Metrics details The highest elevation of the Tibetan Plateau occurs within the part of the Lhasa block immediately north of the India-Tibet suture zone (Yarlung Zangbo suture zone being 700 m higher than the maximum elevation of more northern parts of the plateau Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain this differentially higher topography and the rock uplift that led to it Here we present the results of structural investigations along the length of the high elevation belt and suture zone which rather indicate flexural bending of the southern margin of the Lhasa block (Gangdese magmatic belt) and occurrence of an adjacent foreland basin (Kailas Basin) both elements resulting from supra-crustal loading of the Lhasa block by the Zangbo Complex (Indian plate rocks) via the Great Counter Thrust Hence we interpret the differential elevation of the southern margin of the plateau as due originally to uplift of a forebulge in a retro foreland setting modified by subsequent processes Identification of this flexural deformation has implications for early evolution of the India-Tibet continental collision zone implying an initial (Late Oligocene) symmetrical architecture that subsequently transitioned into the present asymmetrical wedge architecture Generalized geologic and geomorphic map of the southern margin of the Tibetan plateau showing a NE-SW topographic profile (A-A”) in the Xigaze area (Geological units were modified from The Geology Map of Tibetan Plateau and Adjacent Regions [1:1500000]. Digital elevation data were downloaded from the website of http://srtm.csi.cgiar.org. Map was drawn by K. M. using the software of Adobe Illustrator 18.0.0). Generalized geological cross-section (A’-A”) between the Tethyan Himalayas and the Gangdese magmatic belt (southernmost Tibet) in the Xigaze area showing the tectonic units comprising the Gangdese belt and Zangbo Complex Geological cross-section B-B’ in the Kailas area (western Gangdese belt) Cross-section C-C’ in the Saga area (mid-Gangdese belt) also showing asymmetric bending of the Linzizhong unit and underlying basement whereas along the sharp southern margin of the belt the LZ unit curves over dipping increasingly more steeply to the south (SI1–4a–b) Hence regional changes in dip of the LZ volcanic rocks help define a first-order asymmetric fold with a sub-horizontal fold axis across the Gangdese belt which are interpreted as late stage batholith cooling to ambient crustal temperatures well before later exhumation cooling recorded by the apatite fission track data which suggests that the succession that remains accumulated quickly before it was structurally truncated by the GCT There is however some evidence for syn-sedimentary deformation of the Kailas Basin margin fill there is up-section decrease in dip indicative of growth strata due to syn-sedimentary tilting across the basin margin similar in lithology and colour to the LZ volcanic unit are likely derived from the Gangdese belt (SI1-9a–b) Chert and ophiolite clasts were derived from the Zangbo Complex (next section) The difference between the average dip of the Kailas succession (>40°) compared with that of the GCT (55°) indicates that the GCT was a low angle thrust (average 15°) Jiacha and Langxian) that the lower part of the Kailas succession contains numerous clasts identical in lithology to the ophiolite suite within the Zangbo suture zone complex—purple coloured chert and mafic and ultra-mafic clasts (SI1–10a–b These ophiolite-derived and associated clasts are particularly evident in the lower parts of Kailas beds exposed in an area 60 ×3 km2 northwest of Xigaze City along the southern side of Zangbo River (SI1–13) The chert clasts contain radiolarians aged Late Jurassic to Cretaceous the same ages as radiolarians in the ophiolite suite (SI1–14 the dipping direction of many flat pebbles made of the radiolarian chert also indicates that these clasts were transported from the south (SI1–10b) The derivation of clasts in the footwall of the GCF (and low in the Kailas Basin succession) from rock sequences in the hanging wall (Zangbo Complex) of the GCT implies very early (c 25–23 Ma) north-directed thrust movement on the GCT (SI1–14) These relationships further suggest that the Kailas Basin was probably short-lived as the sedimentary succession relatively quickly became overthrust by the Zangbo Complex Two-dimensional elastic-bending model of the southern margin of the Lhasa block showing concurrent uplift of the Gangdese magmatic belt as a forebulge coupled with subsidence of a foreland basin in response to the tectonic load of the Zangbo Complex Miocene uplift and erosion of the forebulge was concurrent with sedimentation in the Kailas foreland basin and thrust emplacement of the Zangbo Complex on the Great Counter Thrust (GCT) The inset schematic illustrates the possible thin elastic plate bending mechanisms for the region Results of numerical modelling of flexure appropriate to the northern margin of the Lhasa Terrane for both a continuous plate and a broken plate A broken plate model simulates the retro foreland setting in the vicinity of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone whereas a continuous plate does not it is plausible for a weak and broken plate loaded by a large magnitude overthrust to produce a forebulge as high as over 700 m The exposed width of the Kailas Basin (foredeep) is 15 km However the southern margin of Kailas Basin is buried beneath the Zangbo Complex and its original width is presently unknown Our proposed model requires an orogenic belt of a high elevation and large mass that would have developed along the Himalayan Counter thrust system The Zangbo River runs eastward through the Zangbo suture zone along a wide valley We note that where the Zangbo suture zone is not cut by the Zangbo River the geomorphology show very high topography ~6,000 m prior to the incision of the Zangbo River drainage system the Zangbo suture zone on the hanging wall of the Great Counter thrust fault must have been an orogenic belt with high topography (ii) there is no evidence for contractional growth structures (iii) the lithofacies pattern is not typical of wedge-top or proximal foredeep settings and (iv) basaltic andesites and adakitic tuff in Kailas Formation suggests a thermal pulse possibly consistent with an extensional setting Normal faults bounding a supposed extensional Kailas Basin have not been identified and neither have transtensional structures Map and cross-sections schematically illustrating a proposed two-stage tectonic development of the Himalaya orogen: A: (26–23 Ma) displacement on conjugated thrusts builds a central mountain belt which loads and flexes continental crust of India and southern Tibet (Gangdese belt) forming paired foreland basins – a symmetrical architecture typical of most collisional orogens B: (Neogene) continuing continent-continent shortening transitions the orogen into an asymmetrical architecture with a structurally imbricated wedge the uppermost part (Tethyan Himalaya) collapsing northward on the South Tibet Detachment System (STDS) accentuating the bending of the Gangdese belt Uncertainties on individual analyses in data tables are reported at 1σ level; Concordia U-Pb ages are quoted with 95% confidence interval For a continuous plate, the deflection produced by a vertically acting load V0, emplaced at x = 0, is given by the following equation48 where the flexural parameter α is given by and the maximum deflection in terms of the vertical load is ρi is load density and g is gravity acceleration Flexural bending of southern Tibet in a retro foreland setting Tertiary structural evolution of the Gangdese thrust system Thermal evolution of the Gangdese Batholith southern Tibet: a history of episodic unroofing The Zedong window: a record of superposed Tertiary convergence in southeastern Tibet Structural evolution and sequence of thrusting in the Tethyan fold-thrust belt and Indus-Yalung suture zone 10.1130/0016-7606(2003)115<0021:SEASOT>2.0.CO;2 (2003) Exhumation history of the Gangdese Batholith southern Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometry southwestern Tibet: Record of post-collisional upper-plate extension in the Indus-Yarlung suture zone Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous U-Pb geochronology of the Gangdese (TransHimalaya) plutonism in the Lhasa-Xigaze region Geologic evolution of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen Contribution of syncollisional felsic magmatism to continental crust growth: A case study of the Paleogene Linzizong volcanic Succession in southern Tibet Rapid early Miocene acceleration of uplift in the Gangdese Belt Xizang (southern Tibet) and its bearing on accommodation mechanisms of the India-Asia collision Rapid early Miocene exhumation of the Ladakh Batholith Thermal evolution and exhumation of the Ladakh Batholith Miocene burial and exhumation of the India-Asia collision zone in southern Tibet: Response to slab dynamics and erosion Restoration and evolution of the intermontane Indus molasses basin New constraints on the India-Asia collision: The Lower Miocene Gangrenboche conglomerate Conglomerates record the tectonic evolution of the Yarlung-Tsangpo suture zone in southern Tibet Tectonics and structural zonation of southern Tibet Transtensional deformation in the central Himalaya and its role in accommodating growth of the Himalayan orogen Thermal evolution and slip history of the Renbu-Zedang Thrust Distributed deformation in southern and western Tibet during and after the India-Asia collision Structural evolution and sequence of thrusting in the High Himalayan Tibetan-Tethys and Indus suture zones of Zankar and Ladakh Tectonics of the Himalaya and southern Tibet from two perspectives 10.1130/0016-7606(2000)112<324:TOTHAS>2.0.CO;2 (2000) The Gangdese thrust: a phantom structure that did not raise Tibet The Geological maps of Zedang and Xigaze areas (1:250,000 scale) The behaviour of the lithosphere on seismic to geologic timescales 10.1146/annurev-earth-042711-105457 (2013) Constraints on the structure of the Himalayas from an analysis of gravity anomalies and a flexural model of the lithosphere Spatial variations of flexure parameters over the Tibet-Qinghai plateau The dynamic support and decoupling process of the Tibetan lithosphere based on the integration of flexural modelling with other geological and geophysical studies North-south extension within the convergent Himalayan region 10.1130/0091-7613(1985)13<679:NEWTCH>2.0.CO;2 (1985) Southward extrusion of Tibetan crust and its effect on Himalayan tectonics Comparison of zeta calibration baseline for fission track dating of apatite Fission track lengths in the apatite annealing zone and the interpretation of mixed ages Fission track analysis reveals character of collisional tectonics in New Zealand Tectonic architecture of the mountain front-foreland basin transition Fission track dating methods: what are the real alternatives A users’ guide to fission track dating calibration Estimating the component ages in a finite mixture Bias in the measurement of fission track length distributions Precise determination of Phanerozoic zircon Pb/Pb age by multi-collector SIMS without external standardization Improved 206Pb/238U microprobe geochronology by the monitoring of a trace-element-related matrix effect; SHRIMP ELA-ICP-MS and oxygen isotope documentation for a series of zircon standards Three natural zircon standards for U-Th-Pb Precise U-Pb and Pb-Pb dating of Phanerozoic baddeleyite by SIMS with oxygen flooding technique Approximation of terrestrial lead isotope evolution by a two-stage model 2.49: a Geochronological Toolkit for Microsoft Excel Qinghu zircon: A working reference for microbeam analysis of U-Pb age and Hf and O isotopes Download references We gratefully acknowledge the critical and constructive comments and suggestions made by Douwe van Hinsbergen and P This study was supported by Grants from the “Strategic Priority Research Program” of the Chinese Academy of Science (XDB03010500) the National Basic Research Program (973) of China (2011CB403106) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41130312) to Erchie Wang State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution CAS Centre for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology made structural interpretations and wrote the paper informed the structure of the High Himalaya determined the radiolarian content and age of samples The authors declare no competing financial interests Reprints and permissions Download citation Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (2022) International Journal of Earth Sciences (2022) Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science with Merus Power securing an order in Finland and IPPs Metlen and Aquila Clean Energy EMEA winning government financial support for projects in Italy and Portugal respectively providing additional details and analysis beyond the headlines Power solutions firm Merus Power has signed an agreement with a holding company of the Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund (ACEEF) managed by the global private equity firm Ardian for a 30MW/30MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Finland procurement and construction (EPC) contract to Merus Power is €13 million (US$13.6 million) and the project will be completed in spring 2026 Riihimäki and will mainly serve as a fast grid balancing unit in TSO Fingrid’s reserve markets Merus Power buys BESS units and battery management systems (BMS) from established suppliers but has its own power conversion system (PCS) technology and energy management system (EMS) software and trading capabilities which it provides with the projects to Ardian Ovaskainen spoke on ‘The Big Debate: Where are the Hottest European Storage Markets?’ panel discussion on Day One of this year’s event while everyone is excited about the bigger markets like Germany the Nordics shouldn’t be overlooked because they present a good revenue opportunity and it’s relatively easy to get projects going although they are based on relatively shallow ancillary services markets See more recent coverage of the energy storage market in Finland here. Metallurgy and renewables IPP firm Metlen Energy & Metals (formerly Mytilineos) has secured capacity market (CM) contracts for two BESS projects for 2025 and 2026 The firm has secured 15-year CM contracts for the 25MW/75MWh ‘Erchie Storage’ BESS project and the 25MW/75MWh ‘San Severo Storage’ BESS project Erchie won in the 2025 CM procedure while San Severo’s win was in the 2026 CM procedure The firm also won CM contracts in the 2024 auction and a Fast Reserve Pilot project Italy released the results of its 2026 CM auction in January 2025 The country is one of the most exciting for energy storage investment in Europe with a unique auction designed for grid-scale storage set to be finalised this year at which point gigawatts of projects should proceed with construction Consultancy Timera Energy’s Steven Coppack, who was also a speaker at the Summit event this year, told Energy-Storage.news last week that its unique characteristics should open it up to forms of capital so far excluded from storage (Premium access). Renewables IPP Aquila Clean Energy EMEA has revealed it had two projects among the 500MW of winning BESS in a recent capex support scheme auction in Portugal The BESS auction (Investimento RP-C21-i08 – Flexibilidade da Rede e Armazenamento) awarded capex grants amounting to 20% of total investment for BESS co-located with renewables Aquila won support for two 20MW/40MWh BESS units co-located with the 48MWp Barcos solar PV plant and the 27MWp Rio Seco PV plant head of development and construction in Portugal for Aquila said: “This achievement is a major milestone for our operations in Portugal as these are our first BESS projects in the country that we have developed in-house using our extensive BESS expertise across Europe We look forward to constructing them and contributing to Portugal’s decarbonisation goals.” However, consultancy and investment services firm Ikigai Capital’s COO Helena Anderson said on a panel discussion at the Summit event that the grant programme was challenging and that Ikigai But another delegate said that although the programme did have some strict conditions around charging from the grid versus the co-located renewables this was well compensated by the grant itself and that Portugal was a fundamentally attractive market Lila is native to Russia and therefore seems quite comfy with New Hampshire’s colder weather Jane Kelly’s house has an unusual watchdog “He’s imprinted; he thinks he’s human,” explains Kelly while her crow caws at us from a cage that takes up most of one wall. “He was calling 24/7, so I made a cage, and he lives in the living room.” Kelly has been rehabilitating birds of prey for six years and running the Epping-based rehab center On The Wing for three and I would go with him hunting and fishing so I grew up in the woods exploring.” After moving 10 dead owls off of Rte she decided to turn her house into a rescue “I just felt like I needed to get involved somehow.” Red-tailed hawk Fergus is still just an adolescent Her first patient was a barred owl that had been hit by a car “They have big black eyes like they’re looking into your soul They’re very docile.” Kelly has seen cases of West Nile virus lead poisoning and gunshots among the birds she finds “but I’d say 90 percent of them are hit by cars.” “The key is for us to not litter,” Kelly explains People assume it’s harmless to throw biodegradable foods out of car windows but small animals are drawn to this litter and birds of prey are drawn to those animals “There’s nothing that’s going to get between them and that prey and I think they get blindsided.” The result is road kill which only continues the cycle by tempting scavengers Kelly says that birds are everywhere; people just aren’t looking for them I’ve seen a mouse run across the road — and something’s following that.” Human beings aren’t targets for aerial predators so it’s in our nature to look down at the ground But Kelly has trained herself to be an exception I trip in the woods because I’m always looking up.” Guthrie is a shy barn owl whose features make him look almost human “Isn’t that like a radio station tuning in and out?” she asks But the soft clicks and hoots Guthrie is making are only a small sample of his vocal ability they sound like monkeys.” Kelly imitates the owl calls for us while Guthrie stares at her “You don’t have a relationship with them like a parrot,” Kelly adds emphasizing that birds of prey are not pets; they are weapons first “You treat them the same because you know they’re both unpredictable The same rules apply — when I have my birds I’m always between the weapon and the person,” Kelly says Kelly’s move towards falconry was an inevitable progression for her “I took it up for two reasons: for the sport of hunting and then also for learning how to condition and get these guys back when they’re releasable.” Hunting with her birds not only teaches her more about their behavior in the wild “It’s like having a Labrador in the sky.” Only chasing after a hawk is a lot more complicated “You run through the woods with your head up smacking into trees; you look like you’ve been in a bar brawl.” Fergus is an adolescent and has a few qualities of a gangly teenager still; he hasn’t quite grown into his face and so looks a little cross-eyed She lets go of Fergus’ lead and he spreads his huge wings leading with his feet towards the branch she points to “Their feet play a big role in their movement and how they move through the woods.” Kelly coos to Fergus as he rips apart the meal she offers him Kelly has to weigh them: “There’s a window of where you can fly them and where you can’t.” Falconers train their birds extensively but they can’t control them without the device of hunger A satiated bird might take off and not come back for a while Kelly gives her birds food as a reward for flying back to her A bird that isn’t hungry enough to eat therefore might not come back — at least not until it gets hungry again “You sit and sweat and pray that they come back It always happens when you have to go somewhere I was at a store and I dug in my pocket and there was a dead mouse I just pushed it aside and you could see [the cashier] was horrified,” she says Kelly’s sprawling back yard is dotted with large wooden houses for the birds: “I just kept building one at a time as I got a bit of money.” On The Wing is currently home to three injured birds and 10 birds that Kelly uses for education traveling around the state to teach schools and scout troops how to help protect birds of prey from human influence and many of them imprinted on people when they were only chicks — which means that they are too comfortable around humans to be released back into the wild but when Erchie  eagerly waddles out of his house and looks up at Kelly Kelly speaks to her birds in a mixture of commands piercing screams came from the neighboring one A falcon’s scream is bone-chilling; it lends a flesh-and-blood realism to the primal word for their classification: raptor named for a fighter jet from the Korean War because the guy he came from is an amazing falconer but sometimes you get somebody else’s mistakes.” The hawks she has flown stay much lower than falcons so training Voodoo will be a whole different experience “We use a kite to train the bird to fly up in the sky and then we use a lure to bring the bird down,” she says A snowy owl in one of the out-buildings Kelly built Entering the owls’ roost is a different experience and we’re allowed to go in to see the inside of their wooden fortress is native to Russia and seems to be quite comfortable in the chilly New Hampshire spring “I got her when she was just a little owlet,” Kelly says fondly almost as if the two are having a conversation Lila responds with little scratchy noises reminiscent of a cat which sounds absurd coming from the huge bird but sometimes the parents intentionally choose to eject their young “It’s a fine line: Are you putting the gene out there that the parents were trying to control?” Places like On The Wing intervene to protect wildlife but sometimes that intervention itself can be harmful I think sometimes we need to learn to respect that,” she says Cold wind drives us back towards the house but Kelly pauses and looks up at the tree line of her property “Do you hear the crows right now?” As always she has her eyes and ears trained on the sky She has been running On The Wing for three years and credits its success to volunteers She funds On The Wing out of pocket with help from her educational programs and private donations Contact her at jjanekelly@comcast.net for more information about how to get involved Sign in Join now, it's FREE! 42 years; Mundell Funeral Home Employee for 18 years; Longtime Member of the CWL at Uptergrove and Brechin; St Volunteer with the Canadian Cancer Society Girl Guides and the Equestrian Disabilities Therapy)  Lost her battle with ALS on Monday April 13 Loving and proud mother of Melanie Callaghan-D'Erchie (Giancarlo) of Toronto and Lasairfhiona O'Callaghan (Vern Crowley) of Orillia Dear sister of Joan Hopkins (predeceased) (Gord) of Orillia Harold Corrigan (Anne predeceased) of Brechin and Lenore O'Donnell-Freeland (predeceased) (Basil O'Donnell predeceased) (Ben Freeland predeceased) Lovingly remembered by many nieces and nephews and their families Sadly missed by her Mundell Funeral Home family Lorraine will always be remembered for her infectious laugh her endless love that she so freely gave to everyone that she knew and her ability to always make us see the brighter side of life or an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on It saddens us that we are unable to celebrate this amazing woman at this time; services will be held at a later date Andrew's Church Restoration Fund or St Andrew's Church CWL would be appreciated.  Anna King Shahab and family find peace and perfect pasta in some of the Amalfi Coast's less touristy areas A 50km stretch of villages wedged between sea and mountain connected by a perilous zig-zag of roads better designed for Vespas than the burden of buses that prevail today – Italy's Amalfi Coast is a tourist hotspot The time we spent there was not in peak season yet the coast was still bustling with local and international visitors we discovered that with a little research and a selective approach to fitting in "the sights" we were able to blend in and live like locals for eight days while still exploring enough of the coast to satisfy our curiosity there's a ferry and bus network that means you can travel up and down the coast and to inland villages and sights relatively inexpensively but the bus travel (or any travel by road) is seriously slow-going and weather frequently disrupts the ferry schedule Rather than moving from place to place often we were happy with our decision to pick two bases at either end of the coast – we opted for places off the main tourist trail so we could get away from the crowds Knowing it would be after dark when we arrived from a nine-hour train journey from Sicily to Salerno – the Amalfi Coast's eastern boundary and biggest city – we'd booked a bed and breakfast in Cetara and more importantly our stupidly bulky luggage and we loved that it remained sleepy during the day coming alive after dark as a mix of (mostly) locals and visitors filled the restaurants and wandered the narrow streets to the pretty We gorged on woodfired pizza from takeaway joint Cos 'e Pazz and fell in love with the super-fresh seafood and pasta smart service at Punto e Pasta – a good pick if you're keen on sampling the ultra-fresh local seafood hauled in each morning at the harbour plus look for dishes featuring colatura di alici – Cetara's famous anchovy sauce – much like Asian fish sauce such as in a wonderful pasta dish we enjoyed at Punto e Pasta – scialatielli (an Amalfi original pasta shape) with anchovies Our Cetara days were spent lounging on the beach – both Spaggia del Lanio a 15-minute walk away and only sparsely populated with retired kiln-baked locals sensibly attired in aqua shoes Amalfi beaches range from small-to-large pebbly We loved breakfasts on the rooftop terrace with our hosts Gaspare and Clelia The couple has converted Gaspare's cliff-climbing family home into B&B units with views across the narrow valley and down to the harbour homegrown beefsteak tomatoes served at breakfast and hearing the couple talk about how local families such as theirs still produce many of their own supplies: from olive oil to limoncello (the secret to Gaspare's family limoncello recipe is using lemons that are still mostly green to enable us to explore some of the western end of the coast and we were glad we'd booked a pickup by our host he fed us titbits about the local area as we wound our way up and down through villages including Maiori and finally up and up to the hillside of the headland of Conca dei Marini It was a hike with our bags from the road to our stay but the resulting views from its rooftop terrace were totally worth the sore hamstrings – all indigo sea staggered villages as far as the eye could see The stone steps that passed beside our villa Stani explained as he presented us with a welcoming gift of pretty Neapolitan biscuits begin at the beach below and continue up for five steep kilometres to the town of Agerola the fishing folk lived and worked at the bottom of these steps the farming folk at the top – and they all got terribly fit traipsing up and down to trade with each other Conca draws lots of daytrippers for Grotto dello Smeraldo – a seawater cave in which refracted sunlight creates a luminous emerald glow More than that I can't tell you because we didn't "do" the grotto – the times we could force ourselves away from the calming rooftop view we spent lazing and swimming at the beach (signposting isn't great: look for the bus stop by Hotel Belvedere and take the steps down from there) Our local store was the size of an Auckland superette yet boasted a deli counter and fresh baked bread so we stocked up on beach-picnic delights like fresh ricotta On Spaggia Grande beach itself was the unassuming where Jackie Kennedy Onassis and her children liked to lunch between dips and rockpool explorations during their summer vacation in 1962 – spaghetti with fried tender zucchini and bacon was Jackie's favourite and is still on the menu Pomegranates dangling low over stone walls offered a refreshing break from trekking up steps as the sun began to set on beach days Bookending the sunny part of the day were visits to Santa Bar Rosa a basic little spot beside the old Santa Rosa Monastery (now a super-luxe hotel) with tables on the footpath gazing down over the neighbour's impressive vegetable gardens and citrus groves to the sea the local cream-filled seashell-shaped pastry sfogliatella (invented at the adjacent monastery and gelato (perfectly acceptable for breakfast here Then we'd call in again post-beach for an aperitif of Aperol Spritz or local chilled white wine (served with free bar snacks) and more gelato These perfect days closed with dinner at La Bonta da Conca Chef Fiore cooks classic Amalfi-style cuisine; order anything from the sea as it's seriously fresh and perfectly prepared – we especially loved a platter of grilled calamari and a seasonal type of spotted squid stuffed with a richly savoury mix that included the squid heads and breadcrumbs A digestif of housemade aged grappa or limoncello perfectly capped off the nights Our final stop on the Coast was a last-minute decision enabling us to relax for a night before journeying onwards We had learned by that stage that for every segment of travel on this winding coast it's a good idea to allow a break to regather we picked a goodie – despite the fact online forums tend to overlook Salerno we found it to be lively – the handsome architecture of the centro storico (historic quarter) bustling from sunset till late into the evening Our hotel was in a retro-cool 1960s building on the waterfront with a bar downstairs staffed by some of the friendliest people we had met on our whole trip that ubiquitous Italian breakfast of espresso shots (fresh orange juices for the kids) and pastries at the bar we undertook the mere two minutes to walk to the station Getting around: Buses and ferry services are comprehensive however be warned that buses are typically packed (even out of season) especially on high-demand routes like Amalfi-Ravello Bus tickets must be bought ahead from newsagents - ask them for help if you're not sure what type of ticket to buy Taxis aren't easy to come by outside of the main tourist towns.Luggage: Wherever you stay on the Amalfi Coast you're likely to encounter steps Consider in advance whether you'll be able to hoist your luggage and if travelling with kids theirs too!Use the maps function on booking.com: We booked our accommodation through booking.com honed in on properties close to bus stops or ferry terminals This was a blessing as we found taxi services to be sorely hard to come by on the coast and there are certainly no app-based services.Look for top-rated hosts: An excellent host review score is a good indicator that your booking will run smoothly Like us you may want to look for hosts who can offer transfers between properties – we found this invaluable given the challenging geography Call ahead: In steep villages like Conca dei Marini and some restaurants offer pickup/drop-off services for customers; call and ask ChecklistAMALFI COASTGETTING THERENaples is the closest international airport to the Amalfi Coast Talk to your travel agent to find the best route from New Zealand.DETAILSFor more things to see and do in the region The Marlborough Boutique Hotel offers luxury stays and a hatted restaurant Written By: The Planet D Italy There are so many beautiful Amalfi Coast towns This guide will cover the best places to visit along the Amalfi Coast You don’t even need to follow our Amalfi Coast map – these incredible spots are listed in east-to-west order Vietri Sul Mare is a beautiful coastal town and the only town on the coast with its own train station with burned orange rooftops and bright white buildings Vietri Sul Mare is the closest town to the major city of Salerno Vietri Sul Mare is a brilliant place to experience ‘larger than life’ Amalfi Vietri Sul Mare isn’t all sandy beaches and beach clubs despite being one of the more modernized Amalfi coast towns including the Museo della Ceramica Vietrense – a museum dedicated to colorful ceramics The vineyard Le Vigne di Raito is another must-visit Vietri Sul Mare has a definite slow pace and an extroverted personality Cetara is classy to its heart and easily one of the best Amalfi Coast towns Typical of the region’s smallest towns Cetara doesn’t have many attractions and instead offers more of a traditional all-around aesthetic The small town has the Torre di Cetara – a massive tower on the east end of the beach that dates back to the 14th century – and a large extravagantly decorated Catholic church in the town center Cetara definitely gives off more of a fishing village vibe than a town So if you want somewhere compact and cultural (without appearing as ‘try hard’ by museum cramming) Cetara is one of the most natural towns on the Amalfi Coast The Amalfi town is where to visit for a beach day amid beautiful architecture and family-run cafes and restaurants pay close attention to a left-hand turndown Via Provinciale – the only road that takes you in and out of little Erchie The village has a lovely beach on a dramatically rocky coastline only reachable by regular paddle boats and canoes from a neighboring beach an exclusive wedding venue atop a sheer cliff with a traditional watchtower and terrace Erchie doesn’t have much else apart from a handful of bar restaurants it is great fun for a day trip spent on the beach And the hidden aspect of the village’s second beach gives it an adventurous vibe if you want to spice things up Maiori has been a popular holiday destination since the Roman times and you can still visit the Roman villas and historical sites left in the town and its almost directly adjacent town with town centers just a 20-minute walk apart While we will treat them as different destinations for this guide it is good to remember that you can complete both towns (and their respective attractions) in a single excursion This Amalfi Coast town is packed with history – from the medieval period and beyond – and is somewhere to visit if you want historical attractions and sightseeing Maiori itineraries are full of more than local food and a small beach So this town is best suited to go-getter types of tourists Tramoniti is one of the most mountainous collections of Amalfi Coast villages you can visit you’ll need to drive or catch a bus (or otherwise brave an hour and 20 minutes on foot just one way from Maoiri) Tramonti is much more agricultural than the touristy towns and villages along the shoreline It is where you’ll find olive groves many believe Tramonti to have been founded by Romans The area isn’t actually just one village or town but a collection of hamlets – aka very small villages a significant bonus of heading up into the mountains for a better vantage point Heading to Tramonti is one of the best ways to get a scenic panorama of the coast below Minori is Maiori’s little historical counterpart this Amalfi town is one of the most historically significant You can expect far more than just a sandy beach Minori has Roman attractions and lots of culture on offer – plus fantastic access to the path of the lemons and the scenic hike that links Maiori and Minori be prepared for steep staircase after steep staircase; there are almost 400 steps along the way A day trip to Minori is spent at its Roman Villa and Museum and checking out fantastic architecture like the Santa Trofimena church It is impossible not to love little Minori it has a huge character and offers a packed full-day itinerary It is also amazingly combined with a visit to Maiori or Tramonti Ravello is one of the prettiest Amalfi coast towns set slightly in the mountains with a stunning vantage point over the coastline below This Amalfi Coast town is most famous for the luxury hotel Villa Cimbrone and you can visit to see its infinity terrace overlooking the ocean Ravello is very much a resort town on the Amalfi Coast there’s even a grand auditorium in the little town Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium is a bizarrely curved concert hall hosting regular events Ravello is somewhere to stay for a definite culture fix Scala is another gem amongst the mountainous towns on the Amalfi Coast Despite being one of the main 13 towns on the Amalfi Coast Scala doesn’t attract anywhere near the crowds that major hubs like Positano see Scala is still a brilliant candidate if you are looking for lesser-visited day trips along the Amalfi Coast but Scala is actually the oldest town on the Amalfi Coast It is said to have been founded after a shipwreck in the 4th Century AD Scala is one of the most beautiful towns and one of the most historically significant in the Campania region The perfect day in Scala is spent wandering between different historical churches and enjoying the dramatic views down to the ocean Atrani is the Amalfi Coast town that would arrive overdressed to any party with extra details like green rooftop domes and blue-painted shutters The town screams authenticity with cobbled streets and a road propped up by archways that jut up from the beach and are illuminated at night Atrani is a peacock against the rocky cliffs of the Amalfi coastline Atrani is somewhere along the coast that you should consider basing yourself for a few days and you need more than a day to appreciate its vibrant scenes it is an excellent base to explore other Amalfi Coast towns while visiting Next up is the namesake of all the Amalfi Coast towns you’d see that Amalfi is centrally located right in the heart of the coastline and it’s one of the main hubs of all the towns on the Amalfi Coast Amalfi sees some gorgeous sunsets from its beautiful beach And it also has plenty of attractions to justify it as one of the coast’s top day trips a grand medieval cathedral with architecture that would fit in a Game of Thrones scene Or you can visit the Diocesan Museum of Amalfi or Antico Arsenale della Repubblica di Amalfi – a museum dedicated to a rich history of local maritime like a little microcosm of the Amalfi Coast towns and the wider region It is full of beautiful architecture and exciting attractions This town is set on such a dramatic section of cliff that it is almost built on a vertical cliff face Conca dei Marini juts up from rocky swim spots with brightly colored buildings ranging from light pinks to intense yellows Once little more than a fishing village terrorized regularly by pirates Conca dei Marini is now one of the most exclusive places on the Amalfi Coast The town has breathtaking views and is an absolute guarantee on any boat tour worth its salt This bright green sea cave is created from refracted light and is 30 meters high It was discovered by local fishermen and can be reached by boat or a steep staircase from the Amalfitana highway If you want a town with a statement aesthetic Only a few Amalfi Coast towns have ‘feature’ style bridges (the sort of bridges that become attractions in themselves) So crossing the narrow gorge of Fiordo di Furore to enter the town becomes a double novelty thanks to its dramatic arched bridge This popular destination has a real sense of individuality since the Amalfi Coast is famed for its beautiful beaches it’s only fitting to visit one of its smallest beaches – a tiny beach unnamed by Google at the end of Fiordo di Furore Furore is somewhere to stop and admire the unique town layout before kicking back on the beach but it certainly packs a punch with its striking gray stone buildings and dramatic bridge Pianillo is the best town if you want to get up to the mountain trails in this section of the Amalfi Coast You drive up from the main highway (or enjoy a bus ride if you’d prefer) curving up some dizzying switchbacks as you pass through other towns like San Michele on your way you are absolutely spoiled by some of the best hiking trails on the coastline Pianillo is very much a hiking destination Path of the Gods is one of the most famous routes in Pianillo alongside the slightly trickier Tre Callii Mountain which offers 360-degree views of the Amalfi Coast You can admire views more sedately from the viewing platform at Parco Corona – Bomerano Or just enjoy fresh local cuisine at the numerous restaurants and cafes in the town Praiano is one of the Amalfi Coast towns right on the oceanfront and the best place to visit for an intense aesthetic The shoreline of Praiano is dramatic and full of character with the squeezed sunbathers on the alcove beach and historical ruins of the Torre Asciola to the east Praiano’s coast is rocky and unhospitable looking in sections with alcoves and sea caves scooped out of the cliffs randomly And a rocky outcrop sits offshore as a tiny jagged island its rather wild first impression is rescued by much more hospitably colored buildings and a maze of pastel-painted private residences with access to the Path of the Gods from Praiano which snakes up into the mountains above the town Praiano is now visited as one of the most aesthetic spots along the Amalfi Coast you can almost guarantee it will stop at Praiano It is one of the most iconic towns on the Amalfi Coast we suggest squeezing Praiano onto your itinerary Nocelle is the definition of a small-town hidden gem Frequently described as an ‘ancient hamlet,’ Nocelle sits above the organized chaos of Positano in a comfy little perch overlooking the ocean and coastline below It is accessible on foot from Positano by a 1,700-step staircase or if you aren’t feeling the attack on your quads when pirate raids were rampant along the Amalfi Coast towns the high-ground vantage point was not only less accessible but a useful watch tower Nocelle is an amazing day trip from Positano with direct access to the beautiful Path of the Gods If you want to get out of the primary tourist radar Nocelle is an incredible place on the Amalfi Coast It sees much fewer tourists than elsewhere on the coast This scenic hiking area is a stunning network of trails from which you spot waterfalls and enjoy beautiful scenery you can journey to Nocelle easily from Arienzo to start the Path of the Gods trail Or you can take a day trip to the busier Positano when actually it makes the perfect base for day trips to other places You are definitely already familiar with Positano – or at least will realize you’ve seen it before once you check out some Positano pictures Countless movies have been filmed in this central Amalfi town If you want somewhere that is equal parts electric and equal parts a beautiful Positano has an undeniably luxurious undercurrent thanks to its Hollywood paychecks and plethora of luxury hotels indulgent pace that literally forces you into relaxation Nerano is the most western of all these Amalfi Coast towns and villages Most people tick off the significant towns between Positano and Salerno and call it a day you are really treating yourself to an off-the-beaten-path experience The town is overlooked by the ruins of the castle Torre di Montalto atop a rocky hill and Nerano feels almost entirely cut off from the modern world thanks to its surrounding nature reserves and dense undergrowth What more could you want when trying to escape the crowds of other camera-happy tourists what does Nerano actually offer as a destination The village itself has been around for centuries and was actually a favorite spot of the emperor Tiberius Nerone (the village namesake) The emperor chose the quiet fishing village as his summer residence The village sits in the vast Punta Campanella Natural Marine Reserve surrounded by beautiful beaches and wildlife You can kick back on Spiaggia La Perla beach the local seafood is sublime – with the freshest catch and shortest food-to-plate journey It is a top place to visit on the coast for great food It is an amazing place to enjoy incredible food and a tiny but historic center Ticking off any of these Amalfi Coast towns is bucket list worthy but don’t fear getting off the beaten track either The Amalfi Coast has the best of both worlds pay attention to these commonly asked FAQs the Amalfi Coast towns run from Vietri sul Mare and Furore are all between Amalfi and Positano and all the towns and villages in this guide are worth visiting- even for a day trip Day trips to this incredible coastline are extremely popular in southern Italy you don’t necessarily need a rental car with traditional houses that spill from the mountains to the sandy shores Planning Your Trip To The Amalfi Coast Right Now Below are some of the top tours on the Amalfi Coast Don’t forget to plan ahead when visiting Italy Top Activities and Tours on the Amalfi Coast: If you stay on the Amalfi Coast, you can still take amazing day trips. You could tick off a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a Pompeii day trip. You could go on a day trip to Capri – where you explore historical sites and the Blue Grotto. Or you could even tick off one of the major cities in Italy Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they have the best flight deals Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor. Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO Learn a Language: We recommend and love both Rosetta Stone and Babbel Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide. Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling One Day in Milan Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide for First-Timers Where to Stay in Florence: Your Area And Neighbourhood Guide (2024) Where to Stay in Rome: Our Favourite Places And Neighbourhoods (2024) Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a8a38a4b434308252a8f5d5abf487a0f" );document.getElementById("bb6e812255").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment Nerano also caught my attention as the off-the-beaten-path gem Escaping the crowds of camera-happy tourists while enjoying sublime seafood and the beautiful Punta Campanella Natural Marine Reserve sounds like a dream you don’t even need a rental car – just hop on a bus or maybe even a magical broomstick for a whimsical adventure About Dave and Deb Contact Us Privacy Policy Work With Us Press and Media Best Travel Tips How to Save Money for Travel The Ultimate Travel Packing List Travel Safety Tips How to Travel on a Budget