Amalfi

The town of Amalfi gave its name to one of the most spectacular and beautiful coastlines in the world. The Amalfi Coast is characterised by steep, rugged cliffs and tiny towns and villages built into the few accommodating spots along the coastline. The town itself is the jewel of the Amalfi Coast - it is the largest resort, filled with historic buildings and surrounded by majestic bare-rock cliffs.

St Andrew's Cathedral
At the heart of Amalfi is the 9th century St Andrew's Cathedral, which overlooks the Piazza Duomo at the top of a beautiful stone staircase. The beautiful Cloister of Paradise (Chiostro del Paradiso), a 13th century burial ground for noblemen of Amalfi, is well worth visiting to see the influence of the Arab world on the town. Amalfi was a key maritime stronghold and the noblemen of Amalfi would certainly have been well-travelled. The beautiful white marble columns and pointed arches of the cloister have a particularly Arabian quality.

Papermaking
Another of Amalfi's key attractions is the Museum of Handmade Paper (Museo della Carta). Amalfi was one of Europe's leading centres for papermaking, which is celebrated at the museum.