This coastal town on Italy's Sorrentine Peninsula has ancient Roman roots, medieval stone churches, and cliffs dropping into the Bay of Naples. Known for its local provolone cheese.
Vico Equense sits on tuff cliffs along the Bay of Naples. You'll find sulfur springs bubbling up beneath the sea, a pink Gothic cathedral from the 14th century, and restaurants serving meter-long pizzas. Located just 10 minutes by train from Sorrento, this coastal town gives you clear views of Mount Vesuvius across the bay, with both rocky coves and sandy beaches below the cliffs.
Getting Around Vico Equense
You can use three Circumvesuviana train stations to explore different parts of Vico Equense: the central station for the town center, Seiano station for the harbor area, and Scrajo Terme station for the thermal baths. Local buses connect the town center with both harbors - the main port of Vico Equense and Seiano port, where you can catch boats to Capri and Sorrento. To reach the beaches from the elevated town center, take one of several staircases and paths down the cliffs.
The Gothic Cathedral and Medieval Castle
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata dominates a rocky outcrop above the sea, with its distinctive pink Gothic architecture. Inside, you'll discover a wooden altar from the 1700s adorned with pearls, coral fragments, and glass paste - all crafted by local nuns. A few steps from the cathedral stands Castello Giusso, built between 1284 and 1289 by Charles II of Naples.
Beaches and Thermal Waters
At the Scrajo thermal spa, established in 1895, you can swim in natural sulfuric spring water that emerges beneath sea level. The complex includes a beach club and a sun deck next to the springwater pool. From the old town, you can walk down to several pebble and volcanic sand beaches. Marina d'Aequa in Seiano has both private clubs and public areas. Take a short boat ride from the harbor to visit "Lo scoglio della Tartaruga," a small islet just offshore.
Local Food Specialties
Da Gigino restaurant created the original "pizza al metro" in the 1930s - a meter-long pizza with a deeper and softer crust than traditional Neapolitan versions. In the hills above town, dairy farms make Provolone del Monaco cheese using milk from cows that graze around Agerola. The town has three Michelin-starred restaurants, along with traditional trattorias and pizzerias.
Weather and Best Times to Visit
Temperatures average 16°C year-round, with warm summers and mild winters. Visit between April-June or September-October when you can walk and hike in 20-25°C weather. The sea temperature stays around 23°C through autumn, making these months good for swimming and boat trips. In summer, beaches in Seiano fill up quickly - arrive before 10am or reserve a spot at a beach club if you're visiting in July or August.
