What's it all about....Amalfi???

The centerpiece of Amalfi is the Piazza, where the Cathedral sits. This is a common meeting place amongst visitors and locals alike. Hard to miss all the gold and mosaics!

In Medieval times, Amalfi was one of the four Repubbliche Marinare (along with Venezia, Genova and Pisa) which were a dominant commercial force throughout the Mediterranean and extending to the Orient.

Funny thing, you are walking along and come across a sign pointing to Furore, a small, sleepy fishing village nestled at the bottom of the cliffs between Amalfi and Positano. If you want to learn more about Furore just click here.

Amalfi was once a maritime superpower with a population of over 70,000. Most of this Old city and people slid into the sea during the earthquake of 1343!! You would find Approximately 6,000 people living there at the present time. During the peak summer months this number increases dramatically with the onslaught of tourists.

Most of its restaurants and hotels are near the Piazza Duomo or along Via Lorenzo or Via Capuano. This area does not have as many hotels as Positano.

The center of town contains many, many shops - remember to compare prices and shop around to get the best buys!!

From here you can take a leisurely walk to its neighbor, Atrani. Atrani has White-washed alleys, arches and a smaller piazza. It even has its own small beach.

Amalfi has a long history of hand-produced paper products. Outside the city, in the Valle dei Mulini, this tradition lives on at factories like Amatruda and Antonio Cavaliere which sell the elegant, handmade letter paper and business cards which have all but disappeared from everyday use. People are using the internet more and more to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. I cannot recall the last time I wrote a personal letter to anyone.

The coastal road along the Amalfi Coast is famous for its hairpin bends, fantastic views and general scariness. The busy artery winds along the cliffs, affording glimpses of blue sea directly below. Read thru my page on Positano and the journey with Giuseppe as he drove like a professional stunt driver. The towns are all built at a very steep angle, so streets zigzag backwards and forwards. Many buildings - including hotels - are only accessible by steep alleys and stairways so bring the comfy shoes or sneakers with you! I hope I can do all the stairs when I go back in 2007!

The public transport along the coast is cheap and fairly efficient. 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.

Ferries connect the principal towns of the Amalfi Coast area, and can be much quicker than buses. Travelmar (tel. +39 089 872950) 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. Salerno to Amalfi takes 35 minutes, and costs €4, with eight departures daily in each direction.

The nearest airport to the Amalfi Coast is Naples Capodichino.

To find out information on hotels in Amalfi...just click on this link www.exploring-the-amalfi-coast.com/amalfi-hotels.html !

For suggestions on restaurants click on this link www.exploring-the-amalfi-coast.com/amalfi-restaurants.html!

And...don't forget activities! Click on this link for fun things to do in Amalfi www.exploring-the-amalfi-coast.com/amalfi-activities.html to find out what is hot and what is not!

The link below for Viator is one of my preferred vendors! This company offers inexpensive transfers from Naples to the Amalfi Coast as well as inexpensive day trips to nearby Capri. Check it out. Let them take the hassle out of trying to book it while you are there.

Also check out my page on Rent a Villa. They offer villas throughout the Amalfi Coast area at reasonable prices.

Click on this link to be taken to my Villa page - www.exploring-the-amalfi-coast.com/amalfi-coast-villas.html

To purchase books on the Amalfi Coast of Italy just click here to bring you to Amazon.com... Amalfi Coast Bestsellers

"You're the only one who can make the difference. Whatever your dream is, go for it." ~ Earvin Magic Johnson ~