Holidays to Maiori

Maiori, a tranquil village on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, has been enchanting travellers since Roman times. This charming seaside town spills down the steep cliffs to a pretty harbour and the longest beach on this stunning stretch of coastline. Above it looms the highest peak in the area, perfect for hiking, and the village boasts enticing medieval streets and ancient churches. All the highlights of the Amalfi Coast are within easy reach, whether you want to mingle with the jet set in the beautiful towns of Positano, Sorrento or Amalfi, explore the ancient ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum, or hike up the volcanic peak of Vesuvius.

The charm of the Amalfi Coast is its rugged beauty, with tumbling cliffs falling steeply into an azure sea. There are scores of enchanting little coves but few beaches on this world-famous coastline – and the longest stretch of sand is found in Maiori. It’s almost a kilometre long, and slopes gently into turquoise waters. Most of the beach is taken up with ‘private beaches’ belonging to the bars and restaurants, but there are public sections at either end. The private beaches have lots of sun beds and parasols for rent, and offer a range of services, from food and drink to kayak rental. It’s a very popular spot for families, thanks to the clean, shallow waters and excellent facilities.

Maiori is full of charming places to eat and drink, from little cafés where you can enjoy your breakfast cappuccino and cornetto to elegant restaurants serving freshly caught seafood. You can enjoy some delicious local specialities, such as scialatielli, short, thick ribbons of pasta, which might be served all’amalfitana, (with clams, mussels, prawns and cuttlefish) or alla Sorrentina (with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella). Napolitan pizza is so good it’s been inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list by UNESCO (see here for more), and you’ll find lots of place to enjoy a refreshing gelato after a day on the beach.

Maiori is a quiet, traditional little town, which is particularly popular with families. The nightlife is generally relaxed and low-key, but you can join the locals at the waterfront bars and enjoy a drink or two as the sun goes down. In summer, the atmosphere cranks up a notch or two, when a few of the bars and hotels put on entertainment, but, in general, most people are content to stroll along the seafront and then find a spot on a café terrace. If you’re looking for something livelier, head to Sorrento or Positano, which offer a huge choice of bars and clubs, from glossy celeb-haunts (where you’ll need to dress to impress to get in) to timeless old bars.

Maiori is a great place to bring the kids, who will be cooed over and spoilt by the locals. It’s got the longest beach on the Amalfi Coast, and the waters are clean and shallow. The sand is coarse and pebbly, so beach shoes are a good idea, but kids will enjoy splashing about. You could take one of the boat trips around the coast, perhaps have a day trip to the gorgeous island of Capri, and adventurous children might enjoy climbing a volcano (Vesuvius) or visiting the ancient sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. A day trip to Naples, the home of pizza, is a must, and there are lots of wonderful places in Maiori to enjoy some fabulous ice-cream.

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful and romantic places on the planet, and little Maiori is the perfect base for couples looking for peace and quiet. The long beach is packed with private beaches, where you can rent a sun bed and parasol and work on your tan. There are scores of enchanting places to eat and drink, many with stunning sea views, and you could take boat trips around the coast to the picture-postcard towns of Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi. If you like hiking, there are some superb walks in the Maiori area, which sits beneath the largest peak on this stretch of coastline.

There are scores of fun-packed things to do on the Amalfi Coast, from touring the panoramic coastal road on a vintage Vespa to hiking across the mountains. There are all kinds of water sports, whether you fancy exploring the craggy coastline in a sea kayak or with a snorkel, and inland you can enjoy some spectacular walks with panoramic views. A steep but beautiful walk will take you from Maiori up to Sanctuary of the Madonna dell'Avvocata, a medieval sanctuary with magnificent views, or you could follow the Sentieri dei Limoni, which brings you through lemon tree orchards to little Minori. One of the most famous hikes is the Footpath of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), which links the little hamlet of Nocelle (above Positano) with hilltop Agerola.

Maiori has a beautiful 12^th-century church with a tiled dome, which houses a venerated statue of the Virgin Mary and has a charming little museum. In neighbouring Minori, you can explore the ruins of a splendid Roman villa, which dates back to the 1^st century AD. All the major towns and villages on the Amalfi Coast, including Positano, Amalfi, Sorrento and Ravello, preserve many exquisite medieval buildings, including the spectacular Villa Rufolo in Ravello. You won’t want to miss out on the impressive ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed when Vesuvius erupted in 79AD, which are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.