Amalfi Coast Travel Guide: Unparalleled Coastal Views

The cathedral in Amalfi is a striking statement of the town’s history as a maritime superpower in the 11th century. Dating back to the early 13th century, the cathedral was originally built to serve as home to the relics of St Andrew the Apostle, which arrived in Amalfi from Constantinople in 1208. Between 10am and 5pm, the cathedral is accessible through the Chiostro del Paradiso as part of a four-section museum.

Get the bus or boat from Amalfi to the Grotta dello Smeraldo, located four kilometers west of the city. Named after its iconic emerald glow, the Emerald Grotto is the unlikely home of an underwater nativity scene, or ‘presepe’. These ceramics were submerged 4m below the water in 1956, and have been a sight of traditional pilgrimage for Italian divers ever since.

Housed in a 13th-century paper mill, the oldest paper mill in Europe, the Museo della Carta lovingly and faithfully celebrates the cotton-based paper production and subsequent wood-pulp-based paper production in Amalfi. The museum has beautifully preserved original paper presses that are still in working order to this day. Remember to pick up a quaint item of stationary in the gift shop on your way out to mark the experience.

The Amalfi Coast is renowned for its fresh seafood and fish, caught daily and prepared fresh to order. This seafood can be particularly enjoyed in a variety of pasta dishes such as spaghetti con alici e finocchietto selvatico and spaghetti alle vongole. The area is also known for its creamy, luscious mozzarella di bufala, especially in a light insalata caprese. Wash it all down with a local limoncello, which has used the same recipe for centuries.

The Il Sentiero degli Dei, or ‘path of the gods’, is an old, ancient mule route from Bomerano to Nocelle. Today, it is a fantastic coastal hiking trail, with a diverse terrain that ranges from agricultural hills, to daunting clifftops, to caves that are begging to be explored. As you walk along this 4 mile (6.5 kilometer) trail, it will be clear to see how the spectacular views conjured up mystical images of sirens, gods, and ancient myths.

Nestled at the foot of Positano village is the grand, parasol-packed beach of Spiaggia Grande. Visitors can either rent a parasol and sun bed from the nearby bath house, or you can lay down your towel for free on the central section of the beach. Break up your day of sunbathing and swimming by indulging in the fresh taste of the local cuisine at one of the many beachfront restaurants that line the edge of the Spiaggia Grande.

When you are visiting Positano, no matter where you are, you will be able to catch a glimpse of a colorful mosaic dome atop the skyline. This dome belongs to Positano’s iconic church, originally a 10th-century Benedictine Abbey, before being rededicated as the Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption. The Virgin Mary became the patron saint of the church after a Byzantine icon was brought to the village in the 12th century- an icon that can still be seen above the altar today.

If hiking and checking out the architecture isn’t quite your cup of tea, then why not check out the local nightlife in Positano? In fact, the coastline of Positano has a completely different vibe after the sun has set, with many fantastic clubs to experience. In particular, you must pay a visit to the beach-front nightclub carved into the rocks of the eastern Spiaggia Grande, partying in a cave at the Music in the Rocks club.

The Church of San Salvatore de Birecto is where the coronation of the most important government officials once took place. Though it was remodelled over the years into the neoclassical style of architecture, the church was actually founded in 940. This can be seen particularly in the 11th-century marble pluteus, Byzantine-style reliefs and Lombard-style figures. The most notable historical feature of all is the bronze door to the church, which was made in 1087 in Constantinople by a prominent nobleman named Pantaleone Viaretta.

This church was built to commemorate Saint Mary Magdalene in the 13th century, after the inhabitants of Atrani were spared from the bloodshed of the Saracen pirates. Nestled into the slopes of the mountain behind the city, this church consists of only one singular room, with a barrel vault set atop, and two Baroque windows.

When you visit the church, make sure to check out a painting of Doubting Thomas by Andrea from Salerno (1484-1530), one of the most highly-regarded Renaissance painters in southern Italy. And if neither art or architecture take your fancy? It is still worth the trip just for the breathtaking views of the coast.

The Furore Fjord is situated on the stretch of the Amalfi Coast that follows the SS163 state road, between Praiano and Conca dei Marini. You can find the Grotta dello Smeraldo only a few kilometers away, Positano ten kilometers away, and it is 25 kilometers to Sorrento.

The Furore Fjord has a tiny pebble beach that is nestled at the foot of the cliffs. To get to the beach, climb down the 200 step staircase that begins at the coastal highway at the top of the cliff.

For those who would like to relax and sunbathe on Italy’s best kept secret beach, it is highly recommended that you get down there first thing in the morning. This is because the cliffs block out the sun in the early afternoon, leaving the beach shaded.

Parking is almost non-existent in the area, except for diners at one of the nearby restaurants. Therefore, we recommend getting the bus if possible. There is a bus stop on the bridge over the Fjord that is part of the Amalfi to Sorrento bus route that is very accessible and uncomplicated.

Visiting the Furore Fjord beach is free, though this means it can sometimes get quite crowded on sunnier days. However, you can benefit from a stand that rents sun loungers and umbrellas to visitors so you don’t have to worry about carrying a lot of things down the steps to the beach.