Enclosed between Punta Campanella and Punta Penna, the enchanting inlet known as Ieranto Bay is a wild place of unspoiled beauty, reachable through a natural path to cross strictly on foot.
According to Homer, Ieranto – from the greek Ieros, meaning holy land – is where Ulysses meets the Sirens on his journey to Ithaca. Indeed, a magical place surrounded by colours: the blue of the sea, the green of the olive trees and Capri as background.
And like all the magical places, it is a bit difficult to reach. There are almost six kilometres from the square of Nerano to the Ieranto Bay and its beach: not an easy walk!
Just 50 meters uphill to Marina del Cantone you will find olive and citrus groves, vegetable gardens along the path of the ancient mulattiera, an old passage for donkeys, next to Villa Rosa, where Norman Douglas lived for a while.
If you love unspoiled nature, this is the perfect destination! On the road, you will be a witness of the flourish Mediterranean scrub and the huge level of biodiversity.
Therefore, a marvellous landscape will repay the effort of the walk. Passing through Grotta delle Noglie you will reach the crest of the village of Spirito. From here, on the right, you can admire Punta Campanella and Capri with its Faraglioni, on the left, the Gulf of Salerno up to Punta Licosa, the Amalfi Coast and the islands. At the centre an authentic paradise on earth: Ieranto Bay.
At this point, the path leads to a crossroads: on the left, there is a dirt road heading to Punta Penna and Torre di Montalto, on the right, the FAI headquarters, which also offers guided tours and activities. From here, an old ladder will bring you down to the cobblestone beach.
Tips
Ieranto Bay’s beach is a public bathing area. Therefore, we suggest carrying with you everything you need to enjoy it at its best: bath towels, parasol, snacks and drinks. Most importantly, a pair of comfortable shoes since the beach is covered with white pebbles.
For the laziest ones, or for those who cannot use the walking path: you can also reach the bay by sea.
From the beach of Nerano, there are excursions by boat organized by Cooperativa Sant’Andrea.
INFO
On foot: road signs indicate the path starting from the small square of Nerano
- Needed time: 40 minutes (downhill), 1 hour (uphill).
- Distance: 6 km
- Altitude: 250 m
By boat: you can reach Ieranto Bay by boat thanks to Cooperativa Sant’Andrea.
Ieranto Bay can be visited all year round.
The visit is free
The path is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. We recommend using trekking shoes, or, at least, comfortable ones, along with basic athletic training.