The first surprise is Minori, the Ancient Reghinna Minor, which still preserves a precious trace of its past, the splendid Roman Maritime Villa of the first century A.D. It is a rare example of a seaside villa and is considered one of the most important Roman monuments of the Amalfi coast. It was probably owned by a wealthy personage of the imperial court who wanted to build it on the sea but with a sheltered landing place. The nearby stream ensured the supply of freshwater that fed the pool and spa. Once Minori was rich in mills and therefore they have a tradition of pasta, to be enjoyed in various recipes in small restaurants among the brightly colored houses. After Minori the coastal road leads immediately to Maiori, a fishing village once called Reghinna Maior and characterized by a fan-shaped structure open towards the sea. This conformation has given him one of the most extensive beaches of the Amalfi coast, further enlarged after a catastrophic flood in 1954 that destroyed the entire historic center of the country. In the Middle Ages, what is now a quiet and picturesque seaside resort, was the main port of the Republic of Amalfi, a place full of convents and palaces, so that King Philip IV named it Royal City. The city is dominated by the fortress of San Nicola de Thoro-Plano, which was renovated in 1400 and can still be visited today together with the annexed church. At the Collegiate church of Santa Maria a Mare you can admire the miraculous statue of the Virgin that according to legend arrived here floating on the water.
Cetara, one of the most characteristic towns of the Amalfi coast. Immune to mass tourism, Cetara is still linked to traditional economic activities such as fishing and for this reason it preserves practically intact its charm as a fishing village. The link with the sea can be felt everywhere, starting from the name that could derive either from “Cetaria” (tuna in latin), or from “cetari”, the fishermen or traders of tuna, to end with the gastronomy where the fish is the main food. Tuna and anchovy are the protagonists of the cuisine of Cetara, whose typical dish is represented by spaghetti with anchovy dripping. This condiment is obtained from the fermentation of anchovies marinated in special containers and can be imagined as an evolution of Garum, the fish sauce that drove the ancient Romans crazy. The crystal clear sea that laps the village of Cetara is the summer destination of the young Salerno directed especially to the beach below the mighty watchtower. From the historical point of view Cetara played a fundamental strategic role. Its territory belonged to the Republic of Amalfi and was the border with the principality of Salerno. For a short period of time it was even occupied by the Saracens who made it their base. From an artistic point of view, the beautiful Romanesque church dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle and the church with adjoining convent dedicated to St. Francis should be noted.
