Chiostro del Paradiso (Cloister of Paradise), Amalfi
The Cloister of Paradise in Amalfi is a serene and poignant corner of the cathedral complex, built between 1266 and 1268 under Archbishop Filippo Augustariccio to serve as the burial ground for the town鈥檚 noble families. What feels like poetry in stone was born from a more practical purpose鈥攈onoring the dead with dignity, close to the spiritual heart of Amalfi.
Walking through its cool arches, one encounters 120 marble columns that support rows of Arabic-influenced arches, creating an ambience of quiet grace. Palm trees rise among the walkways, casting shifting shadows on the paving below, and fragments of 13th-century frescoes still peek from the walls, offering glimpses into the cloister鈥檚 sacred past.
One touchingly specific detail: along the northern side you can catch a perfectly framed glimpse of the Duomo鈥檚 campanile through one of the arches, as though the cloister itself is winking at its neighbor. Below the cloisters, a crypt connects toward the relics of Saint Andrew preserved in the cathedral, deepening the sense that this is not just architectural decoration, but part of Amalfi鈥檚 living spiritual pulse.
Over time, the cloister ceased its function as a cemetery and instead became a passage linking the cathedral to the Diocesan Museum. Today it invites visitors to pause between the hum of the square and the grand steps to the cathedral. In that silence, under arches weathered by centuries, one can sense how Amalfi has always carried its layers of faith, memory, and cross-cultural exchange.
For travelers, the Cloister of Paradise isn鈥檛 merely a detour鈥攊t鈥檚 a quiet center where centuries converge, where stone and shadow whisper the town鈥檚 deeper story.
Walking through its cool arches, one encounters 120 marble columns that support rows of Arabic-influenced arches, creating an ambience of quiet grace. Palm trees rise among the walkways, casting shifting shadows on the paving below, and fragments of 13th-century frescoes still peek from the walls, offering glimpses into the cloister鈥檚 sacred past.
One touchingly specific detail: along the northern side you can catch a perfectly framed glimpse of the Duomo鈥檚 campanile through one of the arches, as though the cloister itself is winking at its neighbor. Below the cloisters, a crypt connects toward the relics of Saint Andrew preserved in the cathedral, deepening the sense that this is not just architectural decoration, but part of Amalfi鈥檚 living spiritual pulse.
Over time, the cloister ceased its function as a cemetery and instead became a passage linking the cathedral to the Diocesan Museum. Today it invites visitors to pause between the hum of the square and the grand steps to the cathedral. In that silence, under arches weathered by centuries, one can sense how Amalfi has always carried its layers of faith, memory, and cross-cultural exchange.
For travelers, the Cloister of Paradise isn鈥檛 merely a detour鈥攊t鈥檚 a quiet center where centuries converge, where stone and shadow whisper the town鈥檚 deeper story.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Amalfi. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Chiostro del Paradiso (Cloister of Paradise) on Map
Sight Name: Chiostro del Paradiso (Cloister of Paradise)
Sight Location: Amalfi, Italy (See walking tours in Amalfi)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Amalfi, Italy (See walking tours in Amalfi)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Amalfi, Italy
Create Your Own Walk in Amalfi
Creating your own self-guided walk in Amalfi is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Amalfi Introduction Walking Tour
Whether legend or truth, Amalfi residents claim that 14th-century sailor Flavio Gioia invented the magnetic compass. Given the town鈥檚 maritime heritage, we might give them the benefit of the doubt.
Amalfi, often called the 鈥淛ewel of the Amalfi Coast,鈥� carries a history that runs much deeper than the pastel houses and seaside charm visitors see today. The origin of the town鈥檚 name is... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Amalfi, often called the 鈥淛ewel of the Amalfi Coast,鈥� carries a history that runs much deeper than the pastel houses and seaside charm visitors see today. The origin of the town鈥檚 name is... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles