Overview
Like the rest of the region, the Amalfi Coast lies in a Mediterranean climate, featuring warm summers and mild winters. It is located on the relatively steep southern shore of the Sorrentine Peninsula, leaving little room for rural and agricultural territories.The only land route to the Amalfi Coast is the 40 kilometres (25 mi) long Strada Statale 163 which runs along the coastline from the town of Maiori in the east to Positano in the west. Thirteen municipalities are located on the Amalfi Coast, many of them centered around tourism.
The Amalfi Coast is known for its production of limoncello liqueur as the area is a known cultivator of lemons, known as sfusato amalfitano in Italian, which are grown in terraced gardens along the entire coast between February and October.Amalfi is also a known maker of a hand-made thick paper which is called bambagina. Other renowned local products are a particular kind of sardines
(local Italian: alici) from Cetara, and the colorful handmade ceramics
from Vietri.
Site: Costiera Amalfitana (Amafi Coast)
Location: Italy
Year Designated: 1997
Category: Cultural
Reason:
This quintessentially Mediterranean landscape blends centuries of
artistic and architectural accomplishments with one of nature’s perfect
panoramas.
* * *
Italy's
Amalfi Coast boasts a classic Mediterranean landscape, a sensual blend
of both natural and cultural wonders. The breathtaking terrain includes
dramatic coastline topography scattered with terraced vineyards,
orchards, and pastures—often with enchanting views of the vibrant waters
below.
Kind climate, abundant
resources, and natural beauty have drawn people to this coast for many
centuries, and the Greeks, Romans, Normans, Saracens, Arab-Sicilians,
and many others have left their mark. Amalfi communities often cluster
along cliffs, their terraces blending into the rock to add their own
picturesque charm to the natural beauty of the coast. Upon closer
inspection, towns like Amalfi and Ravello are home to many examples of
artistic and architectural excellence—not a surprise, since this stretch
of the Sorrento Peninsula has long attracted famous artists of all
stripes.
Amalfi itself thrives as a
picturesque tourist center but in the 11th and 12th centuries the city
centered the Amalfi Maritime Republic and was a naval power to be
reckoned with throughout the Mediterranean. Amalfi’s ports also saw
extensive trade with North Africa, and the city retains cloisters of
Arab-Sicilian architecture throughout, as well as the Arsenale—a
partially preserved medieval shipyard from a glorious era.
In
Paestum, columned temples to Poseidon, Hera, and Athena stand in what
was, from the seventh century B.C., the Greek city of Poseidonia. These
breathtaking structures are among the best preserved of their kind to be
found anywhere in the world.
Until
the 1800s the coast’s steep terrain meant that overland access to the
region was possible only by mule. While many oases of quiet can still be
found here, particularly away from tourist centers, the Amalfi Coast
has changed irreversibly since then. But echoes of far more distant eras
remain, including ancient cathedrals, gardens, and Roman villas like
Anacapri’s Villa di Damecuta, possibly built by Tiberius.
One
of the most enjoyable things to do on the Amalfi Coast is to simply
find a spot where you can soak it all in. Among the top locations is
Monte Solaro, a B&B in Anacapri with stunning views of the twin bays
Salerno and Naples.
How to Get There
Trains connect Naples with Sorrento and Salerno. Boats also run to many Amalfi Coast towns during the warmer months.
When to Visit
Consider
visiting in the spring (May) or fall (September-October), when the
crowds drawn to this world-renowned beauty spot are at their lowest.
How to Visit
There
are many ways to experience the coast but none quite like an end-to-end
drive of its precipitous, winding, coastal highway. The National Geographic Road Trip: Amalfi Coast, Italy offers one outstanding itinerary. For those who’d rather leave the driving to others, bus services run up and down the coast.
