Positano is the most famous one of the coastal towns in the province of Salerno that make up the Amalfi Coast. Apart from the town itself, the Li Galli archipelago is also worth visiting.
All abot Positano travel guide
Useful information
Tourist information: (I.A.T.): Via G. Marconi, 111 (phone: +39 089 8122511). Town hall: Same address. Nearest railway station: Sorrento. Nearest airport: Capodichino (Naples).
Public transportation: From the north take the train to Sorrento and then a bus to Positano (2 Euros). The SITA company runs a bus service between all the towns on the Amalfi Coast.
Ferry: There is a regular connection between Salerno and Positano. Sometimes it is necessary to change in Amalfi.
Tourist attractions
Positano, which along with the rest of the Amalfi Coast is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is actually one big attraction. From the highest point of the town, all kinds of picturesque stairs lead down to the beach. The panoramas along the way are breathtaking.
For art lovers, the Santa Maria Assunta Church, with its beautiful dome and floor decorated with Byzantine mosaics, is the highlight. Near the church you can also see ruins of a Roman villa.
The island group of Li Galli is located a few kilometers from the coast. Here too there are some Roman ruins. Another attraction is a tower from the time of the Anjou.
A brief history of
The place where Positano was founded was already inhabited during the Late Paleolithic (40,000 to 12,000 years BC). This can be deduced from alluvium found in the La Porta cave.
The present municipality probably developed around a Benedictine monastery dedicated to San Vito. The population consisted of former inhabitants of Paestum, who had had to flee from the Saracens.
In 1282, during the Sicilian Vespers, a popular revolt against the French House of Anjou, the latter used Positano as a home port for their ships.
From the 15th century, the town served as a fiefdom of several aristocratic families.
Today, the town’s economy depends mainly on tourism. The main local products are majolica and luxury clothing. Agriculture (wine grapes, olives and citrus fruits) also plays a major role.
How to get to Positano by car
From the north (Naples) take the freeway towards Salerno and turn off onto the SS163 towards Amalfi. From Salerno follow the SS163 in western direction. Please note that there are hardly any free parking spaces and that in high season it is difficult to find a place to park your car.