A Journey through the Amalfi Coast: Maiori
Maiori, Amalfi Coast, Italy (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
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**This post is the 3rd of a 8-post series discussing what to see in this town of the Amalfi Coast (You can check out the other parts in the list below, separated by each specific town. Everything is also summarized in another post here.**
The Amalfi Coast is one of the premier destinations in not just Italy, but the whole of Europe. Situated on the South side of the Sorrentine Peninsula, it is a collection of village towns that bear fine churches, plentiful beaches, and stunning coastlines. The entire area is named after the town of Amalfi which is the main historical and political center, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each town has a different vibe so it worth checking out multiple ones on your visit. I personally was able to see Ravello, Minori, Maiori, Amalfi, Atrani, Fiordo di Furore (the beach), and Positano, but I hope to come back someday to also check out Praiano and Conca dei Marini.
In this blog post, I will cover the town of Maiori. The town of Maiori was founded by the Etruscans before it was conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BC. It was originally called Rheginna Maior by the Romans in relation to the river that runs through the town. It is located close to the neighboring town of Minori on the Amalfi Coast. A Google Map of the places I will talk about can be seen at the end of this article.
Check out my drone video of Maiori on the Amalfi Coast below!
You can see all my Amalfi Coast related blog posts below:
Ravello (A Journey Through the Amalfi Coast: Ravello)
Minori ( A Journey Through the Amalfi Coast: Minori)
Maiori (A Journey Through the Amalfi Coast: Maiori)
Amalfi (A Journey Through the Amalfi Coast: Amalfi)
Atrani (A Journey Through the Amalfi Coast: Atrani)
Fiordo di Furore (A Journey Through the Amalfi Coast: Fiordo di Furore)
Positano (A Journey Through the Amalfi Coast: Positano)
Summary (A Guide to the Towns of the Amalfi Coast in Italy)
Maiori, Amalfi Coast, Italy (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/80 s)
How to get to Maiori
In order to get to Maiori, you will have to get yourself to Italy and then to the Amalfi Coast first. The best airport to fly into is Naples Airport (NAP), followed by taking a train to the city of Salerno. If you want a cheaper option, you can go by bus.
Take the SITA 5000 bus to Salerno from Naples City Center
Take the SITA 5003 bus to Salerno from Naples Airport
*There is also a Direct Bus that goes from Naples to Amalfi, however it runs 1-2 times daily and takes 2 hours. Just look for SITA bus 5020.*
Then from Salerno, you can:
Take a ferry from Salerno to Maiori (the ferry also stops at Vietri Sul Mare, Cetara, Amalfi, Minori, and Positano).
Take SITA bus number 5120 from Salerno bus station to Maiori.
Take a taxi direct to Maiori.
Option #2 is the cheapest option. We started off in Ravello one morning, then walked down to Minori through the countryside. You can also walk to Maiori from Minori, although the shortest route is mostly along the main road. This is something that lots of people do when visiting nearby villages, just watch out for traffic! (there is a scenic route which I will explain below!)
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Maiori, Amalfi Coast, Italy (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
Path of the Lemons (Sentiero dei Limoni)
This path is a very underrated part of the Amalfi coast. Before modernization of the area, dusty footpaths were used to get from village to village.
This Path of the Lemons connects the villages of Minori and Maiori, going through the small village of Torre. As the name suggests, one can expect to pass numerous terraced gardens replete with lemons. Combine this with excellent panoramic views and this path is a must do. Just be prepared for elevation changes as this requires a little bit of hiking prowess.
You can walk the path in both directions, though going from Maiori to Minori is considerably more enjoyable as it is mostly downhill.
Now of course, you can also walk to Maiori from Minori by going along the main road on the coastline. The walk itself is 10-15 minutes and although it may seem treacherous, it is a common thing for locals and foreigners to do. Just use caution, especially with how much traffic is on these roads.
Maiori, Amalfi Coast, Italy (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/80 s)
Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare
The villages of the Amalfi Coast have numerous churches among them but this one in particular caught my eye. I think it was perhaps the ornate dome ceiling facade, made up of hand painted green and yellow maoiolica tiles. This was especially gorgeous through the eyes of my drone.
This church is situated on Mt. Torina, where the ruins of the ancient Rocca di Sant’Angelo fortress lay. The church itself holds great historical and cultural significance to the town of Maiori. It was built in the 13th century and has since undergone many periods of restoration though the belltower was added in the 18th century.
Getting to the church on foot requires a little bit of walking. You must first go to the Piazza Raffaele Amato off of Corso Reginna street and go up quite the long staircase. Trust me, it is worth it.
Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare, Maiori, Italy (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
Maiori Beach (Spiaggia di Maiori)
Another village, another beach. The great thing about Maiori Beach is that it is a sandy beach and the longest one in the entire Amalfi Coast (nearly 1 kilometer wide). You can thank a massive flood in 1954 for destroying the town and creating this sandy beachfront for how it looks today. Along the beach you will find restaurants and cafes as well as private and public beach access points.
Indeed if you want to see a town whose coastline was not affected by the 1954 flood, look just next door to the village of Minori, easily reachable on foot using the main road or via the Path of the Lemons.
Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare, Maiori, Italy (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/40 s)
Grotto Pandora
This cave is located just a few minutes from Maiori beach. In fact, it is really only reachable by boat, whether by charter or a rowing boat. I would not recommend swimming though if you have the capacity to do so, go for it. Exploring the cave is free (some similar attractions in Italy are definitely NOT free).
The grotto possesses a number of stalactites and stalagmites and along with the blue water being highlighted by the sunlight, makes for such a stunning visual display. It may be just one of the only places that is not teeming with tourists on your Amalfi Coast visit.
For us, Maiori was the last village in our day trip consisting of a morning trip to Ravello, a short walk to Minori, and a longer walk to Maiori. Due to the size of these villages and how easy it is to reach them all on foot, I recommend seeing them in one go (unless of course you want to dedicate an entire day to each one). There are plenty of villages to visit on the Amalfi coast. I would say our favorite had to be Atrani. You can check out my blog post on seeing Atrani as well as other posts highlighting other destinations on the Amalfi Coast.
