Enjoy Amalfi Coast Holidays!

Added: 06/21/2006

Lying at the gates of Salerno, Amalfi Coast is one of the most charming areas in Italy, surrounded by rugged mountain cliffs that drop into the blue Mediterranean and offering fantastic views that cannot be escaped. This coast is the world's unique for its natural beauty, colors and breathtaking views. Filled with churches, villas and corner shops which are built of the rock making Amalfi coast holidays very popular for tourists coming to Italy.

Whether you are a first time visitor or a frequent guest to Amalfi, you'll be captivated by the beautiful scenery, cultural sites and natural attractions making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. In summer the place is filled by international tourists, who consider their Amalfi coast travel as a unique opportunity to see craggy rocks and inhospitable cliffs that have helped the destination maintain its impressive and charming beauty through centuries. The first tourists started coming here in the early nineteenth century, attracted by the mild climate, beautiful climate and sense of isolation. The coast line is solitary and wild here. The seduction of the wilderness is believed to have inspired artists and muses throughout the ages including Giovanni Lanza, Arthur Meadows, Angelo Della Mura, Achille Vianelli, Lawrence Olivier, Liza Minelli, Liz Taylor, Alberto Moravia, Wagner Greta Garbo, John Steinbeck and more.

Today the Amalfi coast is a picturesque and peaceful seaside resort known for its favorable weather conditions and natural beauty. Plentiful historical monuments and other noteworthy buildings, such as the old dockyards, the Cathedral and Paper Mills tend to be overcrowded during Amalfi coast holidays and vacations.

Regarded as a popular beach resort, Amalfi is home to many public beaches flanking the harbor, while more luxurious beaches and lodges are adjacent to the villages of Maiori and Minori, a short drive along the coast. They are lined with souvenir kiosks, restaurants and cafes thriving during the summer.

Those interested in the rich past of Amalfi should head to the Duomo Cathedral, named in honor of St Andrew. Dating back to the eleventh century, it is characterized by black and white facade and mosaics and is reached by steep steps. Another renowned attraction and a must during your Amalfi Coast holidays, the Cloister of Paradise dates from the XIII century and is home to sarcophagi, broken statues and columns. Among its treasures are fragments of Cosmatesque work, geometric mosaics which one formed parts of altars and columns. The arches serve as a setting for vocal and piano concerts held from July to September.

For art lovers Amalfi Coast holidays are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some of the famous museums of the region, notably the Museo Civico displaying original manuscripts of Tavoliere Amalfitane. Some exhibits are associated with Flavio Gioia, an outstanding merchant adventurer of Amalfi.

For the most scenic walk during your Amalfi Coast holidays, start at Piazza del Duomo and proceed then to Via Genova. You'll pass by scented citrus groves and fragrant gardens, reaching the Valley of the Mills and Museum of Paper. Some three miles west of the coast is the old Emerald Grotto, the cavern famous for its light effects, stalagmites and stalactites.

For years Amalfi Coast has been known for its ceramics and beautiful stores selling regional ware. Many of these can be found at Piazza del Duomo and close to Vietri sul Mare, some 8 miles west of Amalfi. The best outlet here is Ceramica Solimente that has been offering quality ceramics for centuries.

Rate this article:

Bad

Good

Article comments:

No comments for this article yet. Post your comment now!

Return to top of the page