AMALFI ITALY
Learn more on Amalfi - travel guide Amalfi
by 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
Learn more on Amalfi - travel guide Amalfi
by 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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