7 Best Things to Do in Cetara

Viceregal Tower, which includes the Civic Tower Museum of Cetara, was built in the 14th century and equipped with cannons and catapults to defend the land against attacks and spot incoming enemy fleets along the Amalfi Coast. Using smoke by day and fire by night, the structure was used to warn people of imminent danger.

Cetara’s Torre Vicereale (Viceregal Tower) is one of the most striking monuments from this period. It's open to the public and operates as a civic museum displaying paintings and works by local artists. In the lower rooms is the unique Museo Cantina (Basement Museum) on fishing and colatura (amber liquid obtained from ageing salted anchovies).

Beaches in Cetara offer sunbathing in the area’s most beautiful locations. Spiaggia della Marina (Marina Beach) is right in front of the town centre, boasting every amenity and the convenience of being a stone's throw from the town. Behind the harbour is a shore with smooth pebbles bathed in crystal-clear water. Farther west, reachable only by boat, is Cala della Collata (Collata Beach), surrounded by Mediterranean foliage.

East of the Torre Vicereale (Viceregal Tower), you can sunbathe on Spiaggia del Lannio (Lannio Beach), conveniently connected to the town by a path. You can reach Spiaggia della Campana (Campana Beach), distinguished by 2 small sea stacks, by boat. It doesn't have any amenities, so bring a beach umbrella, food and water.

The 34 designer benches (Panchine d'Autore) along the streets of Cetara have been made and installed by local ceramic artists. When you sit on a bench in Cetara, you're not just resting your legs; you're immersing yourself in a masterpiece.

The images are inspired by scenes from day-to-day life, from fishing to lemon farming. These urban installations depict traditional culture in a modern style. It’s a photo-worthy open-air museum that pops up all over the town, starting from the coast.

Scenic hikes including trips up Mount Falerio let you alternate between beach life and enjoying the scenery of the countryside while on holiday in Cetara. Choose the itinerary that's best for you in terms of your time and needs. A hilly route lasting about an hour will take you through lemon and olive tree groves and vineyards all the way to Punta Fuenti.

More challenging trails can take over 6 hours and lead to Monte Falerio (Mount Falerio), the highest point in the area, or through Capo d’Orso to the Santuario dell’Avvocata (Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary Advocate). In the woods near Erchie, you can visit atmospheric spots like the Vallone di San Nicola, a valley that's home to the ruins of an ancient monastery.

Experience the legend of the Tower of Cetara on a hot, sunny day on Spiaggia del Lannio (Lannio Beach). Look at the tower that stands on the promontory at the end of the bay. It used to defend the people against pirate attacks, but it wasn't always successful.

Once, during a Saracen raid, a group of monks and sailors were caught off guard and tried to escape along the coast, but to no avail. According to popular belief, the sighs of these men continue to echo along the shore, hence the name of the beach: Lannio, a word for lament.

Church St Peter the Apostle (Chiesa di San Pietro Apostolo) features a ceramic-covered dome that's a striking landmark in Cetara. The façade is neoclassical and the interiors are in baroque style, with stucco and plaster decorating the nave and the side chapels.

To enter, head to the parvis at the top of a long staircase. Pause at the entrance to admire the bronze-coloured door. This modern piece was created in 2005 and pays homage to St Peter and St Andrew, the 2 fishermen apostles. The oldest element is the belfry; the Romanesque-style lower part retains some features of the previous church, constructed in medieval times to mark the Normans' victory over the Saracens.

The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (Chiesa di San Francesco) is located at the end of the main street that crosses the village. A walk along this street in Cetara is also enlivened by the numerous restaurants and artisan shops you can visit. The space beside the church, now home to businesses, was once occupied by a monastery.

The building's façade reflects the simplicity of a Franciscan lifestyle and features a tuff door beneath a painted niche. The interior is decorated with fascinating artwork, with 16th-century frescoes covering the vault and dome. The main altar is surmounted by a painting of the deposition, the work of a local painter in 1746.