Amalfi Coast
| Costiera Amalfitana * | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Country | Italy |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv, v |
| Reference | 830 |
| Region ** | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1997 (21st Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO |
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The Amalfi Coast (Italian: Costiera Amalfitana) is a stretch of coastline on the southern coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula in the Province of Salerno in Southern Italy. The Amalfi Coast is a popular tourist destination for the region and Italy as a whole, attracting thousands of tourists annually.[1] During the 10th-11th centuries, the Duchy of Amalfi existed on the territory of the Amalfi Coast, centered in the town of Amalfi, until it was sacked by the Republic of Pisa in 1137.[2] In 1997, the Amalfi Coast was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape.[3]
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[edit] Overview
Like the rest of the region, the Amalfi Coast lies in a Mediterranean climate, featuring warm summers and mild winters. It is located on the relatively steep southern shore of the Sorrentine Peninsula, leaving little room for rural and agricultural territories.[4] The only land route to the Amalfi Coast is the 40 kilometres (25 mi) long Strada Statale 163 which runs along the coastline from the town of Maiori in the east to Positano in the west. Thirteen municipalities are located on the Amalfi Coast, many of them centered around tourism.[5]
The Amalfi Coast is known for its production of limoncello liqueur as the area is a known cultivator of lemons, known as sfusato amalfitano in Italian, which are grown in terraced gardens along the entire coast between February and October.[6] Amalfi is also a known maker of a hand-made thick paper which is called bambagina [7] . Other renowned local products are a particular kind of sardines (local Italian: alici) from Cetara, and the colorful handmade ceramics from Vietri.
[edit] Municipalities
| Municipality | Frazioni | Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Vietri sul Mare | Albori, Benincasa, Dragonea,[nb 1] Molina, Raito | Church of Saint John Baptist |
| Cetara | Fuenti | Tower of Cetara |
| Maiori | Erchie, Ponteprimario, San Pietro, Santa Maria delle Grazie, Vecite | Collegiata di Santa Maria, Castle of San Nicola de Thoro Plano |
| Tramonti | Campinola, Capitignano, Cesarano, Corsano, Figlino, Gete, Novella, Paterno Sant'Arcangelo, Paterno Sant'Elia, Pietre, Polvica,[nb 2] Ponte, Pucara | Conservatory of Pucara |
| Minori | Montecita, Torre | Church of Santa Trofimena and the ancient Roman villa |
| Ravello | Casa Bianca, Castiglione, Marmorata, Sambuco, Torello | Villa Cimbrone, Villa Rufolo, San Giovanni del Toro, and the Duomo (Cathedral) |
| Scala | Campidoglio, Minuta, Pontone | Scala Cathedral |
| Atrani | none | Churches of San Salvatore del Birecto and Santa Maria Maddalena |
| Amalfi | Lone, Pastena, Pogerola, Tovere, Vettica Minore | Amalfi Cathedral, and its cloister (Italian: Chiostro del Paradiso) |
| Conca dei Marini | none | Main church of Saint John Baptist and the Emerald Cave |
| Furore | Fiordo di Furore, Marina di Praia[nb 3] | Fjord of Furore |
| Praiano | Vettica Maggiore | Churches of San Luca and San Gennaro and Saint John Baptist |
| Positano | Montepertuso, Nocelle | Church of Santa Maria Assunta |
[edit] In popular culture
The Amalfi Coast is a popular destination among tourists. It was featured in "Positano," a short story written by American author John Steinbeck in 1953.[8] It was also the setting in "Finding Positano, A Love Story" written by author William James in 2010.
The Amalfi Coast also serves as a setting for fictional tracks in the Forza Motorsport 3[9] and Gran Turismo 4.
The city of Positano featured prominently in scenes of the film Under the Tuscan Sun.
[edit] Transport
[edit] Airport
The nearest airport is the Salerno-Pontecagnano Airport. However the most used airport to reach the Amalfi coast from abroad is Naples Airport (Napoli-Capodichino).
[edit] See also
- Cilentan Coast — located on the Gulf of Salerno's southern shore
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amalfi Coast |
- Notes
- References
- ^ "BAY OF NAPLES & AMALFI COAST History". Unique Costiera. http://www.uniquecostiera.com/naplesAmalfiCoastHistory.html. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ Matthews, Jeff. "Naples". Around Naples Encyclopedia. University of Maryland University College. http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~jmatthew/naples/amalfi.html. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
- ^ "Costiera Amalfitana". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/830. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Amalfi Geography". Authentic Italy. http://www.authentic-italy.co.uk/amalfi_geography.php. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
- ^ "Amalfi People and Culture". Authentic Italy. http://www.authentic-italy.co.uk/amalfi_people.php. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "National cultivars". Limmi. http://www.limmi.it/content/view/125/153/lang,en/. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
- ^ "The Amalfi Coast Paper Museum". http://amalfi-coast.com/amalfi-paper-museum. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ^ "Positano by John Steinbeck". FortuneCity. May 1953. http://www.fortunecity.com/littleitaly/amalfi/84/positanosteinbeck.htm. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "Forza 3's Ferrari Collection, Amalfi Coast Track Pictured". ShackNews. http://www.shacknews.com/article/60481/forza-3s-ferrari-collection-amalfi. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
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