Getting Ready

Legends about Amalfi date back to the days of the Ancient Greeks, but historians are certain that the area has been inhabited by the Romans at least since the 4th Century A.D. When the Roman Empire fell, Amalfi, like many neighboring cities, established itself as a republic. The region minted its own coin, the Tari, and struck out to sea to trade their salt and grain for products like paper and oriental carpets from what’s now the Middle East. From the 7th Century until the 11th, Amalfi remained independent, rivaling other trading powerhouses such as Pisa and Genoa.

In the 14th Century, dukes, counts and Popes fought over the city’s riches and influence, while one local resident received acclaim for inventing the world’s first compass. A medieval tidal wave doused some of the area’s glories, but the real bad news was just beginning. In the 15th Century, the area fell under the rule of Spanish kings. Then, in 1643, a plague killed an estimated one-third of its residents.

In 1807, a road was completed that connected Amalfi to Naples and the outside world – this served as a prelude to modern Italy’s unification in 1870. Nearby Salerno, site of the Allied invasion of 1943, represents the beginning of the end of Italy’s dark war years.

Over the past century, the Amalfi Coast has been known for its light, conveyed to the world by artists including Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee. The area’s magical atmosphere also captivated British bon vivants and writers including E.M Forster, John Steinbeck, and D.H. Lawrence, whose enraptured descriptions opened the floodgates to jet-setters ranging from Greta Garbo all the way to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

The Amalfi Coast’s natural setting and the timelessness of its small towns attract nearly a half million annual visitors.

Amalfi: Italy's Divine Coast

Photographer Rosario Bonavoglia takes you on a colorful journey through ten towns along the glorious, jagged Amalfi coast while renowned historian Assunta Cuozzo recounts the history of these remarkable places. Buy now

Italian Days

Seeking to understand her past as well as herself, Harrison embarks on a “journey of reconciliation” through Italy. In this lyrical account, she writes with warmth and depth of her trip from Milan south to Calabria. Buy now

Pompeii, The Day a City Died

Etienne creates a vivid portrait of daily life in the city as told by its evocative frescoes, mosaics and other treasures. With a useful chronology, extensive illustrations and carefully chosen selection of writings over the ages, it's an indispensable guide to the archaeology and life of Pompeii. Buy now

The Last Girls of Pompeii

This dramatic tale is set in ancient Pompeii in the days just before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It’s the story of two girls, wealthy but crippled Julia and her beautiful slave Sura, who discover new meanings of the word freedom as they help each other escape disaster. Buy now

Only You (1994)

Set in Positano, Venice and Rome, this romantic comedy is all about destiny. Ouija boards and fortune tellers have told Faith that her soul mate is a man named “Damon Bradley.” 14 years later, when she gets a mysterious call from a man with that name, she jilts her dull fiancé and pursues Damon to Italy. She tracks him down, he sweeps her off her feet – but is he who he claims to be? Buy now

Il Postino (1995)

A beautiful film based on true events, Troisi plays a shy postman who strikes up an unlikely friendship with exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Through Neruda's example and tutelage, the hero learns to think of his Italian fishing village in lyrical terms, as well as how to win the heart of the girl he loves. Buy now

Enchanted April (1992)

Two proper Englishwomen, determined to get away from their drab lives and inattentive husbands, find paradise among the serene countryside of the Italian Rivera in this enchanting adventure. Breathtaking scenery make the Academy Award-nominated Enchanted April a captivating delight for everyone who's ever dreamed of taking the perfect holiday. Buy now

Pack for activities - swimwear, good shoes for hiking, sun hats and cover-ups.
Dress code is generally informal. May want to dress up for finer restaurants.
The scenery is spectacular, so bring a camera.