Gragnano, Italy

Gragnano is a picturesque hill town located between a mountain crest and the Amalfi Coast, in the Metropolitan City of Naples in southern Italy’s Campania region. It is situated about 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of Naples city and is bordered by Agerola, Casola di Napoli, Castellammare di Stabia, Lettere, Pimonte, Ravello, Sant’Antonio Abate, Santa Maria la Carità, and Scala. The town has a rich history, and in 1169, its name was added to the title of the bishopric of nearby Lettere, which was thus renamed Roman Catholic Diocese of Lettere-Gragnano. However, Gragnano never had a co-cathedral, and its title was dropped when the suppressed see was nominally restored as titular bishopric of Lettere.

One of the main attractions of Gragnano is its pasta. The town is home to some of the best dried pasta in Italy, and in 2013, Gragnano pasta was designated a Protected Geographical Indication by the European Union. The town’s main street was laid out expressly to capture the mountain breeze mixed with sea air back when pasta makers hung spaghetti on drying rods like laundry, according to a Forbes Life write-up. More recently, heaters are used to dry the pasta at low temperatures (approximately 50 °C (122 °F)) for two days, and it is shaped with bronze to give it a rough texture, producing a pasta with a nuttier aroma and chewier mouthfeel.

Gragnano is also known for being the birthplace of the actor Tito Vuolo. Visitors to the town can explore its charming streets, admire its beautiful architecture, and enjoy its delicious cuisine. Gragnano is a hidden gem that should not be missed by anyone visiting the Amalfi Coast or the Campania region of Italy.

Sources:
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gragnano,_Campania
– https://www.forbes.com/sites/larryolmsted/2014/04/29/the-worlds-best-pasta-comes-from-gragnano-italy/?sh=6d5c5d7c5c5d