it was home to more than 50,000 people. During this time it was one of the maritime republics of Italy and one of the most prosperous cities in the world as a result of its trading links with the east. |
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Vestiges of Amalfi's golden age are visible throughout the town but nowhere more so than its beautiful cathedral whose monumental staircase dominates the town's bustling square: Piazza Duomo. The cathedral square is the hub of activity in the centre of the town and the place where you'll find most of the shops and restaurants.
Amalfi's central thoroughfare of Via Lorenzo d'Amalfi is flanked on either side by buildings that gradually rise in height, some of which are hotels with envious views of the town centre. Continuing for around 10 minutes along this street from Piazza Duomo, you eventually reach a place that holds an important place in Amalfi's history. For hundreds of years the town has been associated with the paper industry and at the Paper Museum you can discover this slightly hidden aspect of the local culture.
Of course, many people are attracted to Amalfi not for its history but for its location next to the sea. It has an impressive sea-front and beach at the port area of Marina Grande where there are further places to eat, drink, shop and admire the views. The town's port provides ferry links to many locations including Salerno, Capri, Ischia, Positano, Sorrento and Naples, as well as some of the smaller port towns along the Amalfi Coast.
Just east of Amalfi around the coastal headland is the gorgeous little town of Atrani. It's quite safe to call it "little" because it's officially the smallest municipality (comune) in Italy. The busy Amalfi Coast Road winds its way around the headland the short distance to Atrani but just before you reach the town, there's a car parking facility called Parcheggio Luna Rossa. This is one of the best places to park in Amalfi and it has the added benefit of a pedestrian tunnel to the town centre, allowing you to avoid the busy main road.
There's another large car park in the opposite direction, to the west of the town centre by Marina Grande. Parking is not cheap here but many people prefer the driving option as the buses can be small, cramped and offer very few seats. The area around Marina Grande is also where the buses arrive and the ferry ticket offices are located.
Amalfi's central thoroughfare of Via Lorenzo d'Amalfi is flanked on either side by buildings that gradually rise in height, some of which are hotels with envious views of the town centre. Continuing for around 10 minutes along this street from Piazza Duomo, you eventually reach a place that holds an important place in Amalfi's history. For hundreds of years the town has been associated with the paper industry and at the Paper Museum you can discover this slightly hidden aspect of the local culture.
Of course, many people are attracted to Amalfi not for its history but for its location next to the sea. It has an impressive sea-front and beach at the port area of Marina Grande where there are further places to eat, drink, shop and admire the views. The town's port provides ferry links to many locations including Salerno, Capri, Ischia, Positano, Sorrento and Naples, as well as some of the smaller port towns along the Amalfi Coast.
Just east of Amalfi around the coastal headland is the gorgeous little town of Atrani. It's quite safe to call it "little" because it's officially the smallest municipality (comune) in Italy. The busy Amalfi Coast Road winds its way around the headland the short distance to Atrani but just before you reach the town, there's a car parking facility called Parcheggio Luna Rossa. This is one of the best places to park in Amalfi and it has the added benefit of a pedestrian tunnel to the town centre, allowing you to avoid the busy main road.
There's another large car park in the opposite direction, to the west of the town centre by Marina Grande. Parking is not cheap here but many people prefer the driving option as the buses can be small, cramped and offer very few seats. The area around Marina Grande is also where the buses arrive and the ferry ticket offices are located.
Comune di Amalfi
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Province: Salerno
Region: Campania Population: 4,830 (source: ISTAT 1 January 2023) Size: 6 km² Highlights: Amalfi Cathedral, Marina Grande, Piazza del Duomo Close by: Positano, Ravello, Sorrento, Cetara, Naples, Salerno Recommended accommodation: Hotel Marina Riviera |
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Nearest train station: Vietri sul Mare (21 km)
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