Amalfi - Italy Amalfi Coast

In the 4th century Amalfi was founded by the Romans. Like most cities of old it was conquered by many other nations including the Byzantines. From the day of its foundation it florished as a town. Its peak as a trading harbour was in the 10th and 11th century.

Most of the hotels along the coast of Amalfi are right off of the coastal highway and you can only tell by their parking lots or gates that they are there because of the slope. Most of the hotels have a direct path or stairway down to the water.

The cathedral square is the heart of the town. You will also find many neat little cafes and shops there.

A majestic stairway will lead you the St.Andrea Dome of Amalfi that was built in 937. It has a very interesting museum and a cloister. Since 937 parts of the Dome have been remodeled and expanded.

If you continue up the street that the Dome is on you will come upon a rarity: a laboratory where a man named Sig. Cavallieri carries on the paper-making tradition that has been in his family for centuries.

Every piece is one of a kind with different plants and flowers in it. This trade has a long history on the Costiera Amalfitana and has become an Italian tradition.

You can find the paper museum in Via Delle Cartiera #24.

In the Valle de Mulini ( the mill valley) you can see old paper mills, some of which are still used today.
The valley that they are in is also a popular place for short walks or hikes.

In the harbor you can find the Piazza Flavio Gioia; one of its sides reaches into the ocean and there you can see parts of the Arsenala della Repubblica, the old amalfitan fleet.

Ships to Positano, Salerno and the island of Capri leave from this harbor. Some boats also take you on a tour of the Grotta Smeralda (the green grotto). Public transportation also goes to Salerno, Maiori, Minori, Vietri sul Mare, Positano and Agerola.