The Amalfi Coast: the beauty of nature

This world-famous stretch of coastline in Campania is perched precariously on the edge of the sea. Every hairpin bend of the busy road reveals a village teetering on the rocky cliffs: Maiori, Minori, Cetara, Furore, Positano, Ravello, Praiano, Tramonti, Conca dei Marini, Atrani, Amalfi and Vietri sul Mare.

One more beautiful than the next, they enchant tourists from around the globe with their picturesque marinas, colorful houses, flowered balconies and mesmerizing terrace views. Small fishing boats return to harbour at dawn with a fresh catch, beach resorts cater to every whim and boats whiz travelers out to private coves accessible only by sea. 

The Amalfi Coast is the natural continuation of Sorrento, two seaside stretches hinged together by Vico Equense. The jagged and breathtaking coastline, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been lauded in works by Quasimodo, Steinbeck, Boccaccio and Ibsen, and is a favorite playground for Hollywood celebrities and international VIPs. 

Amalfi’s strong territorial identity is expressed, above all, at the table, where land and sea merge in its unique and delicious dishes. Fresh seasonal produce hails from the nearby Lattari Mountains, and some ingredients, like the sfusato amalfitano lemon and Costa d'Amalfi DOC wine, are known around the world. 

What to eat on the Amalfi Coast

Colourful and rich in flavor, Amalfi’s local fare has an undisputed protagonist: pasta. A myriad of variations exist to please every palate: ndunderi, a handmade pasta made with ricotta cheese; scialatielli all'amalfitana with shrimp, clams, truffles, mussels, cuttlefish, cherry tomatoes, green olives, parsley, garlic and capers; and spaghetti Nerano served with zucchini and provolone del Monaco.

Biologico Barone Antonio Negri in Fisciano (Salerno)

Make room for Amalfi’s second courses too, which feature soups and grilled fish of the day drizzled with a few citrusy drops of sfusato amalfitano. For dessert, the main protagonist is the sfogliatella Santa Rosa, which is filled with semolina, ricotta, candied fruit, eggs, cinnamon and sugar, and accompanied by the local liqueur, Concerto di Tramonti, a distillate of aromatic herbs.

Must-eats in Amalfi:

Formaggi dei Monti Lattari 

Numerous family-run dairy farms dot the Lattari Mountains and continue the area’s cheesemaking tradition. Try the local ricotta, fiordilatte and provola scented with herbs.

Sfusato amalfitano

Grown since the days of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi, this local lemon is juicy and quite sour with a long-lasting flavor and very few seeds. From the maceration of the lemon peels, Campania’s most famous liqueur is produced: limoncello.

Pomodoro di Sorrento 

The Sorrento tomato is cultivated along the coast, particularly in Sant'Agnello and Piano. Large and round in shape, it has a sweet, delicate flavor.

Ndunderi

A typical pasta of Minori, but found throughout Amalfi, the ndunderi are a type of gnocchi (but woe to call them that!) made from ricotta, flour, eggs, salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Scialatielli

The name scialatielli comes from the dialectal term scialarsi (to have fun) and tiella (pan). A rectangular pasta, shorter and wider than classic spaghetti, it’s made with flour, water or milk, salt and grated cheese.

Colatura di Cetara 

An amber-colored sauce obtained from marinating anchovies in water and salt, the colatura is a typical product of Cetara and a reinterpretation of the Roman fish sauce, garum.

Mulugnane c'a ciucculata

Eggplants with chocolate (mulugnane c'a ciucculata) are a mid-August specialty in Maiori. A kind of sweet flan, it’s made with fried eggplants which are breaded and then dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with almonds, macaroons and dark chocolate shavings. 

Scazzetta

A soft and fragrant sponge cake reminiscent of a cardinal or vescovo’s hat, the scazzetta is filled with cream and strawberries and covered in red icing.

©Gambero Rosso

➡ Where to find all these products and taste the typical dishes of the Amalfi tradition? In our restaurants in agritourism on the Amalfi Coast of course!