Cloister of Paradise (Chiostro del Paradiso)
You climb the long staircase of Amalfi's cathedral, pay your few euros at the ticket office, and step through a doorway into something the street outside gives no warning of: a quadrilateral cloister of 120 slender twin columns, their interlaced pointed arches casting a rhythm of light and shadow across a garden of citrus trees, climbing roses, and bougainvillea.
Built in 1266 as a burial ground for Amalfi's noble families, the Chiostro del Paradiso takes its name from the medieval word for a cemetery beside a church. The dead are long gone, but the sarcophagi remain — Roman marble carved with the Rape of Proserpina, the Wedding of Peleus and Thetis — arranged against the arcade walls like footnotes to a world that ended here.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to arrive early, before the tour groups reach the Duomo stairs. The play of morning light through the arched colonnade shifts quickly, and the central garden is at its quietest then. Look up from the courtyard: the cathedral bell tower, tiled in polychrome majolica in a Moorish pattern, is framed perfectly against the sky from the north corner.
The story behind Cloister of Paradise (Chiostro del Paradiso)
Archbishop Filippo Augustariccio commissioned the cloister in 1266, completing it by 1268. To build it, the left side of the existing Basilica del Crocifisso was demolished — a significant sacrifice that signals how seriously Amalfi's ruling families took the project. The Arab-Norman style of the arches reflects the city's centuries of trade with the Arab world, a cosmopolitan influence visible throughout the old republic's architecture.
The cloister served as a noble burial ground until the 1500s, when burials were halted on hygienic grounds. A Crucifixion fresco attributed to Roberto d'Oderisio — the leading painter working in Campania in the mid-14th century — survives inside the Basilica del Crocifisso, which was built within the cloister in the same century. Restored in the early 20th century, the cloister joined the Diocesan Museum exhibition route in 2006.
Good to know
Enter through the Duomo ticket office on Piazza del Duomo — the cloister is part of the cathedral complex. Admission runs around €4. Not wheelchair accessible. Allow roughly an hour. Spring and autumn bring smaller crowds and cooler temperatures than the peak summer months.
Where is Cloister of Paradise (Chiostro del Paradiso)?
More tickets & tours for Cloister of Paradise (Chiostro del Paradiso)
Book directly at the provider
What travellers say about Cloister of Paradise (Chiostro del Paradiso)
Beautiful experience and a nice quiet place away from the crowd. Well worth the quick detour if you are already in Amalfi or traveling through.
This place looks great on photos but the exhibition is very small. It’s a good way to spend maybe 15-30 minutes depending on how many photos you want to take. I thought it was worth the price.
We enjoyed our visit. A historic place that is worth visiting.
In the heart of Amalfi, a hidden gem of tranquil beauty emerges—the Chiostro del Paradiso, a cloister that transcends mere architectural marvel to become a sanctuary of the soul. As we enter this sacred oasis, let us explore its intricate details, where the technical and the poetic converge in a harmonious dance. Design and Layout: The Chiostro del Paradiso is a cloister of graceful proportion, an architectural symphony of symmetry and serenity. It follows the classic form of a quadrilateral, with a central courtyard graced by a lush garden. Cloister walkways, supported by slender columns, envelop the garden like loving arms, offering both shelter and an open embrace to visitors. Columns and Capitals: The cloister's columns are carved from the same local limestone that characterizes Amalfi's architecture. Each column rises with a slender grace, their capitals adorned with intricate foliage and geometric patterns, akin to a choir of voices singing in stone. These capitals, like botanical manuscripts, whisper secrets of the natural world. Archways and Vaults: As one walks through the cloister, the archways form a rhythmic procession, guiding the eye and the soul. Above, the vaulted ceilings, adorned with delicate frescoes, are a celestial canvas that tells stories of saints and miracles. The arches and vaults create a sense of harmony and balance, inviting contemplation and reflection. Garden and Flora: The central garden is a verdant paradise, a microcosm of the natural world's splendor. Here, citrus trees, fragrant with blossoms, offer shade and a gentle fragrance that lingers in the air. Roses, like the blush of youth, climb trellises, and vibrant bougainvillea spills over the walls, creating a palette of colors that mirror the Mediterranean. Fountain and Waterscape: At the heart of the garden, a serene fountain glistens with crystal-clear waters. Its soothing murmur is a backdrop to quiet contemplation, a symphony of liquid notes that dances in the air. The play of sunlight on the water's surface creates a shimmering mosaic of reflections. Statuary and Sculpture: Amidst the greenery, sculpted saints and biblical figures stand sentinel. Their faces bear expressions of serenity and grace, their forms a testament to the skill of the craftsmen. These statues seem to come alive in the dappled light, as if they, too, partake in the cloister's timeless reverie. The Chiostro del Paradiso is more than an architectural wonder; it is a sanctuary of the senses, where the technical and the poetic converge to create a place of serenity and spiritual awakening. It is a testament to the enduring power of design, nature, and the human spirit to create spaces that transcend the ordinary and touch the divine. In its tranquil embrace, we find not just a cloister, but a glimpse of paradise itself—a testament to the harmonious coexistence of art, architecture, and the natural world.
Who knew St. Andrew, the first disciple of Jesus, is supposedly buried here? The cloister is outstanding and the original church with its bronze doors cast in Constantinople and dedicated to St. Andrew makes you feel you are in the 10th c.
More of Amalfi
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Amalfi →More attractions in Amalfi
All of Amalfi →
Background adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · ratings & place photos via Google · other photos with per-image credit. Ticket links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.