Day 35 - Thu 2 Oct 25: Minori (Amalfi)

October 02, 2025

Thu 2 Oct 25: Minori (Amalfi)

This morning’s Plan 'A' was a short boat ride 15 minutes around the cliffs from Minori to Amalfi, leaving at 08:45, but It was too windy, and all boat services were canceled for the day. Talk about timing-thankfully our trip to Capri was yesterday, although it was a bit windier and colder on the return journey. Apart from the views and scenery at Capri, it was not my cup of tea and I don't see any need to return, but I am glad to have experienced it nonetheless. Today, instead of a boat trip, Plan B turned out to be a 15 minute bus ride along the narrow winding cliff face to Amalfi - another hair raising, but fun drive along the narrow coast roads. In Amalfi, Noeleene stayed around the main village square and shops with Lyn, while I headed to the hills along narrow terraced paths and steps with Al and Marg. It was a very pleasant walk through to the other side of the Amalfi village revealing the local way of life and challenges. The most interesting thing observed was growers securing the upper branches of large crops of lemon trees to trusses for easier pruning and harvesting. Lemons, known as "sfusato amalfitano," are a cornerstone of the Amalfi Coast, and here they have an elongated shape, intense aroma, are thick and flavourful, and less-acidic flesh. They have been cultivated here for centuries on the steep, terraced slopes, and are vital to the local economy and local cuisine, used in everything from savoury dishes and sweets to the iconic limoncello liqueur. Every store sells a product either made from lemon or depicting lemons. Back in Amalfi I went for a walk through the St Andrew in Amalfi historical complex and cathedral comprising the Paradise Cloister (1266-1268), The Basilica of the Crucifix (dating back to the 500sAD) the Diocesan Museum, the Crypt and the Cathedral (dating from the 17th Century). Amalfi was once a powerful maritime Republic of Italy with prolific trade relations with the orient between 839 and 1135) and the St Andrew complex is a significant link with that period. We all reunited to catch a bus back to Minori at 1200, but the heavy traffic congestion took us another 90 minutes to travel the almost 4km. Walking would have been faster option, but we weren’t allowed for safety reasons. Back at Minori, Noel and I had a salad roll for lunch in the town square, then I went for a 4km return walk into Maiori, the next town (safely via the road winding around the cliff face, and back again. Back in Minori, after a brew with Noel, we returned to our room for a short rest before we headed out again on the bus high in the mountains to Ravello with far-reaching views overlooking the Amalfi Coastline. The drives up and back were hampered again with heavy traffic, and by now the wind was strong and the temperature had dropped significantly. The 2 hours we had at Ravello was way too long given the conditions, and so late in the day. On return to Minori at 7:30pm, we immediately went out for dinner with 2 other couples then returned to the hotel for the evening. Tomorrow we leave for Rome, with a 2 hour guided tour at Tivoli on the way, and tomorrow night will be our last night on this tour.

Check out the traffic we had to contend with today:

Amalfi Traffic