Valley of
mills

Pristine nature
steps from the sea

Departure from Atrani (a charming Saracen village about 1 km from Amalfi); the route crosses the ancient village and the Dragone stream valley to reach the hamlet of Pontone (of notable interest are the Ziro Tower and the ruins of the ancient cathedral of St. Eustace).

From Pontone we proceed towards the Valley of the mills Nature Reserve, of great naturalistic interest.

During the descent towards Amalfi, along the Canneto stream, you can spot the remains of the ancient ironworks and the mills used for the hand papermaking of Amalfi, which relied on the abundant water flowing from the heart of the Valley.

Fortunately some of these ancient mills are still operating and our itinerary can also include a guided tour and demonstration at the paper museum. (For information: www.museodellacarta.it)

Total duration: approx. 5/6 hours. Difficulty level: moderate (approx. 4 hours of walking). Particularly suited to appreciating a uniquely rare natural environment. We recommend trekking shoes, water and sunscreen.

Going up you will encounter the Canneto waterfalls and, in the most humid areas, the rare fern Woodwardia radicans — a tropical plant that survived the Ice Age and can only be found in a few places in the world. A true botanical treasure.

Maurizio knows every corner of this valley and shares the ancient story of water as the productive force of Amalfi, the relationship between man and this fragile ecosystem, and the local legends connected to the waterfalls and old paper mills.