Church of San Luca Evangelista
The floor stops you first. Laid in 1789, the Vietri majolica tiles run the full length of the church in a collision of deep orange and green-blue, floral borders drawing the eye toward a central image of St. Luke at his easel. It is one of those interiors that takes a moment to read — then keeps giving.
San Luca Evangelista sits in the upper part of Praiano on Piazza S. Luca, the town's patron saint watching over a building that has been quietly accumulating beauty since 1588. Six chapels line each side, marble altars catch the afternoon light, and above the apse a majolica dome — gold, green and blue — rises in a form rare anywhere on this coast.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to time it around the October 18 feast day, when the piazza fills for a procession and fireworks follow. The bar on the square does a one-euro beer that rewards the climb. Arrive in the afternoon when the church is open and the light through the lunettes falls across the tiled floor at its best angle.
The story behind Church of San Luca Evangelista
A place of worship stood here as far back as 1123, with records again in 1202 — making this one of the older documented sites on the Amalfi Coast. The current structure went up in 1588, and by 1772 a thorough renovation had reshaped both interior and façade into the late Baroque-Rococo form you see today. The majolica floor came seventeen years later, in 1789.
The artworks accumulated across centuries: a panel of Our Lady of the Rosary by Padovano di Montorio dated 1572, canvases by Lama and Montorio from the 1500s and 1600s, a painting by Gigante in 1831, and a silver bust of St. Luke cast in 1696. The façade was restored again in 2013, and conservation work has continued into the 21st century.
Good to know
Entry is free. The church opens in the afternoons — hours aren't fixed, so build in flexibility. SITA SUD buses connect Praiano to Positano in around 20 minutes. Ferries run April through October. The piazza is uphill from the main road; expect stairs.
Where is Church of San Luca Evangelista?
More tickets & tours for Church of San Luca Evangelista
Book directly at the provider
What travellers say about Church of San Luca Evangelista
We loved this church, it was beautiful inside and outside. The bells and views with the sea breeze outdoors also make for a lovely experience. I loved seeing my friend get married here!
Beautiful church, that actually feels like a functioning, humble church, not marketing itself to tourists. We stopped here after walking the Path of the Gods, and there was nobody inside, and it was dead silent. My wife actually burst into tears, she had a religious experience. Don't go to this church and ruins it's serenity. Keep it as it is.
My husband and I must have climbed 500 stairs in Praiano, but it was beyond worth it. We went on a Sunday night. There were lights, live orchestra music and a few vendors. The church doors were open and we sat inside this beautiful historic church. For those who avoid touristy things, do yourself a favor and make the 20-ish min trek up!
So accommodating and the Tuna tartare was delicious. They didn't have a table available so they sat us inside and have us a glass of prosecco on the house and hors d'oeuvres.
What a gorgeous place lots of good people.
More of Praiano
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Praiano →More attractions in Praiano
All of Praiano →
Background adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · ratings & place photos via Google · other photos with per-image credit. Ticket links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.