Histrical notes

Vico Equense is the Sorrento Peninsula visiting-card. It spreads through a very vast area, from sea level up to the massif of Mount Faito (1.400 mt). Halfway between the mountain and the sea, surrounded by luxuriant hills and located on a promontory overlooking the sea, is the city centre. Here lived the Italics, the Etruscans and the Greeks, as proved by the finds exhibited in the Archeological Museum, while the adjacent Museum of Cinema attracts the charm of the fair city and the Sorrento Coast in the many films shot in these places. Other historic evidences are the Giusso Castle, built by the end of 1200s and enlarged three centuries after, and the former Cathedral of the Annunciation dating back to the 14th century.

Vico Equense – the largest urban area in the whole Sorrentine Peninsula – can boast a great number of churches containing many works of art and witnessing the deep religiousness of its people, such as the spectacular eighteenth century wooden altarpiece of the Confraternity of our Lady of Assumption. On the slopes if the hills, full of panoramic pathways most suitable for healthy walks, stand the “Casali”, the small villages famous for their agricultural and dairy-farming products. In this area one can enjoy beautiful views, like the landscape of Positano and the Amalfi Coast, as well as some masterpieces like the Camaldolite Convent of Astapiana (17th century) in Arola and the frescoes of St. Lucy Chapel in Massaquano (14th century). We would suggest a trip to Mount Faito, especially in the summer when the Sports Centre is open.

Finally, Vico Equense is a famous thermal resort, thanks to the Scrajo sulphureous spring located at sea level, whose healing power has been renowned since the Roman era. The town is proud of the Mineralogical Museum of Campania (one of the most remarkable scientific galleries in Southern Italy) with his great collections of minerals and fossils from all over the world and the MAAAM. a museum dedicated to the painter Antonio Asturi with valuable paintings donated by his family.
Vico Equense offers a variety of accomodations, from two to five stars hotels to campings, bed and breakfast houses and farm holidays places. As for gourmets, they will only face the embarrassment of choosing among the delicious dishes offered by some 40 restaurants, some of which are recorded in the important international gastronomic guides. The town is famous also for his typical cheese, like the Monk’s Provolone, and neapolitan cakes. Last but not least, do not forget to taste the famous Vico Equense pizza, originally measured “by metre” and the typical local food belonging to the parthenopean gastronomy.