Maiori Travel Guide

The nearest airport is Aeroporto internazionale di Napoli Capodichino. Naples Airport offers connections to all Italian cities and major European destinations with traditional or low-cost airline companies. There are two possibilities to get to the main train station in Naples: ANM bus 3S (30mins, every 15mins) to Piazza Garibaldi, or the Alibus airport bus (20mins, at least hourly) to Piazza Municipio.

Train
The nearest train station to Maiori is at Salerno, which is connected by many trains to all of Italy. From Salerno you may take a taxi, a SITA bus, or a ferry to Maiori. Naples is next nearest station. From Naples you can take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento then take a SITA bus to Maiori via Positano. For train times please consult the Trenitalia site.

Bus
A company called SITA runs blue buses along the coast, from Salerno to Maiori, from Maiori to Sorrento. There are buses on the Sorrento-Salerno line about two per hour. Other small buses provide transport within the towns.

Sea
Ferries connect the principal towns of the Amalfi Coast area, and can be much quicker than buses. Travelmar run connections between Salerno, Minori, Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento.

Car
From Rome and from the north take the highway A1 and A30 up to Salerno, exit at Salerno and continue on state highway 163 Costiera Amalfitana until destination. From Naples take instead highway A3(autostrada) up to the exit at Vietri sul Mare and then continue on state highway 163 up to destination. Coming from the south, travel on A3, and exit at Salerno Centro and continue on state highway 163.

History and Culture
It is not clear as to the origins of the town but the original name of the town was Reghinna Maior, in contrast to the neighbouring Reghinna Minor. All places along the coast were formed by alternating conquerors - such as the Etruscans or the Romans.

Between 830 and 840, the places of the coast united to form a confederation of Amalfi States. In this Amalfi Sea Republic, the places between Lettere and Tramonti and between Cetara and Positano, along with the island of Capri, were united; and their inhabitants were all called Amalfitaner. At that time, each city retained its own name and administrative autonomy, but had a specific role in this federation.Maiori was the mercantile heart of the new state, seat of the Greater Arsenals of the Admiralty, the Customs, and The Salt Warehouses.

Maiori and Ravello, that did not take part in the revolt and escaped the terrible punishment but not that caused by the city of Pisa who in June 1135 laid waste to the entire coast with sword and fire. Two years later they returned and after the sack, they knocked down all the fortifications: destroying at Maiori the Bulwark of S.Sebastian and the castle of S.Angelo finally dashing any hope of a revival.

The next centuries passed darkly and slowly for the coastal territories: Maiori had paper factories, textile manufacturers, tanneries but it was the well furnished merchant fleet that helped to maintain the commercial trade of the town that was however interrupted at regular intervals by wars: inaugurating the XVI century came the Angevins and the Spanish. After alternative vicissitudes the last mentioned prevailed and even if not famous for good government, they built roads and a defence system along the coast and in July 1662 Filippo IV, named Maiori “Città Regia”. In 1735, and again in 1773, violent floods hit the town; the people of Maiori attributed their safety to S.Maria a Mare, and every year the third Sunday of November they celebrate their Patroness. In 1860 the Reign of Italy was born. The expectations of the South were to have another disillusionment. Some of the population decided to emigrate to America, others become brigands, the mountain Falerzio became a cove of outlaws; the “Grotto of Matteo Salese” (A brigand ) can still be seen.

Churches and Museums
S. Giacomo a Platea
Over the altar a superb painting of the Madonna di Porto Salvo, in the apse a seventeenth century statue of the Apostles Filippo and Giacomo Minore and in a wooden box a charming “Madonna Bambina”, work of Luigi Capone of the late 19th century.

Chiesa e Convento di S. Francesco
Built in 1405, with the passing centuries the complex was at the centre of many disasters that made necessary the complete rebuilding. The last work was done in 1938 when the façade was rebuilt and over the great portal of the late 1500's a ceramic effigy of St. Francis was placed.

Collegiate of S. Maria a Mare
Built on the mountain Torina where the stronghold of S.Angelo once stood, destroyed by the Pisans in 1137. The original plan goes back to the chapel inside the fortress dedicated to St. Michael Archangel. Saved from destruction in the XII century, it was adapted into a Basilica to hold the statue of the Virgin miraculously found on the beach. The passing centuries brought about a series of transformations and enlargements and in 1836 the Neapolitan architect Pietro Valente gave it the actual disposition.

Historical buildings and monuments
Castello Miramare Originally “Castle Mezzacapo” name of the noble family that had it erected in the last century. The structure is on three floors, it has three round towers with conical spires at the corners of the façade and on the back of the building. Tradition has it that the bizarre shape was a whim of the Marquis who wanted his castle to be similar to the castles of the Loire, it was copied, it is said from the design on a box of matches, it is actually being rebuilt.

Places of Interest
Grotta dell'Annunziata
On the inside, in the XIV century the fishermen's corporation erected a small hospital for their sick and a church probably with two naves, named after the Virgin SS. Dell'Annunziata, their protector. Only a few walls remain admirably frescoed with “Madonna dell' Annunziata who receives the fishermen”. In the back of the Grotto beneath sea -level is an interesting small lake of fresh water.

Events
Eggplant Festival - On the first week of August
Santa Maria Assunta Festival - 15th of August
Santa Maria Assunta is the patron saint of Maiori. The Festival features fireworks.

www.en.hotel-in-maiori-italy.filcoo.com/

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