August 31 – September 1
During the Byzantine New Year, Amalfi returns to the splendour of the Middle Ages, when the entire Amalfi Coast united its towns under the powerful Maritime Duchy, weaving trade routes across the Mediterranean.
The event begins on August 30 with a historical and cultural conference, offering insights into the era.
On September 1, an impressive and moving procession of over 100 participants in historical costumes winds its way from Valle dei Mulini, through the heart of Amalfi, and along the Amalfi Coast Road to Atrani. This grand parade reenacts the wedding procession of Sergio III, son of Duke Giovanni I and grandson of Duke Mansone I, who in the year 1002 married Maria, daughter of Prince Pandolfo II of Benevento and Capua.
The Byzantine New Year presents an expanded version of the Historical Parade that each year accompanies the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics. Among the participants are representatives of the ducal government, nobles, knights, ladies, pages, valets, archers, sailors, and common folk, creating an evocative and historically accurate spectacle.
The procession culminates in the nomination of the Magister of Amalfitan Civilization, an honorary title awarded to a distinguished individual from Amalfi or the surrounding region. The ceremony takes place in the Church of San Salvatore de’ Birecto in Atrani, faithfully recreating the coronation ritual of the Dukes of Amalfi.
This event is deeply rooted in the history of the Amalfi Maritime Republic. On September 1, the fiscal and judicial year officially began in the Eastern Byzantine Empire, of which Amalfi and the Coast were a semi-autonomous territory. On this day, the comites—the heads of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi—would take office, a tradition that lasted from the republic’s founding in 839 AD through the early 10th century. The practice was later revived in 1266 under the Angevin rule and continued until the reign of the Bourbon kings.
Why experience the Byzantine New Year?
- To embark on a journey through time, reliving for a day the splendour of the Amalfi Maritime Republic.
- To witness the extended version of Amalfi’s historical parade, which also represents the town during the Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics in Pisa, Genoa, Amalfi, and Venice.
What to pair for a weekend of unforgettable moments:
- Trekking through the Valle delle Ferriere, between Amalfi and Scala, discovering lush landscapes and hidden waterfalls.
- Climbing the 800 steps to Santa Maria del Bando in Atrani, to witness the sunrise from Masaniello’s Cave.
- Urban trekking in Atrani, exploring the maze of stairways and alleyways that inspired Escher’s lithographs—which, after this visit, will no longer seem like “impossible structures” but rather a fascinating representation of reality.
- A boat tour to admire the Amalfi Coast from the sea, just as the merchants and sailors of the Duchy of Amalfi once did.
