Tours in Amalfi

Get off the bus or the ferry and the first thing you meet is the square, with the cathedral stairs rising above it like a stage set. Sit on the steps for ten minutes and you will see the whole town pass by: scooters edging through, waiters carrying trays across the stones, visitors tilting their heads back to look at the facade.

Walk under the arch beside the fountain and the town changes. The main street is narrow, and the shops spill lemons, ceramics and limoncello onto the pavement. Look up and you will see stairways climbing off to either side, and laundry strung between the houses. Take any of those stairs and the noise drops away within a minute or two. The light is softer there, and the sea appears in small framed gaps between the buildings.

The cathedral is worth going inside, and the cloister next to it is a quiet place to stand for a while. Eat something with lemon in it, because the town is known for them. Order the fresh pasta with seafood if the kitchen has it. From the harbour you can watch the boats come and go, and ferries leave from here for Positano and further along the coast.

That mix of steep lanes, sea views and good light is why a photo session suits Amalfi so well. A local photographer can walk you through the narrow streets and the best viewpoints at an easy pace, so you come away with pictures of yourself in the place rather than another round of selfies. If you want to see something else, such as the paper mills in the valley, the hill paths above town or a nearby village, ask. A local guide can build a day around it.