Amalfi is the main town of the Amalfi Coast and is an important tourist destination together with other towns on the same coast, such as Positano and Ravello. Its particular location at the mouth of the Valley of the Mills and its white houses clinging to the rocks overlooking the sea make it one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The history of Amalfi is strictly connected to its past as the first of the four Maritime Republics in Italy. Its activity was mainly concentrated on an intense trade and cultural exchanges with the Byzantine and Arab world. The town of Amalfi was renowned for its trade and diplomatic relations throughout the Mediterranean. It was during this time that the mills started to produce paper.
Among the most important monuments we find Il Duomo di Amalfi (The Cathedral of St. Andrew). It sits above the main square at the top of an imposing staircase made by 57 steps. It was built in the 11th century with a combination of late Baroque and Oriental styles with bronze doors and mosaics. Next to the church we find Il Chiostro del Paradiso (the Cloister of Paradise) which was built in the 13th century with a clear Arab influence. The cloister holds important sarcophagi, marble sculptures and mosaics.
Amalfi is well known for being a worldwide producer of lemons and of Limoncello liquor: "It is the country where the lemons bloom". The lemons of Amalfi were already known at the time of the Romans but they were initially interesting only for their smell and aesthetic qualities.
In order to protect these fruits from atmospheric adversities, lemons were covered by straw-made mats tied with pieces of chestnut tree, known in Italian as pagliarelle. The lemon cultivated here is called "sfusato amalfitano".
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