But Positano is not only seashore: by pleasant excursions you can visit some suggestive areas of the mountains over the town. At a distance of 3 kms. from the centre there is the hamlet of Montepertuso (Hole Mount) so named after the Virgin Mary appeared inside a hole in the mountain. From there you can climb over a stairway of 1,700 steps leading to Nocelle (Nuts). From that village it starts the renown "Sentiero degli Dei" (Gods' Way) with some wonderful views over the whole Amalfi Coast, absolutely unique and unforgettable. Or you can reach the beautiful promontory of San Pietro (st. Peter) where is the church with the same name. You can go higher and higher, up to the mountain of Sant'Angelo a Tre Pizzi (St.Angel at three peaks) where are the highest places of the coast, all over 1,400 meters.

On the main square of Positano (named Flavio Gioia) at a few distance from the beach, we find the parish church dedicated to Our Lady of Assumption, which originally was a powerful abbey, already here in the X century. In the interiors we can admire some polychrome marble altars, the remains of the original mosaics and a Byzantine icon on board from the 13th century representing the Madonna with Child. Inside this chirch there is also a basrelief of the Pistrice, fantastic monster, half fish and half dragon. But the most peculiar characteristic is the imposing dome covered with coloured majolica, visible from each side of the town. In the Sacresty there are the relics of San Vito, the patron saint of Positano, belonging to the 16th century.

In the territory of Positano htere are many other churches, each of them with its own history and traditions. In the hamlet of Liparlati there is the church of San Giacomo (St.James) founded in 1500; his festivity recurs on the 25th of July. At Fornillo there is the church of Santa Margherita (St.Margaret) which seems to be the most ancient in Positano and on whose bells are represented the Addolorate and the Lady of Graces; the festivity is on July 20th. In the hamlet of Montepertuso there is the church of Our Lady of Graces where each July 2nd they celebrate the festivity of Virgin Mary. Inside Positano town there are also the church of Santa Caterina, built in a precious Gothic style by the noble family Porcelli. The church of Our Lady of Graces (also called the Chiesa Nuova, New Church) has a rare majolica pavement done by some Neapolitan masters.  [ More...]