SCALA

The most ancient village of the Coast

Due to its internal position at a height of 400 meters, Scala shared with Ravello the function of stronghold to protect the Amalfi Republic. According to the tradition shared with other neighbouring towns, its foundation In the 4th century would be attributed to a group of shipwrecked Romans when they were traveling to Constantinople.

The reliable historical information start in the 9th century AD, when the ancient settlement was destroyed, to be then rebuilt by the Pisans. Later, a period of prosperous development happened also for Scala with the advent of the Republic of Amalfi, which facilitated the commercial relations. In the 11 century, Scala merchants had a trading base also with a church in Naples, close to Porta Nolana. On the other hand, Scala protected Amalfi with its two castles: the castrum Scalae Maioris, a thousand meters high, and the Castrum Scalellae, in Pontone, which a valley separated from Ravello. Those fortresses resisted for a long time, until Amalfi kept its dominion and its autonomy, but when both failed, Scala was no longer able to neutralise the attacks and the consequent destructions suffered in 1703 by Robert Guiscard and then by the Pisans and the troops of Otto of Brunswick in 1210 and during the Vespers war.

There are ruins remaining of the Castrum Scalellae in Pontone, one of the five hamlets present on the territory apart from the centre of Scala. In the historic village, which has kept its medieval structure, the Duomo of San Lorenzo is imposing due to its size. It is from the 11th century and has a beautiful central portal in Romanique-Gothic style with imposing jambs representing two griffins and vine shoots. The remains of frescoes surmounting the portal mark a preexisting decorated facade. Restructured in 1615, the white of the rococo interior walls enhance the large colored canvases of the ceiling by Cacciapuoti, representing scenes of the life of San Lorenzo, patron saint of the hamlet. The hand-painted maiolica pavement of the transept is of considerable impact; the central rose window representing the symbols of the village: the staircase and the lion. On the floor below the cathedral, the Crypt of the Purgatory has been found in the middle of the 20th century. It was used for centuries as an ossuary and today it is a space for cultural initiatives. Lower, there is the beautiful Crypt of Paradise, in pure Gothic style enhancing the brightness of the space, where you can see the sepulchral monument of Marinella Rufolo of Angevin period, a precious episcopal miter of the 13th century and a rare polychrome wooden Deposition of medieval period, among the very few examples preserved in the South of Italy. The campanile is dominating the main square, which houses also the town hall from which it takes its name. There is also the Episcopal Palace with a beautiful majolica floor. Still in the square, there is an eighteenth century fountain, surrounded by the landscape you can admire from that corner of the village. Restored in Baroque style in 1615, the large ceiling paintings, Cacciapuoti’s work, represent the scenes of Saint Lorenzo’s life, patron saint of the hamlet. The transept’s maiolica floor hand-painted is of considerable impact; the central rose represents the symbols of the village: the staircase and the lion. Below the hamlet of Scala, there is the Cave of the Dragon.

All the small districts forming Scala have been developed around a church. The most ancient is the Annunziata Church, which belongs to the hamlet of Minuta. Visible from Ravello, standing on a promontory descending to Atrani and Amalfi, it is in Romanesque style. The crypt shows frescoes and Paleochristian testimonies. From Minuta the way continues towards Pontone and from there, you can reach Amalfi or stop before, at Valle dei Mulini, with its historic paper mills of Amalfi. More downstream, there is Pontone with the remains of the Church of Sant’Eustachio from the 12th century, period to which the Parrish of Santa Maria Del Carmine and the church of San Giovanni Battista date back, while the church of San Matteo then dedicated to Saint Filippo Neri was already pre-existing. In Pontone area, on Monte Aureo, there is Ziro Tower dominating Amalfi and Atrani. Nearby, there is the Cappella rupestre del Ss. Salvatore of considerable importance. In the hamlet of Santa Caterina, you can see the three-nave church of the same name, built with architectonic elements recovered from older and reused structures, as we often see in sacred buildings of the Coast, especially with Roman pieces. Santa Caterina also houses the chapels of Saint Paolo and Saint Maria della Porta. In the district of Campoleone the church of San Pietro, with Angevin characteristics rises, while Campidoglio has the church of San Giovanni Battista dell’Acqua with its campanile in Moorish style.