Cathedral of Saint Andrew the Apostle

This ancient cathedral anchors the heart of Amalfi's main piazza, its striking Arab-Norman facade rising dramatically above a broad staircase that serves as a natural frame and foreground element. The ornate exterior, with its geometric mosaic decoration and striped arches, rewards a wide-angle lens that can capture the full height of the structure while including the staircase sweeping up from the piazza below. Shooting from the base of the steps gives you a strong low-angle perspective that emphasizes the verticality and grandeur of the facade. Midmorning light works well when the sun angles in from the east and illuminates the mosaic details without harsh shadows. The interior is dimly lit but beautiful, so bring a fast prime lens for the gilded nave and the atmospheric crypt below. The piazza in front fills with crowds by late morning, so arriving early gives you cleaner compositions. (Amalfi, Campania, Italy)