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Positano, the divine, known all over the world.
Positano that smells of lemons, linen, cotton and Dolce vita.
Who doesn’t know Positano?
But there are some things you may not know! Small curiosities about the beautiful town that is like a funnel overlooks the sea and which makes it even more fascinating … More than a Postcard!
To each neighborhood its church
Positano is small, it’s true! But do you know that there are 12 neighborhoods and 12 churches? So each neighborhood has its own church but for important ceremonies (weddings, baptisms or communions)everyone goes to the Church of Santa Maria Assunta!
2. The Mosque church
If from Piazza dei Mulini, you look up, you will see the New Church which is actually one of the oldest in Positano and it … has the structure of a mosque! It is no coincidence that the neighborhood in which it is located is known as the Arab quarter. The bell tower instead is later and was built in 700!
3. The witch of Positano
You may have wondered why Positano is so famous all over the world. What you should know is that in the 60s Vali Myers, an Australian Bohemian artist moved to Positano, choosing a poor and essential life Having become a kind of Witch, she attracted the attention of actors and artists who came to Positano to get to know it. So, neo-hippies between meditation, bare feet and gypsy clothes, gave life to POSITANO FASHION!
4. Freddie Mercury
Maybe you had heard of important guests who chose Positano for the summer holidays … but did you know that the legendary Queen Leader loved the sweet rhythm of the beautiful pearl of Campania?
5. Construction prohibited
Don’t get strange ideas! In Positano, a World Heritage Site, it is forbidden to build new buildings! But not only: when the Positanians intend to repaint the buildings, they absolutely cannot choose a color different from the original one; In fact, it is forbidden to change the color of the buildings, otherwise you will incur a salty fine as well as being forced to repaint again, in the color most similar to the original.
6. The gold of the Madonna
On the 15th of August the assumption of the Madonna is celebrated and it is done with a beautiful procession. he statue of the Madonna, kept in the church of Santa Maria Assunta, is literally bejeweled and parades through the city. They are not the original accessories, however, those worn by the statue, as those were stolen. The inhabitants of Positano delivered all the gold they had, to contribute to the creation of new accessories for the Madonna
7. The dance
The famous dancer and choreographer Massine, together with Picasso and Cocteau, was a guest in Positano at the Mulino d’Arienzo between intrigues, disagreements, passion and jealousies; it seems that here, among other things, he found inspiration for new wonderful Russian ballets to be carried around the world.
Let’s not forget that Rudolf Nureyev chose it as a refuge for 26 years. Hence the famous Dance Prize of Positano which has rewarded etoile likes Eleonora Abbagnato and Roberto Bolle.
8. Picasso in Positano
Picasso was a guest of the city and even called Positano the Cubist citybecause it develops completely vertically.
9. Li Galli
This is the archipelago overlooking Positano from the sea and has been the residence of truly illustrious guests who have fought a lot: Leonide Massine, Le Corbusier, Nureyev. Today the archipelago belongs to Giovanni Russo, owner of the Hilton Sorrento Palace but, if you are interested, you can buy it for only 195 million euros.
If you look carefully, Gallo Lungo from above, looks almost like a Dolphin!
10. Positano, “Posa Posa!”
Legend says that in the twelfth century, a ship carrying an icon of the Virgin Mary was unable to return to the open sea because there was no favorable wind. From the picture the sailor could hear a voice shouting “Pose, Pose!” that is, “stop here”, on the coasts of what is now Positano! You can still that icon today in the Church of Santa Maria dell’Assunzione. This church was in fact built on a field of gorse where for three days in a row the icon was found, despite being repeatedly placed at the Church of Piazza dei Mulini.
Special thanks go to the wonderful Certified Guide from the Campania region ZiaLucy.
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