Costiera Amalfitana

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Costiera Amalfitana from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Gli scritti di Giordano Falzoni per il Museo Vivo di Ugo Marano: sinergie creative e sperimentazione parasurrealista in Costiera Amalfitana | The Writings of Giordano Falzoni for Ugo Marano’s Museo Vivo: Creative Synergies and Parasurrealist Experimentati

  This research sheds light on Giordano Falzoni's (1925–1998) often-overlooked contributions to Italian Surrealism and the avant-garde, particularly his collaboration with Ugo Marano in the Museo Vivo project (1971–1976) on the Amalfi Coast. By analyzing Falzoni’s critical writings and poetic experiments—such as Museo Vivo and Ellissi a Ugo Marano—the study reveals his dynamic, anti-hierarchical approach to art, bridging French Surrealism with Italian Neo-avant-garde movements. It also introduces previously underexplored texts that challenge conventional interpretations of the period, offering new insights into Falzoni’s influence on Italian cultural discourse.

  Porcelluzzi, S. M. (2026). Gli scritti di Giordano Falzoni per il Museo Vivo di Ugo Marano: sinergie creative e sperimentazione parasurrealista in Costiera Amalfitana | The Writings of Giordano Falzoni for Ugo Marano’s Museo Vivo: Creative Synergies and Parasurrealist Experimentati. Storia Della Critica d’Arte. Annuario Della S.I.S.C.A. ETS, 87–95. https://doi.org/10.36253/sisca-17316

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• Il paesaggio terrazzato vitato in Italia

  Italian terraced vineyard landscapes, such as those along the Amalfi Coast, represent a dynamic interplay between human ingenuity and ecological resilience. These 'built landscapes' have sustained marginal regions for centuries by integrating agricultural productivity with cultural and environmental functions. However, contemporary challenges—including agricultural abandonment, hydrogeological risks, tourism pressure, and climate change—threaten their survival. The study highlights that these terraces are not relics but living systems where traditional practices and modern technology can coexist sustainably. Their preservation depends on multifaceted governance strategies that balance agricultural needs, ecological protection, and cultural heritage. By serving as 'laboratories' for sustainable development, these landscapes offer critical insights for the future of Mediterranean rural areas.

  Ciaschi, A. (2025). Il paesaggio terrazzato vitato in Italia. Enotria, (1), 6–13. https://doi.org/10.66312/en.2025.1.002

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• Magnetic and GPR Data Modelling via Multiscale Methods in San Pietro in Crapolla Abbey, Massa Lubrense (Naples)

  A groundbreaking study successfully mapped the buried ruins of San Pietro in Crapolla Abbey, a significant medieval religious site along Italy's Sorrento-Amalfi Coast. Using magnetic and GPR (Ground-Penetrating Radar) measurements, researchers identified vaulted rooms and structural walls at depths of 0.3 meters below the surface. The study employed advanced multiscale methods, including discrete wavelet transform (DWT) for magnetic data processing and depth conversion techniques for GPR data. These findings were validated during archaeological excavations, which uncovered a wall precisely where the models had predicted it to be. This integrated approach offers a robust method for imaging buried structures in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, providing critical insights that guide conservation efforts.

  Bianco, L., La Manna, M., Russo, V., & Fedi, M. (2024). Magnetic and GPR Data Modelling via Multiscale Methods in San Pietro in Crapolla Abbey, Massa Lubrense (Naples). Archaeological Prospection, 31(2), 139–147. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/arp.1936

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• Villae d’otium della Penisola sorrentino-amalfitana. Un confronto tra la Villa San Marco a Stabiae e la Villa marittima di Minori in Costiera Amalfitana

  A comparative analysis of two ancient coastal villas—Villa San Marco near Stabiae and the maritime villa in Minori on the Amalfi Coast—reveals how architectural design adapts to distinct landscape and geomorphological conditions. The study highlights that while both villas share common architectural roots, their structures diverge significantly based on local terrain and accessibility constraints. Villa San Marco, situated on Varano Hill with proximity to Stabiae, reflects a more integrated relationship with its urban context, whereas the isolated villa in Minori, historically accessible only by sea, exhibits unique adaptations to its coastal setting. This research underscores the influence of site-specific factors on the evolution of non-urban architectural complexes along the Campanian coast.

  Proto, G. (2024). Villae d’otium della Penisola sorrentino-amalfitana. Un confronto tra la Villa San Marco a Stabiae e la Villa marittima di Minori in Costiera Amalfitana. Quaderni Di ACMA, (1), 247–266. https://doi.org/10.69590/9byhd967

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• Boosting intellectual capital and digital maturity of SMEs: an investigation of enterprises in an Italian Southern tourist district

  A significant correlation exists between intellectual capital and digital maturity among SMEs in the UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast Tourist District, Italy. The study identifies that data-driven leadership styles enhance innovation, while components of intellectual capital—such as decision-making competences, management style, and business networks—differentially influence digital maturity. This finding provides actionable insights for SMEs to strategically adopt digital transitions, with broader implications for policymakers and regional competitiveness. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative focus groups with quantitative structured interviews and logistic regression analysis across 94 companies, offering a nuanced understanding of the digital landscape in this context.

  Tortora, D., Genovino, C., De Andreis, F., Loia, F., & Cuomo, M. T. (2024). Boosting intellectual capital and digital maturity of SMEs: an investigation of enterprises in an Italian Southern tourist district. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 25(7), 176–198. https://doi.org/10.1108/jic-05-2024-0156

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• Naples and the Amalfi Coast

  A documentary titled 'Naples and the Amalfi Coast' explores the complex relationship between tourism and local life in one of Italy's most iconic regions. It highlights how while tourism brings economic benefits, it also imposes significant challenges, such as overcrowding, traffic congestion, and limited public access to beaches. The film presents perspectives from locals who navigate these issues, including a resident of Capri who finds solitude by escaping the tourist crowds. Despite the drawbacks, the documentary suggests that locals generally view tourism as mutually beneficial, though it acknowledges the costs to their way of life. Produced in 2023 and directed by Céline Missoffe, the film is recommended for its insightful portrayal of the dynamics between tourism and local communities.

  Rolfe, A. (2024). Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Educational Media Reviews Online, 26(7). https://doi.org/10.59236/emro.v26i7a8283

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• Chemical characterization of four ancient white wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) from the Amalfi coast

  Four ancient white wine grape varieties from the Amalfi coast—Fenile, Ginestra, Pepella, and Ripoli—exhibit distinct chemical profiles that can differentiate them and inform winemaking practices. Ripoli grapes are notably rich in quercetin derivatives while low in kaempferol derivatives, whereas Pepella contains equal amounts of both. Fenile and Ginestra show a twofold abundance of quercetins over kaempferols. The study also revealed higher concentrations of (+)-catechin than (–)-epicatechin across all varieties, with B-type procyanidins being more prevalent in Pepella and Ripoli. Additionally, hydroxycinnamic acids were identified, along with flavanols up to decamers in grape seeds, providing insights into their galloylation percentage. This chemical characterization offers a foundation for developing tailored vinification techniques to enhance wine quality while preserving the unique terroir identity of these autochthonous varieties.

  D’Amato, M., Cerulli, A., Errichiello, F., Gambuti, A., Moio, L., Forino, M., & Piacente, S. (2023). Chemical characterization of four ancient white wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) from the Amalfi coast. Food Chemistry Advances, 2, 100201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2023.100201

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