Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Grotto · Amalfi, Campânia
Grotta dello Smeraldo
Sea grotto in Conca dei Marini, a few kilometers from Amalfi, where light entering through an underwater opening turns the sea emerald green. The visit is made by rowing boat inside the cave.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Grotta dello Smeraldo
The Grotta dello Smeraldo is a cave partially taken by the sea, in the territory of Conca dei Marini, west of Amalfi. It was discovered in 1932 by the fisherman Luigi Buonocore. It measures about 45 by 32 meters and some 24 meters high.
The name comes from the color of the water: sunlight enters through a submerged fissure that connects the grotto to the open sea and dyes the water green. Stalactites and stalagmites formed when the grotto was still above sea level; later the ground sank and some of them became submerged.
On the floor, a few meters down, there is a ceramic nativity scene placed in 1956. The visit is carried out in rowing boats led by the boatmen, who point out the formations and the nativity.
From the viewpoint above the road, near the grotto, you can see the coastline toward Furore. A few kilometers on, the road crosses the Fiordo di Furore, a narrow cleft in the rock with a small beach below.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
The visit inside the grotto lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. Allow 1 to 2 hours including travel from Amalfi.
Best time
On calm sea days, in the morning or early afternoon. With rough seas the visit can be suspended; check before you go. The boat season from Amalfi usually runs from April to October.
How to get there
By road, take a SITA bus toward Positano to the grotto stop in Conca dei Marini; from there you go down by elevator to the entrance. In season, boats also depart from Amalfi's harbor to the grotto.
Tip
Ask the bus driver to let you know the Grotta dello Smeraldo stop. The boat from Amalfi has the advantage of showing the coast from the sea, but entry to the grotto is often charged separately; check.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Grotta dello Smeraldo
How do you get to the Grotta dello Smeraldo?
By SITA bus along the road to Conca dei Marini, then taking the elevator down to the entrance, or by boat from the port of Amalfi in season.
Does the visit depend on the weather?
Yes. If the sea is rough, the visit may be suspended. Check on the day.
Can you swim inside the grotto?
No. The visit is conducted only in the rowboats operated by the boatmen.
How long does the visit last?
The boat trip inside the grotto takes about 15 to 20 minutes.