Passing through Mount Falerio – Capella Vecchia – Sanctuary of the Avvocata – Vallone San Nicola – Piano di Viesto
Duration: 10,0 km
Travel time: 6h 30 ‘
Route – Quite long walk with an altitude difference of 900 meters. More suitable for the habitual and trained hiker.
Approach – Departure and arrival are scheduled from the cemetery overlooking the town of Ce tara. Here it is easier to find parking, avoiding the crowds of bathers’ cars in the summer and the parking rates for a whole day. A Cetara stops some ferry services to and from Salerno and Amalfi. From the Naples area it is advisable to use the highway (A3), exit Vietri sul Mare.
Refreshment points – There are no refreshment points along the route. Only, for a supply of water, a fountain in the section between the Old Chapel and the saddle. For any other need, the bars and restaurants of Cetara are available.
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The sanctuary of the Avvocata can also be reached with a second path that overlaps the previous one but only for a short distance.
This differs in the more varied environment. The greatest fascination requires the overcoming of a more challenging altitude difference. The walk starts from the car park in front of the cemetery of Cetara, just above the town. Climb along the boundary wall up to the beginning of an ascent consisting of a path recently made more “comfortable” with a questionable operation of concreting the bottom. Go along the entire western ridge of Monte Falerio up to the foot of the its highest and steepest part. Along this stretch the presence of the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) is frequent; with a little attention and a bit of luck, in summer, it is possible to taste its fruits. Leaving the steep face of Monte Falerio on the right, a tenuous track, on the same side, leads with wide hairpin bends to the saddle above and, finally, to the Old Chapel. Here the route overlaps the walk that starts from the Abbey of the Santissima Trinità in Cava de ‘Tirreni up to the Sanctuary of the Avvocata. The previous route comes from the right and, for Monte dell’Avvocata, it is necessary to continue to the left. The path, without great differences in height, winds just below the ridge line up to a saddle from which you descend towards the sanctuary. To return to Cetara, leaving the gate of the sanctuary, follow the perimeter wall to the right. After a few meters, take a hint of a path on the left which, immersing itself in the vegetation, descends along the side of Monte dell’Avvocata. You first cross a grove, then a fern, you pass in front of a ruin and, shortly after, you reach a crossroads. Leaving a track to the right that reaches Maiori, continue and, skirting the mountain, descend to a ridge. false paths. With a little attention, and taking into account that you always have to go down, with a large curve to the left you gradually lose altitude. Thus you arrive on a wider path, here you turn right, and continue downwards.
After a few minutes you will find a detour to the left marked with yellow marks, which leads to a ford below. After crossing the ford, take a rather obvious and easy to identify path to the right. About fifteen minutes and you will reach the Piano di Viesco at about 440 meters above sea level. Deviating from the path towards the sea you reach a panoramic point from which you have a wide view towards Salerno and its gulf.
To the left of the building, the path widens and, after a while, turns into large steps leading down to the valley. Further on you arrive at a crossroads where you need to deviate to the right to get to another ruin, identical to the one found previously. It is no longer possible to take the wrong road: you go down the steps in beaten earth. The view begins to open towards the underlying Cetara.
Before reaching the town, you pass by the ruins of the chapel of Santa Maria del Popolo. Another ten minutes and, after another detour to the left, you reach the road, near two modern buildings. Go down to the main road that crosses Cetara. Go up it for a few tens of meters to take a staircase on the right that takes you back to the cemetery.
