Conca dei Marini is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy. It is situated on a hill close to the coast and between Amalfi and Furore.
It was perhaps founded by the Tyrrhenians with the name of Cossa, and was conquered by the Romans in 272 BC. In the Middle Ages, it was a trading base of the Republic of Amalfi. In 1543 it was sacked by Turkish pirates. The port maintained a certain degree of trades until the 19th century, and was also the seat of a tonnara until 1956.
The Grotta dello Smeraldo (Italian for "Emerald Grotto") is a cave, partly inundated by the sea and located in Conca dei Marini, Italy, on the Amalfi Coast.
It is one of several caves worldwide, that is flooded with a brilliant blue or emerald light. The quality and nature of the color in each cave is determined by the unique lighting conditions in that particular cave. The grotto, which is located at the Amalfi Coast, is partly filled with sea water. The surface area of the water measures roughly 45 x 32 metres, with a cavern roof about 24 metres above water level. Formation of cave was caused by bradyseism - tectonic upheaval of cliffs, where cliffs fractured and cave was formed along the fissures. Now the cave has descended and sea water had entered it, partly flooding the stalagmites in it.
Unlike the Blue Grotto located a few kilometres to the west on Capri, the Grotta dello Smeraldo has no natural outlet above the waterline. The only opening to the outside world is just below the water level. Refracted sunlight entering the cavern through the opening gives the water its characteristic emerald glow during daylight hours. The absence of a natural opening above the waterline meant that the grotto’s existence remained unknown for many years. It was discovered by a fisherman named Luigi Buoncore in 1932. The grotto is accessible from Strada Statale 163, the main road along the Amalfi Coast. There is a small parking lot beside an elevator which takes visitors down to cave level, where they board boats that take them through the grotto.
Useful Information:
From the Capo di Conca mount's height, the austere Saracen Tower overlooks the zone. The ancient guard tower is squarely based, it was built in order to defend the population from the Saracen pirates. Seeing the tower from fair way is like going back in the ages, nobody could be surprised to see ancient knights show their presence on the tower or listen the noises of ancient battles between Saracen and Italian knights defending the suburb.
The Saracen Tower also called Torre Bianca (White Tower) has been restored recently and it's in perfect shape of conservation, there is a museum inside the tower. It is possible to visit the interors of the powerful stone walls of this ancient tower that is full of history.
Visit the Church and Monastery of St. Rosa where the famous culinary delight, "The Sfogliatella Santa Rosa" originated.
The ex-monastery was transformed in a hotel, it's an important historical and artistic monument. Seeing the austere frontage it could be possible to imagine the nuns cooking or praying, an ancient charm that brings your fantasy back in time, tantalize the curiosity. Complete the visit entering the church of Santa Rosa near the monastery. Walking into the Church the first thing that captures the sight is the preciosity of the Baroque designs, a sort of amazing surprise hide behind a frontage simple and monastic, that leave the visitors speechless
How to get around the Amalfi Coast with public transport!
Amalfi - Atrani and surroundings accommodation - Positano and Praiano accommodation - Ravello and Scala accommodation