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Positano is a small town 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.
Is considered one of the most
beautiful and picturesque places of
the world. Small houses, a magic
atmosphere, beaches, the
friendliness of the inhabitants, the
hotels, give a great charm of this
village. Tourists do love this
village.
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 the United
States of America. |
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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 name 'Positano'
can be traced back
to two traditions. The
historical version
states that the name
derives from Paestum,
whose inhabitants sought
refuge in the area
during the invasions by
Pirates. The other
version is that the name
derives from a voice
which repeated ‘Posa,
Posa’, heard when,
during the
transportation of a
painting of the Virgin
Mary, the boat met an
incredible storm. The
sailors sought shelter
in the bay of what is
today Positano and, as
soon as the painting was
placed on the shores,
the storm subsided. |
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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
the by far
the major
industry in
Positano. |
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Amalfi Coast (Costiera
Amalfitana) World
Heritage Patrimonie
Mondial
Date of Inscription:
1997
Province of Salerno,
Campania
Positano sat code:
40° 37' 47.51'' N -
14° 29' 10.86'' E
Ref: 830
Web site:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/830
The Amalfi coast is
an area of great
physical beauty and
natural diversity.
It has been
intensively settled
by human communities
since the early
Middle Ages. There
are a number of
towns such as Amalfi
and Ravello with
architectural and
artistic works of
great significance.
The rural areas show
the versatility of
the inhabitants in
adapting their use
of the land to the
diverse nature of
the terrain, which
ranges from terraced
vineyards and
orchards on the
lower slopes to wide
upland pastures |
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Positano’s beach
awarded for 11 years
in a row with blue
flag.
This award is
given to the beaches
that offer
cleanliness and safe
bathing areas.
The Blue Flag is an
exclusive eco-label
awarded to over 3300
beaches and marinas
in 36 countries
across Europe, South
Africa, Morocco, New
Zealand, Canada and
the Caribbean.
Web site:
click here |
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