Furore

Furore hotel, tourist and travel guide

Furore is a little-known destination on the Amalfi Coast, between Amalfi and Positano. The village has a population of around 800, spread out over a vertical stretch of hillside high above the sparkling Mediterranean. The main tourist attraction is the dramatic 'Fiordo' or fiord, where a cluster of old fishermen's houses cling to the side of the rocky gorge.

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Furore holiday information

Once upon a time there was a little settlement strung out along a scenic road above the coastline. It had no central piazza and no tight clusters of houses. Travellers would pass down the road admiring the view but overlooking the village, which earned the name of 'the village that doesn't exist'. Then a go-ahead mayor decided it was time to put his tiny comune on the map. His goal was to give the place an identity. Furore became 'il Paese Dipinto'; the painted village. Every September, artists from around the world are invited to a festival to add to the murals now decorating the local buildings. These are colourful affairs with Bacchus featuring heavily, cheerful nudes clutching generous bunches of grapes, sea scapes inspired by the beautiful setting. Even the railings and lamp posts are decorated in bizarre and bright colours: lilac, pink, blue, green. Few drivers could now fail to notice that they are driving through a destination with a character all of its own.

Investments by the comune and private bodies, as well as co-operation between local business, has given Furore a well-marketed range of enterprises to welcome the visitor: restaurants, pizzerie, and accommodation ranging from farm-based agriturismo to a five-star hotel and spa. The small settlement also has its own wine, white and red (to learn more visit the winemakers' website in Italian:www.granfuror.it.

The oldest part of Furore is down at sea-level, where the Borgo, a cluster of old fishermen's houses, appears to be glued to the cliffs. The fiord is dramatic, and unusual for Italy; a high gorge cutting inland from the sea. The local authority and the environmental group Legambiente have made the fiord into an appealing tourist spot. An old lime kiln has been converted into a bar and gift shop, the old houses have been renovated, and a museum tells of the industrial heritage and botanical diversity of the fiord.

Walking the Amalfi Coast

Furore is a good base for Amalfi Coast walks, whether you fancy pleasant strolls or a more serious trek along the famous Sentiero degli Dei. There are several walks in the Furore area which are mapped and marked by the Club Alpino Italiano, including the 'Sentiero dei Nidi di Corvo' (Crows Nests Path), which leads from the Agriturismo S. Alfonso (see below) to join the Sentiero degli Dei and continues towards Positano. From the Furore Inn Resort, another path, difficult in places, leads to Praiano. A leaflet, available at Furore Fiord, contains information on two of the village's nature trails and is published in English. The two superbly named paths both begin at the Fiord (although starting at the higher end would make an easier walk). 'La Volpe Pescatrice' (The Fishing Vixen) Path heads up through the rich natural surroundings separating the fishing village from the higher, agricultural settlements. And the Path of 'I Pippistrelli Impazziti' (the Crazed Bats) leads behind the lime kiln upwards along a botanical trail, past caves and cliffs where peregrine falcons nest. Through woodlands and past abandoned mills, the path leads to a spot called Punta Tavola (Table Point), above Conca dei Marini. From this path you can rejoin the upper Furore road, or follow lanes down to Conca dei Marini.

Furore travel information

Get to Furore

Be warned that if you're planning to visit Furore without a car, you should be prepared for the road and height distances within the settlement. The main road zigzags up around 600m, and from the Fiord to the top of the village is the distance between sea-level and mountains, where it snows in winter.

If you're using public transport to arrive in Furore, head first for Amalfi. The Amalfi-Agerola bus service runs through Furore - check what stop you need or you may have a long walk up or downhill. For more information about travelling to the Amalfi Coast, visit the Amalfi Coast page.

The Fiord is right by the main coast road; if this is your destination, you can take the bus that runs between Amalfi and Positano, and ask the driver to make sure you get off at the right place.

Furore accommodation and restaurants

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Furore Inn Resort *****

Furore's landmark hotel is the Furore Inn Resort, a unique enterprise, part-owned by the local Comune: a luxury hotel, spa and restaurant spread over large panoramic terraces.
> See our special Furore Inn Resort page for more info and contact details.

If your tastes - or budget - don't run to five-star luxury, there are other options in Furore. Ideal for walkers, the Agriturismo Sant'Alfonso provides delightful farmhouse accommodation up in the mountainous top half of the village. Accessed via a flight of steps passing the resident goats and peacocks, you arrive at a historic building on a green terrace which boasts its own little chapel. There are just nine rooms, with antique furnishings combined with modern comforts. The owner has lovingly restored the property, retaining fascinating period features like a well with wind-up handle, and a huge kitchen furnace. A walk marked by the Club Alpino Italiano leads directly from the property, and joins up with the Sentiero degli Dei. www.agriturismosantalfonso.it (only in Italian at present; however the owner speaks English).

The three-star Bacco is an inn and restaurant which dates back to 1930, when the road to village was first built, and has been run by the same family ever since. It is famed for its warm hospitality and excellent cooking; the Times described it as 'wonderful'. Rooms all have a bathroom and a private terrace. www.baccofurore.it (again, the site is only in Italian at the time of writing).

Guide to the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento, Amalfi Coast and Capri This popular book, published by Sunflower Books, is probably the best specialist guidebook you'll find for the area. Especially good for walkers, it includes recommended walks (and strolls) in the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento area, including practical information about public transport. > Sorrento, Amalfi Coast and Capri (Landscapes) (Amazon.co.uk)