Positano

Positano is a clifftop village of approximately 4,000 residents on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy, that has become one of the most photographed and visited settlements in the country. Built on steep hillsides falling to a small bay formed by the meeting of two valleys, the village's architecture is characterised by cube-shaped houses in shades of terracotta, ochre, white, and pale pink, draped with bougainvillea and connected by hundreds of steps descending to the Spiaggia Grande, the main beach with dark volcanic sand. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta at the village centre houses a Byzantine icon of the Madonna attributed to miraculous origins, and its majolica-tiled dome is Positano's most recognisable architectural landmark visible from the sea. The village is essentially traffic-free below the main coastal road, so all movement within it involves ascending and descending the stepped lanes, passing boutiques selling the local fashion specialty of hand-made sandals, linen clothing, and ceramics. The Spiaggia Grande can be crowded in summer but is beautiful in early morning light; the smaller Fornillo beach, a five-minute walk along the coast path, is quieter and has a more local atmosphere. Boat trips from Positano operate to sea caves along the coast, to the Li Galli islands (once owned by Rudolf Nureyev), and northward toward Capri. The village is best experienced approaching by ferry for the first time, when the drama of its setting—a cascade of colour between two mountains—reveals itself completely. High season in July and August brings extremely dense tourist traffic; September provides virtually the same conditions with meaningfully reduced crowds.