The two towns on the flat bits of the coast: one with a Roman villa and the best pastry shop in the south, the other with a kilometre of sand. Joined by a lemon-terrace path, and cheaper and calmer than anything west of Amalfi.
Where valleys meet the sea the coast flattens out, and two towns have room for beaches, families and a slower pace.
Minori has the remains of a Roman seaside villa of the first century, with frescoes and a garden pool, a few steps from the beach. On the seafront, Sal De Riso's pastry shop perfected the delizia al limone, a dome of sponge and lemon cream. The town's ricotta gnocchi, called 'ndunderi, are protected by Slow Food, and the basilica of Santa Trofimena honours its patron saint.
Maiori has the longest beach on the coast: a kilometre of sand and lidos, a seafront promenade and a Norman tower at its end. It was rebuilt after a flood in 1954, so it looks more modern than its neighbours, but it is the place for an easy beach day.
The Path of the Lemons joins them over the headland in about an hour, through terraces of sfusato lemons under chestnut pergolas.
An easy day from Minori to Maiori, on foot.
See the frescoed rooms and garden pool of the first-century villa, a short walk from the beach.
A delizia al limone and a coffee on the front.
Visit the town's basilica before setting off uphill.
Climb through the lemon terraces past the church and viewpoint at Torre, then down into Maiori.
Swim, then walk the promenade to the Norman tower at the end.
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SITA buses from Amalfi in 15 to 20 minutes; Travelmar ferries stop at both towns from April to October.
Cheaper and easier than the western towns, with flat streets and sandy beaches for children.
The wine villages of Tramonti are 30 minutes inland from Maiori by road.
Amalfi Coast practical notes →Photographs from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels under their licences.
