Praiano gets her name from the Latin word pelagium, meaning open sea.  Later the same word would evolve to mean beach in both Spanish (playa) and Portuguese (praia). Praiano consists of two main parts. Vettica Maggiore which lies lower on the coast and Praino on the upper part of this vertical town.  The main road SS 163 Amalfitana slices through the two neighborhoods.   Nobles throughout the days of the Amalfi Republic summered here and today you can affordably rent family villas in Praiano with dazzling sea views.