Located in one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, Positano offers more than a stunning view. If you long for a vacation that not only satisfies your culinary tastes but also challenges your fitness level, then explore Positano.

In a May 1953 Harper’s Bazaar article, John Steinbeck describes his harrowing drive from Naples to Positano. His words avidly depict the beauty of the landscape, heights of the mountain tops, and the steep cliffs that make up the now touristy village.

“Flaming like a meteor we hit the coast, a road, high, high above the blue sea, that hooked and corkscrewed on the edge of nothing, a road carefully designed to be a little narrower than two cars side by side,” Steinbeck said.

Although Positano is more crowded today than what Steinbeck described in1953, it still possesses fantastical views, sea-breezed walks, and trails that contain rigorous yet stunning hikes for those who are fitness gurus.

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In a 2013 Washington Post article, journalist Nick Boulos describes the hike from Nocelle, a neighboring village located 1,500 feel above Positano.

“Positano was still some distance away, at the bottom of 1,700 thigh-straining steps that wove down the peak,” Boulos described.

Filled with quaint fashion boutiques and multiple dining options, including several Michelin starred restaurants, it is easy to see how the relaxation of travel can be combined with fitness opportunities to create the blend of a magically well-rounded vacation.

“Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone,” Steinbeck said.