Minori is a seaside village of pastel colored houses surrounded by hills of terraced gardens filled with lemon groves and orange trees. As with many other villages on the Amalfi Coast, the area has been a place of sanctuary and relaxation for centuries. Wealthy Romans were drawn to its beauty and built their vacation homes here.
Visit Minori’s ancient Roman villa, thought to be the former seaside residence of a Roman aristocrat. Examine the archeological finds in the small museum situated among the ruins. Artifacts include fragments of frescoes, mosaics and clay vases. Walk around the well-preserved rooms of the lower section of the house. Study the mosaic tiled floor and step inside the ancient sauna.
One of Minori’s most attractive sights is the Basilica of Santa Trofimena, with its ornate façade and richly decorated interior. The building is dedicated to Minori’s patron saint, a young girl who was killed by her father for wanting to embrace Christianity. Her bones were found on the beach and carried inland, and the locals built a church to honor her. The present day basilica is an 18th century structure built over the original church. Pause by the saint’s relics, which are kept in an urn in the crypt.
For centuries Minori was the center for pasta production in the region and today the handmade pasta tradition continues. Other locally made produce on sale in shops and restaurants include pastries, lemon-based desserts, and limoncello liquor. Visit toward the end of August and beginning of September to catch the Expo del Gusto. This open-air event is a showcase of the area’s wines, foods, arts and crafts. During summer, locals flock to Minori’s sandy beach. Rent a lounge and umbrella and dip your toes in the sea.
Minori is situated on a small stretch of coastline between Amalfi and Vietri and is easily reached via the coast road. You can also take the SITA bus service that runs along the Amalfi Coast. The nearest train station is in Salerno and you can catch the bus from there.
