Explore the Amalfi Coast

The endless charms of the Amalfi Coast cling tight to cascading cliff faces, and perch above the iridescent azures of the Mediterranean. Hair-pin bends lace the river Nastro Azzurro (Blue Ribbon) around the coastline, through tiny villages nestling into the rock. The coastline stretches from Positano in the west to Vietri sul Mare in the east, encompassing thirteen towns, each offering different attractions. At its centre you'll find the town of Amalfi, which is today a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visions of natural beauty
The undeniable treat of the region is the breathtaking views that meet you at every turn. The neat rocky peninsula falls away into deep lush bays and inlets, giving one a sense of the infinite beauty of the Meditteranean. Whether taking a drive along the thrill-ride-scary roads, meandering up steep stairways into the rock, or enjoying a trip to the top in the cable car, there is nothing to disappoint.

The Mediterranean itself is like a beckoning siren, and once safely at the top, no sooner will you wish to descend. Its expanding azure blue shimmers beneath the sun, at times giving the appearance of liquid silver.

Amid this landscape of acute angles, the settlers and visitors of the region of made their mark, buildings growing out of the rock like moss. Streets zigzag in and out of the terrain, often the only way to reach some buildings. And pitched at the bottom of the precipice, picturesque fishing villages, as natural there as though they had been formed with the cliffs themselves.

Steeped in history
The region is awash with cultural remembrances to glory days and terrible sorrows. Its oldest inhabitant boasts an infamous past, burying the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum in lava and ash. The sites offer a time-capsule of insight into daily life two thousand years ago.

Elsewhere one finds villas and frescoes dating from that day to this. This includes the “painted town” of Furore, and the Roman settlement at Minori.

A rich history of trade and commerce marks the region, which was taking advantage of Mediterranean seafaring before the great Venetian Republic. Since the sixteenth century, the small town of Vietri sul Mare has been a prolific producer of quality ceramics and majolica.

The Amalfi coast is renowned for its diversity; every town has its own character and interesting sites. The most noticeable places to visit on the Amalfi coast are:

• The Duomo (the cathedral) in Amalfi, and its cloister (Chiostro del Paradiso in Italian)
• The church of Santa Maria Assunta in Positano
• The churches of San Salvatore del Birecto and of Santa Maria Maddalena in Atrani
• Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo in Ravello
• The churches of San Luca and San Gennaro in Praiano and their viewpoints
• The church of San Pancrazio in Conca dei Marini and its viewpoint
• The church of Santa Trofimena and the ancient Roman villa in Minori
• The Fjiord of Furore with the Mulino Cartiera (Paper Mill) and the "Monazzeni" of Anna Magnani & Roberto Rossellini Furore

A little luxury
Virtually cut off from the rest of the world until the mid-nineteenth century, when a road was built linking all the villages along the coast, this unique region was first discovered as a tourist attraction by the aristocratic Grand Tours of Europe, undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means, which marked Costiera Amalfitana as an obligatory stop-off.

Since then it has been the hideaway of various artists seeking inspiration, including Joan Miro and Tennesee Williams, but has also seen the glamour of various cinematic stars like Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, and Sophia Loren.

The Amalfi Coast has no shortage of luxury hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants and exclusive bars, as well as various boutiques. Amalfi and Positano, like Capri, attract visitors and charter yachts of the highest prestige. In fact, there’s just about anything self-indulgent that you can spend money on.

Ravello is famous for its elegant villas and beautiful gardens perched high in the mountains above the sea, and for its classical music concerts. Positano, on the coast to the west of Amalfi, is a traditionally 'posh' resort, where incredibly well-dressed tourists wander past exclusive boutiques before dining at even more exclusive restaurants.