Cava de' Tirreni holidays

Cava de’ Tirreni holidays place you in a town that’s dripping with history, just a hop, a skip and a jump from the Amalfi Coast.

Bird’s eye beauty

Tucked away in a valley about 20 minutes’ drive from big-name Salerno, Cava de' Tirreni could be the Amalfi Coast’s best-kept secret. It’s a real back-in-time town, where ancient stone porticos and archways line the pedestrianised streets, and the place to meet is the dolphin fountain in the main square. Despite the remote feel, this mountainous perch is only a five-minute train ride from Vietri Sul Mare, a coastal gem with the colourful charm of its more famous neighbours – and a fraction of the foot traffic.

Abbey valley

The town itself has a real Medieval feel – you can practically see the history seeping out of every church and duomo. Some have been around since the Middle Ages, including the lemon-yellow one that crowns the town square. You can delve even deeper into the valley to visit the Benedictine Abbey of the Holy Trinity, which dates back to the 11th century. It boasts a Romanesque cloister, an ancient chapter room with fresco-adorned walls, and impressive grounds that snake through the ravine.

Gateway to top-tier towns

The daily routine here follows an old rhythm too. Mornings are for coffee and shopping, and afternoons are dedicated to riposo, Italy’s answer to the Spanish siesta. When you feel like something a little livelier, the iconic towns of the Amalfi Coast are within easy reach. In just 10 minutes on the train, you can find yourself in the centre of bustling beach town Salerno – where you can catch passenger ferries to the celebrity hangouts of Amalfi and Positano.