Language Courses and Summer Camps on the Amalfi Coast

Amalfi
Amalfi, the town that gives its name to the coast, is situated at the mouth of the Valle dei Mulini; it was the first of the Four Maritime Republics of Italy and for a long time had a monopoly of trade with the East. It looks like a cluster of white houses clinging to the rock and connected to each other by covered alleys and stairways. At the center of the main square, there is the beautiful Cathedral of St. Andrew, with its impressive staircase,  bell tower in Arab-Norman style and  charming Cloister of Paradise. The Handmade Paper Museum and the Ancients Arsenals of the Republic are also worth a visit.

Atrani
Atrani, a beautiful and charming town situated at the mouth of the Valle del Dragone, is a natural amphitheater on the sea, offering the visitor picturesque views as well as the pleasure of spending relaxing moments in the main square, away from mass tourism and very close to the beach. During the period of the ancient Maritime Republic of Amalfi, the official investiture of the Doges took place in the Tenth Century Church of San Salvatore de’ Birecto in this town.

Cetara
Cetara, a fishing village surrounding the main church dedicated to St. Peter, is an active fishing port specializing in the processing and storage of tuna and anchovies, and where anchovy sauce is created.

Conca dei Marini
Conca dei Marini, a coastal village with a centuries-old maritime tradition, is a natural balcony overlooking the sea, surrounded by  Mediterranean vegetation and terraced gardens planted with lemon groves. According to tradition, in the Monastery of Santa Rosa, which clings to the steep slopes of a rocky outcrop, the first sfogliatella Santa Rosa was prepared.

Furore
Furore is also known as the “nonexistent town” for its urban layout, which is characterized by scattered villages surrounded by terraced vineyards. It is also called “the painted village” for the beautiful murals painted on the side of its whitewashed houses. Furore is primarily the town of the fjord, which was carved out over the centuries by the river Schiato and where every first Sunday in July the MarMeeting – High Diving World Championship takes place.

Maiori
Maiori became the favorite setting of the Italian neo-realist director Roberto Rossellini after the Second World War. The wide promenade is bordered by the Norman Tower on the East and by the marina and charming Miramare Castle on the West. In the old town center, beautiful Neoclassical buildings can be found along with ancient vaulted houses built around the medieval fortress of Thoro-plano. The medieval Abbey of Santa Maria de Olearia is also worth a visit.

Minori
Minori has a long tradition in the production of handmade pasta as well as in the processing of the famous Amalfi coast lemon. Surrounded by lush terraced gardens, this small town hides great architectural treasures, such as the ruins of a First Century AD Roman villa, the Basilica of Santa Trofimena and the Church of the Annunziata bell tower in Arab-Norman style.

Positano
Positano is one of the best known places on the Amalfi Coast for its picturesque staircases and whitewashed houses which follow the natural course of the mountain on a vertical landscape. Appreciated by international artists after the First World War, Positano is famous for its handmade leather sandals and cotton/linen clothes (the so-called “Moda Positano”), for its beautiful Nineteenth and Twentieth century buildings in the Mediterranean style, and its postcard views of the tiled dome of the main church and the Li Galli islands.

Praiano
Praiano lies far away from mass tourism and is characterized by narrow streets making their way through Mediterranean vegetation, terraced gardens and typical houses, all the way to the sea. Here the visitor can enjoy the most romantic sunset of the whole coast: the purple sun slowly disappears behind the mountains, illuminating Capri and its Faraglioni in the background, along with the Sorrentine Peninsula and Punta Campanella.

Ravello
Ravello was already praised by the Italian poet Boccaccio in the Decameron for its postcard landscape and regal atmosphere.  It was also a source of inspiration for Richard Wagner, who imagined the magical gardens of Klingsor admiring the Villa Rufolo gardens. As a retreat for artists, it houses one of the oldest music festivals in Italy, the Ravello Festival, which offers a new theme every year and embraces all artistic disciplines. Ravello’s buildings include religious ones, many of which date to the Medieval period, ancient palaces, and noble mansions, along with contemporary buildings, such as the Auditorium designed by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The view from the Villa Cimbrone Belvedere is stunning and one of the most famous in the world.

Scala
Scala, the oldest town of the Amalfi Coast and the birthplace of Fra’ Gerardo Sasso, founder of the Knights of Malta, is surrounded by dense forests of chestnut trees. Its its rich historical monuments reveal the wealth of the population during the Middle Ages, which was mainly brought about by noble merchants. The ruins of the Basilica of Sant’Eustachio, the largest church in the Duchy of Amalfi, overlooks the village of Pontone and still shows traces of inlay work, frescoes, and precious marble.

Tramonti
Tramonti, a hilly town of the Amalfi coast, is surrounded by the green and lush vegetation of the Lattari Mounts, which consist of chestnut trees and vineyards producing full-bodied wines. Tramonti is the perfect place to enjoy the authentic flavors of local cuisine, especially dairy products, and bread and pizza that have been prepared since the Middle Ages in rural ovens using rye, millet and barley flour, seasoned with lard and spices.

Vietri sul Mare
Vietri sul Mare is known for its colorful ceramics, a tradition since at least the 15th century, and is considered the gateway to the Amalfi Coast from Salerno.  The main landmark is the Church of St. John the Baptist, a late Neapolitan Renaissance style building with a high bell tower. There are numerous buildings displaying ceramics, including the Museo Provinciale della Ceramica in the nearby village of Raito.

Ischia
Ischia, located about 30 km from Naples, is the largest of the Phlegrean Islands (along with Procida, Vivara, and Nisida) in the Gulf of Naples. It has been inhabited since the Bronze age and is famous for the Aragonese Castle and various churches and convents on a rock near the island, and on the island itself, the Gardens of la Mortella and Villa Ravino, Villa Colombaia, various beaches and an archaeological museum.

Capri
The iconic Capri is also located in the Bay of Naples, and has been a resort since the time of the Roman Republic. Some of the main features of the island include the Marina Piccola (the little harbour), the Belvedere di Tragara (a high panoramic promenade lined with villas), the Faraglioni (limestone crags that project above the sea), the town of Anacapri high above town of Capri, the Grotta Azzurra “Blue Grotto,” the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas including the well preserved Villa Jovis, and fantastic, unforgettable beauty at every turn.