INTRODUCTION:In this guide on
Naples and the Amalfi Coast we wish to provide the traveller with an itinerary around this
marvellous area of Italy and as much information as possible to discover
one of the most admired and visited coastal areas in the world.
Sea lovers will be captivated by its
unrivalled beauty of views and will know picturesque and singular towns
which are the perfect backdrop for unforgettable holidays.
The Amalfi coast has always been linked
to exclusive tourism and luxury with towns such as
Amalfi, Positano
and Ravello to name just the most celebrated of the region.
It is important
to highlight that the area was already an important tourist destination
in the times of the Roman Empire.
Anyway, the strip of the Costiera Amalfitana
has many more towns of tourist and cultural interest, and all the municipalities
that compose
it were declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1997.
HISTORY:The current Costiera Amalfitana lies
over what was the Amalfi Republic, one of the Italian seafaring republics
that dominated the Mediterranean in the 12th century.
The
name of the area derives from the historical capital of the republic:
Amalfi, which is nowadays one of the most visited and beautiful towns
of the coast.
Alter the fall of the Roman Empire,
Amalfi and all the Costiera became part of the Duchy of Naples until
839 when they declared themselves an autonomous republic. From then on,
thanks to its strategic position in the Mediterranean Sea,
the Republic
of Amalfi consolidated its economic power as a maritime republic as
it was the link between the Italian peninsula and the north of Africa,
the Orient and the Byzantine Empire.
This growth and progressive wealth
in the area attracted continuous pirate attacks and the obvious interest
of its neighbouring states. When the relations with the Orient weakened,
it brought the region’s decline and the Republic of Amalfi and the
region impoverished.
Fortunately in the second half of the
19th century the area was chosen by the celebrated Ibsen and Wagner
to spend long periods, it brought the rebirth of an area that is today
one of the most important tourist destinations at an international level.
INTERESTING DATA:Each town that forms part of this marvellous
region deserves a visit for their beauty and beaches but, without a doubt,
Amalfi, Positano and Ravello cannot be left off an itinerary
aimed at exploring some of the most beautiful places throughout Italy.
It is evident that for its closeness,
the splendid
Sorrento and Capri, though geographically speaking are
not part of the Costiera, should be included in a travel around Campania.
These two places of perfect beauty give a panorama of the coast that
is impossible to describe in words.
Sorrento boasts wide observation decks
that give
unique vistas of Naples and Vesuvius, as well as the spectacular
sea in front of this precious coastal town. Its cliffs are breathtaking
and these unique sceneries have drawn celebrities from different fields
who have chosen Sorrento as a tourist destination, together with an
endless number of travellers who year after year visit this town that
has all the attractions to turn your holidays into a unique experience
in your life.
The narrow and winding
road that connects
Sorrento and Amalfi gives marvellous vistas of the region as it sweeps
by the highest and most vertiginous cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean
Sea.
There is no way to complete a trip
to the region without visiting
Capri. The marvellous and outstandingly
famed island that in the 50s turned into the meeting point of the international
jet set and which unlike other towns which have been losing part of
their glamour as years went by, Capri still is an electee as a tourist
destination at an international level.
Its celebrated and much photographed
central piazzetta is packed with luxury shops, exclusive restaurants
and prestigious cafes. There are many tourists who go on excursions
on a day trip from Naples and Sorrento by ferries that constantly connect
these towns with the splendid island. From the cable car running to
the highest part of the island the vistas to enjoy are dreamlike.
Another city we will deal with is the
singular, chaotic and marvellous Naples, a city which for its artistic,
cultural, historical and gastronomic legacy has contributed to its historic
centre being declared as a World Heritage by UNESCO.
Traces of the Greeks,
Romans, Normans and Spanish were left in the city as they took power.
Naples hides artistic wonders and besides enjoying the historical legacy
of this important cultural centre, the traveller has to feel and experience
a city which hardly has a rival in the world.
In this guide the cultural activities
which take place in the region are also referred to, as well as the
gastronomic tradition of the area, no doubt one of the most varied and
delightful of Italy.
In this travel guide, you will also find useful information about how to find accommodations and
Villas in Amalfi Coast but also Hotels, Apartments and
Villas in Italy.
You can also visit our corporative website where you will find accommodations in Italy and also
Amalfi Coast Villas.
We trust the content of this guide
to be useful for those who are organizing a trip to the region and will
awake the curiosity of those who are just thinking about what destination
to choose.
