| Overview | Things to do | Suitability | Country Info (Italy) |
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From a paper map, Amalfi looks a complete nonstarter: a fat thumb of precipitous limestone sticking rudely into the Mediterranean just south of Naples, with barely a beach or decent road to its name.
However the spectacular scenery of the Amalfi coast and local islands, with its vineyards, citrus and olive groves, almond trees, oleanders, camellias and bougainvillea, have proved irresistible to tourists and consequently has proved one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. Amalfi offers a temperate climate, impressive coastal scenery and a compact, picturesque centre of narrow, sloping streets, gracefully ageing white-render houses and lots of steps. A very busy coast road runs through the town, which measures ¼ ml from N to S and E to W and whose centre is dominated by the Cathedral (or duomo) of St Andrews. Bustling cafes and concessions line the modern seafront promenade, which overlooks the narrow beach and moored boats in the small harbour. At the SE point stands the tower of Amalfi, an ancient look-out point can be found. Cars need special passes to enter the historic centre; otherwise they are limited to the coast road. Locality: Located almost a third of the way up the boot of Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno. 16 mls SW of Salerno, 21 mls NE of Sorrento, 5 mls SW of Ravello. 170 mls SE of Rome. 39 mls SE of Naples and its airport. Amalfi faces south on the mountainous peninsula separating the gulfs of Salerno and Naples. The town straggles up a steep, terraced valley dominated by rugged, wooded mountains. |
