Positano - the poster child of Italy’s Amalfi Coast - is best viewed from the sea. It is only from the water that its spectacular cliff hanging location is visually showcased and there is a palpable and most necessary sense of place.

This is the Italy that is loved across the world: for the pleasures and indulgences; its effortless style and its traditional values. We live in a beautiful world and the Amalfi coast reminds us of the need to retain that state of mind as firmly as any coastal region on the planet. It has a unique and visceral allure that can run very deep into the sensibilities of travellers and locals alike. The coastal communities can cast a spell and visitors extend stays, whilst locals seemingly never leave. There is  generational continuity down here from fishermen to taxi drivers. It is difficult to conceive of a book being written about strong local communities across the world and Neapolitans being excluded.

When I was scouting in the bay off Positano in the spring, I was struck by the beauty of the light just before sunset. The view looking west to town is always intoxicating, but when the sun disappears behind the mountains, it darkens quickly and a new mood descends on the community. House lights come on and, rather like mobile phones at a Coldplay concert, their random formations add a new layer to the canvas.