The 7 Amalfi Coast towns not to be missed

Guide to the most beautiful towns on the coast

Suspended between the sky and the sea, the Amalfi Coast is a veritable corner of paradise in which a succession of marvellous locations are just waiting to be discovered. Recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site, it has been the destination of illustrious artists and men of letters, who have allowed themselves to be seduced and conquered by its charm. There are few corners of the earth that contain as much beauty as the Amalfi Coast.

And to discover them a little at a time, there is no better place than Praiano.

By choosing us as a base, it will indeed be possible:

• easily reach every point on the Amalfi coast in a short time (Praiano is in the centre of the coast),
• discover a village where everything still flows slowly and tranquillity reigns supreme (unlike other famous resorts on the coast).

But which are the most beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast? Let’s discover them together!

Please note: for each location below we also give you the distance in kilometres and the travel time from Albamare.

POSITANO

The pearl of the Amalfi Coast, Positano is an evocative picture-postcard location that has always fascinated with its enchanting views and unique colours. It is a Mediterranean-type town, clinging to the slopes of a rocky ridge. Characteristic are the roofs of the houses with pavilion vaults and the narrow streets with staircases, which descend from the top of the village towards the sea.

Its pastel-coloured houses, piled one on top of the other, are gathered around the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, famous for its large majolica dome and valuable sacred artworks. The main beaches include: the Spiaggia Grande beach, one of the most beautiful in Italy and beyond; and the small Fornillo beach, ideal for those seeking relaxation and tranquillity.
Distance 8 km, time 00h 20.

RAVELLO

Lying on the flat top of a hill, Ravello has been able to enchant the greatest writers, poets and artists of the 19th and 20th centuries such as Virginia Woolf and Truman Capote with its beauty. It is known as ‘the city of music’ for the many internationally renowned events it hosts, including the famous Ravello Festival.

The town preserves monumental complexes of Arab-Sicilian art of great interest. Don’t miss: the Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, which contains relics, ancient legends and a precious museum; and the enchanting gardens of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, where plants and flowers are accompanied by breathtaking views. Ravello, too, has its beaches, among which the Castiglione beach stands out, lapped by a sea of crystal-clear colour and unique clarity.
Distance 17 km, time 00h 35.

PRAIANO

Among the most beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast, one could not miss Praiano, in whose main square is our beloved boutique hotel. It is a picturesque village located halfway between Amalfi and Positano, between the mountains and the sea. Its historical centre is rich in treasures of great historical and cultural value, including the Church of San Gennaro with its lively dome covered in multicoloured majolica.

Praiano is also known as ‘the village that greets the sun’ because it is home to the only perpetually sun-kissed beach on the Amalfi Coast, Cala della Gavitella, which can be reached by climbing a long scenic flight of steps, but is well worth the effort. Also not to be missed is the enchanting beach of Marina di Praia, nestled between two high rock walls.

AMALFI

Amalfi, which gives its name to the entire coastline, is world-famous for its artistic beauty and charming inlets that hide enchanting beaches. Sloping down to the sea along the slope at the end of the Valle dei Mulini, it was the first Maritime Republic of Italy, with its own currency and laws.

Synthesis of the picturesque urban environment is the splendid Cathedral of Sant’Andrea, dating back to the 9th century but rebuilt in the early 13th century in Arab-Norman style and a second time in the 13th century, with its marvellous staircase and famous frescoed cloister known as the Cloister of Paradise. Here, you will find some of the most beautiful beaches on the coast: Marina Grande beach, whose central location and charming setting make it one of the most popular destinations; and Duoglio beach, more intimate and quiet.
Distance 10 km, time 00h 20.

ATRANI

Enclosed between high rock walls flanking the Valle del Dragone (Dragon Valley), it is one of the most picturesque towns on the coast and among those that have best preserved its original structure, made up of narrow streets, arches, small squares and the characteristic ‘scalinatelle’ (small steps). In Atrani, the maritime architecture has completely adapted to the territory, creating a splendid combination.

The town has its centre in the picturesque Piazza Umberto I, overlooked by the Church of San Salvatore de’ Birecto, which features a remarkable decorative apparatus with precious and rare furnishings. Another religious building worth visiting is the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, with a lively Baroque façade, a majolica tiled dome and an elegant square bell tower. It has a small, sheltered beach, frequented mainly by families with children.
Distance 11 km, time 00h 25.

MINORI

Located in the centre of the Amalfi Coast, Minori is a delightful town nicknamed the ‘Narcissus of the Coast’ for the fertility of its soil. Founded by the Etruscans, it was a favourite holiday resort of the Roman nobility, as demonstrated by the discovery of a patrician villa dating back to the 1st century AD.

Among its innumerable religious buildings, the majestic neoclassical Basilica of Santa Trofimena is definitely worth a visit. Inside, it houses the relics of the martyr saint and precious works of art. Minori also owes its fame to the historic production of pasta, particularly the famous ‘ndunderi’, a kind of fresh gnocchi made with semolina and ricotta cheese, which is believed to be the oldest Italian pasta.
Distance 13 km, time 00h 30.

FURORE

Listed among ‘I Borghi più Belli d’Italia’ (Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages), Furore is a charming town of Roman origin that retains a characteristic rural atmosphere. It is defined as ‘the village that isn’t there’ due to its settlement scattered on the mountainside, with houses sprouting from rocky ridges.

Its main attraction is the Fiordo di Furore, a small picture-postcard beach, just 25 metres long, nestled between two mountain slopes. It is one of the most fascinating and well-known places on the Amalfi Coast. In the village, which lies at the top of the Vallone di Furore, you can admire important examples of industrial archaeology and several religious buildings, including the Church of San Giacomo, which preserves a cycle of frescoes of considerable historical and artistic interest.
Distance 4 km, time 00h 10.