Amalfi is a beautiful small town on the scenic Amalfi Coast, a stretch of high coast in the south of Italy famous for jaw-dropping views and a panoramic drive. As the name suggests, Amalfi is the town that gives the name to the area however, it is not just a starting point to visit the coast: Amalfi town is a historical, beautiful town well worth a visit in itself.
Medieval in origin, Amalfi saw a time of splendor in the X-XI century, a time when it dominated the trade routes of the Mediterranean. This success gave it beautiful and important architecture and wonderful landmarks we can still admire. Because of the beauty of the landscape and the important history, Amalfi is one of the most beautiful small towns in Italy and an Italy must see.
You can see Amalfi’s highlights in one day.
The two main reasons to visit Amalfi town are the beauty of it location and its important history.
Amalfi lies on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, along the long rocky high coastline called the Amalfi Coast, stretching into the sea West of Salerno. The town is sandwiched between the water and the mountains and has the typical appearance of the towns in the area: mostly vertical, negotiating the space defined by the geography of the land here, with pretty colorful houses and an important church tower bell visible from the water.
Amalfi was one of the 4 Maritime Republic of Italy, cities with powerful fleets dominating the trade routes of the Mediterranean (others were Venice, Pisa and Genova) and this brought to the city wealth and power especially in the X and XI centuries, when Amalfi was at the height of its power.
The architecture of the town is very much affected by the presence of the sea and the commercial opportunities and risks that came from maritime domination and this makes the town of Amalfi a wonderful place to deep dive into the history of those times. Here you can see important ancient towers, the ancient arsenal, an ancient cloister and you can appreciate the meandering alleys of Amalfi, created to confuse potential attackers (see also below).
The port is very busy and the first impression may be that of a tourist trap however, there area several things to see here: the first are above you head, in the form of the medieval watchtowers still dominating the city! In front of the port, you will see the ancient city gate, now home to many souvenir shops yet still impressive: passing under its archway leads you to the most famous landmark in Amalfi – the duomo square.
The main area of Amalfi depicted in photos is the square with the duomo, the heart of Amalfi town, a lovely Italian piazza full of life and landmarks worth seeing. The duomo dominates the piazza from the top of a high steps and has a distinctive looking facade that suggests medieval origins.
Despite this potentially disappointing recent origin, the duomo is worth a visit and does indeed also has a truly ancient part: the cloister of paradise, which you access from right beside the main entrance. Access to the duomo is free however, access to chiostro del paradiso required a small entrance fee, well worth paying.
As well as the cloister, it is worth noticing the duomo’s ancient tower, whose yellow and green tiles shine in the sun catching the attentions of sailors and boaters. Right in front of Amalfi’s Duomo you will find the Fountain of Sant’Andrea, one of the most distinctive and famous landmarks in Amalfi town.
From Amalfi main square departs a main road, from where many small hidden alley stem out, forming a maze of streets and passageways. Amalfi grew under the constant threat of invasion from rival sea powers and the structure of the city very much reflects the desire and need to protect its citizens, getting the invaders lost in a labyrinth of roads, passages, staircases and hideaways.
The alleys are wonderful to visit: along them you will find pretty corners, balconies, hotels, shops and many hidden courtyards and small opening that make you think of life as it must have been in the past. The town is too touristy for you to find elderly ladies looking out of windows or making gnocchi on the street however, that is very much the atmosphere of the place!
Amalfi is full of cafes and restaurants and sitting down people watching is one of the most popular pastimes here! You can choose between a vast array of places and the only recommendation I can give is to check menu and prices before you commit to a meal.
Amalfi is famous for outstanding cuisine.
