Geographically small, Amalfi seems to be literally “kissed by God,” because with its history, sea beauties and characteristic features it resembles a fairy-tale city from a magic novel where there is unearthly love, battles, inventors, sages. Isn't that a fairy tale? We will also plunge into it.
Amalfi ... According to legend, that was the name of the beautiful nymph that Hercules himself loved. A beautiful maiden was buried here. And if we take sources much more prosaic, namely, historical chronicles, already in the 9th century Amalfi became no less the first Italian Sea Republic, which was ruled by the Doges. Until the eleventh century, the republic only increased its power and had the weight throughout the Mediterranean Sea that only Genoa or Pisa could only be proud of later.
- Recommended excursion: along the Amalfi Coast
According to eyewitnesses, there was so much gold, silver, luxurious fabrics and jewelry in the city that the most powerful eastern lord could envy such wealth. People of different nationalities traded and got along in the city: Arabs, Africans, Indians. And in navigation, the Amalfitans were on top: the famous first maritime code Tabula Amalphitana was the law for all sailors of that time.
Flavio Gioia, who lived in the 14th century, did a lot of research, including improving the compass, and also collecting data for nautical charts for navigation.
Outwardly, Amalfi looks like a fabulous city - the sea, rocks, lush Italian vegetation; a city where every stone under your feet breathes history. It’s breathtaking from such beauty - it seems that this is a fairy tale in a fairy tale - Amalfi as a large pearl in a necklace of the same beautiful cities of the province of Salerno.
If you want to get involved in history, you can start with the cathedral, which is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the Italian South. In the large temple are the relics of St. Andrew, who were transferred here in the XIII century.
In the municipality (municipality) of Amalfi you can see the works of Domenico Morelli, as well as Pietro Scoppetta, the same famous Tabula Amalphitana papers, colorful clothes that residents wear in various processions and city festivals.
Finally, you can see the museum of the famous handmade Amalfi paper.
The museum is located in the premises of the old Amatrud paper mill. Each of the visitors can see the whole process of making paper manually using presses and other devices. Now this paper is highly appreciated, used for the manufacture of works of art. For example, the famous artist and photographer Enzo Rosamilla, who is famous in the south of Italy, makes unique photographs on amalfi paper using special emulsions and aniline dyes, which creates the effect of ancient painting.
The heart skips a beat from the panorama that opens from the cliffs of Amalfi - the sea, lemon trees, vibrant flowers, beaches ...
Having seen this splendor at least once, he will always carry in his heart a piece of the Amalfi sun and strive to get to this paradise on earth once again.
