Praiano, an ancient Amalfi tourist resort

About this activity

Praiano is one of the wonderful villages perched along the famous Amalfi Coast, located between Conca dei Marini and Positano. The name possibly originates from the Latin Pelagianum, which would mean open sea: in fact, it is thought that as early as Roman times the location was used as a landing place for boats and later transformed into a popular tourist destination among Roman aristocrats and, later, by the governors of the Marine Republic.

Over time, Praiano too followed in the footsteps of the other villages that joined Amalfi's maritime tradition, taking advantage of its proximity to the sea to engage in trade and fishing. In the locality of Praia, in fact, there is a small inlet that still offers shelter to fishermen's boats: here it is possible to find some of the ancient "monazeri", places used for boat storage and stationing when sea conditions were dangerous.

Some documents from the 15th century speak of trade taking place at the Praia beach in special workshops. On the same beach around 1400 a caravel was pulled ashore for repairs. Historical evidence of an important seafaring past can also be seen in the ancient  Home of the Navigator, where a wonderful fresco from the 1500s depicting Spanish ships was found on the coast of Praiano.

Currently, the center of Praiano is located at the very top of the town, above a promontory that provides breathtaking views ranging from the Amalfi Coast to the island of Capri and the Cilento.

The Angevin period left in this municipality one of the most beautiful watchtowers on the coast: the Assiola Tower, called the "Sciola", built close to the sea at the behest of Charles of Anjou so as to act promptly against invaders. The Tower, along with two other "sisters," the Tower of Grado, which has a square structure, and the Gavitella Tower, was the guardian of the shoreline.

Between 1600 and 1700, the most prestigious Praianese families also had their own tower-shaped residences built, of which unfortunately today we can only admire three: the Christmas Tower, the Cimmino Tower and the Crenellated Turret.

What to visit in Praiano

Also perched on the coastline, Praiano has a characteristic center distributed among narrow alleys and stairways that, although they allow one to reach all points of the town in a fairly strenuous way, give incredible views and panoramas, letting one discover wonderful hidden corners. The town, in fact, is divided on two sides of a slope that points directly to the sea: in short, moving around Praiano is not very comfortable, but this urban conformation has contributed to increase its charm and particularity.

The churches of Praiano

Praiano is rich in churches and chapels. Among them, one located in the central area of the town is a Church of St. Luke the Evangelist, built on the foundations of an ancient shrine dating back to 1123. The snow-white facade opens onto a forecourt with a breathtaking view. La Parish Church of San Gennaro, on the other hand, immediately stands out because of its beautiful oval, majolica-tiled dome with polychrome tiles. The interior is truly sumptuous with altars and fine paintings by such artists as Gianbattista Lama.

Votive wayside shrines

Walking through the streets of Praiano, you cannot help but notice the countless ancient votive shrines, colorful images of saints adorned with majolica and frescoes. These creations, made starting in the 1700s, were originally placed in places in the town that were considered sacred; an ancient custom was to light candles inside them, both as a religious rite and as a means of orientation: when electricity did not yet exist, the dim light of the oil lamps that adorned these small temples was a point of reference among the dark alleys of the town.

The sea and beaches of Praiano

The beauty of Praiano of course also lies in the spectacular sea it overlooks. If you like boat trips, tours depart from the beach at Marina di Praia that allow you to visit the Caves of Suppraiano, which together with the Caves of the African are fascinating natural caverns. Accessible only by sea, the caves feature distinctive stalactites and and create magnificent plays of light due to the reflections they create with the waters of the sea, enchanting visitors.

Among the beaches of Praiano, Gavitella Cove is one of Praiano's most popular seaside resorts. The cove grants an excellent view of Positano, Capri and the archipelago Li Galli, moreover, the beach it hosts is the only one on the Amalfi Coast kissed by the sun until sunset. To reach it, it is necessary to walk more than 400 steps starting from Piazza San Gennaro, but you will realize that it will be worth it once you get there: the beach made of small pebbles gives way to crystal clear emerald green water. Moreover, if you want to carve out a relaxing moment by the sea away from the daytime hubbub, the bathing establishment, with its bar and restaurant, is also open at night.

Also located in this cove is the Altar Fountain, a natural pool formed in the rock in the other of a cave, from which it is only possible to reach by sea the small Praia Beach, a pristine jewel enclosed between two sheer rock walls overlooking the sea.

Another famous beach in Praiano is the Marina of Praia, recognizable by the presence of the ancient Sea Tower and certainly more accessible than the Cove. From the beach, moreover, a romantic promenade starts that goes around the cliff below the Tower.

Near the Marina, summer nights light up thanks to the well-known club the Africana, carved out inside natural caves just 10 meters above sea level. Such an exclusive location could not go unnoticed, in fact it boasts of having also welcomed several famous and illustrious personalities, including Jaqueline Kennedy, wife of the president of the United States John Fitzerald Kennedy, during his vacation on the Coast in 1962.