Italy

Costiera Amalfitana

WHS Score 3.91
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The Costiera Amalfitana is a cultural landscape shaped by its dramatic topography and the economic power of the Amalfi Sea Republic.

The steep slopes of the Monti Lattari, rising from the coast, are dotted with colourful little towns. Between 839 and around 1200, this area formed an independent republic and became an important trading power in the Mediterranean. From this period, numerous examples of art and architecture remain, some in the “Arabic-Norman” style.

Community Perspective: “There are two things to remember about the Amalfi Coast: the first is its beauty and the second is the harrowing journey it takes to get there.” Try to avoid it during the peak summer months.

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Costiera Amalfitana (ID: 830)
Country
Italy
Status
Inscribed 1997 Site history
History of Costiera Amalfitana
1997: Revision
Reduced from former TWHS Bay of Naples with Capri, Ischia and Procida
1997: Inscribed
Inscribed
WHS Type
Cultural
Criteria
  • ii
  • iv
  • v
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Cultural Landscape: Continuing
Travel Information
Campania hotspot
Campania hotspot
By train/bus combination, about 2.5 hours
Recent Connections
View all (33) .
Connections of Costiera Amalfitana
Geography
Trivia
History
Ecology
Architecture
Damaged
World Heritage Process
Religion and Belief
  • Cathedrals
    St Andrew
  • Religious Relics
    Saint Andrew's relics
  • Legends and Folk Myths
    A boat transporting an icon of the Ascention of the Lady heard a mysterious voice 'posa, posa' ('put,put'), so they stopped their ship at Positano's shore and left the icon at its central church. This is the origin of Positano's name
  • 12 Apostles
    Relics of Saint Andrew are held in the Amalfi Cathedral in Amalfi
Human Activity
  • Olive Tree Landscapes
    "Inland the steep slopes rising from the coast are covered with terraces, revetted with drystone walling and used for the cultivation of citrus and other fruits, olives, vines, and vegetables of all kinds" (AB ev)
  • Vineyards
  • Man-made Terraces
    used for the vineyards
  • Iron production
    Valle delle Ferriere inland from Amalfi. Iron ore was shipped into Amalfi from Puglia and Elba. "There are many small streams which in places drop over impressive waterfails; these streams provided the power for the early paper and iron industries, the remains of which are widespread" (AB eval)
  • Paper Manufacture
    Paper Museum in Amalfi and remains of numerous paper mills in surrounds

    See www.charmingitaly.com

  • Sea Ports
    Amalfi port
  • Festivals
    Ravello Festival
  • Invention of sweets and pastries
    Sfogliatella ("a shell-shaped filled Italian pastry") was invented in the monastery of Santa Rosa da Lima in Conca dei Marini in the 17th Century

    See en.wikipedia.org

Constructions
WHS on Other Lists
  • Most beautiful villages
    Atrani, Conca dei Marini, Furore are among I piú bei borghi d'Italia ('Italy's most beautiful hamlets')
Timeline
  • Built in the 9th century
    Independent Republic from 839 on, and became a maritime trading power from the 9th century. Amalfi Cathedral dates from the 9th century too, though it and other major monuments have been altered and added in the course of the 10th-13th centuries
WHS Hotspots
News
fr-online.de 08/18/2016
Amalfi Coast: Deceptive idyll
Recent Visitors
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Visitors of Costiera Amalfitana
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Community Reviews

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First published: 20/01/25.

KngAlaric

Costiera Amalfitana

Costiera Amalfitana (Inscribed)

Costiera Amalfitana by Els Slots

The Amalfi Coast is incredible! Driving there is an epic adventure filled with jaw dropping cliffs and views into the horizon and oblivion. The historic cities, churches, and coastal opportunities are inspiring. The vendors on the side of the precarious roadway add ambience with the bus drivers who hug the inside track. Worth every turn, not for the faint of heart, but it will steal your heart away. Go on the day of a saintly procession for even more adventure.

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First published: 10/12/18.

Clyde

Costiera Amalfitana

Costiera Amalfitana (Inscribed)

Costiera Amalfitana by Clyde

I visited this WHS in November 2018 basing myself in Ravello for 3 nights. Even though I enjoy roads with lots of hairpins and heart-stopping curves, I would avoid driving during the peak summer months. Parking, traffic and driving in general can be a nightmare even during Autumn-Winter so I can't imagine what it's like in the summer months.

Even though there are several hiking treks and panoramic viewpoints over the Mediterranean, I very much prefered the ones to be had at the Cinque Terre in Liguria. Overall, from land I found it quite similar to the Cote d'Azur in France. I promised myself to revisit and explore the Costiera Amalfitana by boat which I think could be a better alternative to enjoy this WHS.

My personal favourite viewpoints were from the narrow roads and few parking spaces just before (top right photo) and after Positano and from the expensive Villa Rufolo in Ravello. My favourite cathedral exterior was the one in Amalfi while my favourite interior (mostly because it surprised me) was the one in Ravello with its mosaic and marble pulpit by Bartolomeo (bottom right photo). Another worthwhile viewpoint is from the roof terrace of the Chiostro di San Francesco in Sorrento at sunset from where there are excellent views of the Costiera Sorrentina, the Stacks or Fariglioni of Capri (bottom left photo) and the Vesuvius in the background on one side, and the Costiera Amalfitana on the other.

From Ravello, I must say that …

Keep reading 0 comments
First published: 08/11/15.

Jay T

Costiera Amalfitana

Costiera Amalfitana (Inscribed)

Costiera Amalfitana by Jay T

When I was young I often saw pictures of the Amalfi Coast on calendars, but to see it in person was incredible. This is a stunning landscape with cliffside villages perched above the sea; I can easily understand why it was recognized as a World Heritage Site. I visited the coast as part of a day tour from Naples in 2013, and I was very happy to have been on a bus tour. As much as I enjoy driving along coastal roads, I'm not sure I would have liked navigating all the curves and narrow town streets with the volume of tour buses on the same route. Our tour offered some walking time around Amalfi, which was a sun-soaked town with a beautiful cathedral dedicated to Saint Andrew. In Amalfi and all along the coastal route we passed citrus vendors selling fresh lemons grown on the mountain terraces; these lemons are used in the making of limoncello, a local liqueur. If I'd had more time, I would love to have visited or spent the night in other towns we passed, such as Positano or Ravello.

Logistics: You can reach the coast by car or bus, but the coast may be more enjoyable if you don't have to drive. There are also boat tours along the coast.

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First published: 13/09/11.

john booth

Costiera Amalfitana

Costiera Amalfitana (Inscribed)

Costiera Amalfitana by john booth

The scenery around this coast is simply stunning, so to enjou it I took the bus from Salerno to Sorrento, stopping off at Cetara, Amalfi and Positano en route. The most rewarding visit was the side trip by bus from Amalfi up to Ravello. I too found this a delightful village with spectacular views.

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First published: 01/05/05.

Klaus Freisinger

Costiera Amalfitana

Costiera Amalfitana (Inscribed)

Costiera Amalfitana by Els Slots

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy's most beautiful landscapes. The views of the coastline and the sea are fantastic from everywhere, and the little towns and villages have considerable charm and atmosphere. The town of Amalfi itself is very interesting as well, especially the cathedral. Some towns like Positano cater more to the rich and famous, but everybody will find a place to his liking. I agree that driving on this road is not very easy to do and requires lots of nerve and skill, but there are always public buses as well. All in all, a must-see if you are in the Naples area.

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First published: 01/05/05.

Anonymous

Costiera Amalfitana

Costiera Amalfitana (Inscribed)

Costiera Amalfitana by Anonymous WHS Traveller

There are two things to remember about the Amalfi Coast: the first is its beauty and the second is the harrowing journey it takes to get there. Based in Sorrento, I and my girlfriend visited Positano by bus, following the coastal road with its sharp turns and perilous contours. Surviving the ride, we were greeted, in the middle of April, to a hailstorm, which significantly hindered our walk through the town. Nevertheless, we eventually reached the beach, after many cafe pit stops along the way, where we ate lunch and admired the scenery of this incredibly picturesque coastline. Time constraints forced us to cut our visit short, but even the little time spent in Positano was sufficient to grasp the splendour of the landscape and to inspire a return visit in the future.

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First published: 04/01/05.

Els Slots

Costiera Amalfitana

Costiera Amalfitana (Inscribed)

Costiera Amalfitana by Els Slots

A visit to the Amalfi Coast is a refreshment course on driving curves. In my rented Nissan Micra I followed the road from Salerno to Positano. Some of the views of the coast and the small towns are awesome, but when you're the driver you've got other things on your mind. There's another majolica church tower - but be careful, there's also another bus coming around the corner.

The highlight of my day was Ravello. This town lies a few kilometers inland. Loud traditional music sounded from the Dome square when I arrived, it could be heard all over town. A band was playing (in celebration of New Year's Day, I suppose) with children singing. The people at the square sang along to the catchy tunes. I felt so happy just standing there and being able to enjoy this moment.

After a while, the driving and the lack of places to stop got the best of me. The roads also got busier and busier. To enjoy this coast more fully, it's probably best to stay in one of the towns so you can sightsee on foot. I decided to end my trip to Amalfi with a fine lunch in Majori: caprese, with fresh mozzarella.

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