Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana)

The Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana) stretches approximately 50 kilometres along the southern edge of the Sorrentine Peninsula in Campania, Italy, between Positano in the west and Vietri sul Mare in the east. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 for its exceptional natural beauty and cultural landscape, the coast is defined by precipitous limestone cliffs plunging hundreds of metres to the turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea, interspersed with hanging lemon and orange groves, ancient fishing villages, and medieval towns clinging to the rock face. The main road, the SS163 Amalfitana, is one of the world's most dramatic coastal drives, threading through tunnels, across viaducts, and around hairpin bends at vertiginous heights. Key towns strung along the route include Positano, with its cascading pastel houses; Praiano, a quieter alternative; Amalfi, the historic maritime republic with its magnificent Arab-Norman cathedral; Atrani, the smallest town in southern Italy; Ravello, perched 350 metres above the sea with celebrated gardens; and Cetara, famous for its anchovy colatura sauce. Visitors can explore the coast by private car, SITA bus, hired scooter, or—far more pleasantly—by the ferry services linking most coastal towns from April to October. Boat excursions offer a perspective unavailable from the road, revealing sea caves, inaccessible coves, and the true drama of the cliff faces. The walking trail network, including the renowned Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), provides access to terrain impossible by road. A minimum of two to three days is needed to explore the coast properly; a single day gives only a superficial overview of a handful of towns.