Hotel Sole Splendid
Maiori - Via Gaetano Capone 63
Hotel Sole Splendid is located in Maiori.
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Among the most charming villages on the Amalfi Coast, Maiori is undoubtedly a small yet captivating town nestled between Capo d’Orso and the headland leading to Minori. Known as a coveted seaside destination, Maiori is a town with a truly ancient history that has attracted famous personalities over the years, such as Roberto Rossellini.
The town appears to have Etruscan origins, and its original name was Rheginna Maior, a name derived from the Reginna river, a watercourse that divides into two before flowing into the sea and runs through both Maiori and Minori. This is why Maiori, being the larger town, was called Rheginna Maior, whilst Minori, being smaller, was known as Rheginna Minor.
During the Maritime Republics period, the town was a possession of the Republic of Amalfi and was long home to the Major Arsenals, the Admiralty, the Customs House and the Salt Warehouse. After the Second World War, Maiori experienced remarkable urban and tourist development, partly due to the interest of filmmaker Roberto Rossellini. The celebrated Italian director chose this small town to film several of his neorealist films, including Paisà, Miracolo and Viaggio in Italia.
Maiori is one of the few coastal towns that develops on predominantly flat terrain and features an open configuration towards the sea like a fan. In 1954, following a devastating flood, the beach’s surface area expanded, “gifting” Maiori an extended coastline. Unlike other Amalfi Coast towns that rise steeply from the sea and have small beaches, Maiori boasts a long fine sandy beach that is perfect for families with children.
Maiori is an Amalfi Coast town that proves an ideal destination not only for a seaside holiday and relaxation, but also for a cultural stay. This perfectly proportioned town preserves a truly ancient historical, architectural and gastronomic heritage capable of captivating every visitor.
Maiori is considered not only the ideal base for visiting other coastal villages, but also a location for trekking and excursions. Several scenic trails depart from here, such as “Il Sentiero dei Limoni” (The Lemon Trail), a charming itinerary connecting Maiori to Minori.
Situated in a stunning panoramic position, the Abbey of Santa Maria de Olearia is Maiori’s symbol and testament to the intense presence of religious orders that characterised the town from medieval times.
The complex comprises three small chapels built around the 10th century, which house precious frescoes within depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and various Saints. The lowest chapel is called the crypt (or catacomb chapel) and contains the best-preserved frescoes. The Abbey took the name “de Olearia” from the presence of olive trees in the area, which produced oil via a local press that was also vital to the monks’ subsistence.
Santa Maria de Olearia is a stop of great interest not only for its beauty and history, but also because it stands in a truly evocative position offering visitors breathtaking panoramas.
The Castle of San Nicola de Thoro-Plano is a fortress built in the 9th century on the homonymous hill in Maiori. The name derives from the fact that it was originally constructed around a Church dedicated to San Nicola, which was later suppressed in the 16th century.
The castle’s current layout results from expansion and restructuring works carried out by the Piccolomini family, who reinforced the walls with various turrets and transformed the complex into a formidable fortress. Thanks to its elevated position, the Castle of San Nicola affords magnificent views over the town and surrounding countryside.
The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare was built in the 13th century on Monte Torina, upon the remains of an ancient fortress destroyed by the Pisans in 1137. The religious building was erected by expanding a pre-existing Church dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, which miraculously remained intact from the destruction inflicted by the Pisans.
The interior is neoclassical in style with three naves and features a gilded coffered ceiling executed by painter Alessandro de Fulco, as well as a precious relief Madonna and Child. The exterior, meanwhile, is characterised by a beautiful dome with green and yellow majolica tiles and a quadrangular bell tower.
Maiori boasts a beautiful seafront that stretches for over a kilometre alongside the beach, connecting numerous defensive towers once built to protect the territory. Of particular importance is the Norman Tower4, also known as the Tower of the Corner or of the Formicole, built in 1563 on a rocky outcrop. Alongside this are the Acquarulo tower, the tower of S. Spirito, the Tower Lama di Cane, the Turret of Capo d’Orso, the Tower of Tumulo and the Tower of Erchie.
Maiori stands out as a seaside destination rich in beaches with establishments offering all services and numerous restaurants, as well as free beach areas.
The town’s coastline, known as Maiori Beach5, stretches for nearly a kilometre and is characterised by fine sand and crystalline waters. This is a beach particularly appreciated by families with children, also because the town’s layout makes the beach easily accessible from any point in the town. Here you’ll find a section equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas, as well as two areas of free beach. Maiori Beach is one of the few Amalfi Coast beaches where the sun shines all day long, whereas in other locations it disappears behind high cliffs after lunchtime.
Those preferring quieter spots can head to Salicerchie Beach6, also known as Acquachiara, a less-frequented beach as it requires walking down approximately 160 steps to reach it. This coastline extends for about 40 metres and there’s also a small sulphurous cave called Grotta Suffregna.
Another particularly evocative beach is Cala Bellavia, also known as Cavallo Morto Beach7, accessible only by small boats. Finally, the coastline at Erchie, a small hamlet of Maiori, is also worth visiting, featuring a beach extending about two hundred metres and bordered by two ancient Saracen towers.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Maiori is an Amalfi Coast town offering a wide and diverse range of accommodation options to choose from.
From luxury hotels to small B&Bs, from family-friendly properties to those perfect for a romantic getaway, Maiori caters to every visitor. The most popular establishments are those located beachfront, allowing you to reach the beach in an instant; some even offer guests direct access to private lidos.
Those preferring a property not located along the seafront but in one of the narrow streets winding through the village needn’t worry, as the town’s layout ensures beaches are quickly accessible from anywhere in town.
By car, the town is easily accessible from all Campania cities. Maiori sits at the heart of the Amalfi Coast and is therefore connected to other coastal towns via the SS163, a scenic road that is, however, often heavily congested in summer.
From Naples, take the E45 motorway to the Angri exit, then follow SP2b and SP2a towards Maiori. From Salerno, the town is about 35 km away and is reached by first taking the SS18 Tirrenia and then the State Road 163.
Those preferring public transport can take SITA buses from Naples heading towards Amalfi, reaching Maiori in less than two hours. From Salerno, the bus takes less than an hour to reach Maiori. From other Amalfi Coast towns, such as Amalfi, Cetara or Vietri sul Mare, you can reach Maiori via SITA buses connecting all coastal locations.
The nearest train station is at Vietri sul Mare, approximately 15 km from Maiori, from where you’ll need to take a bus or taxi to reach your final destination. In summer, the town is also accessible by sea thanks to ferry services departing from Sorrento and Salerno, connecting various Amalfi Coast locations, including Maiori.
What's the weather at Maiori? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Maiori for the next few days.
Maiori is a stunning seaside resort located in the heart of the Amalfi Coast. The town lies less than 4 km from Minori, 33 km from Salerno and 55 km from Naples.
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