Fishing VillageAmalfi Coast
Cetara
Cetara is the last real fishing village on the Amalfi Coast — houses clustered around the church, a small harbor, and painted gozzi pulled up on shore.
Passport
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Bus from Amalfi
30min
Car from Amalfi
20min
Beaches
2
Sights
5
Crowd today
Almost empty
The guide
Why go
In 879 AD, Saracen pirates chose it as their raiding base; the watchtower still stands as a reminder. Less touched by international tourism than anywhere else on the coast, Cetara is where the sea still rules daily life. This is where colatura di alici — the heir to Roman garum, liquid gold pressed from anchovies aged in chestnut barrels ('terzigni') — is made. The local tuna is so prized it's exported to Japan for sushi.
What to See 5
The Harbor
Watch fishing boats come in at dawn. The daily tuna auction is a living tradition. Gozzi pulled up on the beach beside nets drying in the sun.
Torre di Cetara
Ancient Saracen watchtower dating to the 879 AD pirate occupation. Dominates the village silhouette.
Church with Majolica Dome
The parish church's colorful ceramic dome is Cetara's architectural signature.
Spiaggia di Lannio
A sandy beach just before the village. The name may derive from 'lagnanze' — the cries of monks killed by Saracen raiders.
Sapori Cetaresi / Delfino
Historic shop to buy authentic colatura di alici and tuna products directly from the producers. Look for 'Prodotto a Cetara' on the label.
Where to Eat 3
Acquapazza
One Michelin star. Chef Gennaro Esposito's seafood is a revelation.
Al Convento
In a former convent. The spaghetti with colatura is the definitive version of this dish. Also try the genovese di tonno.
San Pietro
Right on the harbor. Freshest catch, grilled simply.
Beaches 2
Trails 1
Events 6
Lemon Harvest Season
May through September
Sagra del Tonno e delle Alici
Mid-to-late July
Peak Anchovy Season
August through October
Grape Harvest Season
Late September through October
Last Swimming Days
Through late October
New Olive Oil Season
November through December
Getting There
By car: 10 min east. By bus: 20 min. Seasonal ferry: 20 min. Close to Vietri and Salerno.
Local Tips 5
1
Buy colatura di alici directly from Cetara — the stuff in Amalfi tourist shops is often mass-produced. Real colatura takes 3+ years in chestnut barrels.
2
Sagra del Tonno (July) is Cetara at its finest — the whole town becomes a street food festival with fresh tuna.
3
Try a 'cuoppo' of fried fish as street food — the local version of fish and chips.
4
The beach gets full sun until late afternoon — unusual on this coast where cliffs steal the light early.
5
Best fish-to-price ratio on the entire Amalfi Coast. What costs €35 in Positano costs €18 here.
Best time to visit
Cetara month by month
May, June and September offer the best balance of weather and crowds. July and August are peak season, with higher prices and more tourists.
Jan
Crowd low
10°Quiet season
Feb
Crowd low
11°Quiet season
Mar
Crowd low
13°Good, busy
Apr
Crowd medium
16°Great
May
Crowd medium
20°Best time
Jun
Crowd high
24°Best time
Jul
Crowd peak
27°Good, busy
Aug
Crowd peak
28°Good, busy
Where to Stay in Cetara
No stays here yet
Experiences in Cetara
Amalfi Coast
