Hidden Gems in and around the City Center
This article is a follow-up to a previous article where I shared some historical spots right in the heart of Sorrento.
This time, we will go a bit further out to explore equally impressive—but slightly less central—archeological treasures (with a couple of exceptions, like the Greek Gate and the nymphaeum!).
Bagni della Regina Giovanna and Villa di Pollio Felice
Capo di Sorrento is a beautiful area to visit and is so rich in history.
This area is about a 45 minute walk from Sorrento (a bus can also be taken).
Bagni di Regina Giovanna, or the Baths of Queen Giovanna, is a natural pool where Queen Giovanna of Anjou, the first queen of Naples, would bathe and is rumored to have entertained lovers there as well.
This has a narrow channel from the gulf into a private cove with a rocky beach.
It was too cold to go swimming when I visited, but it seems like a beautiful place to swim in the waters, enjoy the views of nature, and feel like royalty for the day.
The ruins of Villa di Pollio Felice are all around the area, a Roman seaside villa from the 1st century AD.
I had done some research on the area prior to visiting, but I had not expected to see just so much of the ruins.
After visiting the bath, we walked around the area following paths and climbing up rocks.
We realized we hadn’t just climbed up on a cliff, we were on top of the ruins!
There were lines of stones that seemed like the outline of rooms and we found a small window looking down into the rooms of the ruins.
Seeing this made me want to figure out if we could see more and we found some stairs that led down to an opening where we could go inside!
We were able to explore inside the ruins, seeing each of the rooms and doorways.
After seeing them from above it was so exciting to be able to walk inside them.
Unfortunately, a lot of the ruins have graffiti on them, which is a very sad sight to see on such a beautiful piece of history.
On our way to leave, we still saw so much in every turn we took.
Right by the aforementioned remains, there was part of some mosaic flooring on the ground and we passed by multiple smaller remains of the villa.
This was a lovely walk with lots to see.
It really felt like an adventure, climbing up rocks to get to the entry points into the ruins.
I went with a friend, and it was fun exploring together parts of history, pieces of the past. I had a great time seeing all of the different parts of the ruins and the nature surrounding them.
Being able to see the gorgeous views of the Gulf of Naples was a bonus!
The combination of the beautiful views, the bath, and the historical ruins made for a wonderful excursion.
The Greek Gate/The Gate of Marina Grande
Leading down into Marina Grande, a fishing village in Sorrento, this gate, known as The Greek Gate, has so much history behind it.
This gate is thought to have been built in the 4th century BC.
Up until the 15th century, it was likely the only entrance to Sorrento from the sea.
On June 13, 1588, the Turks invaded Sorrento and according to legend, this gate was opened for them by a slave of the noble Correale family and this was how they were able to enter Sorrento and ransack it.
As I attend school and live right by Marina Grande, I was surprised to hear that this was a historical site, having walked through this gate on multiple occasions, but I feel like a part of living in Italy is perpetually being surrounded by historical sites and places full of stories!
The Nymphaea of the Villa of Agrippa Postumus
Near Marina Piccola, there are the remains of a Roman villa from between 6 and 7 BC, belonging to Agrippa Postumus, the adopted son of the Emperor Augustus.
As part of these remains, there are nymphaea: sanctuaries dedicated to nymphs that would likely include statues and fountains.
These were carved into the cliff and decorated with mosaics.
Prior to visiting these, I had seen pictures, but nothing could have prepared me for just how big these are!
Looking at them, one can imagine just how majestic these nymphaea must have looked in their former glory.
These villa remains have been incorporated into the base of Hotel Bellevue Syrene.
Because of this, there is a connecting area to the major nymphaeum of remains that have been situated with glass sculptures lining the walls.
I visited this site on a sunny morning and it was a beautiful walk to get there.
The walk to get there from Piazza della Vittoria has beautiful views of the gulf and coast as you descend towards the port.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast or just curious to see a different side of Sorrento, these sites offer a deeper connection to the layers of civilizations that once lived here.
Exploring beyond the town center not only enriches your understanding of the region—but makes you appreciate how much history is hidden just a few steps off the beaten path.
Ciao!
Justine