What to Do/See/Eat on the Amalfi Coast

Welcome back to my Ask a Local series.

Today, still in celebration of my brand new insider’s guide to Italy, here’s a peek at one of the Amalfi Coast interviews you’ll find inside.

A big thanks to De Martino, a B&B owner in Positano, for giving us an inside look at Positano and the coast.

First, tell us about you.

I have always lived in Positano. My business is a B&B. And I like to garden in my free time.

If someone is visiting Positano for the first time, what do you recommend they see or do?

Visit the Chiesa Madre, the Medieval crypt, and other beautiful, smaller churches. Go to the beach called Fornillo. Admire the wonderful views from the top of the town. Go shopping in the fashion and ceramic boutiques. Go sailing along the coast.

What neighborhoods or parts of town are best to stay in?

Stay at mid-height in the city, where you can enjoy unobstructed views of the sea and the landscape, there is more peace, and the prices are cheaper.

Tell us about the local dishes. What should people try?

Local dishes to try: pasta ai frutti di mare (seafood pasta), pesce locale (local fish), mozzarella and other fresh cheeses, raw and roasted veggies, and pizza.

Sweets: gelati e granita di limone (two different types of lemon ice cream), sfogliatella (shell-shaped filled pastries), babà (rum cake), delizia al limone (lemon cupcakes), and crostata di frutta fresca (fresh fruit tart).

Wines: D.O.C. Costa d’Amalfi and D.O.C. Vesuvio.

Liquors: Limoncello (lemon liquor) and Mirto (liquor made from the myrtle plant).

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Did I mention that I wrote a book full of these interviews? Get 100 interviews from top chefs, wine experts, and locals all over Italy.

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What are your top three favorite bars and restaurants?

Bars: Internazionale (located at Via Guglielmo Marconi 306), La Zagara (at Via dei Mulini 8/10), and Li Galli (at Via del Saracino 4).

Restaurants: Pupetto (located at Via Fornillo 37), Vincenzo (at Viale Pasitea 172), and La Taverna del Leone (at Via Laurito 43).

What is the best way to meet locals and make friends?

Spend your time in La Piazzetta dei Mulini, on the beaches, in the church that holds mass in English, and on the steps of the rotunda with the lions—and simply talk to people.

Why should people make sure to visit Positano?

People who come to Positano always return. There’s something special about this place.


Where can we go to take beautiful photos?

There are so many places to take beautiful photos: the Belvedere, Punta Reginella, from the beach looking back up toward the houses, and the many stairs between the houses, which have amazing panoramic views down to the sea.

Anything else you want us to know?

You should also visit the hillside villages of Positano, Montepertuso, and Nocelle and walk some of our famous paths, like the way of the gods.