By Mary Hennock BBC News Online, Positano

Positano, a warren of pink and yellow houses stacked along a cliff on the Amalfi Coast came to life slowly on Sunday.

"Our hotel has a generator so we're not worried about it," one American woman told me.

But the unexpected rain was a bigger problem than the blackout for many visitors.

Positano beach was empty and its candlelit cafes full of tourists glumly clutching cold drinks.

Chefs work on

For those with no immediate travel plans, and enough cash in their pockets there is little problem.

Travel plans have had to be altered

"We are not worried at all as long as it's just one or two days," says Michael from Austria.

"We look at it as another adventure," says Nancy from San Francisco, whose month long trip to Europe is a break from cancer treatment.

But for restaurant owners, watching the food wilt in display cabinets, the problem is more serious.

Fortunately most use gas for cooking, so they still hope to serve food, good news in a town which probably has more visitors than residents right now.

At Cucina Casareccia da Vincenzo, the owner is optimistic. His four chefs were frying aubergines and rolling gnocchi for the evening rush.

The kitchen light runs off an emergency battery, he explained, flicking the switch on and off.

"Next year I'm going to change the kitchen, get a generator," he said.

"Right now in Positano, the big hotels, no problem."

Banking worries

Also in trouble are those who were planning to take trains or planes today.

Nancy and her husband Larry can no longer rely on catching a train to Rome. Instead they are going by taxi, for an eye-watering 300 euros - "not that we have 300 euros to do it," says Larry.

Many have been caught out by their reliance on electronic banking.

Charlie Colquhoun is without the cash to pay for his taxi to the airport on Monday.

For now the screen at Banco Napoli's ATM is dark.

He is hoping that power will be restored before nightfall.