Amalfii

This little town gives the name to the tortuous and panoramic Amalfi Drive,  which seems to be cut into the rock and winds for 35 kilometres on the southern side of the Sorrentine peninsula,  along the trunk road 163.
Amalfi is placed at a distance of 25 kilometres from Salerno in a  position between sea and mountains and with a fall of white houses pushing into the narrow valley "Valle dei Mulini".
It has ancient origins melting with legend.
According to the tradition  Hercules,  the heathen God of strength,  loved a nymph named Amalfi,  but their love did not last a long time ; she died and Hercules wanted to bury her in this marvellous place,  giving her name to the city he built successively on that site.
Historically the city was founded after the death of Constantine in the 4th century A.D.; it has its origins from some Romans who on their way to Costantinopolis  were surprised by a storm in the gulf of Policastro and founded there "Melphes", today's Melfi; moving successively towards the north they went to live where today is Amalfi,  calling it "Amelphes".
Its shipping ability put it in an advanced position among the Italian sea republics for the commerce with the eastern countries.
Amalfi stands out particularly for having its own sea laws,  for being among the first European cities producing hand-made paper,  for coining its own money and for its shipyards where galleys were built even for other lands.
Historically important was the battle of 849 when this republic,  together with the fleets of Naples and Gaeta,  were able to defeat the Saracens in Ostia.
In the 11th century,  the city reached the height of its power with its commerce all over the world.
After being conquered   by the Normans in 1073,  Amalfi reached again its independence at the end of the 11th century loosing it definitely with Ruggiero II and in 1398 it became feud of the Sanseverino family,  successively of the Colonna family,  of Raimondo del Balzo and of Ferrante of Aragon.
It underwent the same destiny as the Kingdom of Naples.
It's said that in Amalfi was born  Flavio Gioia,  the inventor of the compass.
Worth to see are: The Cathedral,  the remains of the dockyards,  The Cloister of paradise, The civic museum where the "Tabula Amalphitana", the most ancient shipping law, are kept,  The Museum of paper and the tower: Torre dello Ziro.