AMALFI

Amalfi was once a seafaring Republic, rivalling Genoa, Venice and Pisa, from the ninth to the eleventh centuries. Today that competitiveness is exemplified by their participation in the Trophy of the Four Ancient Maritime Republics; a Regatta held each May in Venice.Near the waterfront is the piazza del Duomo and the ninth century Cathedral of Saint Andreas (St. Andrew), whose remains are said to be buried in the crypt.Extensively rebuilt last century and superbly maintained, this fine Cathedral reflects Amalfi's original importance.Starting at the Piazza del Duomo there is a pleasant scenic walk to the Molini Valley (Valley of the Mills) where paper mills were established in early times, introducing paper to Italy. From the Piazza, alleys lead under white arches where curious little shops display ceramics ranging from huge jars to small jugs, all glowing with the appealing colours and designs of the region. Near the sea there's Flavio Gioia square with a monument to the inventor of the compass' . From here you can see the remains of the arsenal in which were built the big galleys with 116 oars, the biggest of X - XI century. What you can see today, it's just a part because it was destroyed by the seaquake  in 1343.  In Duomo square you can see the baroque fountain said of S. Andrea or Popolo built in 1760. In front of the fountain you can see the cathedral.  It's composed of two basilicas: the lower is dedicated to the Assunta and then to the Crocefisso, about the VI century, it has one aisle less because the left nave is a part of the Paradise cloister and the right is just storage; the high basilica, dedicated to S. Andrea has the transept and the crypt, in about 839 it was violated by the prince Longobardo of Salerno, Sicardo