Modest in size, Amalfi is literally a paradise for a vacation in southern Italy. Medieval houses like nest of swallows are piled on the picturesque slopes that go directly to the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea. All of them are entangled with stairs, and cozy green gardens are laid out on terracotta roofs. It seems that some brilliant artist painted Amalfi, he is so unreal and magical.
However, Amalfi is famous not only for its incredible landscapes. The rich history, sights and culture of Amalfi made this cozy town worthy of inclusion in the list of the World Heritage of Humanity.
So if you still choose where to relax on the coast in Italy, stop at Amalfi. We are sure this city will give you an unforgettable experience.
How to get to Amalfi in Italy
Amalfi is located in the Campania region of the province of Salerno. The nearest international airport is in Naples. Book plane tickets to Naples in the form below.
The distance that must be overcome from Naples to Amalfi is about 70 km. True, choosing public transport, in most cases you will have to do a transplant.
Bus
The only direct option to get from Naples to Amalfi is to use the local bus SITA Sud. It serves the entire Amalfi Coast. A direct flight departs only 4 times a day at 9:00 at 14:00 at 14:30 and at 17:30. Conversely, only in the morning at 5:45 and 6:20. You will have to spend 2 hours on the way. Tickets for June 2018 are 8 euros. The current schedule and cost is best found on the official website of the trucker.
The only way to get direct from Naples to Amalfi is to use the bus
A train
When planning a trip from Naples to Amalfi by train, you will have to make one change in Salerno. However, unlike buses, trains run much more often, approximately every 15-20 minutes. The train will spend from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours on the way to Salerno. Find out the detailed schedule and book your tickets in advance here.
From Salerno to Amalfi will have to get all the same bus company SITA Sud. True, buses run along the coast much more often than from Naples. Travel time is 1 hour 15 minutes. Detailed schedule and ticket prices can be found here.
Ferry
From May to October, ferry services connect the towns of the Amalfi Coast. Transportation is carried out by several companies. Among them are Gescab and Coop. Sant'Andrea. The first will allow you to get from Naples to Amalfi with a transfer to about. Capri, the second - connects only the towns of the coast. Amalfi can be reached from Salerno, Sorrento, Positano, Majori, Minori, Cetara and about. Capri. The current schedule and cost of tickets is best found on the official websites of carriers using the links above.
In summer, you can get to Amalfi by sea
Auto
For those who are not used to waiting and adjusting to the public transport schedule, a car will be the best way to get from Naples to Amalfi. You can rent a car directly at the airport, or in advance, for example, here.
By car, follow the regional road E45, then the local SS366. The road runs along the coast, along the route there are serpentines. True, the picturesque views will surely force you to make more than one stop.
Taxi
And finally, the last is not the most budgetary, but a comfortable way to get from Naples to Amalfi is to pre-order a taxi. You can find out the cost and place an order here.
Amalfi Hotels
Amalfi is a popular resort, so there are quite a few hotels for every taste and budget. However, it is worth remembering that in the season most accommodation options may simply be busy. It is better to book accommodation in advance, ideally a few months before the trip. An excellent service that allows you to do this is booking.com. A convenient filter system and an intuitive interface will help you find your dream home in minutes. You can select from the link below
Amalfi beaches
In the town itself, conveniently located on the rocks, there are not so many beaches and most of them are privately owned by local hotels, so only guests of these hotels can relax here.
The most popular tourist destination is Santa Caterina Beach, located on the territory of the five-star hotel of the same name. For guests on the beach there is a swimming pool, umbrellas, sun loungers and various cafes. The hotel itself is an elegant villa with a lush garden and a health center.
Most beaches in Amalfi are private areas of local hotels.
The Il Saraceno Hotel is simply chic on the beach, comfortably nestled within the walls of an Arabian fortress.
Small private beaches are also available at the 4-star Aurora and Miramalfi hotels, located near the picturesque harbor and marina, as well as near the Excelsior Grand Hotel.
If you are a budget tourist, and staying in expensive 4-5-star hotels is not included in your plans, you can always use the municipal beaches. True, for this you will have to leave the city.
For municipal beaches you need to go to neighboring towns, for example, in Atrani
A good city beach is located in the town of Atrani, which is only 1 km from Amalfi. It is a very calm and peaceful place. The beach is strewn with fine volcanic sand of black color, for extra. You can rent an umbrella and a deck chair.
Another cozy beach in the suburbs is Santa Croce. Like other beaches, it has both a paid and a free zone. There are no special differences in the infrastructure of the zones here. The sea is clean and you can also rent an umbrella and deck chair.
Amalfi Attractions
Amalfi itself is already a tourist attraction. According to researchers, it was founded by Constantine the Great in the IV century. AD And by the 9th century Amalfi became the first Maritime Republic of the Apennine Peninsula. He had such weight in the Mediterranean, which only Genoa and Pisa possessed. It was the Amalfitans who compiled the code of maritime laws, which was used on the Apennines until the 16th century. Unfortunately, there was a constant struggle for supremacy in the Mediterranean. In the XII century. the Pisans nevertheless plundered the city, and in the fourteenth century. after the devastating flood, a good half of the city buildings were forever swallowed by the sea. After this, Amalfi could not reach its former power. Nevertheless, in his narrow streets he managed to maintain a unique medieval flavor.
If we talk about the attractions of Amalfi - the main one cathedral of st. Apostle Andrew the First-Called. It was built in the 11th century, and already at the beginning of the 13th century. The relics of St. Andrew, who is considered the heavenly patron of the town, were transferred to the cathedral. The cathedral was repeatedly completed and rebuilt. As a result, architecture connoisseurs will be able to discover Gothic, Baroque and more ancient Romanesque and Byzantine motifs here. Oddly enough, with all the variety of architectural forms, the cathedral looks very organic.
Cathedral - the main attraction of the town of Amalfi
Next to it is Chiostro del Paradiso - a place where for 800 years the bodies of noble citizens of Amalfi have been resting. Despite the fact that Chiostro del Paradiso is essentially a cemetery, it is a fairly popular tourist destination.
In the former building of the Amalfi Arsenal you can find out the whole marine history of the republic
You can learn about the sea power of Amalfi in Arsenal of the Republic. During the Middle Ages, it was here that numerous merchant ships were created. The Arsenal of Amalfi in Italy now houses the Museum of the Compass and the Maritime Republic.
Speaking of museums, it is worth mentioning another attraction of Amalfi - Paper museum. In general, paper making played an important role for the city. Back in the XII century. Having bought the production technology from the Arabs, the Amalfitans were one of the first in Europe to produce high-quality paper web. The whole process was carried out manually. In the museum you can get acquainted in detail with the production technology and the necessary equipment. Now amalfi paper is valued quite expensively and is used for the manufacture of works of art.
The paper museum will tell you about the technology of manual production of amalfi parchment
For natural attractions have to go outside the town of Amalfi. The most popular and most visited of them is the Emerald Grotto. The grotto is located near the village of Conca dei Marini. It is a karst cave half filled with sea water. The water in these places has an incredible hue from emerald green to deep blue depending on the weather. It is best to visit the grotto from 12:00 to 15:00, when it is maximally lit by the sun. It is important to remember that in adverse weather conditions the grotto may be closed to visitors.
The water in the Emerald Grotto changes from emerald green to saturated sapphire depending on the lighting
Well, for those who find it difficult to find Amalfi's attractions, you can safely rent a car and go on an unforgettable trip to the neighboring towns of the Amalfi Coast. Ravello, Majori, Minori, Praiano, Positano ... Each of them from Salerno to Sorrento deserves special attention. Impressions are definitely not enough for one vacation.
Other interesting articles:
- Sorrento city in Italy: attractions, tours, leisure
- Salerno in Italy: how to get, what to see
- Positano in Italy - a piece of heaven on earth
- Capri Island. Cocktail of nature, art and social life
- Amalfi Coast: Map and Attractions Nearby
Photos by: wiki-dostoprimechatelnosti.ru, David van der Mark, Elliott Brown, giomodica, Sofia Stefani, Amphipolis, Anastassia N, ArsenG
