One of Amalfi's old pedestrian routes is open again. Scala Santa Caterina, the municipal stairway connecting the port area with the Cieco district above it, reopened on July 3, 2026 after a substantial safety project.
This is a small piece of local infrastructure, not a grand monument. That is exactly what makes it worth noticing. Amalfi was built vertically, and stairways like this one are part of how the town has always worked.
The restored stairway above Amalfi's port. Photo: Comune di Amalfi.
Why the stairway was closed
The Comune has not published a separate closure notice or an exact closure date in the material available online. It has, however, documented the reasons for the work clearly.
The project strengthened the load-bearing structures supporting Passeggiata Longfellow, which runs above the stairs. Sections of the rocky slope overhanging the route were secured, and the Longfellow road slab was reinforced with a new system of steel beams.
At stair level, the work went beyond structural repairs. The town restored the parapets, stone treads and exposed-stone walls, renewed the lighting, replastered a protective drainage channel and cleared the water channels. In other words, the route was unavailable while the Comune dealt with structural and rock-slope safety, as well as the condition of the stairs themselves.
The whole project cost EUR 220,000, paid from Amalfi's municipal budget.
An old route with a literary neighbour
The stairs link the port with Cieco, one of the areas tucked into Amalfi's steep western side. They are part of the town's network of vertical pedestrian routes, a practical pattern that visitors often miss when they stay only around Piazza Duomo.
Just above is Passeggiata Longfellow, named after the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He helped introduce Amalfi to American readers through his 1875 poem Amalfi. One line could almost serve as a description of the town's street plan:
“'T is a stairway, not a street.”
Visit Amalfi also notes that the promenade's cypress and pine trees were planted to help hold the ground and rock with their roots. That detail feels especially relevant beside a project that included both structural reinforcement and rock-slope protection.
How to find it from Amalfi's port
From the ferry piers, follow the waterfront west along Lungomare dei Cavalieri toward Piazzale dei Protontini. The lower end of the restored stairway is in this port area and climbs toward Cieco.
I think this is one of Amalfi's most interesting short detours. It is easy to reach on foot from the sea port, and the higher angles give you excellent photographs of both the harbour and the town. It works particularly well if you want more depth in the frame than you get from the flat waterfront.
The route is made of steps, so it is not suitable for wheelchairs or anyone who needs a step-free path. Wear shoes with decent grip and be careful when the stone is wet. New lighting has been installed, but the Comune has not published fixed opening hours, so do not plan around late-night access without checking locally.
You do not need to turn this into a long hike. Walk up as far as feels comfortable, stop for the view, and return to the port or continue toward Cieco if you want to explore a quieter side of Amalfi.
