This itinerary we will take in the opposite direction. We will not leave from Amalfi to visit Scala as we would find it a very steep climb but instead we will take public transport up to Scala and after a brief visit return to Amalfi down the steps that lead through the interesting scenery ( about 2000 steps)…

Take the bus (the Amalfi- Ravello- Scala line) that leaves from Piazza Flavio Gioa about every half-hour, get off at the Piazza Municipio - Scala, in front of the imposing

Cathedral of S.Lorenzo

Dating from the IX century , a bishopric from 987 to 1818. Passing through the beautiful marble portal we admire: a superb Majolica pavement of 1853, with a design of floral bands and at the centre the Ladder and the Lion proud emblem of the people of Scala; the boxed ceiling by De Simone, is adorned with three large paintings by Cacciapuoti that represent the “Martyrdom of S. Lorenzo”…

Over the High Altar an icon with the“ Madonna between the SS. Agata, Lorenzo, Caterina d’Alessandria and Teodoro”, all co-patrons of Scala, work of Marco Pino of Sienna and also a “Last Supper” of 1489 attributed to Geronimo Carpinello of Eboli…

Also of note the works on the side altars- paintings on wood and canvas from the XV to the XVIII centuries- the Ambo of the Epistle (pulpit) and behind a grill, the altar of the Sacred treasure that holds precious pontifical furnishings, sacred icons of the XVI and XVII centuries, reliquaries, a chalice of 1332 and a precious bishops mitre, a gift ex-vote of Carlo I D’Angiò in 1270, one of the most ancient and precious in Southern Italy ( some date it earlier than that of Amalfi)…

A wide flight of steps half-way along the right-hand nave leads to the Crypt where we can see: “The group of statues of the Deposition” in wood of the late XIII century and the monumental Mausoleum of Marinella Rufolo of 1332…

On leaving the Cathedral take a drink of fresh water from the majestic fountain and then take via Torricella in direction Campidoglio…

A few metres ahead, we arrive at the house of the ‘200, Mansi D’Amelio Mansion with an impressive entrance that has a vault in the form of a cross sustained by columns and then we come to Anastasio Mansion, once the residence of St, Alfonso Maria De Liguori and nearby the Chapel of St. Alfonso, built around the Grotto of the Revelations, little more than a cavity in the rock, where the Saint prayed in mystical communion with the Madonna….

Going straight ahead along the road for about 1Km. enjoying the view of Ravello and the luxuriant nature all around, we arrive at a large bend, on the right a deviation- via Comunale for Minuta- which we take…

Down a few steps and we find ourselves in the magnificent little Square of Minuta, in front of

The Church of S. Maria dell’Annunziata

Built at the end of the XI century, it has a rustic porch with three vaulted arches where until the XVI century the parliament of Scala met in reunion… On entering we note: a Roman cinerary urn, a wooden statue of the Madonna Annunziata of the XVIII century, and an impressive marble eagle, part of an antique pulpit.

On the right a small flight of steps lead to the crypt, where there are an imposing group of frescoes dating from the XI and XII centuries ( with those of S.Maria de Olearia at Maiori amongst the most important in Southern Italy): In this order : the Nativity of Christ, the Visitation, the Annunciation, the Nativity) the effigies of the Saints and in the bottom part a cycle of the “Miracle of S. Nicholas of Bari”, probably an ex-vote for the liberation from slavery of a boy from Scala or Amalfi…

Leaving by the exit at the back of the crypt we take via pedonale that immersed in the terraces of lemons and olive trees, in a few minutes leads us to the short via Sant’Eustacchio on the right, that is colligated to the ancient quarter of the nobles, the home of the Patrician families of Scala. In the near distance the imposing ruins of

The Basilica of St. Eustacchio

In the XII century under the patronage of the family D’Afflitto, it was the largest Church in the Duchy, maximum expression of the Amalfitan style, embellished with frescoes, marble ornament and a splendid polychrome fret-work in yellow and black on the external part of the apses…

On descending in a few minutes we reach the medieval village of Pontone that until the XX century was a ward of Amalfi…

A commercial and crafts centre famous for the production of wool in ancient times, it was much appreciated by the clergy and the Nobles for its stupendous position and for the peace that reigns there. In the small village there are several mansions of the nobility and three imposing bell-towers. We come first to the Bishops House, winter residence of the Prelates of Scala; after this comes the nearby

Church of S. Filippo Neri

The Church, built in the X century and named after S. Matteo, was completely renovated in the Baroque era and entrusted to the Arch-Confraternity of S. Filippo Neri, one can admire the ancient documents, vestments and insignia.

To be seen: The majolica pavement, the Baroque paintings over the altars and on the wall of the assembly a magnificent crucifix in stucco of the XIV century…

In the little Medieval square the Church of S. Giovanni Battista

Built in the XII century but renovated many times it holds a number of paintings of the ‘500s and the Baroque period: a beautiful “The Circumcision” by Aniello Iannicelli dated 1590. Also to be noted: the imposing wooden retable of the High altar, decorated with paintings of episodes in the life of S. Giovanni and also a beautiful statue of the Saint, and the Tomb- stone of Filippo Spina dated 1346…

On the side of the square, via Noce takes us to the centre of Pontone, still a testimony to the medieval era. Then on to via Tuoro where we find the ancient Western Gate of Pontone and straight ahead to via Pestrofa that leads to the Valle delle Ferriere (Valley of the Iron-works)…

In the little square we pass under the bell-tower of S. Giovanni, and take the State road at the side of which is the Church of s. Maria del Carmine. Built on the Romanesque plan but altered in the Baroque era, it has the only example on the coast of a portico covered with a vault…

Crossing via Torre that follows the side of the Church we arrive at the entrance of the park of Monte Aureo. In the thick labyrinth of Pines there are two footpaths: one leads to the Belvedere, the other on the right leads to the famous Tower of the Ziro

The date of the construction is not known but the Aragonese style suggests the XV century, and also the origin of the name probably comes from the ancient rock installation of Salvatore De Ciro.

The great fame of the tower derives from the touching vicissitudes of Giovanna D’Aragona, better known as the Duchess of Malfi, a story that has attracted travellers since the era of the Grand Tour…

The daughter of an illegitimate son of Ferrante I d’ Aragona she was married at twelve years of age to Alfonso Piccolomini, Duke of Amalfi in 1490:. Giovanna was left a widow at the age of twenty, mother of two children and with a Duchy in financial difficulties. The Duchess was young and intelligent and managed to govern well with the help of a handsome administrator Antonio Bologna sent by her brothers, the young couple fell in love but news of the scandal arrived to the ears of her two brothers, the Cardinal and Count of Gerace. The story of her imprisonment in the tower with her children, and according to some historians their death around the year (1510?) and the flight of Bologna, who escaped capture but was later assassinated by a paid killer, became common gossip…

This bitter-sweet story of Love and Death inspired Bandello in the XIV of his “Novelle” and later John Webster who wrote the “Tragedy of the Duchess of Malfi”; Francoise Belleforest, “Histoire tragique”; and Felipe Lope de Vega for his
“ Comedia famosa y triste del Majordomo de la Duquesa de Amalfi”…

A few metres after the Tower there is a small fortified open space where there is a magnificent view of Atrani and the coast from Capodorso on one side, Amalfi and the coast to Capo di Conca on the other side…but for us it is time to return…

Leaving the park , going directly ahead down the steps we come to the fork in the road called “delle croci” (of the Cross) from the shrine on the side of the road…

Here the one road is in rapid descent, flanked by luxuriant terraces of lemons…

As we come down, the higher part of Amalfi takes on a definite form … we are in the via pedonale per Pontone and almost at the end of our walk down the steep flights of steps that in about a quarter of an hour will lead us to Amalfi, in Via Leone Comite Orso… in the Valle dei Mulini …( Valley of Mills)…