Places You Must Visit Before You Die! #6 ( Positano, Italy )

sam1983 (30)in #travel • 7 years ago

Positano, Italy

About Positano

One of the most picturesque towns on the Amalfi coast, Positano, Italy often is billed as the “Jewel of the Amalfi Coast.” Thanks to its setting on the Italian seaside, its precariously-perched pastel houses, and its church’s gleaming dome, Positano has charmed visitors for decades.

Positano also is one of the most upscale holiday destinations in Italy. Its steep streets are dotted with boutique shops and fancy restaurants and lead down to a protected bay lined with cove beaches and clear waters.

The narrow and often crooked streets are car-free and perfect for walking around aimlessly, exploring the many facets of this charming and historical town. The vibrantly colored houses of Positano are literally stacked on top of one another other and usually decorated with flowering plants and interesting architectural highlights. The ancient Roman quarter, the Villa Romana, sports eight defense towers that offer majestic views of the town and the sea. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta houses a painted "Black Madonna" and features a majolica dome visible from most points in the city. Lemon, orange and olive groves surround the city and are accessible by the many winding footpaths.

History Of Positano

Ancient Greeks and Phoenicians used Positano as an important stop on their journeys west, and legend has it that the town was named after Poseidon, the god of the sea. In Roman times, Positano was used to be a store house for products from the Isle of Capri, which lies off the coast. Most of the town was built in the middle ages, around the Benedictine Abbey of St Vito, which was established in the ninth century. During the period of the Maritime Republics, from the 15th to the 17th centuries, Positano became a rich trading port. The town became popular with rich British and German tourists in the early 20th century and has prospered as a resort destination ever since.

Things To Do In

.Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast.jpg
Amalfi coast dazzles with its mysterious grottos, craggy cliffs and shimmering bays. Grab a seat on the sea side of a regional bus to soak up views on the fabled route from artsy Positano to Amalfi. Ravello offers some respite from the crowds, plus the stunning Villa Cimbrone, which overlooks the Bay of Salerno. The winding streets of Sorrento's historic district are filled with craftspeople. Capri is only a hydrofoil or ferry ride away.

.Day Cruise to Capri

Ancient Greeks first settled the island. It’s easy to understand why artists and writers have been immortalizing Capri’s beauty and history for centuries. Climb aboard a wooden boat to tour the Grotto Azzurra, a cave filled with spectacularly blue water. Savor some gelato while you stroll around the harbours of Marina Piccola or Marina Grande, an ancient Roman fishing port.

.Spiaggia Grande

Spiaggia Grande.jpg
Spiaggia Grande is the main beach of Positano, as well as the center for many of the activities of the village.As you will see, Positano itself is a stunning work of pure Italian art, and the bay that guards Spiaggia Grande as well as Fornillo Beach so jealously is just magic!

.Go Hiking

Go Hiking.jpg
The mountainside hills of Positano make a fine place to explore when the weather is cooler. Start at the bottom of the town and then make your way up. There’s a large main walkway that leads through the town and brings you across walkways strewn with flowers. Right behind the town are a series of mountain paths that you can follow known as the path of the gods. Climb to the very top to get a grand view of the entire area.

.Music on the Rocks

Music on the Rocks.jpg
This is one of the town’s few genuine nightspots and one of the best clubs on the coast. The venue is dramatically carved into the tower at the eastern end of Spiaggia Grande. Join a flirty, eye-candy crowd and some of the region’s top DJs spinning mainstream house and reliable disco.