Description of the attraction
Conca dei Marini is a town in the province of Salerno in the Italian region of Campania, located on the territory of the Amalfi Riviera. It lies on the coast between Amalfi and Furore.
Conca dei Marini is a picturesque fishing village, the history of which, like the history of other settlements on the Amalfi coast, is closely connected with the great maritime Amalfi Republic that existed in the Middle Ages. During this era, the inhabitants of Conca dei Marini were skilled sailors and traders and owned 27 huge Galleons. Today the town attracts tourists with its colorful atmosphere with typical Mediterranean houses with vaulted ceilings, whitewashed walls and balconies planted with beautiful flowers, from which amazing views of the sea open. The surrounding terraces are lined with lemon and olive groves, and the unhurried rhythm of local life and the clear turquoise sea make Conca dei Marini an ideal holiday destination for those seeking tranquility and privacy. Writers, artists and prominent statesmen like the English princess Margaret, the Dutch queen, Jacqueline Kennedy, and others loved to relax here.
Among the tourist attractions of Conca dei Marini, it is worth highlighting the religious buildings. For example, the monastery of Santa Rosa da Lima with its church of Santa Maria di Grado. Once a Dominican monastery, this monastery was built in the 9th century on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea. The appearance of Santa Rosa is striking in its severity, if not severity, but its interiors, on the contrary, are richly decorated. They say that it was here that sfogliatella Santa Rosa was first prepared - a product made of puff pastry with cream and pieces of fruit. And in the church of Santa Maria in Grado is kept a part of the skull of St. Barnabas - one of the most important relics of the Amalfi coast.
The Church of San Pancrazio is surrounded by a wonderful olive grove, in which the poet Alfonso Gatto loved to wander in search of inspiration. The first mentions of it are found in 1370, and in 1543 it was plundered and remained closed for a long time. San Michele Arcangelo, built in the 13th century, has no less beautiful surroundings. And on a rocky cliff rises the Church of San Giovanni Battista, also known as Sant Antonio di Padua: burial urns discovered here suggest that the church was built on the site of an ancient pagan temple. Near the beach itself, there is the Madonna della Neve chapel, dedicated to the patroness of sailors.
Other man-made attractions of Conca dei Marini include the fortified tower Torre del Capo di Conca, also known as the White or Saracen Tower. Built in the 16th century on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea, it was part of the Amalfi Coast's coastal defense system. After the defeat of the Turks at Lepanto, Torre del Capo di Conca lost its military significance and was used as a cemetery until 1949. Today it has been turned into a museum.
Marina di Conca is a small cove surrounded by a group of white houses facing the sea. This cove not only serves as a landing place for fishing boats, but is also the center of the city's social life and a popular beach. In 2003, this beach was named one of the 11 best beaches in Italy.
And, of course, speaking of Conca dei Marini, one cannot fail to mention the famous Emerald Grotto - Grotte Smeralda, discovered in 1932. This karst cave got its name for the emerald color of the water that fills its space.
