The most beautiful churches on the Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is not just sea and beaches, but also history, art and culture. There are in fact a large number of churches that deserve to be seen, admired and known. We have selected 6 that we recommend everyone to visit at least once in their life.
The Cathedral of Amalfi
Among the most beautiful churches on the Amalfi Coast we could not fail to mention the Amalfi Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Sant’Andrea, from the name of the patron saint of the city to whom it is dedicated and whose relics are preserved (in the crypt below). Synthesis of the suggestive urban environment, it is one of the most loved and photographed monuments of the entire coast. With its scenic staircase and colorful neo-Moorish style façade with neo-Gothic influences it dominates the square of the same name. The internal decoration is a triumph of polychrome marble, stucco and frescoes. Along the side walls there are a large number of chapels, in which valuable paintings dating back to the 17th-18th century and marble and wooden sculptures from various periods are preserved.
The Church of San Gennaro Bishop and Martyr in Praiano
Another religious building that we recommend you visit is the Church of San Gennaro Bishop and Martyr in Praiano. There is news of a primitive church dedicated to San Gennaro starting from the 14th century. However, the one we can admire today was built between 1589 and 1602. The building, located in the square of the same name (from which you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view), is surmounted by an oval-shaped dome decorated externally by a covered with colorful majolica in traditional Amalfi style and internally with stucco. Among the works of greatest artistic interest, the canvas with the martyrdom of St. Gennaro and the one with the martyrdom of St. Bartolomeo by Giovan Battista Lama should be remembered.
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Positano
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Positano is perhaps one of the most photographed subjects by visitors and stands out gracefully in almost all postcards of the city. Located in Piazza Flavio Gioia, a few steps from the Marina Grande beach, it boasts fascinating architecture and valuable works of sacred art. According to tradition, it was built following the miraculous arrival in Positano of the Byzantine icon depicting a Black Madonna with the child in her lap, still venerated today. In reality, it is connected with the foundation of the Benedictine abbey in the second half of the 10th century. Its spectacular majolica dome, made up of yellow, green and blue tiles, is easily recognizable from every corner of the country.
The Cathedral of Ravello
The Cathedral of Ravello, also known as the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta and San Pantaleone, is a combination of Baroque and Romanesque styles. Built in the second half of the 11th century on the model of the Abbey of Montecassino, it has been remodeled several times over time. From an architectural point of view it shows many building phases. Of notable interest is the splendid pulpit supported by six twisted columns, adorned with shiny polychrome mosaics depicting peacocks and other birds, which rest on as many marble lions. According to tradition, the ampoule with the blood of San Pantaleone is kept in the seventeenth-century chapel to the left of the presbytery.
The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Raito
In Raito, a small hamlet of Vietri sul Mare immersed in the green mountains, stands the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, known for its panoramic position on the Gulf of Salerno. The construction was built by the main families of the village in the first half of the 16th century, following the discovery of a fresco on a rock face, depicting the Virgin breastfeeding her son. The internal decorative elements give the church an elegant appearance in which the baroque and neoclassical styles combine. Of notable interest is the chapel dedicated by the sailors, in which you can admire some paintings by Luca Giordano.
The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare in Maiori
Finally, the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare in Maiori is absolutely worth a visit. Nestled on Monte Torina, it was built in the 13th century although its current appearance derives from numerous transformations. It houses a statue of the Madonna, according to tradition, found by the fishermen of Maiori in 1204, from which it takes its name. On the outside, the quadrangular bell tower and the tiled dome are noteworthy, colored with majolica tiles of different colours, while inside the valuable gilded coffered ceiling that covers the vault of the central nave stands out, created in 1529 by the Neapolitan painter Alessandro de Fulco. The “Don Clemente Confalone” Museum of Sacred Art is set up in the crypt.
