Revisit History through the Ruins of Temples and Villas in Amalfi

Amalfi is a beautiful town on the coast of the same name, located in the province of Salerno. A major trading authority from 800-1200, the town continually progressed and eventually developed into a favourite tourist destination in the 1920s, especially by the British upper class.

With the many buildings and archaeological sites such as the ruins of Greek temples and Roman villas in Amalfi, which have endured for centuries and are still well-preserved today, it is no surprise that it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, along with nearby towns. It’s a unique destination overflowing with history and culture, as revealed in many fantastic sites scattered throughout the coast. To begin with, the following must be in every traveller’s itinerary when visiting this spectacular region.

Vietri sul Mare’s Ceramics

Tourists embarking on a drive along the coast typically start their journey in Vietri sul Mare, nicknamed by the locals as ‘The First Pearl of the Amalfi’. Apart from being the starting point of most tours along the coast, the town is known for its ceramics, which it has manufactured for over 500 years. The hand-painted masterpieces are available in most stores in Vietri; there are also ceramics workshops that offer classes to those interested in making their own creations to take home as souvenirs. The massive Ceramica Solimene building is also worth a visit when in town. The outer walls of the old ceramics school, which now functions as a showroom, are studded with colourful ceramics and are definitely eye-catching. This remarkable display of lasting culture is apparent in other towns as well; for instance, several Roman villas in Amalfi are still in an excellent state of repair.

Minori’s Roman Villas

From Vietri sul Mare, tourists can proceed to Minori, another town on the coast, famous for the ruins of the Villa Romana. One of the villas in Amalfi open for public viewing, the Villa Romana dates back to 181 A.D. The Roman Maritime Archaeological Villa is also another major attraction in Minori. Believed to have been constructed in the 1st century BC, it displays intricate elements such as frescos, stucco, and the tunnel vaults in its massive hall.

Paestum’s Temples

An important ancient Greek city, Paestum was conquered by the Romans in 273 BC and abandoned in the Middle Ages, only to be rediscovered in the 18th century. The modern-day Paestum still has its traces of the past, with the ruins of the three ancient Greek temples in extremely good state, even today. While these Roman villas in Amalfi were built in the 1st century, the temples date back to 450 BC. The first temple of Hera is Paestum’s oldest temple, erected in around 550 BC, while the second temple of Hera was constructed in about 450 BC. The two temples are very different in design, perhaps due to the evidence that showed the second temple was used in worshipping other gods. Meanwhile, the third temple was dedicated to Athena and is located at the town’s peak. While the two temples to Hera displayed mostly Doric architecture, the temple to Athena revealed a fusion of Ionic and Doric architecture.

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

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