Lattari Montains

From Sorrento to Amalfi, wandering in the ‘land of the mermaids’

The promontory that separates the waters of the Gulf of Naples and Salerno is Homer’s ‘land of mermaids’, a natural paradise set between the land and the sea, which across the centuries has seduced crowds of famous travellers.

Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello are only some of the gems of the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast, a stretch of land declared a World Heritage site by the Unesco, where grapevines and olive trees, rocky ridges and hidden beaches, the blue of the sea and the green of the citrus orchards create a unique environment.


Punta Campanella

Punta Campanella is the extreme part of the Sorrento Peninsula. It is an area that combines a great cultural heritage with a beautiful natural landscape of high importance.

The route starts from Termini, 323 meters above sea level, continues along Punta Campanella, Nerano, Marina di Cantone, Marina di Recomone and ends with the arrival at the village of Torca.

Along this path you can admire from a distance the small islands of "Li Galli" with their history related to the cult of the Sirens.

Following the path one can see the Roman Temple of Minerva at the extreme tip of Punta Campanella, and a series of forts and towers built to defend the towns from the attacks of the Saracens.

Through the towns one can admire the many churches and chapels as the church of St. Salvatore di Nerano, the church of S. Thomas the Apostle in Torca and the Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua in Cantone.

Valle delle Ferriere

At the heart of the Amalfi Coast, the Reserve is a natural wonder protected by the Unesco, and is also a European Community site of interest. The area extends into a deep valley that connects the Valle dei Mulini (Mills’ Valley) and the Valle delle Ferriere.

The natural habitat gives birth to species of plants rarely found in Italy, such as the Woodwardia radicans fern, a sort of living fossil, dating back to the Tertiary period.

The valley is also well known for its paper mills - the oldest in Europe - which produced the famous Amalfi paper. Two are still operating and are worth seeing, along with the entertaining Paper Museum.

Sentiero degli Dei (Path's of Gods)

The walk covers part of the territory of the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast, from Castellammare di Stabia to Vietri sul Mare. The system of trails is vast and well organized: the most spectacular is evocatively called the “Paths of the Gods”, and leads from one side to the other of the Peninsula.

The vegetation of the Park is mainly characterized by the Mediterranean maquis, but many other botanical varieties are present. Broad-leaf woods cover the hills, with holm-oak groves and pinewoods at lower altitudes, and ferns in the deep, narrow valleys veined by rivers, finally, grapevines, olive groves and citruses.

The side of the mountain is scattered with broom and Mediterranean maquis, while the underwood is rich in ferns, cyclamens, arbutuses, wild roses and strawberries. From the “Belvedere” there is a wonderful view over the Gulfs of Naples and Salerno; on bright days you can see as far as the promontory of Circeo, the Pontine archipelago and the distant temples of Paestum.
 

Download the Nature & Parks Guide of the Amalfi Coast

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"© Regione Campania - Assessorato al Turismo ed ai Beni Culturali"