Vietri sul Mare

An explosion of colour

This town marks the southern end of the Amalfi Coast, where the dramatic cliffs flatten out towards Salerno. Vietri has made ceramics since the 1400s, and the evidence is everywhere: majolica-tiled domes on churches, decorative panels on building facades, shop windows crammed with hand-painted plates and bowls.

The craft tradition runs deep here. Workshops line Via Madonna degli Angeli and the surrounding streets, where you can watch artisans paint intricate patterns onto terracotta. The designs are distinctive. Bright yellows, blues, and greens in floral and geometric patterns.

The Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista dominates the town centre, its dome covered in yellow and green majolica tiles that catch the light from any angle. Inside, more ceramics: decorated fonts, altarpieces, devotional panels. The whole building is a showcase of local artistry.

Vietri’s beach, Marina di Vietri, sits below the old town. The water is clear and local families set up for the day with umbrellas and coolers. Go ahead, join them.

The town doubles as a gateway. Salerno is ten minutes away by train. The Amalfi Coast proper starts here if you’re travelling from the south. Some visitors rush through on their way to Positano, and that’s their loss.