Positano — the Vertical Village, Li Galli Islands & Handmade Sandals
Positano (4,000 residents stacked on a near-90 degree cliff face, the most photographed village on the Amalfi Coast, a fashion destination since the 1950s when John Steinbeck described it as a dream place) is accessible by SS163 coast road or by ferry from Amalfi in 25 minutes.
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Marina Grande Beach — the Main Beach and Ferry Dock
Marina Grande (the main beach of Positano, the shingle-and-sand beach 100m wide, the ferry dock at its eastern end for Amalfi Coast ferries) is the focal point of Positano's seafront. Private lidos charge €20-30 for a sunbed and umbrella; a narrow free public section sits at the far west end. The view looking back up at the village from the beach — the full vertical drop of the cliff face with houses from sea level to the summit ridge — is the defining Positano image.
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Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta — the Majolica Dome
Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta (the parish church of Positano, Piazza Flavio Gioia, free during masses, daily 8am-noon and 4-8pm) has the most recognized silhouette on the Amalfi Coast — the fish-scale majolica dome in yellow, green, blue, and white. Inside, the Byzantine Madonna Nera (Black Madonna, 13th-century Byzantine panel painting) occupies the main altar. According to tradition, Saracen pirates instructed by a vision left the icon at this spot.
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Spiaggia dei Fornillo — the Quieter Western Beach
Spiaggia dei Fornillo (the western beach, 10-minute walk from Marina Grande along the clifftop path, served by O Guarracino restaurant established 1949, the oldest seafood restaurant in Positano) is the preferred beach for residents and repeat visitors. Private lidos charge €15-20 and the free public section is larger than Marina Grande's equivalent. The clifftop walk between the two beaches gives the best mid-level view of the Positano village facade.
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Li Galli Islands — the Sirens Islands and Rudolf Nureyev's Estate
Li Galli (three small islands 2km west of Positano — Gallo Lungo, Rotonda, and Castellucchio — identified in ancient geography as the Sirenusae, the islands of Homer's Sirens from the Odyssey) were owned by Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993) and are now a private holiday estate. Positano boat tours (departing Marina Grande, €35-50 per person, 2 hours) pass close enough to swim the surrounding waters and enter the sea caves.
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Positano Fashion — the Handmade Sandal Tradition
Positano has been the Amalfi Coast fashion destination since the 1950s when Marta Marzotto, Jackie Kennedy, and Audrey Hepburn wore the town's handmade sandals. Flat leather sandals made to measure in workshops along Via del Brigantino and Via della Tartana cost €60-200 per pair and are made while you wait in 30-60 minutes. Boutiques on Via dei Mulini sell the Positano-print resort wear — ceramic-print linen, floral cotton, embroidered kaftans — that defined 1960s Italian resort fashion.
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Path of the Gods — Sentiero degli Dei Coastal Trek
The Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods, 7.8km between Nocelle above Positano and Praiano, 3-4 hours, moderate difficulty, the most celebrated coastal hiking trail in Italy) traverses the Lattari ridge 600m above the coastline with continuous views of the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and the Gulf of Salerno. Nocelle is reachable by bus from Positano or by climbing 1,742 stone steps from Marina Grande. Standard direction is east-to-west, ending at Praiano, then bus back to Positano.