Maiori is a picturesque town along the Amalfi coast. It lies where the Tramonti valley opens on to the Mediterranean sea.
Maiori's precise origin is unknown: according to some historians it was a Greek colony in the 6 Century A.D. some say it was founded by the Etruscans in the 7C A.D., according to Plinio it was the home of Roman citizens who fled Rome's looting in the 4C A.D. According to others there were original settlements which completely disappeared in Maiori and its founder was Prince Sicardo in 9C.

Reghinna was certainly its ancient name, it became Reghinna Major to differentiate from the neighbouring town Reghinna Minor, today known as Minori. During the Roman period the name became Majori and then Maiori.

In the late Middle Ages Maiori was part of the Neapolitan Dukedom until the 9C when looted by Benevento Duke Sicardo, it entered into the Amalphitana Maritime Republic. At this time the Maritime Republic extended from Lettere to Tramonti on the mountain side and from Positano to Cetara including Capri on the seaside. Maiori was the mercantile centre of the republic: there were the Arsenals; The Admiralty; customs and the "salt fondaco"

Two lines of walls were built to defend the city, the external wall St Sebastian bulwark extended from St Angelo's fortress to the Brusario Mount: the wall was built with battlements and six small circular towers and it opened up onto the beach, and it had large doors with drawbridges. In front of the wall there was a ditch which was filled with water when necessary to deviate the flow of the Reghinna river. There was a second line of walled protection "pedemontana" (from which the street name via Pedamentina) which had 3 towers in the middle. Inside this second wall there was the Castle of St Nicola de Thoroplano, the very last shelter.

By the end of the XI century the splendour of the Maritime republic was coming to an end: "Il Guiscardo" ruled all the South of Italy and when the Amalphitans attempted a rebellion it caused the removal of the Duke of amalfi in 1096 and the loss of all privileges.

Maiori and Ravello dissociated from the rebellion, were not punished by "Il Guiscardo" but were soon attacked by the Pisans who plundered upon the city in 1135 and 1137 destroying a large part of the fortifications, amongst which St Sebastian bulwark and St Angeol's fortress.

In 1204 the highly venerated statue of Santa Maria a Mare was found upon the beach.

In the XVI century, just off Capo D'Orso was the scene of battle between the Angioini and the Spanish: it was one of history's most bloody naval battles which cost the Spanish Armada more than 1000 lives. Despite this loss the following year Spain won the war. The Spanish Viceroys orgainized an impressive defensive plan, however the pirate Barbarossa (Redbeard) assaulted the Coast and deported many inhabitants as slaves. Some of these managed to escape during the arduous journey to Constantinople and returned to Maiori still bearing their chains: these chains they offered to the Madonna and built the small chapel dedicated to Santa Maria delle Catene, still visible along the Corso Reginna.

Maiori maintained its port's importance, and for this reason in 1622 King Filippo V promoted the town to a Royal town.

In 1735 and 1773 the city was devastated by two terrible floods. Faithful locals attribute the saving of the town of Maiori to the intervention of Santa Maria a Mare. To thank the Madonna for this, every year on the third Sunday in November the patronage feast of Santa Maria a Mare is celebrated.

In 1860 the Reign of Italy came about but once again the Southerners' expectations were disappointed, as a result many Maioresi emigrated many became bandits taking refuge on Mount Falerzio . Today you can still see the Grotto of Matteo Salese, so-named after the bandit who hid there.

On 8 September 1943 Maiori and Salerno become the scene of Operation Avalanche: once the troops landed on the Coast, it was decided that Palazzo Mezzacapo would be the operation headquarters and the frontline hospital was the Church of Santo Domenico.

An exceptionally devastating flood hits the whole province on 25 October 1954: the river Reghinna bursts its banks in three consecutive waves, wiping out a good part of the higher hamlets, the city centre and some buildings along the river; its course obstructed by tree trunks dragged by the water, eroded the foundations of buildings and the facades collapsed.

The rebuilding of the town has drastically changed the original appearance of Maiori, giving it a modern town look.

Palazzo Mezzacapo is testimony of the past splendour of Maiori. It is located in the very heart of the town, in Corso Reginna, and was built by the Mezzacapo Family in the 1800's.

The temple is located along the promenade in St. Giacomo square. It was built in the 1200's joining the ancient churches of St Giacomo, St. Andrew and Santa Tecla.

St Francis Church and Monastery are located at the west end of Maiori, where the Madonna del Soccorso church, protector of farmers, once stood. The original building was built in 1405, but due to floods and pillages over the centuries it has been refurbished and rebuilt many times.

The grotto is located on the west side of the city. Its formation it seems was due to a terrible earthquake in XII century. In the 1300's the Maiori Fishermen built a small hospital and a church inside the grotto, probably with two aisles, dedicated to the Madonna Annunziata, protector of Fishermen and good fishing.

Also named Mezzacapo Castle, it was built by the eccentric Mezzacapo Marquis; it is located behind the Annunziata Tower, which is its main entrance. Built on three floors it has three circular towers with conical spires.

The Church built on the ruins of the Church S. Sebastiano Intra Moenia ("inside the walls", belonging to the bastion to whom it gave the name), and destroyed during Pisan sacking in 1137.

The convent was built in the first half of the XVI century according to the Staibano family's will, it was named to St Clare and was a cloistered convent for the young noble Maiorese ladies.

The Church is located the hamlet of the same name, on the left of the Reginna river bank. Its origin are unknown, but should be the rebuilt nave of a Vi century basilica.

The Church is located in the Vecite hamlet, it is reachable by a long flight of steps, in part covered by 1954 flood. The Church was originally in Romanic Style, but in the 1700's was refurbished in Baroque style.

Located in the Ponteprimario (the name means first bridge) hamlet the church was originally built in 7th century but rebuilt many times due to floods and sacks, till the last rebuilding in 1994.

The Monastry and the Church of the Saint Rosario, also known as San Domenico, is located at the very north top of Corso Reginna. The complex was built in 1600 accordin to the will of the noble Maiorese Leonardo Russo, escaped from the pestilence in 1656.

The church gives the name to the beautiful square where it is located. This is the spot where, it seems, Etruscans built their first buildings: here there was the God Vertumno Temple, destroyed by Cristiano in 6th century.

This church was built in 1362 as the Franconio Family's private chapel, and then sold to the Citarella family, to whom belongs the coat of arms on the top of the altar.

It is located along Via Nuova Chiunzi, and it is recognizable thanks to a little tower bell with two bronze bells. The church was originally built in 13th century and dedicated to St Gregorio Magno.

It was built in 1600 according the will of the noble Angiolo D'Uva and dedicated to St Cross, as testified from the precious wood cross along the road leading to the church.

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The Castle of Maiori appears on the summit of the hill which dominates the villages of Accola and Carpineto. In reality the old ruins cannot be considered a castle literally, but a protected and entrenched area as well as the jurisdictional centre of a feudal Lord.

During the centuries most of Maiori's monuments and fortifications was destroyed. The ancient Maiori was protected by two wall lines: the external one, the Baluardo of San Sebastiano, was built between St Angelo fortress (nowadays the Collegiata) and the Brusario Mountain.

The abbey is located along the Amalfi Drive, 3 km approx from Maiori town centre. It was founded in 973 by Benedictine Monks where they built a olive-press for olive oil production.

In ancient Maiori there were nine towers, mainly dating back to 16th century: between Maiori and Minori the Annunziata Tower, today called Torricella; in the middle of the town the Revigiana tower, demolished to built the coastal road; the Corner Tower or the Ant tower, today called with the improper name Normanna; the Acquarulo Tower in Salicerchie area; the S.