Monte Faito, the giant over the sea

About this activity

Mount Faito is an ideal destination for outings and trips out of town, much appreciated and frequented by those who live in Naples and Province or in the Salernitano area. Its name "Faito," can be traced back to the term "beech forest": extensive beech forest vegetation, in fact, covers it. It is a mountain more than 1,000 meters high that occupies the area between the municipalities of Castellammare di Stabia and Vico Equense and is part of the Lattari Mountains.

History of Mount Faito

The mountain Faito aroused great interest in timber production, it was a very important resource: it was used by Ferdinand IV of Bourbon for the construction of his fleet. During Ferdinand's reign, the forest was also used for ice production: it was made by creating moats filled with snow and covered with foliage. The Faito moats were real natural refrigerators that were used for storing food and drink.

After World War II, Mt. began to be considered a tourist resort, and in 1952 the impressive cable car was inaugurated, connecting the top of the mountain to the center of Castellammare in just 8 minutes.

What to do on Mount Faito

Driving along the Quisisana, a historic road and former mule track of Faito that leads to the summit of the mountain, one has the opportunity to admire the extraordinary views of the entire Neapolitan Gulf. On one side, the Sorrento peninsula to the enchanting Capri and its Faraglioni, on the other hand the whole Vesuvian area with its beautiful Naples. Comfortable and quiet route for those who want to try trekking for the first time and spend a day surrounded by nature. There are numerous trails, wide and full of shade and coolness such as the Angel Trail but also restaurants, bars, a sports center with children's games, and a swimming pool.

The Angel's Path

So called because according to tradition here the saints gathered in prayer. Catello, patron saint of Castellammare di Stabia, and Antonino, also known as St. Anthony Abbot, to whom the Archangel Michael appeared in a dream. He ordered them to build a chapel in his honor, later replaced in 1950 by the Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel. The trail starts from the cable car apron and arrives at the shrine.

The miracle of the sweating of the statue of St. Michael

It is said that during the Turkish invasion of Sorrento, a group of fugitives holed up on the Mount Faito asking for St. Michael's help. Drops of sweat gushed from the statue, and the next day the city was freed from the invaders. In the following years, according to the writings of the time, the miracle was very frequent.

Everyone in the cable car

Taking a cable car ride, can be a fun experience for your children, like a merry-go-round suspended between land and sea. When you arrive on the Mt. you can have a wonderful family day, between picnics and peaceful walks in the beautiful beech forest.

The Monte Faito cable car

Built in 1952, it connects Castellammare with the picturesque mountain village. It was the first major cable car in this area, an innovative means from which to admire the splendid Gulf of Naples. An attraction for many tourists even then, it made Faito very famous.

The happy and carefree years were interrupted, however, by a horrendous tragedy on August 15, 1960, when the cable car disengaged, crashing at the mouth of the railway tunnel below. Four people lost their lives as a result of human wickedness. Those in charge of the cable car, had deliberately broken safety regulations by disabling the speed limiters, simply to make more rides. It resumed service again on July 16, 1962, and slowly travelers regained confidence in this wonderful ride.

Faito Doc Festival

A full-fledged festival is organized on Mt. metamorphosis. Organized partly in-person and partly online, the summer of 2020 held the Prologue to the Metamorphosis with atmospheric outdoor screenings under the starry sky. Two international short film competitions took place, with an equally international jury evaluating 13 short films. In 2021, jury members will be officially invited to the Faito Doc Festival, in attendance, to present the feature films created and new short films.