The village was originally a settlement for a group of armed Muslims in 880. Characterized to be a village of fishermans (especially of tuna), its name take origins probably from the Latin word Cetaria (in Greek Ketèia), meaning almadraba (in Italian tonnara); or cetari, meaning fishmongers of big fishes.
Since 1030 Cetara was debtor to the bishop of Amalfi, and paid taxes in the form of "ius piscariae" – tithes in kind and catch. In 1120, the hamlet passed under the political rule of Amalfi, then it submitted to the rule of the Abbey of St Mary in Erchie, and at the end passed under the dependence on the Abbey of Cava de' Tirreni.
The incredible quietness of the local population has been undermined several times throughout the ages. In 1551, Turkish armies enslaved the Cetaresi killed all those who did not embark with them. After this tragic episode, the survivors built a magnificent sighting tower (nowadays used as private residence, but still protecting the tiny beach), while the majority escaped to Naples
