Walking Through Amalfi's Past

If history and architecture from the glorious days of the past are your idea of a great holiday, you’ll definitely want to be based in the town that the whole coast is named after: Amalfi. Villas here are a testament to its glory days as a maritime power and trading centre. With its long history of catering to visitors from all over the world, it’s no wonder it’s still a favourite for holidaymakers.

A Bit Of History

An independent state for most of the past, the city first elected a Duke in 958; while governed by a patrician, its merchants dominated trade around the area, with traders enjoying favoured status in Islamic ports. In fact, the merchants here were so forward thinking they were the first to use gold coins when everyone else was still using the barter system - no wonder traces of its past wealth and prosperity are still quite apparent in the architecture and sights of Amalfi. Villas in the area also offer access to some of the most charming and interesting buildings and edifices in the surrounding areas.

Medieval Architecture

The wonders that abound around the Amalfi villas testify to the position the city’s architecture endures in annals of Italian medieval architecture. St. Andrew’s Cathedral, its campanile and the nearby convent of the Cappuccini, for instance, are rich representations of the prevailing artistic and architectural movements of the period.

Duomo Sant-Andrea, for instance (St. Andrew’s Cathedral), is one of the favourite destinations for visitors, with its late Baroque style interiors and Byzantine façade. The rocks and cliffs opposite the Cathedral offer a magnificent view as well, with the white house clinging to the cliffs. Also check out Atrium and the views of the town's tiny alleys and corners visible from there.

Arabic Influence

Chiostro del Paradiso, on the other hand, shows the distinct influence of the trade with the Arabs. The area hasn't suffered from its proximity to the burial ground of choice for the city’s nobles of the olden days. With its Arabic columns and pointed arches reminiscent of Middle Eastern palaces, this open-air museum is an interesting site to visit with its pillars, sarcophagi and even fragments of the Duomo.

One of the sites visitors often head to is the cultural gem known as the Museum of Handmade Paper, or Museo Della Carta. Housed in an old paper mill formerly owned by one of the old Amalfitano families, it is a witness to the city’s history as one of the first papermaking centres, after acquiring the skills from the Arab traders.

Charming City Streets

The streets themselves make for a wonderful backdrop to the many Amalfi villas. Wander through the city and discover small squares where people sell their merchandise - such as the Piazza dei Dogi, also known as the blacksmith’s plaza, and the Ruga Nova Mercatorum on Via Dei Mercanti, a small street with little shops that passes through a small stone arcade.

Looking for your perfect home away from home in Italy? Mark Slaviero is a Director of Holiday Homes in Italy, a company specialising in finding the holiday home, villa or apartment of your dreams. For the ideal Amalfi villas and accommodation in Tuscany, Sicily, the Italian Lakes, ski resorts and more, we offer the best in every region.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.