Positano

When you drive along the little coast road between Sorrento and Amalfi, you come into a little group of white and colored houses, seized into the rock, interposed by lemon groves and perfumed flowers, overlooking the blue sea. This is the beautiful natural and architectural environment where Positano was born. For its warm weather, and the beauty of the landscape, Positano has been a resort town since the Imperial Roman age.

From the X to the XII century, it has been part of the Duchy of Amalfi. In 1806 it became part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, and after the unification, part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Amalfi

It was founded in the IV century by the shipwrecked sailors of a Roman expedition directed to Constantinople. The legend says that the town was named Amalfi from a nymph beloved by Hercules, buried on the seaside for the Gods will.

In the IX century, Amalfi became the first Marine Republic, and it was in competition with Venice, Pisa and Genoa for the control of Mediterranean Sea.

Don’t miss the Cathedral (erected in the IX century), the Dockyard (where the largest roaming boats of the Mediterranean were made) and the Museum of the Amalfitan Paper (where the techniques imported from the the Arabic countries have been improved).

Ravello

It was probably founded in the V century by some roman settlers, who were tired of the never ending pillages made by the Barbarians, and took shelter on the hill, thinking it was easier to protect.

The city reached its height in the IX century, thanks to the spinning of wool. In 1996 Ravello, together with the Amalfi Coast, has been appointed by Unesco as part of the World Heritage.

Besides the breath taking view that one can have from the view point of Villa Cimbrone (a noble palace built in the XII century on an old roman mansion), we recommend to visit the Cathedral (built in the XI century), the Museum of Coral and Cameos, and Villa Rufolo (built in the XII century; it is where the European University Center of Fine Arts is located)