Amalfi is on Italy's western coast, facing the Mediterranean Sea. Nearby is Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that buried the ancient city of Pompeii. The island of Capri is just offshore. Naples, the region's largest city, lies northwest of Amalfi.
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SOUTHERN EUROPE, GREEK ISLES &
MEDITERRANEAN: Amalfi
| Overview | |
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| Amalfi was once a major center of European culture and
commerce. The mighty Republic of Amalfi thrived from the 9th Century through
the 11th Century. It was home to 50,000 people, and an important player in
the Mediterranean Sea trade. The maritime code created here, the Tavole
Amalfitane, was adopted as the code of the entire Mediterranean for
centuries. In the 1100?s, Amalfi's very own Flavio Gioia invented the
compass. The art of paper-making was centered here, with the Republic
bringing the craft with it on journeys to the rest of Europe and the Arab
world. But over time, Amalfi's influence eroded, and attacks from Pisa to
the north left the town deserted and powerless. Only recently has the city
reinvented itself as a tourist attraction, with people drawn here by its
small-town Italian charm, and the beautiful stretch of land known as the
Amalfi Coast.
Amalfi is on Italy's western coast, facing the Mediterranean Sea. Nearby is Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that buried the ancient city of Pompeii. The island of Capri is just offshore. Naples, the region's largest city, lies northwest of Amalfi. |
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| Amalfi Facts | ||
| Currency | Italian Lira, although the Euro is being phased in gradually. By July 2002, all transactions will be done in Euros. | |
| Language | Italian | |
| Area Code | 089 | |