cloister of paradise (chiostro del paradiso)

St. Andrew’s Cathedral is the focal point of Amalfi Town, with its long, wide flight of stairs leading up from the Piazza Duomo to the Cathedral’s black-and-white Entry. The alternating black and white stonework which adorns the façade of the Church, is another commonality with Monterosso. It gives the Cathedral a Moorish appearance, though I am told there is no Moorish connection to the architecture. Herein are kept are the bones of St. Andrew, or the largest group of them at least. Some of his bones rest in the Cathedral in Sorrento, and others in Rome, I believe. But the skull and other bones are here in Amalfi town’s Cathedral, and that is a source of pride for the community. In the piazza stands a fountain commemorating St. Andrew, with a statue of him crucified upon the trademark X-shaped cross. The fountain faces inland, toward the north, rather than toward the Cathedral. The cathedral steps are a long and wide flight of stone steps leading up the covered porch on the Cathedral front. The ornate bell tower is set to the side of the of Cathedral. The much-photographed stairs provide seating for those who want to sit and watch the activity in the piazza below. We climbed the stairs to the Cathedral, hoping to have a chance to look inside. However, the Cathedral was closed to tours when we arrived at the top of the stairs. The museum was open, so we decided to take the museum tour. The entrance to the museum is through the Cloister of Paradise, an ancient cloister attached to the cathedral. The cloister is attractive and well-maintained. Around the perimeter walk are a variety of ancient artifacts: burial vaults, statuary, and architectural elements salvaged from the Cathedral though the centuries. In one corner of the walk is found the entrance to the museum itself. Inside are more statuary and architectural elements, alongside displays of Worship elements and ancient frescoes. The museum is housed in the Apse of the old Church, alongside which the Cathedral was later built to house the relics of St. Andrew.

stunning and well worth it!!!! Look for the stunning view of the bell tower from the Northside and also marvel at the age of the crypt. I only wish there was a way to get an English tour of this church as there was a lot more to learn and the English small guide was not detailed enough

Great way to spend an hour in Amalfi town. The church is lovely and the history of the place is truly amazing

Such a beautiful place with so much history - could have spent hours here! A must see if you are in Amalfi.

Dating from the 13 th century, the Cloisters of Paradise combine Romanesque simplicity and Moorish fantasy. Interlaced arches supported by 120 slender white columns arranged in double rows encircle a small garden. This was the cemetery for the noblemen of Amalfi and several remarkable sarcophagi can be found along the gallery. There are remains of the 12 th century Byzantine pulpit inlaid with mosaics. Even on a sweltering summer day, the cloister was cool and serene.

Such a lovely place to visit.It seems as if the church has a common set of plans for all their cloisters.

Loved every moment, we took the most amazing pictures and visited every nook. The fountain brings a serene atmosphere to the square. We took so many photos, around every corner there is interesting photo opportunities. The duomo is beautiful with its green doors and eye catching architecture. Loved the shops.

The Cloister is the first area you come across on the visit to the Cathedral. It was the cemetery for Amalfi noblemen. It consists of arches supported by 120 columns which are Moorish in style set around a central garden. There are several sarcophagi along the left hand side and some old pulpits. From the centre of the far north side you can see the Bell Tower rising upwards and then at the far end of the north side there are some small chapels with ancient frescos.This together with the rest of the visit around the Basilica of the Crucifix where some artefacts are displayed, the Crypt and the Cathedral itself makes for a really interesting distraction away from the hustle and bustle of Amalfi.

Nothing special to see here...only some white arcades and a lot of columns dispossed in pairs ,with a tiny garden in the middle.

We had not planned to spend time in the town of Amalfi, but other considerations made it occur. So we made a point to visit the cathedral and attached cloister. The Cathedral is huge and occupies the main square of town. There is a long flight of stairs to the entrance making it appear even larger. The Cloister is truly beautiful and quiet. It is a haven from the noise of all the tourists out in the streets.

A revelation - quite refreshing and an eye opener. We had no prior knowledge of the history of the place.

When you reach the main plaza of Amalfi, the church is the center attraction. It is very pretty. Take the tour as it doesn't cost much. There are a lot of artifacts from prior popes on display.

One of the most beautiful cloisters I have ever seen and I get to see many! The white arches and pillar form a harmony of shapes and patterns that make it look very modern despite its ancient roots.

I’d seen pictures about the stunning duomo in Amalfi and heard that there was a diocesan museum, but it wasn’t until just before leaving for our holiday that I came across this wonderful place. Built in the 13th century to house the bones of noblemen, it now is a tranquil place with wonderful Moorish architecture and a lovely Mediterranean garden. It also shelters some lovely pieces of art from the 11th and 12th centuries – parts of the medieval pulpit of the old cathedral and some lovely old frescoes. There is a leaflet which tells you more about these, as well as the treasures in the museum and the crypt which contains to bones of St Andrew, brother of Simon Peter. (more information here: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/amalfi-cathedral. Mass was being sung when we arrived, which gave the crypt a wonderfully serene atmosphere, a place to be at peace. I felt it was worth the 3 euros just to look at the works of ancient art, take in the atmosphere and reflect a while. NB you do not have to pay to go in to the duomo itself, as services are held during the day; check the times.

I really enjoyed the place. I felt the entrance fee to the Cathedral was very reasonable considering how many precious things they have to keep up. The cloister itself is peaceful and beautiful, and you can see the bell tower from it. I enjoyed the mosaic slabs they had in there, they were stunning, and the tombs were touching too. I'm glad I went.