Maiori
Maiori is a bathing resort on the biggest beach of the Amalfi coast.It was founded during the Roman Empire, when the aristocrats built villas near the most important landing-place of the coast. Maiori followed the some historical destiny of Amalfi. But in 839 it was destroyed and sacked by “Sicardo”. When he died in 840, the inhabitants rebuilt the village and around the church of “ S.Nicola de Thoro-Plano ” they built a fortress used to defend us when the pirates attacked. During the Republic of Amalfi, Maiori was important marine arsenal. But, in 1135, Maiori was still sacked and destroyed by Pisani.
To visit...
The “ Collegiate Sanctuary of S.Maria a Mare ”, was built on three aisles with arches; inside we find a lot of treasures and a caisson ceiling realized by “Alessandro de Fulco”. We can also see a polychrome statue of the “Blessed Virgin”.
The castle of San Nicola de Thoro-Plano
After the Amalfi Republic, Maiori has followed the sort of Salerno, became Norman before until, at the end Aragon's; in that period the fortress of S.Nicola de Thoro-Plano was rebuilt taken the actual form. The fortress presents an irregular polygonal form, on 550 meters of perimeter; it has nine little towers long the perimeter of the wall, while inside there are barracks and warehouse. At that time there was, on the side of the mountain, a spring used during the siege. On the opposite side of the little valley there was another fortress built during the IX century and it was dedicated to S.Michele Archangel, that was, with the other fortress of S.Nicola de Thoro-Plano, a valid defensive system.
Santa Maria de Olearia
This monastic complex was built between 950 and 1000 years AD, thanks to the monks Pietro and Giovanni. The monastry is very important because it holds the middle-age monastic remains. We find three different chapels with different architectures; t he oldest chapel is placed below the other two, holds many religious frescoes. The fresco better retaired is near the entry. It has four figures that represent the Bless Virgin, who wears a red clok; on her right side, there is a Saint who wears the typical Byzantine armour. On the left side of the Virgin, there is a bearbed Saint with his long white tunic and his yellow cloak. The fourth figure represent the costumer of this chapel. He has on his hands a church model. The middle chapel built during the XI century, it hold frescoes painting in the XII century. The last chapel, dedicate to S. Nicola has many frescoes, which represent some miracle of the Saint.
Typical products
The area of the Amalfitan coast is characterized by a typical production, offen coming from ancient arts and trades of the inhabitants of the place. Between the most characteristic products we refer to the precious hand-paper of Amalfi, the ceramics of Vietri sul Mare, the interlaced baskets of chestnut-wood of Tramonti and Conca dei Marini, the hand-made embroideries, the wrought iron and of course the famous fashion of Positano. Also the gastronomic products are delicious: the limons, the "Sfusato Amalfitano", the traditional liqueur of limons: The "Limoncello", and also the delightful "delizia al limone". In the vineyards of the amalfitan hills, they cultivade grapes for the production of D.O.C. wine Costa d'Amalfi, "il Ravello", "il Gran Caruso", "l'Episcopio", "l'Ariston", "il Malaga". From the olives they make excellent "extravergine oil of the Salernitan hills". In the end there are the Corbarino tomatos, named "pomodorino a piennolo", conserved in bunches hanged up by a thread.
