Positano is a town of 3,862 inhabitants in the province of Salerno, geographically part of the Amalfi Coast. Thanks to its mild climate and breathtaking scenery, Positano has been a holiday destination since the time of the Roman Empire, as evidenced by the discovery of a villa and more recent findings, dating back to 2004.
One of its typical features is the countless stairways that descend from the upper parts of the town down to the beach. The main beaches are Spiaggia Grande and Fornillo, both accessible on foot. Others include La Porta, Arienzo, and San Pietro Laurito, which are mainly reachable by sea. Positano is also accessible via public transport, such as the Metrò del Mare (Sea Metro).
Sights to See
Saracen Towers
During the Middle Ages, numerous watchtowers were built to spot incoming Saracen ships, as they were known for raiding local populations. The first tower lies just outside the municipality of Positano, in Punta Campanella, where the Amalfi Coast ends and the Sorrentine Coast begins. From there, if Arab ships were seen, a signal cannon would be fired, followed by a chain of signals from one tower to the next, covering all of Positano and the Amalfi Coast.
This allowed locals to flee to the steep hills — which led to the creation of the villages of Montepertuso and Nocelle. Saracens, though skilled sailors and fighters, were poor climbers and became easy prey for locals once inland.
Legend of the Madonna Assunta and the Name “Positano”
Legend has it that, many years ago — around the 12th century A.D. — a ship carrying a Byzantine icon of the Madonna Assunta was sailing the Tyrrhenian Sea, in front of the then small village of Positano. The sea was calm and the ship couldn’t move forward, when the sailors, Benedictine monks, heard a voice saying “POSA POSA”… meaning “Set me down here.”
The voice seemed to come from the icon of the Virgin Mary. The monks brought the ship closer to shore. The locals, who took their name from this event, brought the image to the church located in the town’s central square, Piazzetta dei Mulini. But the next morning, the icon was miraculously gone, later found near the sea, in a field of broom flowers. It was believed to be another miracle, as the image had somehow moved on its own.
At that spot, the locals began building a new church dedicated to Mary Assunta, who is now celebrated with full honors every year on August 15th. Today, the church is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy.
Among the commendatory abbots of the Positano abbey was Cardinal Vincenzo Maria Orsini, who later became Pope Benedict XIII.
