Amalfi

Amalfi is a town and comune on the southern coast of Italy, in the province of Salerno, Campania. It sits along the Amalfi Coast, a picturesque stretch of the Tyrrhenian Sea noted for dramatic cliffs, terraced citrus groves, and pastel houses. The town centers on a rocky promontory with a busy harbor and a maze of narrow lanes that climb toward the hills.

Historically, Amalfi rose to prominence as a maritime republic in the early Middle Ages, flourishing from the 9th to the 11th centuries through trade across the western Mediterranean. It maintained a high degree of autonomy until it was absorbed into the Kingdom of Sicily in 1131. The maritime and mercantile heritage left a lasting imprint on the town’s architecture and institutions, including historic papermaking and the Museo della Carta.

Landmarks include the Cathedral of Saint Andrew (Duomo di Amalfi), a Romanesque-Gothic structure featuring a marble façade, a bell tower, and the adjacent Cloister of Paradise (Chiostro del Paradiso). The town also houses the Museo della Carta, housed in a former paper mill, and the waterfront and harbor area.

Today, Amalfi's economy is dominated by tourism, with citrus cultivation and the production of Limoncello as regional specialties. The Amalfi Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, recognized for its cultural landscape of steep towns, terraces, and historic settlements. The area is connected by the SS163 road, ferries and hydrofoils to Naples, Salerno, and Capri, and is served by the nearby Naples International Airport.