Amalfi+coast

History
According to the legend, Amalfi was founded by Hercules, a pagan god, who here buried his lover Amalfi, as will of the gods. According to the historical origin, the town was founded by Costantine by Roman noble families, who were swept away by a storm in the gulf of Policastro; here they founded Melphes, the present "Melfi", then they moved to north and lived in the present Amalfi, giving it the name of A- Melphes. Thanks to the maritime abilities and the improving due to the compass by Flavio Gioia, Amalfi became a thriving economic centre in the whole Mediterranean and had many commercial relations with the neighbouring countries, including the Saracens. During this period the Navigation Laws were established, known as Tavola Amalfitana. After many years the Amalfitan people founded an Independent Republic, exactly on the Ist September 839; at that time the borderlands of Amalfi extended up to Cetara, Positano, including the islands of Capri and Li Galli, while in the inland they extended beyond the Lattari Mounts, up to Gragnano. Later on, the town went through a crisis: plunders, epidemics and destructions caused the end of the power of Amalfi. The period of the Norman rule stopped its trades with the East, because of the anti-Byzantine and Muslim politics, limiting the economic relationship to the harbours of the South Italy and developing other activities, especially in the agriculture and handicraft field. At the end of the nineteenth century, thanks to the tourist development, Amalfi regained its importance and became the centre of the whole coast, that derives its name from this place.