9 Best Things To Do In Amalfi For The Ultimate Italian Getaway

Are you wondering what are the best things to do in Amalfi, Italy? Well, you are on the right page, I’m here to share with you one of my favorite places to visit in Italy! A trip to Amalfi is unforgettable thanks to the clear water, stunning white buildings scattered across the mountain, and a long, attractive beach. The small coastal town and its surroundings also provide a wealth of cultural attractions.

One of the Amalfi Coast’s most ancient towns in Amalfi. When its fleet ruled the trade lanes in the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages, it was very prosperous for a considerable amount of time. Numerous historic structures that attest to the former city’s wealth are still standing today.

Amalfi is a small town, but it offers various activities for visitors to enjoy. Take in the sunshine, explore historical sites, go swimming in the sea, and unwind while sipping a cocktail while taking in the scenery. Here are some of the best things you can do in Amalfi:

Read more: Best Things to Do in Amalfi Coast for an Unforgettable Italy Adventure

Best Things to Do in Amalfi, Italy:

1. Amalfi Cathedral

In the Piazza del Duomo in Amalfi, Italy, stands the 9th-century Roman Catholic building known as Amalfi Cathedral. Saint Andrew the Apostle is honored for his dedication. Its original architectural style was Arab-Norman Romanesque, but it has undergone numerous renovations that added Romanesque, Byzantine, Gothic, and Baroque elements. The adjacent 9th-century Basilica of the Crucifix is part of the cathedral. There are steps leading into St. Andrew’s Crypt from the basilica.

The more recent cathedral was constructed next to the older basilica, which stood on the remains of an earlier temple. According to legend, Cardinal Peter of Capua transported the remains of St. Andrew to Amalfi from Constantinople in 1206 while leading the Fourth Crusade. The crypt was finished in 1208, and the church received the relics at that time. Later, according to the legend, the saint’s bones produced manna.

Amalfi Cathedral’s interior is very beautiful. In the liturgical area, a wooden Crucifix from the 13th century hangs. To the right of the back door is another mother-of-pearl crucifix that was imported from the Holy Land.

As good as the interior is the exterior. After the original front facade collapsed in 1891, a new one was built. While the tiled cupola is fairly typical among the churches in the area, it is made of striped marble and stone, has open arches, and lace detailing that is uncommon in Italian sacred architecture. The mosaics in the tympanum depict “The Triumph of Christ” in a piece by Domenico Morelli, whose original designs are still on display in the Town Hall.

The suffraged Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Salerno-Campagna-Acerno, which is located in the ecclesiastical region of Campania, has its seat in the Archdiocese of Amalfi-Cava de Tirreni. On 101,396 residents, it recorded 100,743 baptisms in 2015. Orazio Soricelli, the archbishop, did it correctly.

Amalfi and Cava de Tirreni, two pre-existing homes, were combined to create the archdioceses of today. The history of the Amalfi bishopric is unknown. Its existence is first mentioned in writing, via Bishop Pimenio, in a letter from Gregory the Great to the Subdive Anthony in 596.

Following him, the succession of bishops was interrupted by a lack of records and didn’t pick up until the ninth century. The Chronicon Amalphitanum and the Chronica archiepiscoporum Amalfitanorum are now the primary sources for studying the city’s history and Amalfi’s diocese.

One of the top things to do in Amalfi is definitely to visit this archdiocese, which has a long history.

2. Paper Museum (Museo della Carta)

A Paper Museum called Museo Della Carta is situated near the town’s mountainside. The museum is located in a real paper mill that was built in the thirteenth century. You can take a guided tour of the museum for 4,50 euros. During the tour, which lasts about an hour, you find out about Amalfi’s past as a center for medieval paper production.

You will be given the opportunity to make wet paper on your own after watching a demonstration of the paper-making process. You will also see ancient paper-making equipment from previous eras, including wooden hammers, water wheels, hemp rags, and more.

There is also a gift shop where you can find some lovely handmade items like pressed flowers, notebooks, and wax seals that are uniquely made for you.

3. Maritime Museum (Antico Arsenale della Repubblica di Amalfi)

Visit Arsenale della Republica to learn more about Amalfi’s illustrious past. It is a museum that was once a medieval shipyard from the 12th century. A centuries-old copy of the 66-chapter medieval laws of the sea is among the exhibits, along with banners, antiquated compasses, and period garb.

The entrance fee to the museum is four euros, and it is a pleasant way to spend about 30 minutes. The Amalfi Musical Show, a live performance telling an intriguing tale about the history of Amalfi, is also located inside this museum.

4. Diocesan Museum of Amalfi

The Diocesan Museum of Amalfi is one of the most visited museums in Amalfi. It is located near the Amalfi Cathedral. It is known to be the home of the 9th Century Basilica of the Crucifix in Amalfi. The original basilica was destroyed during the siege in Amalfi in 839 by the Lombard Prince of Salerno. It was then rebuilt with the help of Pope Leo IV during 847 – 855.

Currrently, the Diocesan Museum of Amalfi is a well-curated museum of the church. It collects important silver, vestments, and other important treasures of the Cathedral. It is an ideal break from the other touristy places in Amalfi.

5. Enjoy the Amalfi Coast Beaches

Nothing compares to an Italian summer beach day. Fortunately, there are many stunning beaches along the Amalfi Coast. Mandigo Beach and Tonino’s Beach Amalfi Coast are two beaches that you can visit.

Mandigo Beach

Mandigo Beach is a tiny but exquisite beach. Your sweltering Italian days will undoubtedly cool off with the beautiful scenery and the azure waters. The beach is still beautiful even if you’re there during low or shoulder season and don’t feel like swimming.

Tonino’s beach Amalfi Coast

Tonino beach in Amalfi is among the best beaches on the Amalfi Coast. Since most of this is private, there are a ton of vibrant and picturesque parasols here. A parasol and a sunbed are available for rent for €10 each. In the end, there is still a small open space.

Read more: Best Amalfi Coast Beaches You Need to Visit for Your Next Italy Trip

6. Villa Rufolo

Villa Rufolo was one of the biggest and most opulent villas on the Amalfi Coast when it was constructed in the 13th century. Banquets for kings and nobility were held here in the 14th century after a wealthy merchant constructed them.

The villa deteriorated over time. Scottish botanist Sir Francis Neville Reid bought the villa in 1851 and had it renovated. German composer Richard Wagner was enthralled by the villa when he visited it in the late 1800s. While staying in Ravello, he declared, “I have found the enchanted garden of Klingsor,” and then continued to write the second act of Parsifal.

In terms of grandeur and beauty, Villa Rufolo is comparable to Villa Cimbrone, but stands in stark contrast to the garden across the street. Cimbrone provides views of the aquatic environment, while Rufolo showcases Ravello’s floral beauty. As they stroll through the breathtaking gardens at Villa Rufolo, visitors can experience a sense of oneness with nature.

When visiting the Italian island, Villa Rufolo is a must-see for its breathtaking views of the Gulf of Salerno. On the ground, in addition to the garden, there is a tower and a museum that are interesting to explore. In Piazza Vescovado, the center of Ravello’s town, you can find the entrance to the Rufolo.

7. Ruins Basilica Sant’Eustachio

In the 12th century, at the height of the mighty maritime Republic of Amalfi, this remarkable church was built. Even though Pontone is a frazione, or hamlet, of Scala today, the entirety of Scala was a part of the Duchy of Amalfi in the Middle Ages.

The prominent D’Afflitto family, who resided in Pontone, built this church and dedicated it to Saint Eustace, a revered early Christian martyr, in the second century AD. It’s difficult to imagine the church’s original splendor when you enter what was once the nave.

It is one of the best representations of the distinct architectural style that flourished in Amalfi during the Middle Ages despite being in ruins; this style was a fusion of Sicilian, Arab, and Norman influences, to name a few. It is difficult to imagine traders traveling the Mediterranean thousands of years ago from this vantage point high above Amalfi. However, they did so and went back to their homes to construct stunning cathedrals and opulent houses above Amalfi.

The view is breath-taking from the promontory’s tip beneath the ruins. Pontone is directly below, Amalfi is to the right of it in the valley, and Atrani is to the left. Looking left, you can see Ravello perched high on its own promontory, and looking right, you can see Pogerola, an Amalfi frazione. Unquestionably, this is among the top things to do in Amalfi.

8. Villa Cimbrone Gardens

The renowned Villa Cimbrone’s Gardens are located in the 5-star Hotel Villa Cimbrone, which is home to one of the most iconic sights on the Italian Amalfi Coast. Although Villa Cimbrone is well-known for hosting exclusive weddings, honeymoons, and receptions, its vast gardens and Terrazza dell’Infinito belvedere are open to the public every day.

Villa Cimbrone, which consists of the main structure and about six hectares of historically significant parkland, is regarded as one of the most significant representations of English culture, botany, and landscape as it developed in the Mediterranean region.

Its beginnings date back to the eleventh century, but at the end of the nineteenth century, when it had been sadly abandoned, British nobleman Ernest William Beckett, Lord Grimthorpe, a well-known and intelligent man, discovered the estate. With the aid of a certain Nicola Mansi from Ravello, Lord Grimthorpe extensively renovated the villa and the gardens in the early 20th century.

The gardens of Villa Cimbrone are the result of the reinterpretation of the Roman villa under the strong influence of classical literature. They are decorated with a wide variety of stunning decorative items from around the globe, including fountains, nymphaea, statues, small temples, and pavilions. The Terrace of Infinity and the gardens at Villa Cimbrone were hailed by Gore Vidal as “breathtakingly beautiful” and “the most beautiful places I had ever seen in all my travels,” respectively.

9. Chiostro del Paradiso

The atrium of the Cathedral of Amalfi leads to one of the most well-known and fascinating structures along the entirety of the Amalfi coast, and that structure is the cloister of Paradise, which is located within the Cathedral of Amalfi.

In the years between 1266 and 1268, Archbishop Filippo Augustariccio oversaw the construction of the Cloister of Paradise. It was a cemetery for illustrious and deserving citizens, and it was attached to the basilica of the Assumption. Additionally, it was connected to the archbishop’s palace, and it was formed by a quadriportico with cross vaults, arches acute, paired columns, and intertwined arches with

Between the end of the thirteenth century and the beginning of the fourteenth century, this cemetery housed a total of six chapels that were decorated with frescoes. They were members of prestigious Amalfi families and served as repositories for the sarcophagi that held the bodies of those families’ illustrious ancestors. There are currently five of these sarcophagi that are considered to be of significant importance:

1. the sarcophagus depicting the “abduction of Proserpina”
2. the sarcophagus which depicts”Romulus and Remus suckled by the she-wolf”;
3. a sarcophagus depicting what is known as the “wedding of Peleus and Thetis”;
4. the Roman sarcophagus with “S” grooves, decorated with the coat of arms of the Favaro family from Amalfi and adorned with the Amalfi cross (it is currently stored in the arsenal);
5. the sarcophagus of Archbishop Pietro Capuano, who passed away in 1359; on it are sculpted images of the Madonna, Christ, the Twelve Apostles, and Saints Biagio and Basilio; this sarcophagus is now used as the main altar in the cathedral;

Given that the Paradise cloister was essentially abandoned at the start of the 17th century, the lovely little garden with palm trees in the middle of the charming Arab-style cloister was probably only constructed after the 1908 restoration.

So there you have it! I hope that inspired and excites you to visit Amalfi in Italy. You can also find various shops, cafés, and restaurants around town. I’m sure you will definitely have a great time in Amalfi, just don’t forget to bring your sunblock!

Have fun! Live La Dolce Vita!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Everything Zany

Travel Blog

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