Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast (Italian: Costiera amalfitana [koˈstjɛːra amalfiˈtaːna] or Costa d'Amalfi) is a stretch of coastline in southern Italy overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno. It is located south of the Sorrentine Peninsula and north of the Cilentan Coast.

Attracting international tourists of all classes annually, the Amalfi Coast was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Atrani and Vietri sul Mare are marketed as I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").

During the 10th–11th centuries, the Duchy of Amalfi existed on the territory of the Amalfi Coast, centred in the town of Amalfi. The Amalfi coast was later controlled by the Principality of Salerno until Amalfi was sacked by the Republic of Pisa in 1137.

Like the rest of the region, the Amalfi Coast has a Mediterranean climate, featuring warm summers and mild winters. It is located on the relatively steep southern shore of the Sorrentine Peninsula, leaving little room for rural and agricultural development. The only land route to the Amalfi Coast is the 40 kilometres (25 mi) long Amalfi Drive (Strada Statale 163) which runs along the coastline from the town of Vietri sul Mare in the east to Positano in the west. Thirteen municipalities are located on the Amalfi Coast, many of them centred on tourism.

The Amalfi Coast is known for its production of limoncello liqueur, made between February and October from lemon (known as sfusato amalfitano in Italian) grown in terraced gardens along the entire coastline. Another typical liqueur is concerto (literally, "concert", derived from the mix of herbs that compose it), a dark rosolio with spicy notes typically produced in Tramonti. Amalfi is also a known maker of a hand-made thick paper called bambagina, symbolic of Italy's traditional technique for paper production and historically used for private writings, legal acts, and revenue stamps. Other notable local products are a particular kind of anchovy (local Italian: alici) from Cetara and the colourful handmade ceramics from Vietri.

Buses and ferries run along the Amalfi Coast, as well as boat excursions from Positano and Amalfi.

The Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport is the most proximal airport to the coast, however, Naples International Airport (Napoli-Capodichino) serves the main international gateway airport to reach the area from abroad.

The natural beauty and picturesque landscapes of the Amalfi Coast have made it one of the most popular destinations of the world's jet set, earning it the nickname of "Divine Coast" (Divina costiera).^{[citation needed]}