The church of Positano and its Byzantine treasure

by Victor Grigore, Webphoto.ro

Positano is a wonderful small city and resort on the Italian Amalfitana coast, washed by the Ionian see. Surrounded by vacation houses and lemon orchards there is a church built by a perish that is a thousand years old.

On the outside, the Dome of Positano shows the influence of Islamic art in this harbor that was used in trade routes by several empires. Under the ceramic colorful dome of Santa Maria Assunta, the most valuable artifact is a Byzantine icon of Virgin Mary from the the 12th century. The icon was stolen from Constantinople and the legend says it that the sailors heard a miraculous voice saying “Put it down!” when they reached the shore. The city of Positano also derives its name from this legend.