Amalfi

Amalfi is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, and once you have experienced the beauty of this part of the world you will understand why. The coastline includes some absolutely gorgeous towns that hug the mountains, along with beautiful beaches and jaw-dropping scenery. There are regular bus and train services that link to most of the popular destinations along the coast. Furthermore there is a multitude of high-quality hotels, world-class restaurants and amenities if you wish to base yourself here.The first thing we should warn you about if you are planning on visiting Amalfi, is the road in. It literally hangs on the edge of the cliff all the way, and much of your time will be spent with your bus manoeuvring around other vehicles on this very narrow stretch of road.

So, if you are ready for the challenge of the road, then you will enjoy this small picturesque fishing village hidden at the base of the steep cliffs, along with some of the other towns dotted along the coastline.

We stayed at the Hotel Fontana and had rooms overlooking the ocean. It was really quite spectacular and the rooms were well appointed, the staff were friendly and everything was at your finger tips. When you left the hotel you found yourself right in the main square of the town.

Amalfi is comprised of narrow, winding streets which lead off in all directions. There is plenty of shopping to be found, and also plenty of excellent restaurants. The town comes alive at night with its bright lights, and tourists sitting at the many outdoor venues having dinner. This is one of the things that makes Amalfi so magical.

Here are some of the highlights of this quaint town and surrounding areas.

Duomo di Sant’Andrea – just a few steps away from the Hotel Fontana the Duomo is a major feature of Amalfi. Its position is strategic, not only because it is central to the rest of the city, allowing an orderly urban development, but it has protected the city from enemy attacks. It has a rich history so it is worth taking some time to read about it before you visit.
Pompeii – a visit to Pompeii is a must if you are staying along the coastline. It takes about an hour to travel to the site from Amalfi but this visit is well worth the time. Pompeii is extremely well preserved and there is so much information given by the guides that brings this Roman relic to life. There is so much evidence relating to their customs, their lifestyle and some interesting stories about life as a roman citizen.
Belvedere Cemetery – sitting high above the town the cemetery provides some fantastic photo opportunities looking down on Amalfi. There is a lift which can take you up to the cemetery, but best to check time of year as the lift does not operate all year round. The other option is to walk up to the cemetery, but there are hundreds of steps so a good level of fitness is required.
Positano – take time to visit some of the other towns along the coastline. They are filled with beautiful restaurants, lovely beaches, lots of lovely boutiques and plenty of streets to lose your way while you soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful part of the world.

Travel Tips

There are plenty of shops hidden in narrow, winding streets and lanes that demand your attention. You will appreciate just wandering through them and taking your time to soak up the atmosphere.

Travel Alerts

We have given fair warning about the winding roads which literally hang on the edge of the cliff. Our suggestion is to keep your eyes straight ahead so you do not have to look down at how close the bus travels to that cliff edge!
We found this part of Italy very safe, and we were not concerned about our belongings at all.