From north to south, from Lake Garda to the Etruscan Coast, there is still a rich citrus culture that fascinates us again and again. In this article, we take them with us to the land where the lemons bloom and describe what is probably the most diverse citrus fruit. Steep slopes, narrow bays, small towns and terraces of wine and lemons in the mountains – the Amalfi Coast is the cliché of Italy that really exists. The area was already a tourist hotspot in the 1950s, and its popularity grew over time: before the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of tourists came to the coastal strip near Naples every year. The entire area between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno and is protected by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. The backbone of this rocky cultural landscape is formed by the terraces on which vines and lemons grow. For generations, the steep slopes have had to be nurtured, cared for and cultivated: dry stone walls made of limestone give the slope stability and prevent erosion. But the steep slopes of the Amalfi Coast are a challenge, and picking lemons is strenuous manual work. The elaborate care and harvesting of the lemons makes this fruit so expensive, and the yield is also manageable. In order to survive economically, guests are also guided through the terraces in addition to the market sales.
Imagine being able to admire the Amalfi Coast from the peaks of these mountains, where you have always seen it in photos. Imagine strolling through the terraces that farmers have created over the centuries to make them unique in the world and learn all about the Sfusato amalfitano, the most famous lemon in Italy.
You stand in the kitchen, peeling the lemons and feeling the mild breeze of the wind on your skin, the coolness of the lemon groves that protects us from the glorious sun of southern Italy. Thinking about what it would be like to enjoy even more Italy?
EDITOR’S PICK:
Limoncello, a liqueur made from lemons, and the creamy variant Crema di Limoncello can be found on every corner along the Amalfi Coast, but a visit to Antichi Sapori d’Amalfi is particularly recommended. Not only is there a huge selection of limoncello in all sizes, but during a
tour
you can also watch the production on site in the old family business.
