T.C. - Officinae Itineris - trekking on Amalfi coast

DESCRIPTION

The “Path of the Gods” starts from Bomerano, near Naples, and reaches the famous tourist resort of Positano, near Salerno. This is, clearly, an interprovincial way and, though it is not too long, it passes through the two most important cities in Campania: Naples and Salerno. These cities, moreover, are the only one on the sea.The path starts from the little stadium in Bomerano. The first track of the tour follows cliffs and precipices, anticipating and disclosing, in this way, the breathtaking views of the marvellous Amalfi coast. Along this first tract we can see and admire the ability of men that tried to gain the land to agriculture. The dry stone walls that follow the path (made of stones mixed to mortar and lime) reflect this need, but we have to record other characteristics, such as the ruins that recall the ancient architectures of the Saracen period, a long season during which Italy was dominated by the Spanish kings and often threatened by Saracen invasions. This period was characterized by the danger of the Saracen raids and we can find numerous sighting and guard towers, square shaped, visible from the sea on board the ferryboat when coming back to Salerno. The path, moreover, reflected the necessity of the ancient people to have a way for the trade between the coast and the inland regions: wine, olive oil, ceramics, coal, wood, textiles. Production and trade of wine are certainly among the most ancient activities, witnessed by the presence of vines, and among them the most relevant is the so called “Piede di Palumbo” (pigeon’s foot) because of its long and narrow shape, exactly similar to the foot of a pigeon, and originally imported from the ancient Greece.Another characteristic must be pointed out along the “Path of the Gods”: the presence of caves that, in the past, offered a safe refuge to bandits, smugglers and criminals.The itinerary, before reaching Positano, goes through Nocelle: this is a very small village that can be reached on foot and is a natural terrace above Positano. Nocelle because of its isolation is a kind of happy island that continues to keep habits and a rhythm of life deeply close to nature.