The Path of the Lemons on the Amalfi Coast

Historical Significance

The Path of the Lemons, or in Italian, the “Sentiero dei Limoni“, today is a popular walking route. The Lemon trail runs between Maiori and Minori on the Amalfi Coast.

Before the construction of the Amalfi Drive, the “Path of the Lemons” was the only land route linking Maiori and Minori. Similar paths were used to travel throughout other villages on the coast. These ancient walkways were used for centuries by locals. This route in particular played a crucial role in the commercial activities of the area. The lemons harvested from the terraced gardens were transported along these narrow pathways to the harbours. They were shipped to faraway lands across seas and oceans, carrying with them the unique scent of the Amalfi Coast.

Trail Details and Starting Point

Starting point: Church of Santa Maria a Mare and the stairs of Via Vena

Image courtesy of bergfex.at

Distance: 2 km

Altitude difference: 140 m

A “Fairly easy path “ on the Amalfi Coast doesn’t mean you get a free pass on the stairs….so time to enjoy some scenic stair-climbing!

The pathway includes steps, primarily at the beginning and the end section. Starting from Maiori, you will pass through the locality of Torre  and eventually arrive in Minori.

The first notable landmark along the trail:

Church of Santa Maria a Mare.

You can visit the interior of the church, and also the museum. The inside of the church is impressive and the view from the little square above is spectacular.

Stunning Views to Capture

Enjoy the panoramic terrace, one of my personal favourite because from here, you can observe the church’s majestic cupola, which is adorned with ceramic majolica tiles arranged in alternating rows of green and yellow – the very shades that colour the lemon trees dotting the landscape. If you’re an artist, don’t forget to pack extra watercolour cubes in these hues for when inspiration strikes!

If your accommodation is in Maiori, I would suggest coming here also just to relax on the benches and enjoy the sunset here.

We had a lovely time here taking selfies and petting local cats before we headed to the path. 

One particularly curious cat even followed us for a while, and of course, I shamelessly took a hundred photos of him (I only wish I had remembered to have him sign a model release with a meow).

The trail passes through a rural area where you can see agricultural scenery with lemon trees and gardens filled with flowering plants like wisteria in spring (April-May) and later oleanders and bougainvillea in summer.

Wisteria’s balmy fragrance blends with the scent of lemons and a hint of salty sea water, creating a paradise for botanists and nature lovers alike. And for all you photographers out there the vibrant array of flowers will provide a stunning frame for your pictures of the panoramic view. From the trail, you can see the Gulf of Salerno and the Coastline of Cilento all the way to Punta Licosa.

Cultural and Agricultural Highlights

The path offers a sneak peek into the lemon groves, passing through an important cultivation area of the “sfusato,” a unique lemon variety grown along the Amalfi Coast.

The sfusato amalfitano has an elongated shape and is highly valued for its strong aroma. People often use it to make limoncello, a popular Italian liqueur.

An important landmark on the trail is the small church in localitá Torre. This is the center of the community in Torre village. The church is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel and was founded more than 1000 years ago.

The last section before entering Minori is the Mortella lookout, named after the myrtle that grows around it. It’s a great place to observe the Basilica from above, which has a Latin cross shape.

I found a fantastic opportunity to capture stunning images at sunset from this terrace.

Lemonlicious Treats to Enjoy

As you complete the trek, treat yourself to a well-deserved lemon-based pastries. You may have already heard of Sal de Riso and his renowned Delizia di Limone – arriving in Minori is the perfect opportunity to savor his creation. If you have started from Minori and find yourself in the heart of Maiori, you’re dangerously close to another historic pastry shop – the Pasticceria Napoli. Here, you can try a different Amalfitan dessert – the “Pasticciotto al Limone” a small pie filled with delicious lemony cream that’s a must-try.

Pro tip: why not try both? Swing by Pasticceria Napoli, grab a cake to-go, and keep your energy up while climbing all those stairs! Once you arrive in Minori, head straight to Sal de Riso to try Delizia di Limone. Or order his other masterpiece, the Torta Ricotta e Pera.

Once you arrive in Minori, you can also visit the archaeological site of Villa Romana, which dates back to the 1st century AD, and the Basilica of S. Trofimena Martyr.

If you get particularly hungry during the walk and want to try a local dish, you can find a restaurant that serves Ndunderi di Minori, a local specialty, which is homemade pasta similar to gnocchi. I recommend the restaurant Le Botte, which serves two variations of this dish.

Plan Your Visit

When to go?

We chose the afternoon as it provides the best light for photos. However, the path itself takes no more than an hour and a half, so you don’t need a lot of planning to fit it into your schedule – just go when you’re around.

As we started our walk, we encountered a lovely family coming from the opposite direction. The boy and his mother cheerfully counted the steps. After consulting with the father, he told us the exact number of steps they counted from the starting point of Minori. I don’t remember the correct number, but it was definitely more than 1000! (Luckily, this includes ups and downs, so you don’t have to climb all the way up.)

While the Lemon Trail offers a glimpse of the lemon-scented landscapes, you may want to see more. If you want to visit the lemon orchards and discover the secrets of the harvest process and learn about traditional harvesting techniques, consider booking an exclusive tour in Amalfi. Step into the enchanting world of lemons on the Lemon Trail! Reserve now!

In Conclusion

here’s a challenge for you: Does the path have more lemon or more stairs? You can answer this once you complete it!

So, dear reader to give you courage I want to leave you with a quote that I stumbled upon during my explorations. This inspiring message was graffitied on a house wall in Minori, and it reads: “If you don’t climb the mountains, you can never enjoy the view” (Se non scali le montagne, non potrai mai godere del paesaggio).

Have a nice walk, and hopefully, I’ll see you on the Lemon Trail!

Check out my dedicated posts to Minori and Maiori too.

And if you are up to more walking, I have also covered the walk from Minori to Ravello.

Starting a new blog can be tough, but I’m loving every minute of it!

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