Best Tourist Attractions on the Amalfi Coast, Italy

Of unparalleled beauty, the Amalfi Coast, along with Sorrento and Capri, is among the most beautiful places I have visited so far.

Breathtaking scenery, colorful villages perched on cliffs, hidden coves ready to be discovered, mountains and sea in the same place, and a coastal road that simply leaves you speechless, this is in a simple description Amalfi Coast.

Here are some places worth exploring leisurely:

1. Positano Village

The most beautiful and colorful city on the Amalfi Coast favorite by tourists. Unlike other cities, there are many steps in Positano, due to the vertical geographical location.

Positano won't bore you late at night either, there are nightclubs and most bars are open late. The city is famous for the manufacture of ceramic tiles, almost all tables and labels are made of ceramic, with a very colorful design, which gives the city of Positano brighter and more saturated colors.

The most famous Way of the Gods is in the vicinity - it ends in the village of Nocelle, from where it leads to a staircase of 1500 steps to Positano.

This hilltop village with colorful houses cascading down to the sea is spectacularly viewed from above. Once you descend into the port area, it seems even more beautiful, with charming boutiques and restaurants overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

There are several car parks in Positano, try to park as close as possible to where you will start to descend to the port, to make it easier for you to return.

A maze of alleys and steps separates you from the beautiful port and, every step of the way, you will find all kinds of restaurants and shops with local products.

Major attractions of Positano are listed below:

1. Sponda

If you come to Positano by bus from Amalfi, you immediately leave at the first station (it's called Sponda), if you come from Sorrento, then you leave at the second station (the driver announces the station).

The road to the center of Positano passes through a very beautiful street, called Cristoforo Colombo, with a view of the whole city. A perfect place to take photos.

2. Murata Palace

At the moment, a luxury hotel, a 17th-century building, which has kept the old charm of the Neapolitan baroque and the sense of history. If you can’t afford to stay in Gioacchino Murata’s palace (see rates), the King of Naples, visit the hotel’s botanical garden and admire the exclusive courtyard and antique furniture.

3. Church of St. Mary of the Assumption

The indicative temple of Positano has the greatest architectural value. Built-in the 13th century in the Roman style, the church of Santa Maria Assunta amazes visitors with a beautiful majolica dome.

In the temple, at the altar, is preserved the protective icon Positano - Black Madonna, created by a Byzantine icon. Be sure to go inside to see the refined classic interior, the columns, surmounted by the gilded Ionic chapters, and the winged cherubim that can be seen from above from each ark.

4. Beaches

The beaches of Positano are comfortable and well-equipped. There are two main beaches: Grande (main), located near the dam of Positano, and del Fornillo. Sand and gravel are everywhere, and there are also sunbeds for a fee. Read also: The Ghost Town of Craco in Italy

5. Disco: Music on the Rocks

The legendary disco in Positano is an entertainment program, which starts at midnight. The Music on the Rocks Club is located on the edge of a Grande rocky beach.

Ravello, the City at the height

Located in the Amalfi Mountains, Ravello - is a refined, well-kept city entirely dedicated to tourism. It's a pretty bohemian atmosphere. No wonder Wagner, David Lawrence, and Virginia Woolf spent all their time here.

Now Ravello is famous for its gardens and spectacular views, the most beautiful on the Amalfi Coast. From the city, you can walk down to Atrani in about 40 minutes.

Ravello, which we like to call the city at height, is the only city on the Amalfi Coast that has no opening to the sea, but that, in a way, makes it special. Perched on the rock, 350 m above the Mediterranean, Ravello is the hidden treasure of the Amalfi Coast. Its beautiful gardens have delighted visitors for centuries.

Famous actors, musicians, and artists came here to find peace and inspiration because, only from here, in Villas Rufolo and Cimbrione, you can have the most spectacular views of the coast.

Today, Ravello is known worldwide as the City of Music, thanks to the music festival that takes place here every summer, dedicated to Richard Wagner.

It is best to arrive as early as possible until it is crowded. Remember, parking costs and is charged per hour, here I paid about 20 euros and stayed a few hours. Yes, we know, it is not the cheapest destination but you will feel that it is worth every penny.

You can start exploring from Piazza Duomo (Piazza del Vescovado), where Ravello Cathedral is located. From here, you will be able to admire Scala, another small town perched on rocks. From the main square, through a centuries-old tower, you will be able to enter Villa Ruffolo.

The three main attractions of Ravello are listed below:

1. Villa Rufolo

The villa, which marks the entrance to the Torre Maggiore, was built in the 13th century for the wealthy Rufolo dynasty.

This mansion in Ravello is famous for its gardens in the style of a unique waterfall created by Scott Neville Redom in 1853, with the exotic flora and artistic point of view of the well-defined gardens and Villa Rufolo.

2. The gardens of Villa Cimbrone

The estate itself appeared on a rocky cliff in Chimbrone in the 11th century. Now the villa, which combines four architectural styles, is owned by the Vuilleumier family, who have turned the building into a luxury hotel.

To live in Cimbrone is very expensive, but the gardens, the most beautiful on the Amalfi Coast, can be seen by everyone. Walking through the alleys with statues, look at the Infinite Terrace - it is a symbolic place in Villa Cimbrone.

3. Duomo

The central square of Ravello is beautified by the Duomo - the city's cathedral, built in honor of St. Pantelimon in the 11th century by Orsom Papicio.

Medieval frescoes and Venetian windows have been preserved in the Duomo, the entrance being covered with marble and a three-story bell tower. Roman sarcophagi and Renaissance paintings are also stored inside its walls.

3. Amalfi City

Amalfi, another well-known city, is also the one that gives the name of the Amalfi Coast, and for this reason, it is extremely crowded.

I think there is no organized trip on the Amalfi Coast, which does not include a stop in the city of Amalfi! Being a must-see of the area, we couldn't miss it either, so we made a special trip there, for a short afternoon walk!

From my point of view, the city of Amalfi can be considered the heart of the Amalfi Coast! Located right in its center, along the SS 163 road (Via Nastro Azzurro), the town is the main road and sea junction of the Coast, the end of the line for some SITA buses, but also for boats that make daily or seasonal trips between different localities of the Amalfi Coast, Naples or the Island of Capri.

St. Andrew's Cathedral rises grandly from Piazza Duomo. This lively square is the focal point of the city.

Amalfi consists of many white houses, arranged as if on top of each other, interspersed with narrow alleys and shady gates. It has the advantage of having a beach but, at the same time, the disadvantage of being more crowded and more expensive than Maiori, Minori, Atrani, or Cetara.

The city center is a maze of narrow streets, dotted with shops and restaurants, but the beauty of the city is highlighted in the most wonderful way by sea or in the harbor.

Those coming by ferry have the most beautiful view over the city of Amalfi. We remembered the white city on the Amalfi Coast and we admired it in all its splendor in the port area.

If you spend more time visiting the city of Amalfi or even staying there, it is good to know that there are still many things that can be seen or done in the area.

These include visiting the Amalfi Ceramics Factory, the Paper Museum, or the Museum of Rural Traditions, as well as excursions (per pedes) to Valle dei Mullini or even to the neighboring town of Atrani.

About the fact that from here you can take sea trips to Grotta dello Smerlado, Positano, Salerno or other destinations in the area, I will make some clarifications in a future article, when I will tell you about our day trip by jet boat to Capri Island.

Major attractions of Amalfi are listed below:

1. St. Andrew the First Cathedral and Paradise Monastery

This cathedral, whose construction began in the ninth century, is the symbol of Amalfi. The 62-step ascent to the temple produces a striking impression. The building itself can be called a "hybrid", where the Arab and Norman styles merged, with the predominance of brick in two colors.

On the left side of the Cathedral - Paradise Monastery, we recommend you to visit it first. This way you will see a beautiful vault and immediately you will enter the inside of the cathedral. The cost of entering the monastery: is 3 euros (the year 2021).

2. The Paper Museum

Amalfi became famous for its unique paper, which was invented and created here in the 12th century.

This is one of the oldest paper mills, where the old press, which is in working order, is also carefully preserved. The trip (in Italian or English) to the Paper Museum takes 20 minutes and costs 6 euros.

3. Ziro Tower

Two neighboring villages on the coast - Amalfi, and Atrani, are separated by a rock. On it is the cylindrical tower Ziro, built in the 15th century.

Before, the Ziro Tower was part of the fortress, which served as a watchtower. Now, from the territory of the Ziro tower, there is a unique view of the Gulf of Salerno. How to get there - it is described in detail on the "Tourist routes" page.

4. Ferriere Valley

Ferriere Valley - is a nature reserve, located in the depths of the Amalfi, which has impressive vegetation. There is a fantastic oasis with waterfalls and fascinating tropical flora. The Ferriere Valley is also the route that leads to Pontone. More details on the "Tourist routes" page.

5. Excursion to the Emerald Cave

Between Positano and Amalfi in 1932 was found this unique cave somewhere between 45 and 30 meters in size, called "Smeraldo" because of the emerald color reflected from the water.

The emerald cave is known for its stalactites and stalagmites. Admission - 5 euros. Here from Amalfi to Positano comes the bus, but it is better to use the boat, which runs every hour from early May to November. The price of the round trip is 10 euros.

4. Maiori and Minori Cities

Two sister cities, located close to each other (only 1 km away). By name we can realize that Minori - is the "younger sister", and Maiori is slightly larger in size. The largest beach on the Amalfi Coast is located in Maiori.

There are more hotels and the prices are lower, so if you want to save - visit these cities, especially if you are interested in the sea. There are also plenty of hiking trails linking these two cities, so getting on foot from Minori to Maiori is no problem.

Maiori is located at sea level in a special setting, surrounded by mountains and vine terraces as far as the eye can see. With Mezzacapo Castle in the background, it seems to be taken from a story.

From anywhere, from the beach, from the water, or from the seafront you can admire the beautiful castle, perched on the hill, which offers a wonderful view.

Maiori is proud of the most beautiful and longest sandy beaches on the entire Amalfi Coast, especially in an area where the beaches are almost non-existent, and if there are only parts.

It is a popular resort for its clear waters, sandy beaches, and friendly services, being an inspired choice for both families with children and couples. It is a chic town with a beautiful center and a Corsa Reginna pedestrian boulevard with many restaurants and shops.

Like any resort with access to the sea, it also has a beautiful promenade area by the sea, from where you can admire the impressive medieval castle Mezzacapo, about which we found out that it is currently transformed into a pension.

How beautiful can it be to admire the spectacular scenery of the Amalfi Coast from the window or balcony of this hotel room?

The main attractions of Minori and Majori are presented below:

1. Minori: Central Square

Here you can admire the old small houses in Minori and visit the souvenir shops. The key is nearby. Also located here is the Roman basilica - the Holy Martyr Trophimen.

2. Minori: Roman villa and Museum of Antiquities

Previously, the seaside mansion became the largest archaeological complex among residential neighborhoods, as the garden, and the viridarium - the public gallery.
The Roman Villa is famous for its mosaics and surviving frescoes in time, amphorae, and other discoveries of the 1st century BC, located in the Museum of Antiquities.

3. Maiori: Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare

The main attraction in Maiori refers to the 12th century. It is impossible not to admire the huge tiled dome of the temple, decorated with multicolored majolica.

4. Maiori: Toro Plano Castle

Built on a hill in Maiori, on which a long staircase, the Castle of Toro Plano was built on the ruins of an ancient temple. Today, under the impregnable walls of the dilapidated Castel de Toro Plano, there is a mini-museum.

5. Maiori: the beach

In Amalfi, this is the largest sandy beach, sometimes covered with volcanic sand. The absence of rocks in Maiori contributed to a convenient entry into the sea. The beach in Minori, unlike the one in Maiori, is covered with sand mixed with small pebbles.

Cetara and Vietri sul Mare

We have to admit that, towards the end of the coastline, the road is not so spectacular, but it is worth visiting these two.

Cetara, the small fishing village, sums up a series of white houses grouped around a church, with access to the Mediterranean Sea.

And in Cetara, the port area is really spectacular, from where you can admire the city, having in the background the blue fishing boats that contrast in a pleasant way with the white of the houses, a picturesque image.

Have a coffee at the restaurant on the beach admire the sea, and walk through the streets of the city center, after which you can continue your way to Vietri Sul Mare.

With Vietri Sul Mare, the least touristy of the cities on the Amalfi Coast, the Amalfi Coastline practically ends.

To learn more about the history of the most important industry in Vietri Sul Mare, visit the Ceramics Museum at Villa Guariglia in Raito.

Colored pottery was used to decorate the dome of the church of San Giovanni Battista, which can be seen from almost every corner of the city and from the beach.

The most beautiful beaches on the Amalfi Coast

Many probably want to know if you can sunbathe on the Amalfi Coast. In principle, all cities with access to the sea from the coast have areas arranged for the beach, but some are difficult to access and require the descent of several steps (Positano, Praiano), and others are suffocated by tourists (Amalfi).

There are still beaches in Atrani and Cetara, but they are small towns and, for this reason, quite crowded and with fewer accommodation options.

The area with the largest beaches on the Amalfi Coast is located between Maiori and Minori. These beaches are not only the most beautiful but also the sandiest and easily accessible, without stairs or steep steps.

As a result, if you plan to stay in the coastal area and enjoy a few days of beach and relaxation, choose Maiori or Minori.

We hope we have persuaded you to visit the Amalfi Coast and add this exceptional destination to your list of inspired holidays!

Best Tourist Attractions on the Amalfi Coast, Italy

Alex Cornici

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