POSITANO

Placed at the foot of the Lattari Mounts, that protect it from the north wind, Positano is surrounded by the Mounts Comune Maria del Castello, S. Angelo a tre Pizzi, Conocchia, Campo dei Galli and Paipo, while in front f it there's the sea with a view that sweeps as far as Punta Licosa and Capri; about three miles from the coast stands the characteristic Li Galli archipelago, made of three little islands. There are many legends about its origin: somebody believes that Poseidone, Greek God of the sea, built it for his lover's sake, Pasitea, while other people ascribed its foundation to the Phoenicians or to the Picentini. The Romans arrived here and built near the Spiaggia Grande a villa, now it's buried under the gardens and the Church of the Assumption. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Positano was part of the Republic of Amalfi, first maritime republic, and it flourished thanks to its shipping business with the other Mediterranean countries. Hard times were those of the Angevin and Aragonese rule, when the territory was invaded many times by Saracen and Turkish pirates; as defence from these invasions, some watch towers that are still now at Fornillo, Trasita and Sponda. During the eighteenth century, Positano knew a flourishing period; this is testified by the presence of many baroque villas. The Norman Conquest of the second half of the XI century marked the beginning of a period of decline. In 1492 Positano was feud of Giovanni Miroballo and then of the Mastrogiudice and Cossa family: during this period there were many devastations and famine, plague, seaquake decimated the population. During the XVI and XVII century, the solid and fast ships of Positano were used for the spices, silk and tiger wood trade with the Middle East. During this period, the characteristic baroque houses were built; today, you can see them standing on the mountain with their terraces overlooking the sea. During the XVIII century, under the Bourbon rule, most people deserted Positano, that went through a peaceful period till the end of the XIX century. Positano's ascent began in the first decade of the twentieth-century: after the First World War, it became the favourite destination for artists and Russian and German men of letters, who here enjoyed this peaceful place; after the end of the Second World War, painters, directors, writers were fascinated by this magic atmosphere, by the beauties of Positano, by the way of life of the fishermen, and here renovated modest little houses, monasteries.

Da visitare

Li Galli Island

Three miles far from Positano, Li Galli archipelago is made of three little islands, called: Gallo Lungo, Castelluccia, Rotonda. According to an old legend, this expanse of sea was seat of the sirens, half women and half bird mythological figures, who bewitched the fishermen and made them shipwrecked. On Gallo Lungo island, that is the biggest, the Russian dancer Leonide Massine built in 1924 a villa, that was later bought by Rudolf Nureyev. In his honour, every year in Positano takes place the international prize of the art of dancing.

Events

Leonide Massine prize

September

This prize is named after Leonide Massine, who stayed in Positano; it's an event entirely dedicated to the dancing and takes place on the Sirene beach of Positano, enchanting background that holds a crowd of dancing enthusiasts. The prize exalts young emerging talents, recording them to the critics and to the public.

AMALFI

History

About 25 Km far from Vietri sul mare, on the national road 163. According to the legend, Amalfi was founded by Hercules, pagan god, who here buried his lover Amalfi, as will of the gods. According to the historical origin, the town was founded by Costantine by Roman noble families, who were swept away by a storm in the gulf of Policastro; here they founded Melphes, the present "Melfi", then they moved to north and lived in the present Amalfi, giving it the name of A- Melphes. The town was described for the first time in a letter in 596 by Pope Gregorius Magnus, where there's a reference to the bishop of Amalfi; in the text it was defined castrum "defensive outpost", because it was used as refuge against the incursions of the Lombards of Benevento. Thanks to the maritime abilities and the following completion of the compass by Flavio Gioia, Amalfi became a thriving economic centre in the whole Mediterranean and had many commercial relations with the neighbouring countries, including the Saracens. During this period was established the Navigation Laws, known as Tavola Amalfitana. After many years the Amalfitan people founded the Independent Republic, exactly on the Ist September 839; at that time the borderlands of Amalfi extended up to Cetara, Positano, including the island of Capri and Li Galli, while in the inland they extended beyond the Lattari Mounts, up to Gragnano. Passed under the rule of Guaimario V, prince of Salerno, and of Roberto il Guiscardo, the town went through a crisis: plunders, epidemics and destructions caused the end of the power of Amalfi. The period of the Norman rule stopped its trades with the East, because of the anti-Byzantine and -Muslim politics, limiting the economic relationship to the harbours of the South Italy and developing other activities, especially in the agriculture and handicraft field. In June 1807 Giuseppe Bonaparte visited the reign and, struck by the beauty of the whole Amalfi coast, decided to build a road inaugurated by Ferdinand II in 1854. At the end of the nineteenth century, thanks to the tourist development, Amalfi regained its importance and became the centre of the whole coast, that derives its name from this place.

To visit

The Cathedral

The Cathedral overlooks the main square of Amalfi. Built in the IX century, rebuilt in Arabian - Sicilian style in the XIII century and then in the eighteenth century, it keeps many old elements: the bell tower, the Costantinople bronze imposts (about 1066) decorated with the figures of Christ, of the Madonna and of the Saints Andrew and Paul, the thirteenth century Chapel of the Crucified , the ambos and the candelabra. The façade is a reconstruction of the second half of the last century. The church has a Latin cross with three naves and is full of statues, frescoes and paintings. Other wonderful works of art are kept in the crypt and in the sacristy.