Maiori is one of the main towns on the Amalfi Coast. UNESCO has declared Maiori, alongside the Amalfi Coast, a World Heritage Site since 1997.
It rises between Capo d’Orso and the short promontory that divides it from Minori and is a splendid seaside resort located on the alluvial plain that forms the terminal part of the Tramonti gorge, which can boast the most important hotel tourist accommodation on the Amalfi Coast.
The town is full of interesting things to see and is home to a large number of hotels and B&Bs.The nearby towns on the Coast can be easily reached by public transportation and by own means in just a few minutes.
Let’s set out together to discover the most ” city-like” location on the Amalfi Coast.
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How to Get to Maiori
📣 Maiori is at the center of the Amalfi Coast that can be reached by driving along the S.S. 163 Amalfitana.
✅ By Car: Highway A3 (Naples-Salerno), Exit Angri on crossing the Valico di Chiunzi Exit Vietri sul Mare passing Cetara and its small hamlet of Erchie Highway A30 three-lane exit Salerno following the signs Amalfi Coast .
✅ By Bus from Naples and Salerno by SITA bus public transportation (direction Amalfi) In Salerno the SITA bus stop is located in front of the train station. There are runs to the coast every 60 minutes.
✅ By Ferry: from the Manfredi pier (Piazza della Concordia) in Salerno, it is possible to reach Maiori and the divine coastline using the Tralvelmar service, which generally operates from April to October.
📣 Your road free from queues: book the ferry!
If you want to get around the Amalfi Coast easily and without stress, download our free guide now: inside you will find all the information you need to get around both by car and by public transportation. Plus, you’ll find a list of all the main parking lots on the Amalfi Coast.
Where to Sleep in Maiori
📣 If your next destination is Maiori, discover the best accommodations selected just for you!
What to see in Maiori
There are many attractions in Maiori, which is one of the largest towns on the Coast and is home to several seaside hotels ideal for those who want to indulge in a few days on the beach.
📣 We continue, now, by reporting all the most fascinating places to visit if you are in Maiori.
📍 Collegiata di Santa Maria a Mare
dating back to the 13th century, it was built on Mount Torina at the spot where the Rocca di S. Angelo, destroyed by the Pisans in 1137, stood, enlarging a pre-existing church already dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel that had miraculously escaped the destruction, and whose transept was adapted into a Basilica to accommodate the wooden statue of the Virgin after it was found at sea in a bale of cotton.
The Collegiate Church houses a Sacred Museum housing a collection of illuminated manuscripts from Canto Fermo; a 16th-century altar frontal of Gothic workmanship with bas-relief sacred figures; a fine inlaid ebony reliquary from the late 14th century; and ancient pontifical furnishings, including a gem-adorned mitre, the cross for processions, a chasuble and velvet copes.
📍 Palazzo Mezzacapo
once the headquarters of the municipal offices, it currently houses the municipal library, the historical archives, the cultural laboratory and some surviving offices of the old municipality. It is in the center of Corso Reginna, Maiori’s main street. This building is a witness to the town’s flourishing past, as it was once the residence of Marquis Mezzacapo. The palace is entered through a carved wooden door. Two marble staircases can be seen in the inner courtyard: left and right lead to the upper floors of the palace, which consists of several large rooms.
📍 Church of the Most Holy Rosary
part of the complex located at the northern end of Corso Reginna, established in the second half of the 17th century at the behest of Maiorese patrician Leonardo Russo, who miraculously saved himself from the plague of 1656. The vestry is admirable, has with beautiful wooden furnishings and bas-reliefs and stucco friezes. Of the beautiful organ, built in Naples in the first half of the 1700s, unfortunately only the wooden casing, finely painted and decorated, remains. The facade is also in the Baroque style. The portal is made of finely worked stone and frames a magnificent rose window.
📍 Church of San Rocco
located in Raffaele D’Amato Square, the main square of the town, situated in the center of Corso Reginna. It has a square, barrel-vaulted structure, while on the altar is a painting, dating from the 17th century, depicting the Madonna and Child between St. Rocco and St. Ignatius of Loyola. At the bottom, on the antependium, the ancient coat of arms of the city can be seen. The feast of St. Roch is August 16, one day after the Feast of the Assumption in whose program of civil and religious events it is generally placed.
📍 Church of the Assumption in Erchie
The building is located in the upper part of the picturesque hamlet of Maiori and features a 17th-century stone portal. It was enlarged in the first half of the 19th century, when the archbishop of Amalfi Mariano Bianco (1831-1849), whose coat of arms is placed on the exterior of the church, was in office. A panel painting of the Virgin, recorded in a pastoral visit in 1572, can be seen in the apse. Finally, a plaque bears witness to the flood of October 24, 1910, which almost completely destroyed the village of Erchie and many other villages on the Amalfi Coast.
📍 Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
It gives its name to the surrounding hamlet and is located on the left bank of the Reginna stream, along the old road that led to Tramonti called “Via Vecchia Chiunzi.” At one time the church was much larger: it had three naves, unlike today’s conformation. Unfortunately, it was damaged by some floods between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, losing the left aisle (raised above the road with a support) and also part of the central body. The elevated church has fragments of reused ancient columns in the churchyard.
Inside, the main families of Maiori have left their traces: the noble Da Ponte family owned the aristocratic chapel of the Santissimo Crocifisso, whose altarpiece with the Crucifixion, by the well-known Sienese painter active in Campania in the 16th century, Marco Pino, is still preserved. The baptismal font, built of stone, bears the insignia of the Staibano family. Finally, in the apse can be seen a fresco (1920) depicting the Madonna among threatening clouds and the remains of the church after the flood of October 24, 1910.
📍 Santa Maria de’ Oleria
not far from the center of Maiori, inside a cave, clinging to the rocky ridge that descends from Mount Falerzio toward Capo d’Orso, is the monumental complex of Santa Maria de’ Olearia. It consists of three overlapping places of worship, which have undergone alterations and modifications over the centuries. Very interesting are the 12th-century frescoes, which can be glimpsed while walking immersed in silence and enraptured by glimpses of blue and light that make the experience at this place truly evocative.
What to do in Maiori
📣 We have selected the best experiences in and around Maiori!
Trekking and walking
📍 The lemon path
The path that connects Maiori and Minori is pleasant and easy to walk. It takes about 90 minutes to cross it. In past centuries this road was an important communication route between the two coastal towns: it was used, in fact, to transport lemons to the valley, from the splendid terraces, still cultivated today .
The route, which winds through the picturesque village of Torre, allows visitors to experience a piece of authentic Amalfi Coast tradition. In the period of lemon harvesting, between May and July, you can meet along the road transporters, donkeys and farmers engaged in the laborious stages of harvesting and transporting our most precious yellow gold.
📣 If you want to learn more, read our article dedicated to the Lemon Trail.
📍 From Maiori to the Convent of San Nicola
A walk of about 4 hours, passing through the villages of Minori and Sambuco, then returning to Maiori. The route starts from the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria a Mare (reached from Corso Reginna, going up the steps on the left, at the height of Piazza Raffaele D’Amato), and then continues along Via Vena. When you reach a fork in the road, turn right (the destination is signposted). You reach, after about 950 meters, the Monastery of San Nicola a Forcelle, where you can stop to enjoy the view from its panoramic terrace. On the way back, you divert to the hamlet of Sambuco, and then reach Minori.
📍 Monte dell’Avvocata
This trail is quite strenuous and requires 5 to 6 hours, but it offers the opportunity to cross, in the first part of the route a stretch of beautiful chestnut and oak woods and a water spring called “Acqua del Castagno.” The second part of the trail is scenic and offers wonderful views that take your breath away.
The starting point to reach the Sanctuary of the Avvocata, about 800 meters above sea level, is reached by starting from Via Casale Alto, passing through citrus groves and vineyards.
Experiences you can have in and around Maiori
Among the towns on the Amalfi Coast, Maiori is among those that offer the greatest variety of clubs and restaurants.
If you are looking for a quiet place where you can eat something or where you can sip a good drink, here you will certainly find the solution that best suits your needs and tastes.
Among the experiences we recommend in and around Maiori, there is undoubtedly the day by boat, with destination Positano or – why not? – Capri: you will be able, in this way, to discover the most exclusive beaches, but also to push yourself to discover other locations or attractions, enjoying the spectacle of the coast, in total freedom.
Finally, if you are traveling around mid-August, remember that on the occasion of the fireworks display at midnight, mini-cruises are organized that allow you to enjoy the fireworks from the sea.
📣 Another suggestion that might be useful, especially if you are traveling as a couple and looking for an experience that combines freedom and romance, is the sunset boat tour.
The beaches of Maiori
beaches are generally very crowded during the peak months
📣 If you are a sea lover and want to get away from the chaos of the central beaches, here are the unmissable beaches for a day of sea and relaxation as a true coaster!
✅ Marina di Erchie Thanks to its always clear and clean sea and picturesque location, bordered by two towers – La Cerniola on the left and Torre di Tummolo on the right side – Erchie beach is definitely one of the most well-known and popular beaches. For this reason, we advise against visiting it in the busiest months (July and August) and prefer it in early summer or for the very pleasant bathing in early September. At this time, the only 200-meter-long beach will be the ideal location for a day of peace and relaxation. You can reach it by Sita bus: the stop is just before the descent to the center of the small village of Erchie.
✅ Spiaggia del Cavallo Morto (Dead Horse’s Beach) This is definitely one of the most popular beaches among locals, along with Acqua Chiara beach, which we will see in a moment. The location is definitely picturesque, but it can only be reached by sea, by private dinghy boat.
✅ Salicerchie Beach This small beach, only 40 meters long, unlike the previous one, can also be reached from the road, via a staircase of about 160 steps. The staircase starts not far from the town of Maiori, about half a kilometer away. However, we recommend that you reach it on foot, as there is no parking available on the road for cars or motorcycles.
What may seem to be a disadvantage, in fact, turns out to be a great advantage for lovers of tranquility: this beach, in fact, precisely because of its particular location is never crowded. A curiosity: a few meters from this beach you can swim to a small cave, called Grotta Suffregna, from which sulfur-magnesium water gushes out.
Unmissable events in Maiori
✅ The patronal festival in Maiori is scheduled for August 15 when the patron saint Santa Maria a Mare is celebrated on the solemnity of the Assumption. A wonderful fireworks display is planned for the occasion, usually around midnight.
✅ Another important anniversary is the Festa dell’Avvocata, celebrated every year on the first Monday after Pentecost on nearby Mount Falerzio.
✅ Impossible not to mention the traditional Carnevale Maiorese, which every year brings back to life the Maiori people’s passion for working with papier-mâché: the streets become a riot of color and merriment for the occasion, including dancing and parades of floats, events for young and old, music and folklore.
Why choose Maiori as a travel destination
In addition to the concentration of accommodations, restaurants and clubs, Maiori offers about a kilometer of beach served by more than 15 bathing establishments: it is convenient for those who, traveling with children, are looking for a summer destination to indulge in stress-free, carefree days at the beach. In addition to this, Maiori presents itself for all intents and purposes as a small town: the highest concentration of stores and supermarkets can be found here.
In addition, the town is well connected to the other towns on the Amalfi Coast, via Sita Sud buses and through the Travelmar sea service.
📣 Choose Maiori if:
🔹 you are looking for a convenient travel destination that allows you easy access to the sea, services and other towns on the Amalfi Coast;
🔹 you are looking for a travel destination where hotel prices are slightly lower than in other destinations such as Ravello, Amalfi and Positano;
🔹 you are traveling with children: the waterfront is equipped with a small playground;
🔹 you are young, traveling in a group and looking for a place that offers some young clubs, perhaps open late. If Maiori’s offerings do not satisfy you or you are looking for a place where you can dance late, remember that you are about a forty-minute drive from Cava de’ Tirreni and Salerno, which offer even more choices in nightlife.
The best time to visit Maiori
Compared to other destinations on the Amalfi Coast, such as Amalfi and Positano, Maiori is less affected by the massive influx of travelers and tourists: with the exception of the central weeks of August, you won’t find major overcrowding problems during the summer. In short, your stay will be rather quiet even in high season. The problem, however, concerns travel from one town to another, which becomes really difficult in July and August, both because of traffic and crowding on public transportation.
Therefore, if you want to visit other towns on the Coast, without excessive stress, we recommend the spring or fall period, when you can move around more easily, especially on midweek days.
3 interesting facts about Maiori
✅ Setting of Tenet by Christopher Nolan The town of Maiori was the setting for director Christopher Nolan’s epic action film “Tenet“, which will be released in theaters in 2020. For the filming, shot between July and August 2019, the director chose the wild cove of Bellabaia, known to locals as Dead Horse Beach.
✅ Neorealism and Rossellini
The opening scenes of the Sicilian episode of director Roberto Rossellini’s film Paisà were shot inside Maiori’s Convent of San Domenico, while another scene, the next one, is shot inside the striking Torre Normanna.
✅ Would you like a “sospiro al limone” or a sfogliatella? If you’re wandering around the streets of Maiori, we recommend a tasteful stop at the historic Pasticceria Trieste: take the opportunity to taste the famous lemon sigh, invented by the owners of the pastry shop in the 1960s and which has become a real must for Maiori residents.
It is a very soft and delicate sponge cake wrapper that holds a heart of custard and is covered with a very sweet lemon glaze. Tasting it will confirm that the name is definitely spot on.
History of Maiori
Founded, according to tradition, by the Etruscans around the 7th century B.C. under the name Rheginna Major to distinguish it from the neighboring Minori called Rheginna Minor (named after two rivers one larger and the other smaller called Regina and Reginella), it later came under Roman rule and, in the 5th century A.D., under the dependencies of a group of Capitoline families that gave rise to the civis proper.
Destroyed and sacked in the 9th century by Sicario duke of Benevento, it was soon rebuilt and fortified with defensive walls and towers, the remains of which are still visible today.
A possession of the Republic of Amalfi, with dividing vicissitudes, Maiori is home to the Major Arsenals, the Admiralty, as well as the Customs House and the Salt Fondaco.
Later it passed with Amalfi to the Byzantine Duchy of Naples, which, although very rich and powerful, around the year 1000, had to capitulate before Robert Guiscard, son of Tancred of Altavilla, who put an end to the disorder of the towns in our province, torn apart by the continuous struggles between Lombards, Byzantines and Saracens.
Thus began the period of feudal monarchy and, with it, great transformations in the agricultural structure, trade and town life, so much so that Maiori had a flourishing merchant marine and was able to build ships of great scope.
To the Norman invader who was laying the foundations of an Italian unitary project, the Pope opposed a League, participants included the Pisans, bitter enemies of Amalfi, who in June 1135 put the entire coastline to fire and sword and, later, in 1137, in addition to destroying and sacking the city of all its treasures, tore down all the fortifications.
Away from the ducal forts, the centuries flowed slowly and darkly for Maiori; only economic activities such as the paper mills, factories and tanneries laid out along the Rheginna River valley, and especially the merchant fleet continued to bring luster to the city. The violent tidal wave of 1343, the plague of 1348, pirate raids and terrible floods inevitably caused Maiori’s decline.
Its reconstruction radically altered the town’s appearance, hotels and palaces sprang up: the tourist adventure began.
