AMALFI, Presentation

Hi, my name’s Rick, and I’m your personal guide. Along with MyWoWo, I’d like to welcome you to one of the Wonders of the World: Amalfi.

Before you start exploring Amalfi, it’s important to take a brief step into the fascinating history of the town that gives the Amalfi Coast its name.

Amalfi was founded around the 4th century AD by Roman refugees who had fled from Melfi, tormented by barbarian hordes. Right from the beginning, the inhabitants took advantage of the natural harbor that facilitated maritime trade.

The city later belonged to the Duchy of Naples for a long period, until the 9th century, when Amalfi became independent and founded an autonomous republic. This allowed the city to extend its commercial influence and to become one of the four most powerful maritime republics in the Mediterranean, thanks to an impressive merchant and military fleet.

However, Amalfi's fortunes took a turn for the worse in 1131, when it fell under the siege of the Norman king Roger II. This was followed by looting and a terrible storm that devastated the harbor in 1343 and hastened the city's decline....