Itinerary from Praiano to Castellammare di Stabia
What to see around our boutique hotel? Here is an interesting and exciting itinerary from Praiano to Castellammare di Stabia that will take you to discover wonderful places on the Amalfi Coast and the Sorrento peninsula. The itinerary is just over 50 kilometers long but can also be done in stages.
The first stop on the itinerary is Positano, one of the most evocative destinations not only on the coast but in all of Italy. This is how the famous American writer John Steinbeck described it in 1953: “It is a dream place that doesn’t seem real as long as you stay there but whose profound reality you feel when you leave it“. A walk through its characteristic narrow streets is enough to be completely enchanted. The pastel-colored houses are gathered around the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, famous for its splendid façade, the valuable works of sacred art and the dome covered in yellow, green and blue majolica. In addition to the church, the following are worth mentioning: the Roman Archaeological Museum, consisting mainly of the excavation of the first century Roman villa; and the medieval Saracen Towers.
Leaving Positano, you climb towards the ridge of the peninsula up to Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, a small village, a hamlet of Massa Lubrense, which owes its name to its particular geographical location. It is in fact located between the gulfs of Naples and Salerno. The main monument of the town is the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, one of the most interesting religious buildings in the area. Inside you can admire several paintings by good artists but the most valuable work is undoubtedly the high altar in marble and mother of pearl created in the 17th century by the sculptor Dionisio Lazzari, one of the main exponents of Neapolitan Baroque. Also worth a visit is the Monastery of St. Paul located on the Desert Hill, from which you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view.
The next stop on the itinerary is Sorrento, a lovely town famous throughout the world which gives its name to the entire coast and peninsula. The city, beautifully described in the song “Torna a Surriento” from 1894, is rich in history, legends and beautiful monuments. It has a lively and colorful historic centre, full of shops selling typical local craft products. The beating heart of Sorrento is the central Piazza Tasso, dotted with bars and clubs on the sidewalks. Worth visiting: the Cathedral of Saints Philip and James, dating back to the 10th century but rebuilt in the 15th century in Renaissance style, with a bell tower of Byzantine influence; and the Correale Museum of Terranova, which displays archaeological finds, paintings, historical furnishings and precious collections of minor arts from the 16th-18th centuries.
Once the visit of Sorrento is over, the itinerary continues in the city of Vico Equense, the largest on the Sorrento peninsula. Positioned on a rocky promontory, it offers enchanting landscapes and an evocative historic centre, as well as a vast architectural heritage. Of notable interest is the Church of the Santissima Annunziata, considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. Probably founded in the 14th century, it is located on a ridge approximately 90 meters high overlooking the sea, from which it is possible to admire all the splendor of the coast and the Gulf of Naples. It is the only example of Gothic style sacred architecture on the peninsula. Among other things to see there are: the Giusso Castle, home to events and demonstrations; and the Church of Santi Ciro e Giovanni, characterized by its lively majolica dome.
Finally, the last stop on the itinerary is Castellammare di Stabia, heir to the ancient Stabiae destroyed by the Vesuvian eruption of 79 AD. The city, known above all for its ancient thermal baths, is rich in religious testimonies, among which the Concathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and San Catello stand out, which presents itself as an authentic treasure chest. Also not to be missed: the Royal Palace of Quisisana, built in the 13th century and which currently houses a very interesting archaeological museum; and the excavations of Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna. It is also equipped with a cable car (usually active in the spring and summer months) which in a few minutes reaches Mount Faito, over 1100 meters above sea level, from where the view extends over the entire gulf and the circle of surrounding mountains.
