Costiera Amalfitana of terraces and sea cliffs
Published on 08/12/2026 at 13:58 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Costiera Amalfitana runs along the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula in Campania, south of Naples, and forms a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape. Its slopes, terraces and coastal settlements give the shoreline a layered profile rather than a simple edge.
A coast shaped by terraces and towns
The landscape combines steep ground, terraced cultivation and historic towns such as Amalfi and Ravello. The UNESCO listing describes it as a Mediterranean cultural landscape and places its World Heritage inscription in 1997, under reference 830.World Heritage
Terraced vineyards and orchards sit on the lower slopes, while upland areas remain part of the same inhabited coast. The terrain is part of the coastal identity, and the built settlements follow its contours closely.terraced vineyards
Amalfi, Ravello and the medieval coast
Amalfi gives the coastline its name, and the town was a maritime republic from 839 AD. That period left a strong mark on the coast’s history, together with trade links across the Mediterranean.maritime republic
Ravello belongs to the same historic landscape, and its terraces are part of the wider pattern of cultivation on the hillsides. The coast also includes places linked to villas, churches and civic architecture from different periods, which gives the route between the towns a distinct historical density.15 municipalities
Where nature and settlement meet
The coast is not a single promontory or bay, but a sequence of slopes, ravines and marine edges. Its character comes from the meeting of cultivated land, stone-built settlements and the open Tyrrhenian frontage.
The UNESCO description emphasises the interaction between human settlement and the land, including agricultural use on lower slopes and larger open areas higher up. That combination explains why the coastline reads as both lived-in and heavily shaped by centuries of occupation.terraced vineyards
Visiting Costiera Amalfitana: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The coast lies in southern Italy, in Campania, south of Naples. Amalfi is the historic centre named by the region itself.
- The terrain is steep, with terraced slopes, ravines and coastal roads that follow the line of the land. Walking between settlements means dealing with hills rather than level streets.
- The official language is Italian and the currency is the euro.
- The coast includes Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, Vietri sul Mare and other named municipalities within the UNESCO area.
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Frequently asked questions about Costiera Amalfitana
Where is Costiera Amalfitana?
Costiera Amalfitana is on the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula in Campania, south of Naples. It lies along the coast near Amalfi and Ravello.
What does a visit involve?
The coast is defined by steep slopes, terraced land and towns that sit closely into the hillside. Movement between places follows the contours of the land rather than broad flat ground.
What makes Costiera Amalfitana distinctive?
Its defining feature is the combination of sea, terraces and historic settlements in one continuous landscape. The 1997 UNESCO inscription recognises that relationship as cultural as well as geographic.
