Campania is famous for many things; its culinary heritage as the birthplace of pizza and spaghetti, its historical heritage with sites like Pompeii and Herculaneum, and, of course, its truly remarkable coastline and beaches. Those who find a vacation rental in Campania, therefore, will be astonished by the unbelievable wealth of things to see and do in the region. However, it really is the sun-worshippers, beach-lovers, swimmers, and water sports enthusiasts who will be best catered to by a holiday in Campania. Between the big strands fronting resort towns and cities, to the beautiful islands ringed by beaches, to the nature parks with preserved stretches of the coast that can be explored under certain conditions or with permission, to the endless little coves and bays just waiting to be explored, there are all sorts of places to come and spend time by the sea in Campania!
One of the most picturesque of all of these beaches and areas along the coast of Campania has to be the Bay of Ieranto. Unbelievably lovely, steeped in legend, and protected, this remarkable natural gem is a truly astonishing sight to behold and full of charm.
The only inlet at the end of the Sorrento peninsula, the bay can be reached only on foot by a little path leading from the village of Nerano. About 6km long and steeply sloping downhill at several points, it is not the easiest to navigate for some and is certainly not accessible for those with mobility issues, unfortunately. However, those who are able and willing to make the journey will definitely be rewarded and for those who are pretty mobile and relatively fit it is not actually that difficult at all.
Finding the entrance to the trail down to this beach is a trial in its own right for many, aside from the trek down the mountain. The path begins about 100 meters below Nerano's main square, and should be well-marked. However, many do fail to find this. If you’re struggling to find it, just ask a local and they’ll usually be able to point you in the right direction pretty quickly – this is often more reliable and straightforward than all of the GPS devices and guides you find on the internet combined! So, don’t be shy, just ask. Guided tours of the area are also regularly offered by the FAI, who protect and own the Bay of Ieranto, and this is a guaranteed and ideal way to find and access this natural gem if you’re worried about getting turned around or if you simply want a great introduction to this heavenly part of the world. Just check out their website to see if there are any tours coming up around the time of your vacation in Campania.
At the beginning of the trail, you’ll find a level stretch that goes past a pink villa that was once the home of the British writer Norman Douglas, when he was spending time in this area. Eventually, you can expect to reach a rocky outcrop that overlooks the beach and then the path will start heading down, past a Mediterranean wood. From this point, the trail becomes a little bit wilder and the view will open up to offer incredible panoramas over the coastline and a valley that is filled with olive groves. This is also where you will find the FAI centre, which is home to the only restroom in the vicinity so it is worth keeping that in mind while passing and availing of the services if necessary. It is also worth keeping in mind that there are no restaurants, bars, or shops in the area so you will need to bring your own snacks and drinks if you are planning on spending a whole day in the Bay of Ieranto.
From the FAI centre you can head on down to the lovely and secluded little beach of the Bay of Ieranto or you can take the trail that leads up to Mont'Alto and Punta Penna in the other direction if you are after more hiking and pretty views. Those who decide to head down to the bay, will find the bright blue and perfectly crystal clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea that are visible from all around this part of the region are now right before your eyes. In addition, there is a charming little pebble and sand beach being lapped by these waters as well as the romantic setting of the high rocky cliffs and lush greenery hugging the inlet.
Alternatively, if you’re not up to this whole trek, you can head to Nerano’s beach instead, where the Sant Andrea Cooperative runs boats to the Bay of Ieranto. As they are the only company who have authorised access to the protected marine area of Punta Campanella, this is the only way you can get to the beach via transport, rather than on foot. This is worth keeping in mind if you are not willing or able to undertake a hike but do want to see this stunning beach and protected area for yourself while enjoying a lovely villa in Campania.
A truly magical little slice of heaven, this incredible beach is one of the most beautiful in all of Italy and is a must for those planning a getaway in Campania. Do note, however, that despite the long walk to get to the beach, it does become very busy during the height of the summer months as locals are particularly fond of it and it attracts hoards of domestic tourists who vacation in the area as well.
Picture 1 Thomas Möllmann / CC BY-SA 3.0;
Picture 2 Axico / CC BY-SA 4.0;
Picture 3 Vincenzo La Montagna / CC BY-SA 3.0
