17km (10 miles) W of Amalfi; 51km (101 miles) W of Salerno; 56km (35 miles) SE of Naples

Hugging a semivertical rock formation, Positano is the quintessence of picturesque. Once one of the most exclusive retreats in Italy, its unique mix of seascapes, colors, art, and cultural life has fascinated famous artists, musicians, and writers from Picasso and Klee to Toscanini, Bernstein, and Steinbeck. This seaside resort has been thoroughly "discovered" but retains its character and charm in spite of a mass tourist invasion in the summer months, and it remains a delightful place to visit, although we do recommend coming off season if possible.