Amalfi Lemon with Farmer Salvatore Aceto
I sat nestled among more lemon trees than I had ever seen, way up high in the Valle dei Mulini. I could see the breathtaking terrain; the fertile green terraces characteristic of the Amalfi Coast and all the centuries-old farm houses, muted and earthy colored —straight down to the bright blue Tyrrhenian sea. All the while, I kept on thinking there’s no better place to discover the celebrated “Amalfi Lemon“ or “Sfusato Amalfitano” than precisely where I was —in the heart of the Amalfi hills immersed in the glorious gold and green of the lemon groves on the family farm of Salvatore Aceto, a sixth generation lemon farmer.
In the distance, I heard a waterfall and listened to its music. It was so hard to believe that I was only a short distance (about 950 meters) from Amalfi’s bustling city center. The crisp, clean country air was beautifully perfumed with refreshing greenery, strong notes of lemon, warm woods, and the salty Tyrrhenian sea. I was happy to be there.
The Amalfi Lemon Experience was established in 2013, shortly after Salvatore left his job in an accounting firm and began to dedicate his time to the management of the family lemon farming business, left to him by his father Luigi. Due to Salvetore’s unwavering determination he realized a long-held dream of bringing his families cultural and natural heritage within reach for all to experience.
At the Aceto’s Amalfi lemon farm, curious travelers are introduced to this precious golden fruit; bright, sunny taste to scent—up close, and right from the source. Salvatore proudly takes his visitors for an in-depth tour of the farm, stopping at various lemon groves along the way, where he shares intriguing stories of the centuries-old tradition of lemon cultivation on the Amalfi Coast. It’s an immensely pleasurable, informative experience, and a great opportunity to admire the beauty of nature, and the profound effect it has on the senses, from a farmer’s view way up high in the hills of Amalfi.
