The Amalfi Coast, located south of the Sorrento peninsula is home to some of the most iconic coastal towns and islands including Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento, Ravello, and Capri. These iconic cities are famous for a reason. However, this popularity brings a lot of tourists. Thankfully it is possible to get the true Amalfi Coast experience without all the tourists with an authenticity that will be the envy of all your friends back home.
Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a perfect example of a Mediterranean landscape with a scenario of great cultural and natural value, the Amalfi Coast is made up not only of internationally renowned locations such as Amalfi and Positano, but also of small, charming villages that are still unspoiled due to being less well known.
Cetara
One of the perhaps least known, but lovely villages of the Amalfi Coast is the seaside village of Cetara. With color walled houses and unforgettable beaches. Cetara is also a pearl of the local food and wine tradition. In this area, anchovy sauce has been made for some time and has become a symbol of this village. It is an amber liquid, which is obtained by maturing anchovies in salt with a technique that has been handed down from generation to generation.
Cetara is also known for the “Notte delle Lampare”. Every year, in the month of July, this traditional festival is held in Cetara with the aim of preserving the tradition of the ancient anchovy fishing technique, and to enhance the culture and history of Cetara. The sea is completely illuminated by the light of the lampares and the whole town awaits the return of the fishermen on the shore with their nets full of anchovies. An experience to live that will not be forgotten easily!
Cetara also house the Vicereale tower, which is located on the seafront. Once with sighting and first defense functions, now it houses a Civic Museum with permanent exhibitions of the artist from Cetara Manfredi Nicoletti and numerous painters of the coast, the so-called “costaioli”.
Furore
Among the prettiest villages in Costiera Amalfitana is Furore. One of the most beautiful and quaint seaside villages in Italy. It encloses in its small way all the beauty and charm of the Amalfi Coast. Located between Amalfi and Positano, it is colloquially known as “the town that doesn’t exist”. In fact, more than a village, it is a scattered inhabited area, where the houses are not next to each other but emerge from the rock ridges along its famous fjord, the Fiordo di Furore. The Fjord was born from a rift created by a stream with very little water and later dried up.
Wonderful and very small, Furore beach represents a real natural jewel to be seen at least once in a lifetime. For this reason, this space set among the overhanging rocks is under the protection of UNESCO which has given the impetus to the redevelopment of the natural port and the fishing village, forming a small open-air museum.
Tramonti
Another gem of Costiera Amalfitana is Tramonti, a small town that is worth visiting, even if it is certainly one of the lesser-known ones. The symbol of Tramonti is represented by Monti Lattari; a mountain range that is part of the Campania Anti-Apennines and which extends into the Tyrrhenian Sea forming the Sorrento peninsula. They owe their name to the goats that graze there, suppliers of excellent milk.
Tramonti is also the place where pizza was invented. In fact, the worldwide famous and delicious Pizza Margherita, made with oil sauce, mozzarella and a basil leaf was prepared to pay homage to Queen Margherita of Savoy, consort of King Umberto when she arrived in Naples.
Tramonti is also known for being the birthplace of the Concerto, the famous liqueur that takes the scent of herbs from here. The name “Concerto” derives from the harmony of herbs that compose it, herbs, licorice, fennel, cloves, nutmeg, edelweiss, and mint.
The addition of barley and coffee to the infusion not only determines its flavour, but also gives the compound its dark colour and dense consistency, elements which characterize it and make it a unique product.
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