Amalfi

Art

Paper Museum

The paper Museum in Amalfi, housed in an ex- paper mill, was inaugurated in 1969 by Nicola Milano, who belonged to one of the historic families that produced the Amalfi paper. This museum collects restored and perfectly working tools and machineries, photos and prints, but also houses a library preserving books about the handmade paper production as testimony of its importance in the history of the Maritime Republic.

Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise

Amalfi is unforgettable with its magnificent flight of steps leading to the cathedral which is decorated like a lace in authentic Arab-Norman style. This impressive cathedral, with its intricate geometrical patterns, dates back to the XIII century. It was first built in the IX century, but in 1203 was rebuilt in a style influenced by Arab, Norman and Sicilian art. Its bronze doors were fluxed in Constantinople in the XI century and inside it there are several paintings, religious objects and a crypt housing the bones of Saint Andrew. Here you can also visit the splendid Cloisters of Paradise, erected between the year 1266 and 1268 as cemetery of famous citizens. It has a quadrangular plan with a mixture of architectonic elements of Arab and Norman style. Inside there are also sarcophagus, mosaics and pilasters of the Roman and mediaeval period.

Civic Museum

It hosts the Tabula Amalphitana or Tavola di Amalfi, an antique maritime codex in use in the Mediterranean sea until the XVII century. In this Museum are also preserved copies of the Pandette of the Giustiniano codex. The original, which was taken away by the Pisans during the sack of Amalfi in 1135, is now in Florence. In the museum there are, also, the costumes for the Historical Regatta realized by the scenographer Roberto Scielzo in the '50s.

Nature

Ferriere Valley

The Ferriere Valley, as unknown as marvellous, is set in the heart of Amalfi and offers you a stirring unimaginable landscape. It astonishes you with its variety of colours, lights and flora, alternating a tropical vegetation to that of the Mediterranean bush. Let the joyful springs enchant you with their waterfalls and, walking along the Rio Canneto, don’t miss the ruins of some paper mills that bring you back to the time of the handmade paper production.

Handicraft

Amalfi paper

The Amalfi paper, the so called “bambagina”, is a really luxurious kind of paper used especially for precious printing, from the writing and certificate paper to the invitation one, appreciated by the Vatican State that uses it for its own mail.

Appointments

Byzantine New Year’s Eve (September)

Amalfi celebrates Byzantine New Year’s Eve on 1st September. It is a historical recalling which marks the summer-end according to Byzantine habits. These events include historical parades, plays and games of those ancient days which present traditions, typical elements and aspects of the Amalfi medieval culture.

The Regatta of the Maritime Republics (June)

Four cities participate in the Regatta, that takes place every year since 1956 to celebrate the glory of the four Maritime Republics: Venice, Pisa, Genoa and Amalfi. Each boat has its own colour and a sculpture at the bow which is its figure head. Venice uses green and the figure of a lion, Pisa purple and an eagle, Genoa white and a griffin, Amalfi light blue and a winged horse. The boats are raced by eight rowers who must have been born in the city for which they are rowing, or they must have lived there for at least five years. The race is preceded by a parade of people dressed in wonderful costumes who re-enact the seafaring history of their cities. The prize for winning the Regatta of the Maritime Republics is a medieval galley, proudly kept by the victorious city for one year.