Pirati di Positano

The drive into Positano on the Amalfi coast could have been harrowing. The two lane road was filled with cars and buses going both ways as well as parked vehicles along the side of the street.

According to legend, the Greek god Poseidon created Positano for Pasitea, a nymph he lusted after. History says the town was founded by ancient Greeks trying to avoid mosquitoes in the city of Paestum, Italia. Positano was famed for its bold sailors and hardy fleet until a 1343 tsunami and pirate raids of the middle ages destroyed its wealth and power. The city flourished again in the 18th and 19th century. In the twentieth century, Positano became a haven for artists and writers escaping Communist Russia or Nazi Germany.

 

 

Today’s Positano is a gathering of cafes and expensive store draped down a steep hillside. The city is famous for its fashions and ninety percent of its shops are women’s clothing boutiques featuring linen.

At the bottom of the stairs is a public as well as private beach. Positano’s pebbly and sandy  beach, Spiaggia Grande, is colorful with umbrellas and is mostly private-pay to enter.

I found the town endearing and charming. We bought a coffee and pastry in a small shop on the way to the beach. Arlo had a delicious Cannolo Siciliani. I also indulged in a  lined shirt I couldn’t resist.