So where do we begin when listing the 5 Must-See Towns on the Amalfi Coast?
The Town of Amalfi
The largest town along the coast, the town of Amalfi sits in a magnificent natural setting below steep cliffs. Amalfi sits right in the middle of the coast line with both Sorrento and Salerno around a 45 minute drive away in either direction.
Previously the capital of the maritime republic known as the Duchy of Amalfi, the town of Amalfi is a bustling tourist destination. One of the main sights is the Amalfi Cathedral. The Cathedral, pictured above, is accessed via an entrance of sixty-two steps leading up from the main town square Piazza del Duomo.
Ravello
I probably should have included Ravello first in the list. Monica’s parents Sabato and Adele, married in Ravello. Villa Rufolo proved a stunning location for their wedding photos. The building overlooks the main square and is the historical and cultural centre of Ravello.
Located in the same area is Villa Cimbrone. The villa is a private 5-star hotel (Hotel Villa Cimbrone) but the gardens are open to the public and is home to the most spectacular view of the Amalfi Coast.
Positano
Up next in our 5 Must-See Towns on the Amalfi Coast is Positano. “Positano bites deep”, Noble Prize winner in Literature John Steinbeck wrote in 1953. “It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.”
How often do you see a gorgeous photo of the Amalfi Coast with the houses in the cliff and the tranquil sea with a beautiful dome made of majolica tiles in the foreground? Well, it well may be the dome that is part of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, located in the heart of Positano.
The church is located a stone’s throw from the Marina Grande beach. The main beach in Positano also provides access to boat tours to Capri, Amalfi and Sorrento.
Praiano
Praiano sits between the towns of Amalfi and Positano. A seaside resort that, despite the only be a fifteen minute drive away from the tourist packed Positano, has managed to keep its atmosphere as a quiet fishing town.
Shops, cafes & restaurants await visitors along with the spectacular panoramic views you’d expect. Marina di Praia is the main, but small, beach located in a beautiful little cove and is home to a diving club and also numerous boat excursions.
At the bottom of Praiano you’ll find Torre a Mare. The medieval tower sits perched overlooking the sea, as it has done for centuries, and served as a defence against attacks by pirates.
Vietri sul Mare
Considered by some as the ‘Gateway to the Amalfi Coast’, Vietri sul Mare is also the ceramics capital of Campania. The historic centre of Vietri is full of shopfronts tiled in decorative ceramics.
The first thing you’ll notice when arriving in Vietri will be the striking church of San Giovanni Battista. A late Neapolitan Renaissance style building, the church’s dome like many along the Amalfi Coast is covered in ceramic tiles.
Looking to know more about the ceramics? Villa Guariglia, a grand yellow house overlooking the town and the Bay of Salerno, is home to the Provincial Museum of Ceramics. The museum is a worthy stop, away from tourists, on your journey along the Amalfi Coast.
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