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The sea and sky seem to unite at Conca, in an eternal embrace... the
wide sky that only the candid Church of San Michele, separates from
the emerald sea , the Coast , the exclusive seaside village ...and the
magnificent Grotto...
The
entrance to the town can be seen from a distance, guarded by the
imposing Dominican Convent of S.Rosa , that to an absent minded
glance seems anchored to the rock , completely suspended in space on
the high peak that precipitates to the sea and the maritime village
below...
The sacred edifice was built by Suor Maria Pandolfi in the XVIII
century, some time before in 1679, the small Church of S. Maria de lo
Grado (XI century) was entrusted to her , in ruins and in need of
rebuilding . The restoration and the mission were commendable , but
the most famous undertaking of the pious nuns was in the kitchen with
the Sfogliatelle ( a custard tart ): in the Church the head of
S.Barnabus...
We take via Roma, and cannot fail to appreciate the magnificent
panorama that opens on to the gulf and the almost unreal silence of
the place, a dreamlike peace broken only by the chirping of the
crickets...
The houses seem empty, the roads deserted, still and enchanted the
little square (piazza Olmo) and the little Church of St. Antonio
, with a stupendous majolica bell-tower. In the sacristy : a majolica
pavement of the XVIII century, and a Roman basin for holy water ...
Straight ahead, at the crossroads we take the main coast road that
winds in ample curves: we are practically above the Torre Bianca
( white tower) , that rides the promontory, (il Capo di Conca )
jutting into the deep water of an unreal cobalt blue: one of the
deepest points of the high Tyrrhene , habitual route of cetaceans (
whales)...
The tower was built in 1563 by the Vicerč of Naples Don Pedro de
Toledo, it was supposed to house the Museum of the sea and the
maritime arts. In the past the bastion was used to contain the corpses
of the people of Conca ( piled up and not buried ) however it was
statistically proved that they were the most long lived in the
district : probably due to the fresh air ?
A few metres ahead and surrounded by olives, the important Church
of S.Pancrazio.
On record since 1362, but completely renovated in recent times,
the surrounding gardens are magnificent, to be enjoyed at their best
in Summer at sunset when the vermilion
flowers of the
Magnolia become one with spectacular hues from the nearby Belvedere:
a windonto the
Amalfi coast. The coast here is at its most wild, Positano, Li Galli ,
and if the weather is clear , the faraglioni of Capri; after the
Cathedral of Amalfi S. Pancrazio is the most popular place on the
coast for marriage ceremonies...
Underneath us, in the little bay of Capo is the entrance to the Emerald
Grotto: the eight wonder...
An Emerald Temple rich with columns , stalactites and the under water
crib in ceramics of Vietri, where Roman divers come in homage every
year in the middle of December...
Leaving the Belvedere we descend via S.Pancrazio, and after a few
metres along the SS163,we take via Marina di Conca that takes us to
the beach and the magnificent seaside village...
The most exclusive place in the district, where in an era not to
distant the most important VIPS on the international scene had their
villas ( many have now passed into other hands). The " Young
Lions ", the heroes of the Dolce Vita....Here in fact were the
exclusive residences of Agnelli, Moet & Chandon ( in front on the
promontory called Capo di Vettica , Villa Ponti of Carlo , the guard
tower renamed by his wife, Sofia Loren) Ruffo and D'Urso. The guests
of these VIPS, artists , writers and producers of fame came to swim
and sunbathe... The old fishermen still talk about the presence of
Jackie Kennedy or the Princess of Holland:
One should not be surprised in a place like this where the emerald is
brilliant and green gives way to blue that turns to cobalt...with the
only white sandy beach on the coast, and the only real mutable
limestone rock. On the beach in this angle so like Greece , the little
Church of S. Maria delle Nevi, in August the statue is taken by
boat to Amalfi escorted by a long procession of boats of all shapes
and sizes ...
LIST
OF MONUMENTS AND SITES OF SCENIC AND CULTURAL INTEREST
CONVENT AND
CHURCH OF S ROSA
CHURCH OF S ANTONIO
CHURCH OFS MICHELE
WHITE TOWER - CAPO DI CONCA
CHURCH OF S PANCRAZIO
BELVEDERE DI S PANCRAZIO
EMERALD GROTTO
SEASIDE VILLAGE
MARINA DI CONCA
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