The Hidden Jewel of the Coast
Conca dei Marini
The Emerald Grotto, the sfogliatella Santa Rosa, and exclusive villas above the sea. The most discreet village on the coast.
Conca dei Marini is the Amalfi Coast village that prefers silence to fame. With barely 700 residents, no seafront promenade, and no tourist chaos, this small municipality nestled between Amalfi and Furore conceals two treasures: the Emerald Grotto and the sfogliatella Santa Rosa.
Once a centre of maritime trade, the mariners of Conca dei Marini sailed as far as Africa and the Orient. Today the old sea captains' houses have become exclusive villas, chosen by those who seek the most authentic and private corner of the coast.
Did you know?
XVII cent.
invention of the sfogliatella Santa Rosa
24 m
depth of the Emerald Grotto
~700
residents — one of the smallest villages on the coast
The sfogliatella Santa Rosa was invented in the Convent of Santa Rosa by Dominican nuns who folded leftover pastry with cream, ricotta, and sour cherry. This is also the origin of the Neapolitan sfogliatella.
The Emerald Grotto
Discovered in 1932 by a local fisherman, the Emerald Grotto is a semi-submerged karst cave where sunlight filters through an underwater fissure, turning the water an intense emerald green.
Entry
~€5
Access
Lift or boat
Visit duration
~15–20 min
Opening
Year-round
Inside you navigate in small rowing boats. On the floor, an underwater ceramic nativity scene placed there in the 1960s. The grotto is accessible from the SS163 via lift, or by sea from Amalfi with boat excursions (approx. €10).
What to See in Conca dei Marini
Emerald Grotto
The main attraction: a sea cave with emerald-green water, explored by rowing boat. Open year-round (weather permitting). Not to be missed on sunny days when the light is at its most intense.
Convent of Santa Rosa
The 17th-century monastery where the nuns invented the sfogliatella Santa Rosa. Today it is a luxury hotel (Hotel Monastero Santa Rosa), but the exterior and the church are visible from the road.
Capo di Conca Beach
A pebble cove reached by a staircase. Crystal-clear water and very few visitors. The Lido Capo di Conca provides an equipped service with sunbeds, umbrellas, and a bar.
Church of San Pancrazio
The village parish church, with a majolica-tiled dome visible from the road. Baroque interior with 17th–18th-century paintings. Open for services.
Tower of Capo di Conca
A 16th-century coastal watchtower in a panoramic position above the beach. Reachable on foot in 10 minutes from the centre.
Local Tip
The real sfogliatella Santa Rosa
The sfogliatella Santa Rosa is very different from the Neapolitan version: larger, with pastry cream, ricotta, and sour cherry. Seek it out at pastry shops on the coast (not in Naples). It is the pastry that inspired all of Campania's sfogliatella tradition.