Amalfi and its history

Amalfi, originally roman, was the first Sea Republic of Italy. After the fall of the roman empire, it was the first city to re-establish relationships between east and west by transporting and introducing into Italy exotic merchandise such as carpets, coffee and paper. Amalfi made its own coin (the tari), was the home of Flavio Gioia, the inventor of the compass and gave the navigators the famous maritime law known as "Tabula de Amalpha". Amalfi founded an imposing hospital in Jerusalem which could contain 2000 beds and which gave birth, in 1112, thanks to Brother Gerardo Sasso from Scala, to the first military and religious Order called at first the Knights of St. John, then the knights of Cyprus, of Rhodes and, in 1530, of Malta, still existing today. The knights fought repeatedly against the Saracens and, in 849, they defended Rome and the Church in the famous battle of Ostia. Amalfi is a quiet and pictoresque seaside resort with a temperature climate and incomparable natural beauties. It has some of the holdest hotels in Italy as well as many modern ones.