"AMALFI" a Amalfi Travel Page by longsanborn

I was in Amalfi with my sister and a best friend on 31 Dec 2006. The day was bright and sunny but not warm. We still had to wear our winter jacket to protect ourselves from the chilly wind. However, we were glad that the weather was fine and good for an excursion to Amalfi.

We travelled this coastal town via the SITA (blue bus) from Sorrento, which we took from the Sorrento train station.

The bus ride to Amalfi was exhilarating as we had to skirt the cliff-hugging narrow roads on the southern flank of Sorrento's peninsular: the Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast), We enjoyed the breath-taking views of the cliff-hanging houses along the Coast and the beautiful sparkling blue-green Mediterranean sea.

Amalfi is the main town of the coast on which it is located, named Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast). Today, it is an important and popular tourist destination together with other towns on the same coast, such as Positano, Ravello and others. Amalfi is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Amalfi coast is famed for its production of Limoncello liqueur and home-made paper used throughout Italy for wedding invitations.

You can also buy many kinds of pasta spices (all ready mixed and nicely wrapped), colorful ceramics, colorful table cloths, etc., that reflect the beautiful and cheerful atmosphere of the town.

As soon as we reached Amalfi, we made our way to the Piazza Duomo, where we cannot help but be awed by the beautiful Duomo of Amalfi.

Amalfi's chief glory is a lovely 10-century Duomo fronted by a rich, colored facade. La Cattedrale di S. Adrea Apostolo is a cathedral dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle.

A long flight of 57 steps, built in 1728, leads to the atrium of the Cathedral. The belltower rises up next to the Cathedral. At the front of the Cathedral is an atrium which was built in the early 13th century by Cardinal Pietro Capuono and Archbishop Matteo di Capua.

On the outside is a delightful pattern of Moorish arches runs into a serious of marble column, while the inside walls are made of huge two tone tuff stone blocks. The current design is the result of 19th century rebuilding works.