What to do in Positano.
Positano is one of the most well-known and beautiful towns of the Amalfitana Coast. Just like Amalfi, it’s a very touristic town of the whole Amalfitana Coast and one of the most internationally famous. Positano is known as the Land of the Stairs, because it’s impossible to visit it without going up and down their countless stairs. It is definitely not a town for the sluggish! The beauty it gives away, with its colored houses, as if they were chiseled on the rock, the sea, its vegetation, and the perfect panoramic sights have a small price to be paid: going up and down stairs!
Main tourist attractions to visit in Positano
Positano is a vertical city, completely perpendicular to the sea, traversed by a main street, which cars and public transport transit through, then countless “stairs”, the real symbol of the city, leading to the sea and the inner part of the city, where you will find many stores offering from crafts to souvenirs, Limoncello, handmade sandals and countless linen dresses.
So you better wear confortable shoes to walk and go to up and down in the town.
- Church of Santa Maria Assunta
The most important church in Positano is devoted to its patron Saint Mary of the Assumption. World-renowned for its beautiful Majolica-decorated dome, with the typical colors: yellow and green, reminiscent of the shades of the sun and the surrounding vegetation. This 12 th century church, owes its origins to the presence of a Byzantine image, representing the Black Madonna with the Child in her womb, which arrived in Positano approximately in the 12 th Century brought by Benedictines monks. According to the legend, this was the same image of the Virgin who wanted to stay forever in Positano, since, while passing through its coast, it was impossible for the sailboat that transported it to continue its journey. Despite a calm and crystalline sea, the sailboat remained still. The sailors were trying in vain to continue their journey when they heard a voice that said: “pose pose” (translated as to stop or to sit), hence the name of “Positano”. Since then, it is believed that it was the Virgin who asked to stay in the beach, where later the church was built. A few steps away of the church, the Bell Tower stands, built in 1707, with a medieval bas-relief in the center representing a sea monster made out of a fox and a fish.
- Positano best beaches
Positano is one of Italy’s most famous destinations. The main beaches are the Spiaggia Grande and the beach of Fornillo. You can reach both of them on foot. By the sea, however, you can reach the beaches of La Porta, Arienzo and San Pietro Laurito. Near Positano you can also go to the Li Galli Archipelago or “Sirenuse”, three small islands which, in ancient times, were considered the refuge of the sirens that enchanted Ulysses. Another place of interest that you can visit in Positano is the Saracen Towers, built in the Middle Ages, and which allow the inhabitants of Positano and the whole Amalfi Coast to defend themselves from the incursions of the terrible Saracens.
- Local dishes to eat in Positano
In Positano you can taste the delicious local dishes of the Amalfi Coast such as spaghetti & clams, seafood, fish soups, fried anchovies, mussels, and all kinds of fresh fish. You can also have mozzarella grilled in lemon leaves, and the incomparable sweets: Positano cake, lemon delights, sfogliatella without ricotta and “babarese”, puff pastry filled with cream and strawberries; fresh juice of red oranges and of course the typical Limoncello.
Where to sleep in Positano
Positano is one of the most beautiful towns to spend the night on the Amalfi Coast. Thanks to the breathtaking panoramic sights and its virtually vertical development, many hotels and apartments provide enchanting views. There are many areas for sleeping in Positano; you can find the best deals in the lower part of the town near the beach and the historic center, and the upper part of the town.
Hotels in Positano. Book your hotel now!
How to get to Positano
Arriving in Positano is relatively easy. You can reach Positano by bus with the SITA BUS line from Naples, Sorrento or Salerno. The SITA BUS line price is 8€ for 24 hours, that will allow you to get on and off in all the towns of the Amalfi Coast, including Amalfi, Ravello, Praiano, Cetara, etc. You can also reach Positano by ship; there are many lines with routes to the main cities of the Amalfi Coast: Amalfi, Maiori, and Minori, and other nearby cities: Sorrento, Salerno, and Naples. You can check the fees and schedules directly in the port of Positano. Please remember that, in the winter, many lines shut down their operations. The service is dependent upon the weather; therefore, in the event of rough seas many lines suspend their operation. For this reason, I recommend to buy the ticket directly at the box office: to avoid issues in case of bad weather. If you travel by car, it is very easy to reach Positano, since it’s located on the SS163 road. You can arrive from Sorrento in about 30 minutes (if there’s no traffic) or about 40 minutes from Amalfi. From Salerno you can arrive in Positano in approximately one hour by car. Parking in Positano is quite limited and expensive (especially during the summer); because of this I don’t recommend driving a car to visit the Amalfi Coast. It is not possible to reach Positano by train since there are no train lines. The nearest train station is the one in Sorrento. You can go from Sorrento to Positano by ship or bus.
Or an other option is to rent a scooter in Sorrento or in Salerno and drive to Positano. It will be very nice and panoramic street to drive and you can easly skip the traffic and enjoy the tour.
For informations on how to visit Amalfitana coast go to : How to visit and go around Amalfitana Coast
Others towns to visit
- What to see and do in Amalfi
- Best things to do in Ravello
- Travel itinerary – Three days in the Amalfi Coast
From Positamo you can take a tour to Capri will be about 9 hours everything included.