A Trip to Monte Faito: Along "Il Cammino dell'Angelo"

From Sorrento to Monte Faito

On the morning of Friday, July 12, I had the unforgettable experience of exploring a portion of Monte Faito.

This mountain is the highest point on the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula.

There are many hiking trails, a few shops and restaurants, and a hang gliding take-off point located here.

I left Sorrento with three other Sant’Anna Institute students on the Circumvesuviana train around 8:00 am heading towards Castellammare di Stabia.

Upon arriving in the town otherwise known as the Castle of the Sea, we purchased tickets for the cable car (funivia).

The funivia takes you to Monte Faito from Castellammare di Stabia.

These tickets can be bought at the train station, as the cable car station is just a number of steps away from the train station ticket booth.

The ride up the mountain was eight minutes of stunning 360-degree views.

Dense forests looking up, the quaint town looking down, the neighboring peninsular towns to the left and right, and the glimmering gulf of Naples behind and below.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of being above cities and towns and below the peak of such a mountain.

It is a sensation of in-between, something you can only feel at this kind of altitude.

I only wish the ride were longer.

The Hike

After arriving at the top at the Funivia del Faito station, we were greeted by cool mountain air (at least five degrees cooler than Sorrento), and we were welcomed by a local man from the nearby ristorante.

He eagerly handed us maps and recommended two hiking trail options.

Pointing at Il Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo (St. Michael the Archangel Sanctuary) on the map, he said, “This leads to a beautiful panoramic view. You will love it.”

We thanked him for his kindness and hospitality, and we started on the trail known as Il Cammino dell’Angelo in the direction of the Santuario.

This path is about four kilometers from where we began near the funivia station, and a majority of it was at a slight incline with a few semi-steep hills.

There were rocks and stones to step over and onto at certain points, but with many places to rest and enjoy the views along the way, overall it was a low intensity hike fit for beginner-level hikers.

One thing to note for any future Monte Faito hikers: Despite the cooler air on the mountain, the warm summer makes for dry dirt that easily leads to a few slips and slides. Watch your step!

In addition to the lookout spots, the hike itself was filled with gorgeous views.

Its lush greenery was a delightful discovery in such a coastal location, making this mountain feel like an entirely separate world from the towns below.

Its thick canopy cast slivers of shadows and light through the leaves creating the sensation of being seen and hidden all at once.

Throughout the entire hike, we only saw three other people on the trail, making it a quiet and peaceful site to enjoy the peninsula without the bustle of summertime crowds.

The Destination

The man from the ristorante was right: we loved it.

Not only was the view utterly captivating, but there was a lovely little church, the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel, and multiple statues to admire.

One of the statues is the Madonna dell’Accoglienza, or Our Lady of Welcoming.

She stands directly in front of the view and to the left of the church (if you are facing the church).

Surrounding her feet and the short fence around her are the memories of past visitors: beaded cross necklaces and other trinkets of religious honor.

She is truly the lady of welcoming in the way she brings you to her side to enjoy the vastness of such a powerful place.

The other statues are positioned in a scene together.

These bronze sculptures are of Saint Michael, Saint Catello, and Saint Antonino.

These two are the Patron Saints respectively of Castellammare di Stabia and Sorrento.

Saint Micheal (San Michele) can be identified as the center figure by the inscription of “Quis ut Deus,” a Latin phrase written on an extension from his left side at the level of his knees.

Aleteia cites the Daily Missal of St. Andrew as stating that ‘Micheal’ means “Who is like God” in Hebrew.

This Latin phrase translates to “Who is like God,” therefore appearing on many images of San Michele.