Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy

Written by Missy Johnston

Positano – Amalfi Coast

Tucked into the beautiful Amalfi Coast, the village of Positano, Italy is actually easier to visit by sea on a private yacht charter than by driving along the winding small roads of the Sorrento Peninsula. This town that spills down to the sea from a valley on the Amalfi Coast, is both a lovely little Italian fishing village, and a chic town filled with boutiques, street side cafes and artist galleries. As a walking town, with little alleyways spidering out and away from the harbor, being driven ashore by your crew in the ship’s tender is an excellent way to visit this village. Come ashore and spend time exploring the walking streets from the harbor back into the hillsides of Positano along the Amalfi Coast of Italy.

Positano Alleyway

With the various buildings and homes of this village clinging to the cliff face of the southern side of the Sorrento Peninsula, Positano is protected from the northerly winds by the Lattari Mountains just behind the village, which actually form the backbone of the Sorrento Peninsula. While coming in for a visit by water in the ship’s tender is the best and easiest way to access this little town with your charter yacht anchored off the beach; having your charter yacht stay overnight on this coast is not always an option. Expect to visit by day on a crewed yacht charter and be prepared to duck off to a nearby safe harbor for the night.

Positano Village Center

This is a village of shoe makers, and here the now famous canvas shoes with a rope sole were first made and are still made today. Step into a shoe shop and get measured for a pair to be made while you wait; perhaps wandering the rest of the town or sitting in a harbor side café watching life go by. Tumbling down the hillsides of this coastline, along with the houses and buildings, are beautiful lemon groves. These many groves might either be in bloom, releasing a lovely citrus scent that permeates the air or be laden full of ripening fruit, depending on the time of year. Limoncello originates from the Sorrento Peninsula, is made from the lemons growing in the various citrus groves that line the hillsides, and is available throughout the Sorrento Peninsula, including in Positano as a refreshing digestive to be drunk after meals.

Lemons

Beautiful Waters of Positano – Amalfi Coast

What to do and see in Positano, Italy

Positano Ceramics

Shopping: Shopping in this village is more about buying those specialty items handmade, hand painted, and hand fit, than about buying high end designer label goods. Visit Nana’s or Artigianato Rallo for unique homemade sandals, made to fit. Visit the various ceramic shops for local ceramics including Emporio della Ceramica for hand painted ceramic signs made to order and shipped. Visit Louise Moda Positano filled with clothing goods and scarves designed by the shopkeeper’s mother. This is a shopping experience to find the unique and unusual as made in this village.

Hiking: The very famous Path of the Gods is accessible from Positano in order to hike part of this ancient trail along the hillsides of the Amalfi Coast. Visit hillside villages, enjoy spectacular views, and be surrounded by the natural world of the Sorrento Peninsula.

Church of St Maria Assunta: This iconic church was linked with the Benedictine Monastery of St Maria. Easily identified, this is the church in town with a dome covered in blue, green and yellow ceramic tiles that pokes up among the other buildings on the skyline. Underneath the church is a medieval crypt which can be visited. Built in the 12th century, the structure of the crypt incorporates bits from the ruins of a local Roman villa.

Positano Fishing Boats on the Beach

Positano is often visited by the rich and famous, however here in this village, everyone blends into the natural scenery of the area and you never know who may be standing next to you in a small leather shop while you both vie for the attentions of the shop keeper. And the village has been featured in several major films, including most recently, “Under the Tuscan Sun”. This little village tucked away on the Amalfi Coast is a “must do” visit on a crewed yacht charter of this area of Italy.

Positano at Dusk