Condé Nast Traveler has included a quiet spot on Italy’s Amalfi Coast in its 2026 list of the 20 most beautiful towns in the world. The selection puts the focus on smaller places with historic character, local detail and a slower pace than the big-city break.
One of the most beautiful towns in the world
The town is Praiano, a small Amalfi Coast community positioned between Positano and Amalfi. Condé Nast Traveler named Praiano in its July 2026 round-up, The 20 Most Beautiful Towns in the World for Every Type of Traveler.
The magazine highlighted its sun-soaked beaches, ancient churches and intricate tilework, singling out San Gennaro Church as a notable landmark. Praiano was also picked out for delivering the coastal atmosphere people associate with this stretch of Campania, without the density and formality that can come with its most visited neighbours.
Things to do in Praiano
Swim at Marina di Praia
Marina di Praia is one of Praiano’s best-known beaches. Tucked into a narrow inlet, it is framed by steep rock walls and has a more enclosed setting than the long, open beaches found elsewhere on the coast.
Spend time at Gavitella Beach
Gavitella Beach is another of the beaches mentioned by Condé Nast Traveler. Its coastal setting puts the focus firmly on the sea and the surrounding Amalfi Coast scenery.
See San Gennaro Church
San Gennaro Church is one of the town’s standout historic buildings. The church and its decorative tilework give some context to Praiano’s local artistic traditions.
Notice the town’s tilework
Ceramics form part of the visual language of the Amalfi Coast, and Praiano’s intricate tilework was one of the details noted by Condé Nast Traveler. It appears around churches and public spaces, giving a more local counterpoint to the polished hotel terraces associated with the coast.
Use Praiano as a quieter Amalfi Coast base
Praiano is around a 20-minute drive from Positano. That proximity makes it practical for people keen to include Positano in their plans but sleep somewhere with a slower rhythm.
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