What to see in Vico Equense, a city on the Sorrento peninsula, itinerary including the main attractions, including the Cathedral of the Santissima Annunziata, the Antiquarium archaeological museum, the mineralogical museum and the Scrajo thermal baths.
Tourist information
Located on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea, at the foot of Monte Faito and overlooking the Gulf of Naples, Vico Equense is a popular seaside resort on the Sorrento Coast, appreciated for the numerous beaches and coves, some of which can only be reached by boat, as well as than for the suggestive natural caves located along the rugged coast.
The first human settlements in the area date back to remote times, these places were affected by the presence of Etruscans, osci and Romans.
The town, which was built on the remains of the ancient Phoenician Fair, has a Roman urban layout, which blends perfectly with the subsequent changes made in the Middle Ages.
The fortified walls date back to 1300, built by King Charles II of Anjou.
What see
The cathedral of the Santissima Annunziata, dating back to 1320, is the only Gothic-style building on the Sorrento peninsula, built on a cliff overlooking the sea and having an eighteenth-century facade, as well as a bell tower from the sixteenth century.
Inside the three naves separated by large pillars, there is a fourteenth-century apse with a pentagonal shape and entirely frescoed, as well as a beautiful carved wooden choir from the seventeenth century.
Other works of art included a painting by the painter Maffei, depicting the scene entitled "The Assumption of the Virgin", five paintings by Giuseppe Bonito, with scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, the tomb of Gaetano Filangieri and the Cimmino sarcophagus of the fifteenth century.
Also worth seeing are the Giusto castle, dating back to 1284 and built at the behest of Charles II of Anjou, the equan Antiquarium, where all the archaeological finds found in the area are kept, the Church of the Santissimi Ciro e Giovanni, dating back to 1610 , and the Campano Mineralogical Museum, where some thousands of minerals are kept.
In Vico Equense there is also a renowned spa, which uses the sulphurous thermal spring of the Scrajo.
Typical gastronomic specialties include pizza by the meter and dairy products, including mozzarella and caciocavallo.
Recommended readings- Sapri (Campania): what to see
- Campania: Sunday day trips
- Amalfi (Campania): what to see
- Acciaroli (Campania): what to see
- Teano (Campania): what to see
From Monte Faito, located a few kilometers from Vico Equense, you can admire a suggestive mountain landscape.
