Positano Shopping

Probably the shop with the coolest location in all the Amalfi Coast--blasted into the rock along the main highway, just outside Positano. Our host at Albergo California recommended this shop as one of the few in town that produces truly hand-painted, authentic local cermaics, and the quality is impeccable. Prices are higher here than at the cheaper, touristy shops in town, but make a point of giving your business to those who keep up this tradition. It's worth it!

What to buy: I bought a small covered dish, beautifully hand-painted, and my mom bought a hand-painted trivet and oil bottle stopper. They have much larger items, which they will ship home for you, too.

What to pay: Variable--small items run as cheaply as about $30.

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Positano is well known for the artists displaying their watercolor paintings, photographs and sketches of the Positano scenery. These paintings could became gifts and valuable mementos of your time in Positano, and here is where I've found a very nice artist of the town, Angela Pane.
Of particular interest are her works representing the villages surrounding her home, the Amalfi Coast and specifically Positano, where she currently resides. Through her art, she is able to fully and realistically express the intense beauty of these settings and their characteristic colors.
Here there is a foto where to see her painting on the beach of Positano

What to buy: If you would like to buy some of her beautiful works, the best tip I can give you is to visit the website http://www.positanoart.com were to find all about her artistic production.

Up the hill from the main strip of shopping, when we visited this little shop was full of knits for the Fall/Winter. I bought a beautiful eggplant colored sweater with a jewel neckline and bell sleeves. Very feminine and detailed.

What to buy: We bought beautiful sweaters in great colors plus a few scarfs and hats. The designs were definately Italian and very feminine. If you look at the website now there are spring clothes- blouses with exquisite details.

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so there we were with friends from Erie, Pa, in J Basul Noble, ostensibly the finest restaurant in High Point, NC, and the server is telling us about the great wonderful new dishes. Out came the dishes and we laughed - the same items are in our kitchen cabinets. Solimene ceramics are known world-wide and the factory is open for orders on appointment. Very easy to get to - just drive east from Positano for about an hour on a beautiful trip or take a bus and transfer for Salerno in the town of Amalfi. This is a great combo day with visiting Ravello which is several miles off the main road on the way back. And Ravello should not be missed.

What to buy: Whimsical custom-made hand-painted ceramic dishes, platters, serving pieces, pitchers. Also vases. Some are one color, some feature the logos of restaurants which have ordered these plates from Tokyo to New York,and others feature leaves flowers and birds. But the classic Solimene ceramics are the animals pictured adjacent in multiple colors. Shipping is a bargain as below. Because these are custom orders, it may take up to four months to arrive.

What to pay: Depending on what you order, expect to spend 25% OR LESS than New York City prices. Shipping can not exceed a certain level no matter how much you buy, as long as it all goes to one address. We received 6 large crates for 3 families for no more than the cost to ship our own.

I have found it , i have found it! Walking down into positano on the last little strip of shops before getting to the sea front. Safari Shoes. This little shop hand makes sandals for you, in about an hour. The selection he has is wonderful with lots of rhinestones and jewels. Plus he has shoes that will fit even the most difficult (mine) sizes to find...... custom to your feet!

What to pay: 65 to 170 euro

Large selection of limoncello and other lemon products; local herbs, honeys, jams, etc. All reasonably priced and well-wrapped.

A browse through the store is a feast for the senses: lemon marmalade, curd, candied peels, syrup, chocolate, honey, biscuits, soaps, candles, oils, pasta shells, body creams and liqueurs cram the shelves.

What to buy: You must try the chocolates made with lemon or lime. I have never tasted anything like it.

Throughout Positano you will see artists displaying their watercolor paintings, photographs and sketches of the Positano scenery. Unlike the mass-produced images you'll see being hawked in big cities like Rome, many of the artworks for sale on the street in Positano are original and of good quality.

These paintings make great gifts and mementos of your time in Positano.

What to pay: The paintings vary in price depending on the artist and the size & complexity of the art. You can find everything from postcard-sized sketches for a couple of euro to much larger watercolor scenes for 10, 15 or 20 euro.

Positano survives on tourist income and it's difficult to find any bargains at all here. Via dei Mulini, which runs from Piazza dei Mulini down to the beach, is the main shopping street, and you'll find the usual tourist shops here.