Amalfi on your own

• Family friendly
• Walking
• Weather dependant

The Amalfi Coast is the region of Italy’s coastline located just south of Naples. The Amalfi Coast contains the famous coastal resort towns of Amalfi, Positano and Ravello.

Amalfi was originally a Roman colony, which gained more and more importance over the centuries, and after the fall of the empire it became a diocese (596 AD). Later, the whole coastline, along with Amalfi, became property of the Duchy of Naples, until 839, when the city declared its independence and became an autonomous republic. The Maritime Republic of Amalfi was soon to become an important maritime commercial center, trading with the whole of the Italian peninsula, North Africa, the Middle East and the Byzantine Empire.

The Republic bought spices, precious stones, carpets and fabrics from the Arabs, and sold them throughout Italy. Soon, Amalfi’s wealth not only attracted the attention of pirates, who were promptly driven back by the city’s army, it also became the target of neighboring states. In 1131, after a long succession of attacks, Amalfi was annexed to the Kingdom of Sicily, although still retaining a certain degree of autonomy in the management of maritime commercial affairs. Gradually, commercial relations with the East began to dwindle, checked by the policies of the Normans and Pisans, who landed on the coast in 1135, to plunder and destroy whatever they found there.

The opulence of the Maritime Republic was by now but a memory, and maritime trade was limited to rare contacts with Southern Italy. A brief scientific and cultural revival occurred around the 1200s, the century in which Giovanni Gioia of Amalfi invented the compass. Over the following centuries, Amalfi’s population dropped considerably, mainly due to the continuing attacks on the zone by pirates. But the greatest disaster hit the region in 1643, when the plague took the lives of a third of the coastal population.

One of the results of this tragedy was the progressive impoverishment of the area, aggravated by the interruption in maritime trade. The economy began to converge on the cultivation of olives, vines, and citrus fruits and on the crafts industry. Around the second half of the 19th century the Amalfi coast began its revival thanks to tourism, and artists such as Ibsen and Wagner drew inspiration from the region for some of their famous works, further fanning the curiosity of travelers to the coast.
Our English speaking driver will meet you at cruise ship terminal of Naples Sorrento and Salerno or at the lobby of your hotel holding a sign with your name on it, then will take you to Amalfi passing along the villages of Agerola, Furore the painted village strait down to Amalfi looking the spectacular ocean view of it. In Amalfi you will have 2 hours of free time on your own and continues until you reach the busy square of Amalfi (Piazza del Duomo) which is located on the seafront. Opposite the port of Amalfi, there is the only bus station along the coast and the shopping area is just behind it. If you want to immerse yourself in the history of Amalfi, there are some interesting places to explore.

Two of the most spectacular are the cathedral located along the coast and the paper mill museum. Behind this square is the main shopping street of Amalfi, which ends at the highest and furthest point of the city. Along the pedestrian street you will find various bars and cafes, not to mention the many shops selling limoncello, casual wear, swimwear, gifts, basic groceries and, of course, pottery. At end of your free time our driver will take you back to cruise ship terminal or to the hotel.

Note for the Guests: You can customize the tour as you wish.