Discover Cetara: Culture, Colatura di Alici and Coastal Paths

Art, Churches and the Viceroy’s Tower

The town museum in Cetara’s tower displays permanent exhibitions by the artist Manfredi Nicoletti, numerous coastal painters known as the “costaioli”, and the “Museo vivo” by Ugo Marano. The first records of the Church of San Pietro Apostolo date back to 988; its present façade is neoclassical, while the interior is characterised by the late Baroque style.

The monastery in Cetara dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi dates from 1585. In the Church of San Francesco d’Assisi, the choir behind the high altar contains a Descent from the Cross by Marco Benincasa dated 1746. At the entrance portal of the Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli is a ceramic panel depicting the Madonna of Constantinople, made in 1932 by Ceramica Pinto of Vietri sul Mare. The church was most likely consecrated in 1867.

The Viceroy’s Tower combines a cylindrical Angevin tower with a two-storey viceregal structure. Its original lower Angevin rooms house the Museum of Fishing and Colatura di Alici. This museum is also intended to include a small library with books, historical documents, newspapers, magazines and photographs relating to Colatura, fishing and Cetara’s roots.

Colatura di Alici and Local Festivals

Colatura di Alici is present not only in the museum. The Colatura di Alici festival takes place every year in the first half of December and includes tastings of typical local products in Cetara’s main squares. Colatura di Alici di Cetara is recognised as a product with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. If you want to place local products at the centre of your trip, you can include this festival period in your travel planning.

Annual Events

The festival of the patron saint, Saint Peter the Apostle, is celebrated in Cetara every year on 29 June. The procession for the Immaculate Conception takes place on 8 December at 5 a.m. The Night of the Lamps takes place every year between the end of July and the beginning of August; the date depends on the phases of the moon. During this event, it is possible to watch a genuine anchovy catch off Cetara from ferries.

Beaches, Terraces and Paths

Corso Garibaldi is important for finding your way around the town: it is Cetara’s main street, where historic sights such as the Church of San Pietro Apostolo are located. Lannio Beach is one of Cetara’s three beaches and can be reached on foot from the town centre. The hilly path from Pietra Chiatta to Punta Fuenti takes about an hour and begins at the area beside Cetara’s cemetery.

The Lemon Tour passes through Cetara’s terraces and, through the stories of farmer and fisherman Luigi Di Crescenzo, offers insights into the culture of the past. One path reaches the Santuario dell’Avvocata in just over an hour. A hiking trail follows the historic connection between Cetara and the Badia della SS. Trinità di Cava de’ Tirreni.

From Salerno railway station, travellers can take a SITA bus via Vietri to Cetara. When choosing a hotel, you can therefore first decide whether churches and museums, festivals, Colatura di Alici or hiking should be the focus of your stay. This keeps the accommodation decision aligned with your own interests and your desired travel pace.

Discover More Destinations

If you would like to add more destinations to your trip to Italy, you can find San Marco Di Castellabate, Perdifumo, Faiano, Catona, Ispani, Ostigliano, Castiglione Di Ravello and Cava Deʼ Tirreni here.

To the higher-level travel overview: Salerno.