Hotel Fontana
Amalfi - Piazza Duomo, 7
Set in the main square of Amalfi, Hotel Fontana is just 100 metres away from the port and bus stops so you can immediately start enjoying your holiday.
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An ancient Maritime Republic, Amalfi is renowned worldwide for its pastel-coloured houses nestled into the rock face, its mild climate and charming little shops. Together with Positano, Amalfi is one of the most famous towns on the Amalfi Coast and thanks to its natural beauty and historic and artistic heritage, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
According to ancient legend, the god Hercules fell in love with a beautiful woman named Amalfi, but she died prematurely. The woman, blessed with extraordinary beauty and eyes the blue of the sea in this coastal area, was buried here by Hercules, who decided to found the city of Amalfi in her honour.
Legend aside, Amalfi appears to have Roman origins and was a city that, thanks to its location, was able to turn maritime activity and commerce into an important source of wealth. After the ninth century, Amalfi gained independence and, with its fleet of ships and merchants, competed with the other Maritime Republics (Pisa, Venice and Genoa) for control of the Mediterranean Sea.
In 1137 Amalfi was sacked by the Pisan Maritime Republic and from that moment its decline as a commercial power began. The city enjoyed a resurgence during the Italian Romantic period, when intellectuals and travellers from northern Europe rediscovered Amalfi, drawn above all by its history and natural environment.
Amalfi is not a large town and is easily explored on foot. Starting from the coastal area, the lower part of the town, you can easily reach the historic centre and then climb towards the upper part. Narrow alleyways lined with abundant flowers and lemon plants, little shops and typical inns characterise Amalfi’s streets and create a unique atmosphere that captivates every visitor.
In addition to its important historic and artistic heritage, Amalfi is renowned worldwide for its excellent culinary tradition and is considered the birthplace of cannelloni, one of the most famous Italian pasta bakes.
The Amalfi Cathedral, also known as the Basilica of St Andrew, is a complex dating back to the ninth century and includes the adjoining Basilica of the Crucifix, the Crypt of St Andrew, which holds the saint’s remains, and the famous Cloister of Paradise. The cathedral in Arab-Norman style has undergone several restoration and renovation works, which resulted in the addition of Gothic and Baroque details.
The interior with three naves is very ornate with a coffered ceiling and Baroque frescoes, whilst the external façade has Gothic influences and features a mosaic depicting Christ amongst the Evangelists and a bronze door from Constantinople. The bell tower adjacent to the church was built in the twelfth century in Romanesque style and is clad in majolica. In Cathedral Square stands the Fountain of St Andrew, known as the Fountain of the People, which was built in 1760 in Baroque style.
The Cloister of Paradise was built between 1266 and 1268 by Archbishop Filippo Augustariccio as a burial place for Amalfi’s most illustrious citizens. The cloister housed six frescoed chapels that belonged to noble Amalfi families who buried their relatives there. The cloister in Arab style features a portico with white columns in the centre of which is a well-tended garden with palm trees and lush Mediterranean vegetation.
One of the most characteristic and authentic places in Amalfi is certainly the Vagliendola District, where you can stroll whilst admiring ancient aristocratic dwellings, small artisans’ shops, souvenir shops and restaurants. In this area you will also find the Paper Museum and other buildings of considerable importance, such as the Monastery of the Holy Trinity (now home to the town hall), the Church of St Anthony and the former Convent of St Peter of the Canonica, which is now known as the Albergo dei Cappuccini.
In 1969 Nicola Milano decided to transform his paper mill into a Paper Museum with the aim of promoting and telling the story of Amalfi’s ancient tradition: the hand-making of paper. Amalfi, thanks to its flourishing commercial activity, was, along with the other Maritime Republics, one of the first Italian cities to import paper. Located just a short distance from the city’s Cathedral, the museum not only preserves testimonies of what the city was like in the days of the Maritime Republics, but also houses machinery and equipment that were used in the ancient paper mill.
However, the city did not limit itself to importing paper but also studied new production techniques for this product. It was precisely in Amalfi that a type of highly prized hand-made sheet was developed and is still in use today, called “Charta Bambagina“. Charta Bambagina is used for fine book editions, invitations and special business cards, writing paper and important certificates.
The Arsenal of the Republic was in the past the shipyard where the ships that formed part of Amalfi’s naval fleet were built and repaired. Inside, the building features two parallel naves: in one nave is the Museum of the Compass and the Maritime Duchy of Amalfi, which tells the story of the ancient Maritime Republic and displays objects and artefacts from that era, whilst in the other temporary events and exhibitions are held.
The Emerald Grotto is located approximately 5 km from Amalfi, precisely in the bay of Conca dei Marini. Discovered by chance in 1932 by a local fisherman, Luigi Buonocore, this cave reveals itself to be a place of truly fairytale appearance.
The light filtering through the rocks creates particularly striking effects and gives the water an emerald-green colour. The grotto can be visited both by land, descending via a special lift or stairs, and by sea, thanks to small boats guided by local operators.
An ancient fishing village, Atrani is not only one of the smallest towns in Italy but is also one of the few that has managed to maintain its original urban structure unchanged over time. The town is characterised by a maze of alleyways, staircases and buildings huddled together, where it is impossible to follow a set route – and that’s precisely the beauty of getting lost.
The heart of the village is the famous ‘Piazzetta’, the main meeting place right by the sea, which also hosts the famous Church of San Salvatore de Birecto, where the Doges of the Amalfi Republic were crowned.
The Main Beach or Marina Grande8 is Amalfi’s principal beach and is located right next to the town centre. The beach is composed of sand mixed with pebbles and the atmosphere here is very lively and full of restaurants, bars and cafés where many gather in the evening as well. From this area depart the boats that head to beaches and bays that are only accessible by sea.
The Duoglio Beach9, on the other hand, is often chosen by the more sporty-minded as it is the ideal place to practise water sports such as canoeing, windsurfing and diving. The beach is located 1 km from Amalfi and can be reached by walking down a long scenic flight of approximately 400 steps or by sea from Amalfi’s port.
Finally, just beyond Duoglio, you’ll find the Santa Croce Beach10: known for its clear and crystalline waters, it is chosen by those seeking tranquillity, relaxation and privacy. The beach is not very large, but it is equipped with facilities and also features excellent restaurants serving local specialities. Santa Croce Beach is only accessible by sea via boats departing from Amalfi’s pier.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Amalfi offers a wide choice of accommodation: from small family-run properties to large luxury chains. The best facilities are nestled in bays and coves and offer magnificent views over the coast.
Amalfi is a town that many choose as a ‘base’ for exploring the Amalfi Coast as it is easy to reach from here, both by car and public transport, Positano, Ravello and Maiori and many other coastal towns. Given its strategic location, Amalfi is a highly sought-after destination and for this reason we recommend booking your accommodation well in advance during peak season.
We offer a selection of hotels at Amalfi to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Amalfi, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Amalfi. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Amalfi are in high demand.
By car is the best way to reach Amalfi as the town has no railway station, although it is well connected by buses from the SITA company to both Naples and other coastal towns.
Amalfi can easily be reached from Salerno by car via the SS 163 or by taking one of the SITA buses, which take just over an hour. From Sorrento the town is also quickly accessible by car in just over sixty minutes, first via the SS 145 and then the SS 163. From Naples, however, you will take approximately one hour and twenty minutes to reach Amalfi by car, first via the A3 motorway and then the scenic SS 163 road.
To avoid traffic that can occur in peak season along the State Road 163, sea connections are available during the summer months departing from both Salerno and Naples. The nearest Naples Capodichino airport is not directly connected to Amalfi. From the airport, you will need to reach Naples Central Station and from there take a train to Sorrento or Salerno and, finally, from these towns a bus or hydrofoil to Amalfi.
What's the weather at Amalfi? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Amalfi for the next few days.
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