Sorrento is often called the “Land of Mermaids” and is right in the bay of Ieranto that the poet Homer places the mermaids who enchanted Odysseus.
The name “Ieranto” derives from the ancient Greek term “Ieros”, that means “holy”: here, near Punta Campanella, stood the temple of Athena.
Today, Ieranto is property of the FAI (Italian Environment Fund) and the access to the area is always free.
The path that leads to the bay of Ieranto begins from the little square of Nerano, part of Massa Lubrense and small fishing village located on the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula, reachable by bus from Massa Lubrense
The entrance of the path is few metres from the town square and is indicated by several signals.
The path proceeds in the plain for about a kilometer, passing in front of “Villa Rosa”, where the writer Norman Douglas, author of the “Land of Mermaids” lived.
After a downhill section, the view opens on Capri and the Faraglioni rocks, Punta Campanella, the profile of the Amalfi Coast and the little islands of Galli.
On route the olives trees will leave room to a wild Mediterranean maquis.
Also, you will see remains of old kilns: from the early 20th century, the bay was property of the Italsider who made it a mining village for the extraction of lime.
The final part is made up of the “ladder of the miners” built by the miners to reach faster the caves located on the sea level.
On route you will find a crossroad: from one side you climb up to Mont’Alto and Punta Penna, from the other side you go down until the small beach of the bay of Ieranto: a paradisiac place with crystal clear water where to bathe in front of the Faraglioni rocks.
