Amalfi coast
The origin of Amalfi are not completely known, they disappear in the legends.There are many histories about its foundation, but all of them report the roman origin. It’s demonstrated by many archaeological ruins from the age of roman empire among this we remember the “ninfeo” of a villa that was probably owned by Tiberio. Furthermore the name “Amalfi” is surely of roman origin: it should be derived, according to some legends, from the name Melfi, a marine village in the near Lucania abandoned by some roman refugees in IV a.C.; or it could be the family name of a important roman gens (Amarfia) lived in I a.C..
After some Germanic incursions in V a.C. many roman refugees, from some invaded city of the Campania, sheltered on Lattari mountains and after they arrived in Amalfi giving to the city a new energy transforming it in a city. In IX the city become one of the four Republiche Marinare and it fighting with Pisa, Venice, Genoa to obtain the control on the Mediterranean sea and its commerce. The marine code called “Tavole Amalfitane ” had one great influence until the XVII century.
Amalfi reached its maximum splendour in the eleventh century, after in 1131 it was conquered from the Normanni and plundered in 1135 and 1137 by Pisa people. In 1343 a storm and a seaquake destroyed great part of the city. The most famous monument in Amalfi is sure the cathedral in Arab-sicialian style and dedicated to the patron saint of the city. Its construction begun in XI and was completed in a long time with a lot of additions. It can be recognized by the stately facade, the bronze portals realized in 1066 in Costantinopoli, by the beautiful “Chiostro del Paradiso” and by the famous perron. Each year an oarsmen crew from Amalfi participates in the “Regata delle republiche marinare” a regatta with the other old Republiche Marinare. The legend report that Flavio Gioia invented the compass but it is not historically confirmed, and seems Amalfi sailors have been first to use it. Particularly famous is the history of the city in high quality paper manufacturing, a tradition that is still present.
After some Germanic incursions in V a.C. many roman refugees, from some invaded city of the Campania, sheltered on Lattari mountains and after they arrived in Amalfi giving to the city a new energy transforming it in a city. In IX the city become one of the four Republiche Marinare and it fighting with Pisa, Venice, Genoa to obtain the control on the Mediterranean sea and its commerce. The marine code called “Tavole Amalfitane ” had one great influence until the XVII century.
Amalfi reached its maximum splendour in the eleventh century, after in 1131 it was conquered from the Normanni and plundered in 1135 and 1137 by Pisa people. In 1343 a storm and a seaquake destroyed great part of the city. The most famous monument in Amalfi is sure the cathedral in Arab-sicialian style and dedicated to the patron saint of the city. Its construction begun in XI and was completed in a long time with a lot of additions. It can be recognized by the stately facade, the bronze portals realized in 1066 in Costantinopoli, by the beautiful “Chiostro del Paradiso” and by the famous perron. Each year an oarsmen crew from Amalfi participates in the “Regata delle republiche marinare” a regatta with the other old Republiche Marinare. The legend report that Flavio Gioia invented the compass but it is not historically confirmed, and seems Amalfi sailors have been first to use it. Particularly famous is the history of the city in high quality paper manufacturing, a tradition that is still present.
