On our May 2023 trip to Italy, once again we looked for some kind of a hiking, scrambling, and climbing adventure, which we found on the hike to Grotta di Minerva on the tip of the Sorrento peninsula. The Grotta di Minerva is a sea cave, so getting there is quite an adventure.
Location
First things first, to hike to the Grotta di Minerva we needed to hire a driver from where we were Staying in Sorrento to the small town of Termini. I am sure you can walk all the way from our hotel but we had plans for later in the afternoon and didn’t want to spend all day walking. The driver dropped us off at the trail and we followed the trail to the lighthouse. After a bit of searching, we found our way to the Grotta.
The Grotta di Minerva is located on the Sorrento Peninsula and is close to Punta Campanella which is at the tip of the peninsula and is an excellent hiking experience.
The Hike
Once the driver dropped us off we had not problem finding the route. We followed the Punta Campanella trail. The trail began at the edge of town and we followed through residential areas that slowly transitioned to the country side. It was a beautiful clear spring day and a pleasant walk. We could see the island of Capri in the distance for most of the hike which we enjoyed as we would be visiting the island in a few days. The trail was well marked both with signs and maps. Some of the maps and signs were quite elaborate, using tiles and paintings.
As we progressed further down the trail, the path became cobblestone with stone walls on either side. Trees lined the sides and it was truly a peaceful place. There were a few scattered houses, perhaps farms along the way. I found myself imagining what it would be like to live here along this beautiful trail with views of the sea.
Torre di Fossa Papa
After a little less than an hour, the Torre di Fossa Papa came into view. This 16th century tower was built for protection after the Turks invaded the area. The property includes extensive lemon and olive trees. My understanding is vacationers are now able to rent this tower.
Ancient Roman Road and Roman Pier
The path to Punta Campanealla was once part of an Ancient Roman Road. Although over time this has been repaired and resurfaced, the road continues all the way to the tip of the cape and down to a Roman Pier. We found what appears to be a path to the pier (in the second photo). While walking a bit of the path, we watched as a couple of guys came back from following the path further down, reporting it was quite slick with a huge drop off. That was enough for us to decide not to follow. I have seen photos of people that have made it to the ancient pier and it does look marvelous. On the other hand, we had enough adventure coming up as you will see.
Punta Campanella Lighthouse
As I mentioned before, you can see views of the island of Capri for most of the walk. The views are spectacular. We were busy admiring the views of Capri when we suddenly noticed the lighthouse was just around the corner.
The Punta Campanella Lighthouse is still an active lighthouse. The original lighthouse built in 1846 would warn sailors that they were approaching the tip of the peninsula. The current lighthouse continues to direct sailors since 1972 and is powered by solar energy. It has a light range of 10 nautical miles.
Torre Minerva
Right behind the lighthouse and in front of the sea is the Torre Minerva. In this area, beneath and near the Torre, there are Ancient Greek ruins. Homer’s Odyssey states he built a Sanctuary to Athena here in gratitude as the goddess protected him against the three Sirens. In Greek mythology, the Sirens were half bird and half female beings. The Sirens have beautiful melodic voices. Their voices would lure sailors to their death. At some point the Sanctuary became the Temple of Minerva. Historic writings state that the road , Via Minerva, ended at the point of the cape at the Sanctuary of Minerva.
Although it would have added to my adventure, Steve was on his own walking down to see the other side of the tower as I did not care for the looks of the steps.
The tower itself was originally built in 1334. In 1566, after attacks from the Turks, it was rebuilt and fortified. It was used as a lookout for enemies and pirates in conjunction with the other 30 towers built from Sorrento and along the Almafi Coast.
Climbing down to the Grotta
After roaming around the lighthouse and tower we excitedly looked for the path to the Grotta di Minerva. We saw a path that looked like it went somewhere, so followed it to a crevice between the cliff. Steve cautiously checked it out and then told me it was doable.
Once Steve gave me a hand down, there were many stone steps that took us to some large rocks and down a ladder. After leaving the ladder we grabbed the rope for assist. Slowly we made our way down the steep rocky cliff to some large boulders. Once we carefully trekked around the boulders we reached our hiking destination on the sea of the Sorrento Peninsula, the Grotta di Minerva.
Grotta di Minerva
The Grotta is a sea cave and was much more grand than we anticipated. It was still morning when we arrived. The sun shone brightly so we could clearly see the sea washing ashore through the openings into the cave. As it was too cold for us to swim, we just took in the beauty of this place.
Climbing Back Up
As it always seems when we are hiking, the hike up from the Grotta di Minerva was easier than the hike down and we were all smiles as we returned to the top of the Sorrento peninsula. It really was a truly great experience.
Stopping for Granita
We had passed a Granita stand on the path to Punta Campanella and were looking forward to enjoying a cup on our way back. It was amazingly refreshing and also a great place to sit awhile!
Lunch
I am not sure of the name of the restaurant where we ate when we arrived back in Termini but it was just after the trailhead. It was quite crowded for that time of day. The food was very good. Unfortunately, the waiter/owner was quite pushy by being insistent that we order more food. Actually to a point where we felt uncomfortable. It definitely took away from the experience.
After lunch we called our driver and returned to the hotel.
Conclusion
As you can tell, we loved this hike. From start to finish it took us just under 4 hours. Hiking the trail to Punta Campanella and also climbing down to the Grotta di Minerva is a great way to spend part of the day when staying in Sorrento, Italy. In addition it is a lot of fun!
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Click below for more from my Italy 2023 trip.
Our Rainy Day in Rome – May 2023
Rome to Pompeii by Train-May 2023
You can also check out my 2022 Italy trip posts:
Wandering Lecce, Italy – April 2022
Tenuta DonnAnna Cooking Class-Puglia, Italy, April 2022
Walking Through Porto Selvaggio-Puglia, Italy April 2022
Walking Through Capo di Leuca-Puglia, Italy April 2022
Scenic views at every twist and turn! The route itself was very scenic as well. The grotto di Minerva certainly offered dramatic views looking out to the crystal-blue waters and the food afterwards looked delicious and very-rewarding (minus the pushy waiter). Looks like you had a good time!
It was lovely and will always be a great memory!
I can see why you loved this hike! It’s such a beautiful coastline and it looks so peaceful.
It was beautiful! I am missing my Colorado Hikes though, and I’m hoping to get out there in the spring! First time since 2012 I haven’t made it out there! I enjoy seeing your posts and pics on Instagram! Looks like you had a good summer!
Wow, great hike, Lori. I wouldn’t have done it, but I certainly enjoyed following along while you and Steve did it. The views of Capri and the sea were fantastic, and your photos are amazing. And that food! Oh my…
We do love our adventure hikes and hope to continue doing them for at least a few more years! Thanks for commenting!
It totally amazes me that such old things are still standing and that you can go and see them. The Grotta was really neat.
It truly is amazing. So many places have a story to tell and I enjoy finding out about them!
Those views are absolutely beautiful
Definitely made the hike even better!