The structure of the town of Positano is very original; its buildings cling in tiers to the rock face.


Positano was a prosperous port of the Amalfi Republic 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." 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 Positano has a mild and dry climate. The structure of the town is very original; its buildings cling, in tiers to the rock face. The small houses, all huddling on top of each other, so characteristic of Positano, form the subject of endless photos. The vibrant colours; the white of the buildings, forming a perfect canvas for the bright flowers which decorate the houses, and the small artisans', shops with their multihued cloths, present the visitor with a vista which is almost difficult to believe. Then there is the smell of the leather used for making sandals, and the restaurants specialised in fish dishes, and the bustle of every day Positano offers the visitor superb views and beautiful beaches; the Marina and the Spiaggia Grande, which are at the foot of the town and the smaller Fornillo and Porta di Arienzo beaches on either side


Size: 4016px × 6016px
Location: Positano Campania,Italy
Photo credit: © Brenda Kean / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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