Amalfi: the maritime republic
An ancient maritime republic, Amalfi surprises with its Arab-Norman cathedral, the Cloister of Paradise and alleys full of paper and lemons.
A powerful past
In the medieval centuries Amalfi was the capital of a maritime republic trading across the Mediterranean; the Tavole Amalfitane were among the earliest maritime codes in history. The sea was its wealth and remains its stage.
The cathedral and cloister
The cathedral of Saint Andrew rises with its staircase above the square, between a medieval facade and the Cloister of Paradise with its intertwined columns. Inside, the baroque mosaic of the nave and the crypt keep the legacy of the great era.
Paper, lemons and sea
In the valleys behind the town, paper mills worked for centuries and can be visited in the paper museum; the Sfusato lemon and the fried-fish tradition complete the experience. The little harbour lets you continue to Capri or Positano by sea.
Getting there
From Pompei the journey goes via Sorrento and continues by coast bus or ferry, about 2 hours altogether. The last curve that opens onto the harbour and the cathedral is among the most memorable views in Italy.