Hotel Villa Bellavista
Praiano - Via Rezzola 47
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Located between Positano and Conca dei Marini, Praiano is a less well-known town on the Amalfi Coast, yet equally enchanting. An ancient fishing village, the town’s name derives from Pelagianum (from Latin: open sea), which over time became Plagianum and finally Praiano. Since the era of the Maritime Republics, Praiano was a much-sought-after destination for the Doges, who loved to spend their summer holidays here.
Initially, the heart of civic life lay along the coast, but over the years the town evolved to develop two main settlements: the hamlet of Vettica Maggiore along the waterfront and the hamlet of Praiano perched above the promontory. This division was reflected in the work of its inhabitants too: those below were fishermen, while those in the upper section were mostly farmers and craftspeople. Today, Praiano’s centre is located in the upper part of town, above a promontory that offers a magnificent view stretching from the Amalfi Coast to the island of Capri and the Cilento.
During the Middle Ages, in the Angevin period, Praiano received the title of “Universitas” (from “universi cives”, meaning union of all citizens), an epithet conferred on towns that enjoyed autonomy and privileges. For a long time, the city’s economy was based on trade in agricultural and fish products, whilst artisans’ workshops also flourished, producing twisted thread (hairnets that were widely used by women of the era), lace and fine embroidery.
Praiano is a perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful stay in a town surrounded by extraordinary natural landscape and jagged coastlines dropping sheer to the sea. Like Positano, Praiano’s centre features winding alleyways and staircases that allow you to explore the entire town through an exhausting but rewarding climb up and down. Walking through the narrow streets and getting lost in Praiano is almost mandatory: only this way will you discover hidden corners offering breathtaking vistas. The town’s layout and lack of convenient roads have succeeded in preserving the charm and authenticity of this place, which remains refreshingly less touristy than other coastal destinations.
Scattered throughout both the upper and lower parts of town are around fifteen churches and chapels. In the centre of Praiano, not far from the town hall, stands the Church of San Luca Evangelista, erected in 1588 on the site of a sanctuary dating back to 1123. The church underwent extensive restoration in 1772 and now features a white façade flanked by a three-storey bell tower. The interior comprises three naves with six side chapels and beautiful majolica flooring.
The Parish Church of Vettica Maggiore, dedicated to San Gennaro, dates from 1589 and was built on the site of an earlier church, also dedicated to San Gennaro. The current religious building features a Latin cross plan with three naves and boasts a stunning oval majolica dome with polychrome tiles. The interior is truly sumptuous, adorned with altars and paintings of great artistic value by artists such as Gianbattista Lama.
As you walk through Praiano, you’ll notice numerous ancient votive shrines adorned with majolica or frescoes. It’s said that these colourful small temples, dating from the 1700s and testament to the religious devotion of the inhabitants, number more than thirty along the town’s streets.
Originally, shrines were positioned in places considered sacred, where perhaps years earlier a small church had stood or a particular event had occurred. Many years ago, it was customary to light lamps inside these shrines, which held not only religious significance but also served as street lighting for the town.
From Marina di Praia beach, boat excursions depart to visit the Grotte di Suppraiano, a spectacular natural cave. Accessible only by sea, these caves feature distinctive stalactites and captivate visitors with the interplay of light and reflections on the seawater.
Not far from Vettica Maggiore’s centre towards the sea lies the Cala della Gavitella, home to a beach of the same name. Its location, offering fine views of Positano, Capri and the Li Galli archipelago, makes it the only beach on the Amalfi Coast bathed in sunshine until sunset. The beach here is composed of small pebbles and the water has an emerald green colour. The area is home to a beach club, La Gavitella, which provides sun loungers and parasols as well as operating a bar and restaurant open into the evening.
Reaching the Cala della Gavitella requires descending a long staircase with over 400 steps, starting from Piazza San Gennaro in Praiano. The scenery along this route is truly unique; however, for those unwilling to make the descent on foot, the beach club operates a convenient shuttle bus for guests.
Within this cove you’ll also find the Fontana dell’Altare, a natural pool formed from a cave opening. From this inlet, accessible only by sea, lies the small Praia Beach, a truly unspoiled corner of paradise.
Regarded as one of the most striking areas on the Amalfi Coast, Marina di Praia is a pebble beach nestled between the rocks of a cliff face. The beach is dominated from above by the ancient Torre a Mare, a Saracen lookout tower, characterised by a beautiful pathway winding all around it—considered one of the most romantic and picturesque routes on the entire coast.
The beach is easily accessible by car as it sits along the SS163 highway, or by public transport from both Praiano and other coastal towns. From Marina di Praia beach you can reach one of the trendiest venues on the coast: the renowned club l’Africana, set within natural caves just 10 metres above sea level. Thanks to its exclusive setting, l’Africana has hosted numerous celebrities and notable figures over the years, including Jacqueline Kennedy during her 1962 holiday on the coast.
Just a few kilometres from Praiano lies Furore, a small fishing village situated along the Amalfi Coast and famous for its fjord. A characteristic feature of the entire Amalfi Coast is the coastal inlets that form valleys—indentations of the sea cutting into the coastline. The two tall rocky walls flanking the Furore beach are connected by a bridge standing nearly thirty metres high, over which passes the Amalfi State Road, the highway linking all the coastal towns.
The tiny Furore beach stretches for approximately 25 metres and is reached via a long staircase carved into the rock. Each year, the Furore Fjord hosts the World High Diving Championship, attracting international athletes. These locations were also where Roberto Rossellini filmed the central episode of the film “L’amore” with Anna Magnani in 1948.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
In Praiano, both in the town centre and in areas along the coast, you’ll find numerous hotel options. For those wishing to experience the authentic atmosphere of the town and don’t mind the effort, we recommend staying in the historic centre, though you’ll need to navigate several staircases and narrow streets. For those seeking a more relaxing holiday and wanting to be close to the beaches, we suggest choosing a hotel in the seafront areas, where you’ll also find luxury properties with stunning views across the coast.
For those wishing to reach Praiano by car from Naples, you can take the A3 motorway towards Salerno and Reggio Calabria, exit at Castellammare di Stabia and take the SS145 towards Sorrento, then join the SS143. To reach the town by train, travel to Naples Central Station, take the Circumvesuviana train and get off at Sorrento. From there, you can continue to Praiano on a bus from the Sita Sorrento–Praiano line.
Salerno is 35 km from Praiano and is reachable via buses on the Salerno–Amalfi line. Once you reach Amalfi town centre, you’ll need to change buses and take the service towards Sorrento, getting off at Praiano. If you prefer to reach the town by sea, ferries and hydrofoils depart from Salerno, Sorrento and Naples to Amalfi, from where you can reach Praiano either by bus on the Sita line or by private car.
What's the weather at Praiano? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Praiano for the next few days.
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