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    Positano

    Italy

    Positano

    CityBeachNatureCulinaryCulture

    Positano lies on the western Amalfi Coast, its houses climbing from the sea far up the hillside. The colorful facades, Santa Maria Assunta's majolica dome, and the main beach below define the town's image.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Campania
    9. Positano
    Positano lies on the western Amalfi Coast, its houses climbing from the sea far up the hillside. The colorful facades, Santa Maria Assunta's majolica dome, and the main beach below define the town's image.The town has about 3,700 residents. Most routes within the town are stairs and steep alleys.

    Sights in Positano

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta
    Church

    1Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta

    The parish church above the main beach can be recognized by its dome covered with majolica tiles. Above the main altar hangs a 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Black Madonna. According to legend, sailors cried “Posa, posa” during a storm, whereupon the sea became calmer; hence the name of the place is said to originate.
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    Spiaggia Grande
    Attraction

    2Spiaggia Grande

    The main beach lies at the foot of the town and is accessible via footpaths. From the pier, ferries depart to Amalfi, Capri, Sorrento and Salerno, as well as water taxis.
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    Sentiero degli Dei (Way of the Gods)
    Attraction

    3Sentiero degli Dei (Way of the Gods)

    The just under eight-kilometer-long hiking trail runs high above the coast from Bomerano, a district of Agerola, to Nocelle above Positano. In this direction, it's almost continuously downhill. From Nocelle, you descend via stairs in about half an hour or take the local bus to Positano.
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    Museo Archeologico Romano (MAR Positano)
    Museum

    4Museo Archeologico Romano (MAR Positano)

    Beneath Santa Maria Assunta's Oratory and Nave, remnants of a Roman villa, destroyed by the 79 AD Vesuvius eruption, were unearthed. A richly frescoed room is on display; the museum opened in 2018.
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    5Positano Dreams on Board - Boat Tours

    Attraction in SA IT.
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    City walks in Positano

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Positano's Heartbeat: A Coastal Walk for the Senses

    Discover the timeless charm of Positano on this roughly two-hour walk. From the lively marina to the winding lanes and breathtaking viewpoints, experience the authentic feel of this vertical village. Let colourful houses, fragrant lemons and the azure sea enchant you.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (7)

    Restaurants & Cafés

    1

    La Sponda (Le Sirenuse)

    The Le Sirenuse hotel restaurant on Via Cristoforo Colombo, overlooking the town and the sea. In the evenings, the room is lit with numerous candles.
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    2

    Chez Black

    Trattoria with a terrace by the main beach and nautical decor. The menu features fish, mussels, and seafood pasta, such as with sea urchins.
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    3

    Da Adolfo (Laurito Beach)

    Beach restaurant with fish cuisine on Laurito Bay, east of the village. In season, a boat brings guests over from the main beach's jetty.
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    4

    Next 2

    Restaurant with Italian and Mediterranean cuisine on Viale Pasitea, the main street on the west side of town towards Fornillo.
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    5

    La Sponda

    Treat yourself to an unforgettable dinner experience at La Sponda, with breathtaking views of Positano and the sea. By candlelight and soft live music, you'll enjoy refined Mediterranean cuisine. A reservation is a must!
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    Dining & Drinks

    Positano's cuisine is based on fish, lemons, and vegetables from the terraces.

    Limoncello

    Lemon liqueur made from coastal lemon peels, usually served chilled after a meal.

    History and Culture

    Beneath the parish church, remains of a Roman villa were unearthed, destroyed during the Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD. In the Middle Ages, Positano was a port of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi. In the 19th century, the town became impoverished; after the unification of Italy, many residents emigrated, especially to America.From the 1950s, tourism grew; John Steinbeck's 1953 essay „Positano Bites Deep“ made the town internationally known.

    Getting There & Around

    From Sorrento and Amalfi, SITA coaches run along the coastal road. From Naples, you take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento and change there for the bus; tickets are available in advance at tobacconists, bars, and kiosks. From April to October, ferries operate to Amalfi, Salerno, Sorrento, and Capri.Within the town, you mostly get around on foot. A local bus connects the upper parts of town with Montepertuso and Nocelle. Parking spaces are scarce and expensive; in summer, the coastal road is often congested; at times, a driving ban based on license plate numbers applies there.

    Accommodations in Positano

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    Campgrounds in Positano

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    Plan your trip to Positano

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      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      • 1Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta3 days
      • 2Spiaggia Grande4 days
      • 3Sentiero degli Dei (Way of the Gods)5 days
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    Nearby

    Sorrento

    Sorrento

    Sorrent is situated on a high tuff terrace, descending steeply towards the Gulf of Naples, overlooking Mount Vesuvius. This town of about 15,000 residents is the main hub of its namesake peninsula; travelers have been drawn here since the era of the Grand Tour.The Old Town's street network still adheres to the ancient city's grid layout. Citrus groves flourish all around. From Marina Piccola port, ships sail to Capri, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast.
    Amalfi Coast

    Amalfi Coast

    The Amalfi Coast is the southern edge of the Sorrentine Peninsula on the Gulf of Salerno, with approximately 40 kilometers of coastal road stretching between Positano and Vietri sul Mare. The mountains here drop steeply into the sea; lemon groves cling to the slopes, and densely built towns perch in the bays and on rocky promontories.The most famous are Positano, Amalfi, Atrani, and Ravello. Since 1997, the coast has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.
    Ravello

    Ravello

    Ravello is situated on a rocky plateau about 350 meters above the Amalfi Coast, above Atrani. This small town of around 2,300 residents is known for its villas, gardens, and panoramic terraces.In the Middle Ages, Ravello belonged to the Duchy of Amalfi; merchant families like the Rufolo built their palaces here. Today, Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone, and the summer Ravello Festival define the town.
    Pompeii

    Pompeii

    Pompeii was a Roman town at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, which disappeared under four to six meters of pumice and ash during the eruption in 79 AD. It has been excavated since 1748, revealing streets, houses, workshops, temples, theaters, and baths.The archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997, lies on the outskirts of the modern town of Pompei, southeast of Naples, about 35 to 40 minutes away via the Circumvesuviana.
    Campania

    Campania

    Campania is located in southwest Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea, with Naples as its capital. Around the Gulf of Naples, the most famous destinations cluster: Mount Vesuvius, the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Sorrento Peninsula, and the islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida.South of this, the Amalfi Coast stretches along with its towns built into the cliffs; further south are the Greek temples of Paestum and the Cilento National Park. Inland lie the Royal Palace of Caserta and the hills of Irpinia, known for producing the region's famous wines.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI