Last Updated on 19 June 2025 by Vanessa
Back in 2016, Lara Capraro started an Instagram account to show off her hometown, Positano in Italy, and all the cats she meets there.
Prepare for some serious wanderlust as you check out these amazing photos!
Here are some of Lara’s most beautiful images. You can find more on her Instagram page positanolife75.
And if Lara’s photography sparks the travel bug in you, she’s got you covered with a special Positano itinerary. It’s got all the must-visit photo spots and, of course, the best places to find our feline friends.
The most beautiful photos of cats in Positano (and a cat lovers’ sightseeing itinerary)
The beginning of Positano Life
I started my Instagram account positanolife75 in 2016, not knowing anything about social media or what I should post.
I’m lucky to live in such a picturesque place, so I started taking photos of the scenery and buildings, often featuring my rescue dog, Toby.
As I got more into rescuing and caring for stray cats, they quickly became my go-to subjects. Turns out, lots of my followers adore not just Positano and the Amalfi coast, but also animals, especially cats.
The person behind Positano Life
People often wonder how I ended up living in Italy. Well, I’m actually half Italian and half English, but I’ve always called Positano home.
My parents’ love story began when my mom visited Positano at 17 and fell for both my dad and the charm of the place. They tied the knot, and my mom embraced Italy as her new home. I used to spend all my holidays in the UK as I had part of my family there.
Thanks to my plant-loving English mom, I’m really into gardening. I cultivate various plants, even some exotic ones. Witnessing them grow and bloom brings me immense joy. Despite having a small garden and an east-facing terrace, I manage to pack in a multitude of plants in every available space.
Growing up surrounded by animals, I also developed a deep love and respect for them, thanks to my dad, who was a champion in rescuing cats and dogs. Following in his footsteps, I found my passion for caring for our four-legged friends.
I also love traveling and have seen many countries around the world, particularly in Southeast Asia. In recent years, however, my travels have been limited because of all the cats I look after.
Whenever I do get the chance to travel, I always keep an eye out for cats. Especially during my travels in Thailand, I got to meet lots of kitties, many of which seemed healthy and well cared for. It’s something many people have mentioned to me—how much they enjoy visiting places where animals are well treated. I share that sentiment completely.
Positano Animali
In 2020, during the pandemic, I co-founded an animal sanctuary called Positano Animali with ten other women.
Our mission is to assist stray cats, often sick or injured, by providing proper veterinary care and, when possible, finding them loving homes. We’ve successfully rescued numerous abandoned kittens, some just a few days old. After nurturing them back to health, we work to find them forever homes, even abroad.
Sadly, there are still many people that don’t get their animals fixed here, and this has created a very big stray cat population. We’re dedicated to making a positive impact on their lives and well-being.
Positano itinerary + photo spots
Can you really plan a trip around cats in Positano? Yes, you can.
There are several locations in and around Positano that are teeming with stray cats, and they are also great places to go and visit if you have the time.
My top tip for visitors to Positano is to get up really early in the morning and walk around the quiet empty streets before the day-trippers arrive.
Piazza dei Mulini
If you like to be in the center of it all, head to the busiest part of town—from piazza dei Mulini down to the main beach, spiaggia grande.
Near the main church, find the entrance to the Roman villa, which has some amazing frescoes with really vivid colors. And don’t miss the medieval crypt, accessible with the same ticket.
Just below the church is my small cat shelter, home to both the resident cats and some that just come at night to eat.
There are many restaurants, bars, and cafes to choose from in this part of town. Of course, fish and seafood are the main dishes around here.
This is also where the ferries leave from for many different locations of the Amalfi and Sorrento coast. This is by far the best way to travel. In fact, one of my favorite things to do here is to go on a boat trip and cruise slowly along the Amalfi coast with its many coves and hidden caves. My dad and uncle used to have a boat company when I was little, so I was lucky enough to go out almost every day in the summer and swim in some beautiful caves, most of them only sea-accessible.
Fornillo Beach
There are several beaches to choose from, but I prefer Fornillo beach for its more laid-back atmosphere. It’s a 10-15 minute walk from the main beach.
Along the way, you’ll come across Ristorante Lo Guarracino. This is a great place for lunch as you can see the lovely cove of Fornillo below and the Saracen watchtower known as Torre Clavel.
Another option is Ristorante da Ferdinando, built right over the beach. They also provide rentals for beach umbrellas, chairs, and kayaks.
Montepertuso
One of the largest cat colonies resides in the town just above Positano, called Montepertuso.
You can spot them primarily in Piazza Cappella later in the evening during feeding time.
Right nearby is a good restaurant called Il Ritrovo. Slightly higher up is another great restaurant, Ristorante la Tagliata, which offers stunning views down the coast to Capri.
The early evening is an ideal time to visit, allowing you to catch the breathtaking sunset.
Via Pestella
There are also quite a few cats along Via Pestella, below the main church, a charming route that eventually leads down to Positano.
I call this street “Cat Alley.”
It’s a lovely walk, passing through olive groves and opening up to magnificent views of Positano and our must-see cemetery. It’s the quietest and most peaceful spot to explore, offering beautiful views without the crowds. With around 1200 stairs leading down to the beach from Montepertuso, the cemetery sits more than halfway down this scenic journey.
Nocelle
Another location with quite a few cats is the town of Nocelle. It is located at 443 meters above sea level, although it’s still part of Positano.
This the gateway to many picturesque hikes, with the famous “Path of the Gods” leading you high above the sea to the town of Bomerano.
On your way down, you will find the main church of Nocelle with a big square.
Don’t miss Lemon Point, a fantastic drinks stand offering delicious lemon granita. It’s an idyllic location to sit, take in the spectacular views, and perhaps make some feline friends. Plus, it’s the prime location for admiring the sunset, especially during the autumn and winter months.
Where to stay in Positano?
There are many places to stay in Positano. I personally own and manage a vacation rental near the main beach named Casa Lara (which you can book through this link). It is situated overlooking a charming square with the sea as a backdrop.
Address: Casa Lara, Via del Saracino, 1, 84017 Positano SA, Italy.
Where to go next if you love cats?
Whether you’ll be visiting Positano for one day, or spending three or four nights, hopefully this sightseeing itinerary has let you know the best things to do as well as some useful tips for planning your time there.
Be sure to check out all these other places in Italy that are teeming with cats:
-
- Gattò Bistrot, the cat café of Portici (near Naples): Approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Positano
- Procida: Approximately 150 kilometers (about 93 miles)
- Alberobello: Approximately 270 kilometers (168 miles) from Positano
- Rome: Approximately 290 kilometers (180 miles) from Positano
- Matera: Approximately 330 kilometers (205 miles) from Positano
- Cozze: Approximately 350 kilometers (217 miles) from Positano
- Manarola: Approximately 550 kilometers (342 miles) from Positano
- Portovenere: Approximately 560 kilometers (348 miles) from Positano
- Venice: Approximately 600 kilometers (373 miles) from Positano
- Ravenna: Approximately 600 kilometers (373 miles) from Positano
- Vicenza: Approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles) from Positano
- Vernazza: Approximately 710 kilometers (about 441 miles) from Positano
- “Cat Beach” Su Pallosu in Sardinia: Approximately 960 kilometers (about 596 miles) from Positano
Lara Capraro grew up in Positano. She runs a volunteer group called Positano SOS Animali that cares for the town’s stray cats. She also carries on her late father’s legacy, once a tour-boat skipper, by supporting local culture and marine life. On Instagram (positanolife75), she posts scenic shots of Positano and cute rescue kitties, urging visitors to treat the Amalfi Coast with respect. She speaks out against overtourism, warning that turning this beautiful place into a “theme park” may compromise its future.
Pin this cat-filled Positano itinerary!
5 responses
Wow, Positano is beautiful. What a lovely place to live.
The kitty photos are lovely, such a scenic and beautiful background.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend.
We just watched a movie set in Positano. If I could travel to another country, this one be at the top of my list!
A wonderful balance of history, architecture and stray cats.
What a beautiful place and the cats are so pretty. Thanks for linking with #pocolo
Well, I do wish people would get their cats fixed, but I think that is a lost cause. I do love all your photos of the countryside, towns, and cats that call the places their home. Have a lovely holiday and happy new year.