Positano

Positano
—  Comune  —
Comune di Positano
Positano's beach from the roadway.
Coat of arms
Positano Location of Positano in Italy
Coordinates: 40°38′N 14°29′E / 40.633°N 14.483°E / 40.633; 14.483Coordinates: 40°38′N 14°29′E / 40.633°N 14.483°E / 40.633; 14.483
Country	Italy
Region	Campania
Province	Salerno (SA)
Frazioni	Montepertuso, Nocelle
Government
- Mayor	Domenico Marrone
Area
- Total	8 km2 (3.1 sq mi)
Elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (1 April 2009)
- Total	3,968
- Density	496/km2 (1,284.6/sq mi)
- Demonym	Positanesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	84017
Dialing code	089
Patron saint	San Vito
Saint day	June 15
Website	Official website

Positano is a small town and comune on the Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana), in Campania, Italy. The main part of the city sits in an enclave in the hills leading down to the coast.

History

Positano was a port of the Amalfi Republic in medieval times, and prospered in the 16th and 17th centuries. But by the mid-19th century, the town had fallen on hard times. More than half the population emigrated, mostly to Australia.

Positano was a relatively poor fishing village during the first half of the 20th century. It began to attract large numbers of tourists in the 1950s, especially after John Steinbeck published his essay about Positano in Harper's Bazaar in May, 1953: "Positano bites deep", Steinbeck wrote. "It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone."

Main sights

Positano's beach.

The church of Santa Maria Assunta features a dome made of majolica tiles as well as a 13th Byzantine century icon of a black Madonna. According to local legend, the icon had been stolen from Byzantium and was being transported by pirates across the Mediterranean. A terrible storm had blown up in the waters opposite Positano and the frightened sailors heard a voice on board saying "Posa, posa!" ("Put down! Put down!"). The precious icon was unloaded and carried to the fishing village and the storm abated.

Culture

Positano has been featured in several films, including Only You (1994), and Under the Tuscan Sun (2003). It also hosts the annual Cartoons on the Bay Festival, at which Pulcinella awards for excellence in animation are presented. From July 1967 and through most of the 1970s, Positano was home of singer-songwriter Shawn Phillips and was where most of his best known work was composed. Also, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones wrote the song "Midnight Rambler" in the cafes of Positano while on vacation. Today, tourism is by far the major industry in Positano. Positano is also very popular for L"Albertissimo", an alcoholic tipple that can only be found at a small stall at the main harbour called "L'alternativa".

See also

• Li Galli

External links

• Media related to Positano at Wikimedia Commons
• Mapquest
• Cartoons on the Bay Festival
• Positano live streaming webcam
• Positano online newspaper about Positano, the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and Campania in general
• Léonide Massine Dance Award, Positano - official website
• Italy Travel Video - Positano