8 Things to Do in Amalfi in December

December, despite the cold and low season, is the busiest and busiest month of the winter period. Some of the bars, restaurants, stores and hotels, especially those on the coast, which are closed at this time of the year, reopen their doors in December to welcome tourists.

If you love New Year's Eve celebrations and are looking to travel and see fascinating places, visiting this town in December is one of the best things to see and do in Amalfi, as you will be able to participate in traditional events that have been taking place in the town for a long time.

Although lemons and tangerines are harvested several times during the year, some say that the citrus fruits obtained in December are special for the preparation of two typical liqueurs of the Amalfi Coast: limoncello and mandarincello.

Tasting these regional liqueurs in bars and restaurants in Amalfi, while contemplating the landscape of this city full of history, is an experience that will take you into the spirit of the place.

Besides, the lemon of this region, called Sfusato Amalfitano or Limona Costa d' Amalfi, is a variety that you will only find on the Amalfi Coast.

Where to taste citrus liqueurs

• Antichi Sapori D'Amalfi: a liquor store that offers excellent quality limoncello.
• La Distilleria del Limoncino: where you can experience the production of these citrus liqueurs up close.
• La Valle Dei Mulini - Limoncello Store: another important place in town to taste these liqueurs.

If, in addition to tasting these exquisite liqueurs, you wish to get to know the special gastronomy of the Amalfi Coast, you can sign up for a gastronomic tour or book a cooking class, where you will certainly be told the culinary secrets of the region, while getting to know the best dishes of the Amalfi Coast.

If you like sports, you can take part in a 27 km race that starts in Sorrento, a town located 30 km from Amalfi. The Sorrento-Massalubrense-Positano Panoramic is held every year and is considered one of the most anticipated events in the region.

It consists of a magnificent route between the two gulfs of Campania, where you will see beautiful landscapes along the entire route, until you reach Positano.

Moreover, it is a race that is not only designed for athletes, but also for families. That is, you can sign up to run (or walk) only 2.5 km and enjoy this experience with your family or friends.

More information about the race

• Price: from 35 € to 60 € per participant approximately. 5 € for the family race for adults, and children under 10 years old and adults over 65 years old are free. Pre-registration is required on the La Panorámica website.
• When is it? The first week of December.
• How to get there: you can take bus 5070 from the Largo Piccolomini stop to the Positano Chiesa Nuova stop.

If you want to know more

If after the race you still want more adventure, I encourage you to book a trek to Valle delle Ferriere, a natural landscape of unparalleled beauty.

It is full of waterfalls, vegetation, streams and lush nature. In addition, the difficulty of the route is medium-low, so that people of very different physical condition can participate.

The most characteristic winter spectacles in Amalfi are those related to Christmas celebrations, such as the Neapolitan nativity scenes, an art that emerged in the thirteenth century in what is now Italy.

In Amalfi, you can find them in all their forms: open, closed, artistic, traditional and living. Among the most beautiful nativity scenes that you can see in the city are:

• The traditional living nativity scene that takes place in the neighborhood of Pogerola.
• The two nativity scenes located in two fountains, the one at the Fontana di Cap é Cuiccio and the one at the fountain in the small Largo Scario square, places that you will surely visit on one of the itineraries of the best tours of Amalfi.
• The permanent nativity scene at the Fontana di Cap é Cuiccio, which is not dismantled after the festivities, represents workers and merchants of the region. Another peculiarity is that part of the scene is submerged.
• Thenativity scene in Piazza Largo Scario is even more striking and around the figures of the Child God, Joseph, Mary, the Magi, the shepherds, the animals and the angels, the city of Amalfi is represented.

The birth of Jesus is one of the traditional celebrations of Christian culture and, of course, in Amalfi these festivities are carried out with a great display of resources: the Christmas Eve fireworks.

The bronze doors of the Duomo of Amalfi open after the last mass and a massive procession climbs the stairs. This is the moment when, all over Italy, the child is placed in the manger.

Then, a fireworks star is lit just at midnight, and a show begins that lights up the entire sky over Piazza Duomo indicating the beginning of Christmas and being one of the most visited fireworks shows in all of Italy, as well as one of the best things to do at night in Amalfi.

December is a month full of surprises and a special atmosphere, thanks to the spirit of celebration found everywhere, and Amalfi could not be the exception. If you visit the city in December, you can't miss the traditional festival of the place: the InCanti d'Autore.

This festival hosts a line-up of shows that are renewed every year and that cater to all tastes, from traditional Christmas stories sung and opera to musicals and concerts.

More information about the festival

• Location: Arsenale della Repubblica, Largo Cesareo Console, 4, 84011 Amalfi SA, Italy
• Duration: from a few days before December 24 until the first days of January.
• Admission fee: free of charge

If you want to live an unforgettable moment with an air of celebration and Christmas spirit, you can't miss touring the Christmas markets of Amalfi, with charming objects and super original ideas for your Christmas gifts.

It is ideal to visit after strolling through the beautiful alleys of Amalfi, or after a tour of the coast, because even if it's winter, you can not miss the best beaches of Amalfi.

The association La Soffitta in Piazza is in charge of organizing this market that offers small antiques, vintage objects, vintage collectibles and creative handicrafts, highly recommended for the curious and passionate seekers of artistic and cultural objects of past times.

More info

• Location: Lungomare dei Cavalieri Street 84011 Amalfi, Salerno, Italy.

• Beginning: the first days of December.

• Hours: from 10 am to 8 pm.

New Year's Eve in Amalfi offers you the chance to take part in the town's celebrations, which mix tradition with the contemporary. These celebrations take place from a few days before December 31 until January 6.

The custom on New Year's Eve, after dining on a traditional Amalfi meal, is to go out around 11:30 p.m. to watch the parade of folk groups through the town and the amazing fireworks display over the sea.

The next day, the groups resume their performances in the squares, greeting tourists and residents with satirical verses and ancient tarantellas. And on January 6 there is the Cavalcade of the Little Shepherds, performances by folk groups, the Calata della Stella and the repositioning of the Infant Jesus in the Cathedral.

December, the month of the Catholic tradition of Christmas, is a special month to delve a little into the history and art of this religion, so it is a good time for you to visit the Diocesan Museum of Amalfi.

It preserves the works of art of the basilica and the Cathedral and is located in the Basilica of the Crucifix. This museum, inaugurated in 1995, is housed in a 12th century medieval structure, which is accessed through the Cloister of Paradise.

The museum consists of four sections: the Cloister, the mural paintings, the treasure of the Cathedral and the paintings and sculptures. You can not miss the sculpture of the Virgin and Child, a Renaissance high relief that is placed on the back of the marble slab of the Cathedral, and whose author remains anonymous.

More information

• Location: Piazza Duomo, 84011 Amalfi SA, Italy
• Hours: daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

December brings the last days of autumn and the first days of winter in Amalfi, and compared to the previous month, the weather is quite drier, but the maximum and minimum temperatures usually drop a little and vary between 8 and 15° C, and keeping the usual average at 14° C.

As for sunlight, it usually lasts about 9 hours. In general, sunrise is around 7.30 am and sunset starts around 4.30 pm, so it is important to start the day early to make the most of your stay in Amalfi.

If you wear the right winter clothes, the weather will be quite pleasant and, although it is usually cloudy most of the time, the rainfall is quite low, so you can enjoy this beautiful city.

Of the winter months in Amalfi, December is the one with the highest tourist influx. This is due to the number of celebrations and festivities, especially Christmas and New Year's Eve, which traditionally enjoy great prestige throughout Europe.

Although prices in December are slightly higher than in the other months of the low season, they are not as high as in the high season. In addition, many businesses, such as stores, restaurants and lodgings that usually close during the winter season, open their doors during the month of December. Transfers from the airport are also usually cheaper.

The most important thing is to bring clothes that are suitable for winter temperatures, no matter if you stay 2 days in Amalfi or more days. You can't miss thick long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, thick pants and, of course, hat, scarf, gloves, and a good raincoat in case it rains.

It is important that you take into account that the footwear is adequate, that is, not only warm, but also comfortable for walking and climbing stairs, which with the humidity can be a bit dangerous.

Of course, your luggage would not be complete without an umbrella and, if you want to capture the breathtaking scenery in high quality, a good camera.