Best things to do in Amalfi

Remodeled many times since the ninth century, Duomo di Sant'Andrea is home to the Crypt of St. Andrew. Two crosses--one a 13th-century wooden crucifix, the other mother of pearl brought from the Holy Land--represent two different periods in the cathedral's history. The bronze doors of the church were cast in the city of Constantinople before 1066, making them the city's earliest architectural feature of post-Roman manufacture. Visit the gardens, where arches, colonnades, and sculptures blend in with the colorful landscaping.

Enjoy fabulous views of the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri along Il Sentiero Degli Dei, a scenic footpath on the slopes of Monte Peruso. Linking the tiny hilltop town of Agerola with Nocelle, this 7 km (4.3 mi) path is considered challenging but offers many viewing points with wooden benches and chairs for picnicking--ideal spots for taking a rest.

Renowned for its moonlight concerts, Villa Rufolo was built in the 13th century for a wealthy local family. The villa is famed for its cascading gardens, which were created in 1853 by Francis Neville Reid, a Scotsman who bought the property and not only took care of its restoration, but also designed the current layout. The gardens are known for their luxurious flower beds, which blossom in bursts of exotic colors throughout the year, as well as for offering panoramic views of the world-famous Amalfi Coast. German composer Richard Wagner visited the villa in 1880 and was so overcome by the attractiveness of the location that he later used it as a setting in of one of his operas. Check the official website for an accurate list of all upcoming concerts and other events at this site.

One of the highlights of Villa Cimbrone Gardens is the Terrace of Infinity, a natural balcony with 18th-century marble busts and views of the sea, lemon groves, and mountains. As you walk through gardens of this historic villa, you'll wander past oak, alder, and chestnut trees. Make your way down to the natural cave that is home to a 19th-century marble statue of Eve. Walk up the stairway to the rose gardens to breathe in the scent of French and English roses. Look for the inscription quoting poet Omar Khayyám. Latch on to a guide at the entrance if you want to see all the sculptures and learn their stories.

Duomo di Ravello is an 11th-century cathedral best known for its bronze doors leading inward. Once inside, you will find the aisles separated by ancient columns, but the interior is largely simple in decor. You can ask about times when the organ is played, as visitors often praise its music. There is also a museum dedicated to the history of the cathedral.

Museo della Carta is a museum set in a 13th-century paper mill, where you can learn about the history of paper and how it was once made. The oldest structure of its kind in Europe, this mill still features working original paper presses, and you can even create your own paper. Learn about processes like cotton-based and wood-pulp paper production during a tour of the site. Before you leave, you can purchase stationery in all kinds of designs.

Blending Romanesque austerity with elegant Moorish-style architecture, Cloister del Paradiso is a true slice of paradise and one of the symbols of Amalfi Coast. Built in a secluded corner of the cathedral between 1266 and 1268, this cloister was used as the final resting place for noble families in medieval times. A garden planted with palm trees and surrounded by 120 slender twin columns is probably a 20th-century addition. Numerous sculptures, sarcophaguses, and remnants of 13th-century frescoes make it an open-air museum.

Drive--or take a bus--along Amalfi Coast, a scenic route that curves along the southern cliffs of the Sorrento Peninsula. Travel between towns and villages like Salerno, Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano, while stopping at view points, beaches, Roman ruins, and churches. Twist around hairpin turns on roads carved into the side of the coast, before stopping in beautiful villages that have inspired artists over the centuries, from 14th-century writer Giovanni Boccaccio to playwright Tennessee Williams.

At Valle delle Ferriere, take a peaceful walk through lush woods of tall chestnut and lemon trees, and long-leaved ferns dating back to prehistoric times. Intersected by cool streams and waterfalls, the path leads through a protected habitat of rare pre-glacial plants, past ruins of medieval foundries that gave the area its name. Protected from the cold northern winds by rocky ridges, the valley is also known as the Vallone dei Mulini after a number of abandoned water-powered mills that once produced famous Amalfi paper. If you need to catch your breath while soaking up the lovely scenery, relax on one of the several benches along the way.

Sited in the middle of a busy piazza, Fontana sant'Andrea is a marble Baroque-style fountain representing the apostle with four cherubs and a nymph at his feet. This 18th-century art piece once stood in front of the cathedral's monumental staircase before it was moved to its current location at the end of the last century. During the feast of St Andrea, the procession that runs through the town to the beach starts from the fountain.

La Valle dei Mulini is the historic brand that identifies the products of Aceto Family, organic-certified Amalfi Lemon PGI farmers from five generations. The Original Amalfi Limoncello, the unique organic honey from lemon flowers, homemade marmalades and babà and even more.