Mesmerizing Minori: 10 best things to do in Minori, Italy
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Discover the top things to do in Minori on the Amalfi Coast! The picturesque town, regarded as the City of Taste, is known for its scenic views, rich food scene, and the surrounding lemon groves you can see on the famous Path of the Lemons hike.
We spent the entire summer traveling around Italy’s Campania region, including the famous Amalfi Coast, where we managed to explore every charming town along the coastline. This includes the mesmerizing gem of Minori!
In this blog post, you’ll find all the best things to do in Minori, with photos, descriptions, and Google Maps locations. I hope you enjoy your time on Italy’s so-called Divine Coast as much as we did. Happy travels!
1. Try Delizia al Limone at Pasticceria Sal De Riso
The famous pastry shop Pasticceria Sal De Riso in Minori has become a culinary landmark along the Amalfi Coast. This is a must-stop place for anyone traveling to the Divine Coast of Italy!
Pasticceria Sal De Riso has a convenient location right next to the beach and the main road winding along the Amalfi coastline.
The pastry shop was created by one of Italy’s most celebrated chefs Salvatore De Riso who is actually a local and grew up in Minori. We came to his pastry shop twice during our travels and each time was a wonderful culinary adventure.
Pasticceria Sal De Riso is especially know for two pastries. One is Delizia al Limone or Lemon Delight – a popular Amalfi Coast pastry made of Limoncello-soaked sponge cake and lemon cream. Trying this cake must be on your Amalfi Coast bucket list!
The second pastry Pasticceria Sal De Riso is known for is their signature Ricotta e Pere or Ricotta and Pear cake with hazelnut sponge and ricotta-pear cream. We tried both of these cakes and a couple of others too. Come here when you’re hungry!
Location: Pasticceria Sal De Riso
2. Peek inside the Basilica of Saint Trofimena
The Neoclassical-style yellow-colored Basilica of Saint Trofimena in Minori with its imposing bell tower is a cultural landmark in the little town and one of the must-visit places in Minori.
The origins of this church date back to the 9th century however it has been rebuilt and redesigned many times and the current design of the basilica dates back to the 18th century. It was supposedly built in the shape of a Latin cross. Can you see it?
The church is dedicated to the Virgin and Martyr Saint Trofimena, patron Saint of Minori. Her relics still remain buried inside the crypt of the basilica and different celebrations dedicated to her take place in Minori every year.
We also managed to peek inside the basilica to admire its barrel-vaulted nave and beautiful altars. It is open every day and we came here shortly after its indicated opening time on Google Maps. Entrance is free.
Location: Basilica of Saint Trofimena
3. Try the iconic Minori pasta dish – ndunderi
Minori is named the City of Taste for a good reason. They have their own traditional pasta dish here – ndunderi. With its origins dating back to ancient Roman times, it is considered one of the oldest types of pasta in Italy.
If you know gnocchi then you’ll have an idea what ndunderi is because ndunderi is basically gnocchi but made of ricotta cheese not potatoes like gnocchi. Ndunderi are also rolled into small and oval shapes, similar to gnocchi.
Ndunderi in Minori is typically served with tomato sauce and local cherry tomatoes. They are like soft, creamy dumplings. If you crave something vegetarian, simple, and light then trying ndunderi is a good idea! I actually quite liked this dish!
Ndunderi is often associated with both sister towns – Minori and Maiori but it originated in Minori. However, you are very likely to find it on the menu in both towns. I saw this dish in Ristorante Giardiniello in Minori and in Ristorante Pineta 1903 in Maiori.
4. Enjoy the Minori Beach & walk along the Lungomare
Minori has a really lovely and rather wide grey-sand beach. Per the Amalfi Coast standards, at least. And not only the beach but also the beach promenade which is called ‘lungomare’ in Italian.
A leisurely promenade stroll was one of my favorite things to do in Minori. The promenade is one of the hotspots in this little town featuring trees for shade, benches to sit on and relax, beach cafes, and snack bars.
I recommend walking all the way along the promenade up to Amalfi Drive Road and seeing the beach from above (check my photo above).
Beaches along the Amalfi Coast are known for their photo-perfect beach umbrellas in different colors and patterns and Minori Beach is not an exception.
If you wish to spend some time by the beach then know that the beach is divided into two parts. One part of the beach is free and can be accessed at any time. The other part (the bigger part) is for a fee, which you pay for the beach beds and umbrellas.
Location: Minori Beach
5. Explore the 1st-century Villa Romana in Minori
Did you know that even the ancient Romans were mesmerized by the location where Minori village is located? It can be confirmed by the fact that Minori features remains of a 1st-century Roman villa!
Located in the heart of Minori, the well-preserved villa was built for one of the ancient Roman elites as a summer residence. Its presence here proves that the Amalfi Coast has served as an idyllic retreat for people for thousands of years already!
If you have some spare time in Minori, I highly recommend dedicating 30 minutes to 1 hour to explore the ancient Roman villa! It does have an entrance fee, though (it was 6 EUR when we visited).
The villa features a small museum of artifacts, a large courtyard, a thermal bath complex, gorgeous frescoes, as well as ancient Roman mosaics on the floor inside the baths. Those mosaics were my favorite part of the villa.
The museum offers brochures in different languages to help you understand what you are looking for. I was amazed by the fact that the villa was only discovered around the 1930s during unrelated construction works.
The Roman Villa is one of those places where you can touch and feel thousands of years of history. You can easily imagine how ancient Romans came here to enjoy life, and it is a unique feeling to experience all that with your own eyes.
Location: Villa Romana e Antiquarium
6. Taste the Tyrrhenian Sea through the local seafood
Being a small fishing town nestled on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Minori, the City of Taste, is the perfect place to go to enjoy fresh fish or different types of seafood that local fishermen bring to the shores every morning.
I could bet that over 90% of local restaurants offer seafood dishes, so you don’t have to look too far. Check out Ristorante Garum, Taberna 33 Bistró, Ristorante La Botte, or Il Bistrò dell’Avvocato.
I may not be the biggest seafood lover, but I knew this is one of the top things to do in Minori, so I went to a trendy local seafood takeaway spot at Andrea’s Di Antonella Miccio & C. S.A.S.
They serve ‘cuoppo’, which is like a small bucket or a large cup filled with batter-fried seafood and zucchini fries. As you know, everything tastes better when fried in batter, so this was a delicious treat even for a reluctant seafood eater like me!
We ordered a bucket, got our pickup number, waited for 5 to 10 minutes, and then picked up our cuoppo. Then we went to the seaside and enjoyed the scenic Minori views while eating a bucket full of fresh seafood.
Location: Andrea’S Di Antonella Miccio & C. S.A.S.
7. Hike the famous Sentiero dei Limoni
Sentiero dei Limoni, or Path of the Lemons, is a historical path and one of the famous hikes along the Amalfi Coast. The small scenic coastal path connects two nearby towns – Minori and Maiori.
The path is only 2 kilometers or 1.2 miles long (one way), which is a manageable distance for travelers of different fitness levels. However, the path goes over a 100-meter-high hill between the two towns, so there will be some climbing involved.
We did this hike starting from Maiori town. The hike starts next to the Santuario Santa Maria a Mare church in Maiori and finishes down in Minori town. We then explored Minori for a bit and walked by the coastal road back to Maiori.
The famous hike is known for its panoramic views of the coastline and the Tyrrhenian Sea, as well as the surrounding lemon groves where you can see the local pride and joy – the famous Amalfi lemons (sfusato amalfitano).
The path is mostly paved and historically was created to transport lemons and other goods between the two twin towns. Even today, donkeys are used as a means of transportation along the path. We saw them during our hike!
Around the midway point, there was a small lemon farm with a bar where they offered lemon granita or lemonade. We stopped here to sit down under the lemon trees to have a glass of each. I recommend their lemon granita. It was very good!
If you want to hike like we did by walking the path and then coming back by the coastal road, then I would dedicate 2 hours for this round trip. But 3 to 4 hours if you want to explore the town and have lunch there before hiking back to where you began.
Location: Path of the Lemons
8. Enjoy lunch under the lemon trees
Another way to experience the beauty of the lemon groves in Minori is to visit a restaurant featuring a lemon tree-covered terrace. Having lunch with lemons hanging above your head couldn’t get more iconic, right?
If this sounds like something you would want to do, then head straight to Ristorante Giardiniello in Minori. This charming Italian restaurant is located in the heart of the little town and is regarded as one of the top restaurants in the small town of Minori.
Ristorante Giardiniello features a spacious, lush garden terrace with lemons hanging above the tables. We visited this place in late summer, and many lemons were still green, but there were some yellow ones too.
This family-run restaurant has been around since the 1950s. We ordered two cocktails and different pasta dishes for lunch. I loved the atmosphere, the lemon trees, and the food. Highly recommend!
There is another cool restaurant with a terrace and a view of Minori that we found while walking the Path of Lemons. It is called Azienda Agricola Cuonc Cuonc and is a family-run restaurant.
The owners of this restaurant have a farm where they grow their own fruit, vegetables, and keep animals so they can produce their own ingredients like cheese, pasta, preserves, meat, sauces, and more. And then they can make their dishes.
Although I did appreciate the effort that was put into making these dishes but for me the view from the terrace was the icing on the cake. I was constantly staring at the view while eating, haha.
We ordered a cheese board with jams, pasta with some kind of meat, and homemade drinks. The restaurant is a bit rustic like being a guest in a rural home. Plus the menu was very limited but overall it was a really nice experience.
Location: Ristorante Giardiniello – Azienda Agricola Cuonc Cuonc
9. See Minori from above at Belvedere Mortella
One thing you must do, especially if you don’t have time to hike the whole length of the Path of the Lemons is to see Minori town from above.
Minori is squished between two hills so panoramic views over the whole town are right there. You just have to climb some steps to get to them!
One of the best viewpoints to see Minori from above is located along the Path of the Lemons hike and it is called Belvedere Mortella or Mortella Lookout.
It is a small platform with benches and scenic views of the whole town. The viewpoint is located 500 meters (0.3 miles) from the Minori church. It is a 10-minute walk but you’ll have to climb lots of stairs!
If you have already seen Minori from this viewpoint when walking the Lemon Path, I recommend checking out some views from the other side of the town. We found the best lookout spot at the Minori Cemetery.
The view from the cemetery is just as far as the Mortella Lookout if you start at the Minori church. there is a similar path with lots of stairs up to the cemetery, which offers sweeping views of the town.
The path to the cemetery actually continues further up to Ravello town (you’ll see little direction signs to Ravello along the stairs). Instead of just hiking from Maiori to Minori, some hikers extend the Lemon Path up to Ravello.
Location: Belvedere Mortella – Cimitero di Minori
10. Go shopping on Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Minori
Corso Vittorio Emanuele is the main almost pedestrian street in the center of Minori where you will find all the bars, most of the restaurants, boutique shops, gourmet shops, and so on. We walked this street countless times!
One of my favorite things to do in Minori or any other town along the Amalfi Coast was shopping for some local goods and locally produced goods. Those charming gourmet shops were my favorite!
We went on a long stroll along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele Street in Minori and found lots of gems like the wonderful Pasticceria Gambardella pastry shop offering fresh pastries and also homemade preserves like lemon marmalade (which we bought).
Another must-visit spot along Corso Vittorio Emanuele is Tipico Terre di Nocciole. It is a small restaurant with a gourmet shop inside it. We didn’t eat there but we did buy some locally-produced goods.
The family who own the restaurant runs a hazelnut farm here on the Amalfi Coast and they produce everything you can imagine from hazelnuts. If you decide to eat here, you must try their hazelnut pasta. If not, definitely buy something made of their nuts!
We got a jar of chocolate hazelnut cream and finished it back at our apartment with crepes made by me. And I also got locally produced lemon pasta scialatielli – it is a fresh pasta typical on the Amalfi Coast.
Scialatielli pasta is one of the foods you must try when visiting the Amalfi Coast. You can either order it at a restaurant (they often serve it here with seafood) or you can buy a package to take home with you like we did.
Location: Corso Vittorio Emanuele
Happy exploring!
Minori, known as the City of Taste, is a charming little town along the Amalfi Coast. It is famous for its lemon groves, scenic views, and food like ndunderi pasta dish, seafood, and pastries at the legendary pastry shop Pasticceria Sal De Riso.
Besides visiting the hidden gem of Minori, we spent the whole summer exploring the Amalfi Coast area and every town and village along the coast – Cetara, Vietri sul Mare, Ravello – you name it! Each place had something unique and special about it.
I hope you find some travel inspiration from this Minori travel guide. I also hope you enjoy your time on the Divine Coast of Italy as much as we did! The beaches, the views, the charming villages—it’s a place you won’t forget! Happy exploring!
PIN FOR LATER!
Wonderfully helpful. Thank you .
Really good. Your Blog
I have been to that great bakery twice and you are right it should be the #1 thing to visit in Minori. Also the walk up to Ravello is a must.
Thank you! We loved Minori and I’m glad we took time to explore it to the fullest 🙂
Your blog is an absolute charm.
How many days would you recommend spending in Minori if I stay in Salerno? Is a day trip possible?
Thank you! Minori is perfect for a day trip! It’s a very small town so one day is enough to explore it and try all the foods. 🙂
Hola Marta, do you have recommendations for Capri form Minori? Thank you,
hi! To get to Capri Island from Minori, check out Alicost hydrofoils! Amalfi town, Maiori or even Salerno will have more ferry options, if you can get there!
Marta