Maiori Holidays

Picturesque Maiori nestles on the sun-drenched coastline of southern Italy. It’s an L-shaped town, with shops, cafés and restaurants lining Corsa Reginna and the seafront – known by locals as Lungomare Amendola. The beach here's one of the longest on the Amalfi Coast, and for days out, the postcard-worthy towns of Positano and Ravello are within driving distance.

Maiori has made a bit of a name for itself with its sand-and-shingle beach – a bit of a rarity given the region's steep-sided shoreline. This stretch is nearly a kilometre long, with a full back-up of bars, sunbeds and deckchairs. Watersports cover off scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing and surfing, and there’s a parallel promenade that provides shady lawns and benches.

Maiori’s Medieval architecture harks back to a time when it was a great maritime power. A 30-minute walk up the hillside brings you to the Castle of San Nicola de Thoro Plano – a 9th-century fortification with views across the mountainous landscape. If you'd rather explore by car, there's a fresco-filled monastery cut into the cliffs less than five minutes' drive away.

Ravello, Amalfi and Positano – the big three UNESCO towns in the region – share this famous stretch of coastline with Maiori. In Positano, there’s a 13th-century baroque cathedral, and Ravello is filled with palazzi, gardens and cobbled squares. Another option is Capri, which is a two-hour boat ride from the marina. This chic island's threaded with tree-lined avenues and luxury boutiques, plus a panoramic chairlift that offers bird's eye views.