Amalfi According to the Guidebooks
What travel guides say about the town that used to rule the Mediterranan sea
According to Lonely Planet, "it is hard to grasp that pretty little Amalfi, with its sun-filled piazzas and small beach, was once a maritime superpower with a population of more than 70,000. For one thing, it’s not a big place – you can easily walk from one end to the other in about 20 minutes. For another, there are very few historical buildings of note. The explanation is chilling – most of the old city, and its populace, simply slid into the sea during an earthquake in 1343. Today, although the resident population is a fairly modest 5000 or so, the numbers swell significantly during summer, when day trippers pour in by the coachload. Just around the headland, neighbouring Atrani is a picturesque tangle of whitewashed alleys and arches centred on a lively, lived-in piazza and popular beach; don’t miss it."
Frommer's says that, "once a glorious Maritime Republic, Amalfi today is a busy tourist resort with a picturesque old center and a magnificent setting against the steep slopes of the Valle dei Mulini. Its bustling seafront and lively piazza give the place more energy than most of the other towns on the coast, and its central location makes it a popular base for exploring the area."
Michelin writes that, "Amalfi is the main town along the beautiful Amalfi Coast. It has an almost Spanish feel, with tall white houses perched on small valley slopes facing the sea, and providing a wonderful setting with the deep-blue waters of the sea. This is Italy's oldest maritime republic, founded in 840, which enjoyed its greatest prosperity in the 11C and gave its name to the Amalfi Tables, the oldest maritime code in the world."
The Amalfi Coast’s most well-known towns are Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, three jewels, each with its own unique character and beauty and all world renowned. But at the heart of the Costiera is a fourth jewel, Praiano, a less hectic and more authentic town, where many discerning tourists have begun to stay, using it as a base for their Amalfi Coasting. Try Praiano, trust us!
Our Insider Guide to Amalfi
Its closely spaced houses, climbing up the steep hillsides and connected by a maze of alleys or stairs, are reminiscent of the souks of the Levant
Handmade Amalfi Paper and its Museum
Amalfi has been producing its "bambagina" paper since the XIII century
The Special Lemons of Amalfi
Their name is "sfusati amalfitan" and they smell like parfume