Ferriere Valley Nature Reserve (Via dei Mulini)
The Vallone delle Ferriere, just over the ridge from Tramonti towards Amalfi, protects one of southern Italy's last stands of Woodwardia radicans — a giant fern that has survived since the Tertiary period — alongside a series of cascading waterfalls fed by the same aquifer that waters Tramonti's vineyards. The trail from the Tramonti side via the ancient mulini (mills) of Gete is far less crowded
Ancient Ferns and Forgotten Mills
The hamlet of Gete in Tramonti was historically the valley's milling centre: water channelled from mountain springs powered a series of paper and grain mills whose ruins still line the path, their mossy stone wheels half-submerged in crystal-clear channels.
From Gete a signed trail descends into the Vallone delle Ferriere reserve through a tunnel of tree ferns and ancient chestnut trees, following a stream that never dries even in August — the air temperature drops by several degrees as you enter the canopy.
The Woodwardia radicans ferns, some with fronds over two metres long, grow in dense colonies on the wet rock faces beside the waterfalls — a genuinely prehistoric landscape that feels more like Costa Rica than the Italian coast.
Trail Details and What to Bring
The full loop from Gete to the main Ferriere waterfall and back is approximately 7 km with 350 m of descent and re-ascent; allow 3–4 hours and wear proper grip footwear as the path is perpetually damp and slippery near the cascades.
The reserve is managed by the WWF and the Municipality of Amalfi; there is no entrance fee but the trail from the Amalfi side is sometimes closed after heavy rain — the Gete approach from Tramonti is generally more reliable.
Bring water, a snack and a light waterproof jacket; swimming in the pools beneath the waterfalls is technically prohibited within the reserve but the stream channels outside the protected boundary are used by locals in summer.
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