Amalfi

Amalfi is a small town with 5173 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) in Italy, in the province of Salerno in the Campania region.

Geography

Amalfi is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea 26 km west of Salerno and 73 km southeast of Naples. The city is located on a steep rocky coast, which derives its name from the Amalfi Coast, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It extends from the coast in a narrow valley of Mons Lactarius into taking the Sorrento Peninsula. The actual city can only use an area of ​​about 3 square kilometers for construction.

The municipality of Amalfi include Lone, Pastena, Vettica, Pogerola and Tovere. The neighboring municipalities are Atrani, Ravello and Positano.

Amalfi is part of the South Centre System ( SC) of Europe. The next " side " major city is Naples, Salerno the next " Regional Center " and provincial capital.

History

Founding uncertain

Not reliable information according to Amalfi was founded in 320 AD by soldiers of the Emperor Constantine. These came from the Adriatic coastal town Melphe (a = Melphe of Melphe ), of which the name is derived Amalfi.

Amalfi from the 5th to the 12th century

Due to the lack of fertile arable land, the people of Amalfi turned to the sea and sea trade so early. Since the 6th century, the city was under the Exarchate of Ravenna, but enjoyed because of their importance for Byzantium extensive autonomy. In the 9th century, the city finally gained its statehood. By skillful maneuvering with the surrounding powers ( Byzantines, Lombards, the Emperor and the Pope ) Amalfi reached the summit as one of the leading powers in Italy. 846 sent ships to defend the city of Rome. Together with the fleets of Naples and Gaeta succeeded to beat the Saracens at Ostia. Amalfi was subsequently the first of the four Maritime Republics (next to Genoa, Pisa and Venice).

Amalfi merchants talked bases in all major cities of the Mediterranean, for example in Cordoba, Antioch, Cairo, Constantinople Opel and Durazzo. In the 10th century Amalfi was a hub for trade between East and West. Arab travelers as they boasted "richest and most glamorous city " in the Lombard Kingdom. At that time, the Republic of Amalfi, which also included the neighboring towns of Atrani, Ravello, Scala, Minuto, Maiori and Minori, more than 50,000 inhabitants.

Amalfi developed the first Seerechtskodifikation Italy, the Tabula Amalphitana, which over the lifetime of the Maritime Republic also had far valid in the whole Mediterranean. Amalfi minted its own coins and was in the Mediterranean Sea known for its shipyards.

In the 11th century, at the height of its economic power, Amalfi was threatened by the Normans and simultaneously weakened by internal unrest. 1073 captured the city of Norman Robert Guiscard. As a result, Amalfi lost its importance mainly to Venice. Two devastating attacks Pisan 1135 and 1137 finally ended Amalfi's heyday.

The destroyed trade flourished again. While rose up in the west of Genoa and in the Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean Venice, Amalfi and Salerno developed to the Muslim Sicily and North Africa remarkable trade. In the Levant created trade centers after the conquests of the Crusaders.

Between the 13th and 19th centuries

A triggered by an earthquake, tsunami, the Francesco Petrarca described in his Epistolae familiares, left on November 25, 1343 parts of the city literally sinking into the sea. Politically, followed by the dependence of Pisa. 1582 Amalfi came to the Kingdom of Naples and shared his fate until the fall of the Bourbon rule in 1860, due to their remote geographical location, the city lost during the 17th and 18th centuries in importance. ; until the mid- 19th century, it was also only accessible by sea. Partial Amalfi was used by pirates as a hiding place or rest stop. The production of paper in the water mills of the Mühltal of Amalfi and the production of pasta made ​​in this period, the main industries. - In the years 1875/1876, the Danish landscape painter Carl Frederic Aagaard visited during an extended study trip, among other things Amalfi. During this period a number of known oil painting of city and landscape.

Amalfi from the 20th century

With the flourishing of tourism from the mid-20th century, the economy recovered the city, new accommodation and leisure facilities make the number of visitors in the summer months increase enormously. The city is a member of Cittaslow, a company incorporated in Italy in 1999 motion to decelerate and increase the quality of life in cities by environmental policy, infrastructure policy, urban quality, appreciation of indigenous products, hospitality, awareness and scenic quality.

Attractions

• Cathedral ( Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea ) from the 10th century. In the 13th century it was converted into the Arab- Norman style. In the 18th century, the cathedral was the colored mosaic façade. In 1891, he was completed according to the plans of architect Enrico Alvino. The interior construction has been created with three aisles. In its crypt holds the remains of the Apostle Andrew, the patron saint of Amalfi, preserved. The cathedral is regarded as the symbolic and tourist center of Amalfi.
• Citizens Museum ( Palazzo Municipio) at City Hall, documents the rich history of the city
• Old shipyard ( Corso Roma), here is primarily the history of seafaring worked out; been converted into a museum, the shipyard building is the only one of its kind which is received in southern Italy
• A covered and overbuilt road ( Supportico Sant'Andrea )
• Monument of Flavio Gioia, the inventor of the compass alleged
• Paper Museum
• Lemon Peasant Museum
• The coastal road Strada Statale 163 Amalfi is one of the most beautiful in Europe
• Valley of the ironworks (Valle delle Ferriere )

Amalfi Prize

The prestigious Premio Amalfi, a European Prize for Sociology and Social Sciences, is awarded annually in Amalfi.