Unlike most towns and villages on the Amalfi Coast, Maiori has the sea front of a conventional resort with 1970s-style concrete hotels shoulder to shoulder with apartment blocks along an esplanade divided by a central strip of trees and gardens. The town was originally a thriving boat-building centre until it was almost completely destroyed by floods in 1343. In 1954 disastrous flooding hit the 6,000 inhabitants again and most of the centre of town was destroyed. Today, stretching ½ ml from N to S and E to W, the skyline is dominated by the patterned dome of one of the many churches but otherwise domestic architecture is plain and modern. Life appears to follow a generally tranquil, relaxed and lazy rhythm.

Middlemarket visitors looking for a quiet, relaxing break. Suits families with younger children.

A small collection of middlemarket hotels along the promenade; nothing fancy. A few apartments.

A good sand and shingle beach, shelving gently and safe for children. For its full length, it is lined with bars, sunbeds, deck chairs and sun umbrellas, and is backed by a promenade with shady lawns and benches for enjoying the views.

The usual Italian souvenir shops and a few smart, expensive shops.

Daytime: beach and water sports (water-skiing, snorkelling); exploring the town with its dozen churches and remains of a more glorious past including the 9th-century castle of San Nicolo perched above the town; more ambitious walks into the hills; horse riding. Nightlife: limited mainly to hotel entertainment; concerts and artistic/cultural events through summer season; watching the world go by in cafes. No nightclubs or discos.

Numerous restaurants and pizzerias. Specialities include seafood, pizzas, pasta dishes, vegetable soups, smoked or grilled cheeses and, of course, ice cream. One unusual festive speciality is a cake called, in the local dialect, "mulegnane c'a' ciucculata" and consisting of eggs, almonds, pine nuts, candied fruit, cocoa and aubergines! Local wines are good, particularly the whites.

Regular buses along the coast stopping at numerous towns and villages including Salerno, Amalfi and Sorrento. Boat service to Salerno, Amalfi and beyond. Taxis. Scooter and car hire.

Half day: boat trips to local grottoes; Santa Maria de Olearia monastery and catacombs; church and museum of Santa Maria a Mare; Grotta dello Smeraldo, with its amazing stalactites; Ravello with its churches, villas and glorious coastal views; spectacular coastal drive from Castellamare to Minori taking in picturesque villages. Full day: shopping in Naples; nearby Vesuvius; ancient Roman ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum; ancient site of Paestum; islands of Capri and Ischia.

About a third of the way up the front of the boot of Italy on the Bay of Salerno, 13 mls SW of Salerno, 3 mls NE of Amalfi, 35 mls SE of Naples, 39 mls SE of its airport. 167 mls SE of Rome.

On flat terrain bordered by steep, rugged hills to the E and W, a long sand/pebble beach to the S and, to the N, cultivated hills clad with lemon groves from where a torrent descends dividing the town in half.

Post Code: 84010
Website: www.aziendaturismo-maiori.it

Airport : Capodichino
Airport Code: NAP
Flight time from ther U.K.: 2 hrs. 30 mins