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Things to do
* Dramatic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Rocks, cliffs, tiny coves, secluded beaches
* 13 medieval towns and villages, perched on steep hillsides. Stone stairs instead of streets. Visit churches, gardens and villas, Roman ruins. Stroll on a boardwalk, eat in style on a terrace
* Take a ~45 min boat trip to the island of Capri. Walk around it. Take an excursion to Blue Grotto.
* Relax on a beach, swim in blue warm Mediterranean water
* Take a boat trip traversing the coast. One of the best views are from the water.
* Hike ridge-top trails from village to village, or climb up the stairs, from the sea level to hilltop villages
* Savor fine Italian food and beverages, including lemon pies and Limonchello liqueur, made of local variety of large lemons cultivated on hillsides
* 13 medieval towns and villages, perched on steep hillsides. Stone stairs instead of streets. Visit churches, gardens and villas, Roman ruins. Stroll on a boardwalk, eat in style on a terrace
* Take a ~45 min boat trip to the island of Capri. Walk around it. Take an excursion to Blue Grotto.
* Relax on a beach, swim in blue warm Mediterranean water
* Take a boat trip traversing the coast. One of the best views are from the water.
* Hike ridge-top trails from village to village, or climb up the stairs, from the sea level to hilltop villages
* Savor fine Italian food and beverages, including lemon pies and Limonchello liqueur, made of local variety of large lemons cultivated on hillsides
Attractions and sights
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An impressive 9th-century cathedral of Arab-Norman Romanesque architectural style. 62 steps, wide and steep, lead up to the bronze doors, cast in Constantinople in the 11th century. An off-center bell tower was built over 100 years, beginning in 1180. Nearby Piazza del Duomo and the entire city of Amalfi are cute and worth a stroll
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A peaceful village in the hills above Amalfi, Ravello offers stunning views of the Mediterranean. Visit their renowned gardens and villas. Villa Cimbrone, famous for its "Terrace of the Infinite", is now a luxury hotel, and the gardens are open to the public. Villa Rufolo is a palatial Moorish-style estate built in the 1270. Its tower, Torre Maggiore, is 30m high and was once used to spot pirate ships. Duomo, the Cathedral of Ravello, built in 1086, is an Arabic-inspired church that features two bronze doors that picture the 54 scenes of Christ’s life.
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Small rocky island 3mi/5km from the mainland, a celebrated beauty spot and coastal resort since the days of the Roman emperors. Features of the island are the Marina Piccola, the Belvedere of Tragara (a high panoramic promenade lined with villas), the limestone crags called sea stacks that project above the sea (the Faraglioni), and the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas. Villa Jovis is a Roman palace, built by emperor Tiberius in AD 27. La Piazzetta is the most famous square of the island. Blue Grotto, a sea cave. Sunlight, passing through an underwater cavity and shining through the seawater, creates a blue reflection that illuminates the cavern (accessible by boat).
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A small picturesque town with splendid coastal views, perched on the face of a hill, winding down towards the waters. The hill is so steep that many streets are in fact stone staircases, and one house's balcony is the rooftop of a house below. The church of Santa Maria Assunta features a dome made of majolica tiles as well as a 13th century Byzantine icon of a black Madonna.
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A less famous but still well worth visiting of Amalfi Coast villages. One popular attraction is the Church of San Luca Evangelista, dating back to 1123. On the inside, there are paintings by Renaissance painter Giovanni Bernardo Lama dating to the 16th century. Another attraction is the Church of San Giovanni Battista, featuring a well-preserved maiolica tiled floor, dating back to the 12th-13th centuries. Praiano has few small pebble beaches, some are only reachable by boat.
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Atrani is another "minor" Amalfi town, still featuring a dozen churches and monuments that would make many other cities envy. The churches of San Salvatore del Birecto and of Santa Maria Maddalena are the most notable.
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The Blue Grotto is a sea cave on the coast of the island of Capri, southern Italy. Sunlight, passing through an underwater cavity and shining through the seawater, creates a blue reflection that illuminates the cavern.
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Faraglioni is the Italian term used to refer to stacks. The most famous faraglioni are the three stacks located off the island of Capri in the Bay of Naples. The stacks have been given their own names: Stella, Mezzo, and Scopolo.
More attractions
More attractions and sights
* A footpath from Minori, at the sea level, 1,200ft/370m up the hill to Ravello. A good portion of it is famous 1,000-step staircase
* The church of San Pancrazio in Conca dei Marini and its viewpoint
* A cute town of Minori, with its Church of Santa Trofimena and the ancient Roman villa built in the 1st century BC
* Hillside olive and lemon tree groves, with foot path and stone staircases cris-crossing them
* The church of San Pancrazio in Conca dei Marini and its viewpoint
* A cute town of Minori, with its Church of Santa Trofimena and the ancient Roman villa built in the 1st century BC
* Hillside olive and lemon tree groves, with foot path and stone staircases cris-crossing them
When to go
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Best time to go:
The weather is good from April through September. July and August may be busy with too many tourists.
Warning:
Streets and roads are winding and narrow, often traversing shear cliff drops. Some people may find driving around with crazy Italians challenging. Besides, during the peak season the roads may be badly congested.
How to get there
To the coastal villages, by car or bus, by a winding mountaineous road from:
- Naples: 50 mi / 1 hr
- Pompeii: 30 mi / 1 hr
To the Island of Capri, by a speed boat, from
- Sorrento: 20 min
- Amalfi Coast villages: 40 min
- Naples: 1 hr
Capri could be a day trip from the coastal villages.
Some people include Sorrento in the itinerary. Don't. It sucks.
- Naples: 50 mi / 1 hr
- Pompeii: 30 mi / 1 hr
To the Island of Capri, by a speed boat, from
- Sorrento: 20 min
- Amalfi Coast villages: 40 min
- Naples: 1 hr
Capri could be a day trip from the coastal villages.
Some people include Sorrento in the itinerary. Don't. It sucks.