Discover the Enchanting Amalfi Coast: A Guide to Italy’s Breathtaking Coastal Paradise
The Amalfi Coast is the stretch of coast on the southern side of the Sorrento peninsula. We are in Campania, on the Gulf of Salerno, while the big Gulf of Naples opens up on the northern side of the same peninsula.
The Amalfi Coast was put on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 because of how beautiful it is.
Every year, people from all over the world come to Italy to see these beautiful landscapes and feel the sun-kissed air.
The part of the Amalfi Coast between Vietri sul Mare and Positano is where most of the action is. In fact, after Positano, the road moves a little bit away from the coast, which becomes completely wild, and the woods and mountains that drop straight into the sea take over the landscape.
There are different ways to see the Amalfi Coast. You can drive along the SS163, which runs along the coast and gives you stunning views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. You can also see it from the sea, with a dinghy, cruise, or ferry. In either case, you can be sure you won’t be let down.
If you have a car, you can start the trip from Vietri sul Mare, which is right next to Salerno.
Vietri sul Mare
It is known as the city of ceramics, which have been made here since Roman times. During the Renaissance, the ceramics became so important in style and size that they became a real source of pride for the city.
So don’t miss out on going to the many shops, the Museum of Ceramics, and the church of San Giovanni Battista, which has a beautiful majolica-covered dome.
Cetara
The second part of the trip along the Amalfi Coast, which goes west, is the town of Cetara on the slopes of Monte Falerio. Most of the people who live and work there are fishermen who have done so for generations. If you want to eat fish for dinner, you’re in the right place. If you want to relax on the beach, you can go to the nearby town of Erchie, which is only 2 kilometers to the south.
Maiori
Another 9 km brings you to Maiori, a tourist resort that combines the beauty of the landscape with the pleasure of enjoying the sea and the beach. It also has a truly remarkable historical and architectural heritage, such as the castle of San Nicola de Thoro Plano, the defensive system of towers, ancient neoclassical buildings, or the many churches (including the beautiful abbey of Santa Maria de Olearia) that are spread throughout the municipal area.
Minori
Just past the promontory is the village of Minori, which is best known as a seaside resort. However, it is also home to the well-preserved remains of a famous Roman maritime villa from the 1st century a.d., which is right in the middle of the town.
Ravello
Ravello is a village that sits on a hill just west of Minori. It is most famous for the amazing view it has of the Gulf of Salerno, which opens at the foot of Ravello. This is the most beautiful view of the Amalfi Coast, which is one of the most beautiful places in the Mediterranean. Many cafes and restaurants have opened in Ravello because it is a popular tourist destination, but you can also enjoy the town by just walking through its streets and gardens.
Atrani
As you get closer to the sea, you reach Atrani, which is the smallest town in Italy (it’s only 0.12 km2). Take a walk through this beautiful town of 800 people, which is a member of the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy, before going on to Amalfi.
It has a little more than 5,000 people living there, but tourists come here all year. Amalfi was started by the Romans, but it became one of the most important maritime republics on our peninsula in the Middle Ages.
From the central Piazza del Duomo, where the beautiful Cathedral of Sant’Andrea and the nearby Cloister of Paradise are, take a tour of the alleys, get lost in the streets, browse the shops, and take a break in a café while watching the flow of tourists in front of you. During the busy season, ships and buses keep coming and going, so people are always coming and going.
Grotta dello Smeraldo
From Amalfi, you can also go on trips to the Grotta dello Smeraldo, an amazing sea cave where you can see big stalactites and stalagmites and where, in the winter, the most skilled and brave believers dive into the water to make a pilgrimage to a ceramic crib that is underwater.
Conca dei Marini
The next stop is Conca dei Marini. In the 1960s, artists and famous people loved to spend their vacations on this stretch of coast, and the crystal clear waters of the bay still make it a great place to go.
Furore
A few turns later, the village of Furore is on top of a valley that overlooks the famous Fiordo di Furore. Despite its name, the Fiordo di Furore is actually an inlet on the coast called a ra that hides a small beach.
Praiano
If you don’t stop to swim, you can always stop to take a picture of the fjord or the murals in the village before going on to Praiano, as long as you don’t pass through here during the Mediterranean Cup, when divers from all over the world compete by jumping from the 28-meter bridge that crosses the fjord.
On the southern side of Monte Sant’Angelo, about 120 meters above sea level, is the town of Praiano. It is a quiet fishing village where you can enjoy the scenery and go to the small beach of Marina di Praia, which has a marina next to it where you can rent a boat to go on a trip around the area.
Positano
The Amalfi Coast actually ends in Positano, the classic postcard town with houses that seem to overlap along the mountain walls and steep stairs that climb between the walls of the houses.
It is the most touristy place along this stretch of coast, along with Amalfi. Because of this, the sunbeds and umbrellas on Spiaggia Grande, the town’s beach, are also the most expensive. In Positano, you can walk around art galleries, shops, and restaurants, visit the beautiful church of Santa Maria Assunta, take a boat ride, or walk along the coast.
We especially show them the Path of the Gods, which goes from Positano to Praiano. It is a difficult trip (12 km), but it is also very interesting. The path starts at Via Chiesa Nuova and goes through the beautiful village of Nocelle on its way to Praiano.
Most people end their trip along the Amalfi Coast in Positano, but if you keep going west, you can switch sides and go to the Gulf of Naples. Sorrento is only 18 kilometers away from Positano, but the landscape there is completely different.
What are the most beautiful villages on the Amalfi Coast?
- Positano
- Amalfi
- Vietri sul Mare
- Atrani
- Praiano
- Minori
- Cetara
- Conca dei Marini
- Maiori
- Ravello