Praiano

Comune in Campania, Italy

40°37′N 14°32′E / 40.617°N 14.533°E / 40.617; 14.533CountryItalyRegionCampaniaProvinceSalerno (SA)FrazioniVettica MaggioreGovernment • MayorGiovanni Di Martino (Lista Civica)Area • Total2 km² (0.8 sq mi)Population • Total2,019 • Density1,000/km² (2,600/sq mi)DemonymPraianesiTime zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal codeDialing code089Patron saintSt. Januarius and St. LukeSaint day19 September and 18 OctoberWebsiteOfficial website

Praiano (Italian pronunciation: [praˈjaːno]) is a town and comune of the province of Salerno in the Campania region of southwest Italy. It is situated on the Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana), a prime tourist location for the region and Italy alike, between the towns of Amalfi and Positano.

In 1997, the Amalfi Coast, including Praiano's "Vettica Maggiore" frazione was inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[3] According to data of the year 2015, the town's population constitutes 2,045 inhabitants.^[4]

History

The town's name derives from the praia, or beach, from the Latin word pelagium, meaning "open sea."^[5] During the 10th-11th centuries, Praiano was once the summer residence of the doges of the Duchy of Amalfi.^{[citation needed]}

During the Angevin period, a fortified tower, the Assiola, was constructed to defend the town. Praiano had an important local silk industry, however, it disappeared during the 19th century. With the discovery of corals in the vicinity around the 1800s, Praiano's economy was revitalized, mainly focusing on the fishing and tourism industries ever since.^{[citation needed]}

Main sights

Attractions include the Church of San Luca Evangelista,^[6] dating back to 1123. On the inside, there are paintings by Renaissance painter Giovanni Bernardo Lama dating to the 16th century. Another attraction is the Church of San Giovanni Battista, featuring a well-preserved maiolica tiled floor, dating back to the 12th-13th centuries.^[7]

See also

• Amalfi Coast
• Sorrentine Peninsula

References

External links