The Romans appreciated the Bay of Naples as a result of its Greek culture, the beautiful setting and its baths. The islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida are close by, as are the Li Galli isles – home to the sirens of Homer’s Odyssey. Further down the coast is Paestum – where some of the best preserved Greek temples in the world are to be found, whilst inland, Pompeii and Herculaneum are further unique sites.

Modern day Amalfi has a coastline of rare beauty - dotted with white and pastel coloured houses, bougainvillea-filled gardens and cultivated terraces demonstrating the influence man has had on the landscape over the centuries. Closely spaced houses climb up steep hillsides, connected by a maze of alleyways and stairs reminiscent of the souks of the Levant. There is a distinctive Arab-Sicilian feel to the architecture here, which is attributed to its trade and resultant close links with Western Asia.

Steep terraced slopes rise from the coast, used for the cultivation of citrus and other fruits, olives, vines, and vegetables of all kinds. Further inland gentler hillsides offer larger areas of pastoral land, which have long been given over to dairy farming, based on sheep, goats, cattle, and buffalo.

A network of mule tracks cross the higher mountains. These not only served as means of communication between the scattered villages and other settlements, they were well used by smugglers after the fall of the Amalfi Republic and you will walk along some of these on this holisay. These tracks also served as an effective means of catching and channelling rainwater to be put to use. There are many small streams and waterfalls which at one time would have provided the power for the early paper and iron industries - the remains of which are widespread. Amalfi in particular is famed for its paper production.