The Divine Coast, all the colours of Paradise!
The Amalfitan Coast, also known as the ‘Divine Coast’, is an enchanted place where the thousands of blue hues of the sea mingle with the soft, pastel colours of the small villages that enliven this area. Recognised by Unesco World Heritage Site in 1997, it has been the destination of great artists and men of letters, including Liz Taylor, Alberto Moravia, Italo Calvino, Wagner, Hugo and Ava Gardner, who found inspiration and well-deserved rest here. The main centre is Amalfi, the first Maritime Republic and, in the past, one of the most powerful ports for trade with the East. Here stands the famous Duomo di Sant’Andrea, with its Arab-Norman bell tower and the beautiful Paradise Cloister.
The Amalfi Coast a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997
After Amalfi, there are no less than 12 municipalities you can visit during your Amalfi Coast travel experience. The lively Positano, a fashionable town characterised by narrow stairways and alleyways, is best known for its handcrafted linen and cotton dresses and elegant leather sandals. The artistic symbol of this town is the tiled dome of the Church of the Assumption, a triumph of green, yellow and blue! Ravello, extolled by Boccaccio in his Decameron, is the classic postcard town, where you can take dreamy snapshots! In the gardens of Villa Rufolo, the German composer Richard Wagner dreamt up the ‘Klingsor Gardens’ of his last musical drama ‘Parsifal’. Today they host the Ravello Festival, one of the most popular and eagerly awaited events of the summer. There is also Vietri sul Mare, renowned for the production of ceramics since the 15th century, Praiano, Tramonti, a village of full-bodied wines, Minori and Maiori, Furore, the ‘painted village’ and renowned for its fjord, and Sala, the oldest village in the area. For lovers of tranquillity, we suggest an excursion to Conca dei Marini, Cetara and Atrani, guardians of centuries-old traditions.
The coast, perfumed by the intense essence of lemon, is rich in beaches, some accessible by sea, others from the main squares of the various villages. Among the most beautiful are those of Vietri sul Mare, Marina Grande of Amalfi and Positano, and the wild Bay of Erchie. Those who want to discover the unspoilt soul of the Amalfitan Coast must venture to the Valle delle Ferriere, a tropical-looking oasis marked by springs and waterfalls, and easily reached from Amalfi. Another naturalistic gem is the Sentiero degli Dei, a roughly 5-hour route from Agerola to Nocelle, a hamlet of Positano. Along this route you can admire a unique landscape from above that will leave you breathless!
Gastronomically speaking, this destination offers truly inimitable taste experiences: from the scialatielli to seafood, a type of handmade fresh pasta, to the colatura di alici di Cetara, Amalfi’s cuisine is based on products from an ever-rich sea! Impossible to end a meal without a glass of limoncello, a liqueur made from the peel of Costa d’Amalfi IGP> lemons.
The Amalfi Coast awaits you with its pastel-coloured villages overlooking the blue, its inlets, fjords, mountain paths with unforgettable views, its art, history and traditions. And of course, its enogastronomy.