Vico Equense

About this activity

Beautiful town between the Gulf of Naples, i Lattari Mountains and the Gulf of Salerno, Vico Equense encompasses wonderful landscapes that are famous all over the world. Due to its location, it is a strategic place to visit the Sorrento Coast and the Amalfi Coast.

The name itself recalls precisely the main characteristics of the place: Equense derives from the Latin word "aequa" meaning plain, in fact the municipality is located on a flat plateau, and Vico derives from "vicus," which for the Romans meant a neighborhood extended to the point of being autonomous.

The area was populated even before the arrival of the Romans-in fact, numerous burials of indigenous peoples have been found. The Latin author Silio Italico first wrote about Vico Equense in his poem "Punica."

Why visit Vico Equense

It is the largest municipality in the Sorrento Peninsula. In Roman times it was politically dependent on Stabia, when the Stabiesi in 89 B.C. joined a revolt against Rome the village was razed to the ground. Under the empire of Augustus it became a favorite destination for Romans to spend a few days in contact with nature. When Stabia in 79 AD was swept away by the eruption along with Pompeii and Herculaneum, Vico Equense again found itself without protection. It faced the collapse of the Roman Empire, the advent of the barbarians and the raids of the Saracens. The locals, called vicani, created small defenses where today we find the village of Marina Equa, the main core of the city home to the wonderful Church of the Most Holy Annunciation.

The former cathedral of Vico Equense

Built on a rocky ridge overlooking the sea, it is one of the most fascinating religious monumental buildings in the area. The structure dating back to the 14th century was built on the ruins of the ancient Roman temple of Cybele and was the bishop's seat and cathedral of the diocese until 1818. The ancient religious building is also called "di Punta a Mare" and is a popular destination for celebrating one's union in marriage. The church overlooks the wonderful panorama of Vico Equense, while on the left you can admire the statue of the Madonna and a large door with the effigy of Christ.

Giusso Castle, the defense of the city

Vico Equense throughout history has been home to various populations that have left evidence of their passage, among which the Giusso Castle, built by Charles II of Anjou to defend the town, is noteworthy. The ghost of Joan the Mad, who used to kill her lovers, is said to roam here. One day she fell into one of her traps, and since then it is said that the spect continues to roam the halls of the Castle, particularly in the month of August you also seem to hear the wails of lovers who have found death.

The Mineralogical Museum of Campania

Opened in 1992, it is one of the most important science museums in Campania. Here it is possible to observe over 3500 minerals of 1400 species from all over the world. A paleontological section has been organized since 1997, and an anthropological section since 2003. Here it is possible to admire minerals with very unusual geometric shapes, meteorites, extraterrestrial bodies of various compositions, but also dinosaur fossils. Thanks to some donations in 2001 a section dedicated exclusively to gems was also opened.

The Wall of Fame

At Piazzale Kennedy, on the right is the only monument to Italian cinema: The Wall of Fame, a wall with autographs of Italian and international movie stars.

The Shrine of Santa Maria del Toro and the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel on Mount Faito

The Shrine of Santa Maria del Toro in Vico Equense is one of the two most important city shrines. It is said that here a bull every time it passed in front of the cliff knelt until one night, the Madonna appeared in a dream to a crippled girl asking her to go to the grotto to obtain healing. Here thanks to local devotion a was built that was the first nucleus of the shrine. The Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel was built where the archangel appeared. One night St. Michael the Archangel appeared in a dream to St. Antoninus and St. Catellus who were taking care of the local diocese and asked them to erect a chapel in his honor, so a wooden temple was built. It is said that during the invasion of the Turks in Sorrento, a group of the faithful hid inside the shrine and the statue of the saint began to "sweat," and the next day the town was liberated.

The structure after numerous raids was abandoned but after World War II a new church was built and consecrated. Some 20 years later thanks to Monsignor Oscar Reschigg redevelopment work was begun and completed in 1973.

Beaches in Vico Equense

In addition to the momunents to visit, Vico Equense offers little corners of paradise where you can cool off during the summer. La Turtle Beach, a small pebble beach reachable only by sea with a rock that looks just like a cute turtle, is not suitable for children as the seabed soon becomes deep and is rocky.

The Scrajo Beach, from scapeus, meaning steep, is one of the most beautiful in the area, equipped with the historic Scrajo Mare bathhouse, it is also home to the Scrajo Spa. The sulfur-salt-bromine-iodine type water has healing properties for diseases of the osteoarticular, respiratory, dermatological and gynecological systems. Here it is also possible to have other treatments such as mud baths, inhalations, massages and phototherapy. Other beaches not to be missed are those of Tordigliano - Chiosse and of Pezzolo, respectively, a pebble beach that can be reached on foot via in path or via bad, perfect for those who like uncrowded places and a beach where the remains of a Roman villa can be admired. From Vico Equense it is possible to take an excursion to the Mount Faito For lovers of trekking. Vico Equense has plenty of restaurants where you can try local specialties.

A few kilometers away it is possible to visit Seiano and reach Marina Aequa where there is Seiano beach, which is very famous and popular with tourists.