Cetara · Vietri sul Mare
Cetara to Vietri sul Mare coastal path
- Distance
- 5 km
- Elevation Gain
- 200 m
- Duration
- 2-2.5 hours
This coastal walk connects the eastern Amalfi Coast’s two towns with the most character: Cetara, known for its anchovy fishing and its colatura di alici, and Vietri sul Mare, the coast’s ceramic capital where hand-painted majolica covers every surface. The path follows a combination of old coastal trails and quiet lanes above the SS163, offering views across the Gulf of Salerno that are entirely different from the western coast’s perspective. Here the land is drier, the cliffs less dramatic but more varied, and the sea stretches east toward Cilento. You pass through the hamlet of Erchie midway — a tiny settlement with a Norman tower and a postcard beach wedged into a ravine. The walking is moderate with some ups and downs as the trail navigates headlands between coves. Arriving in Vietri, the ceramic workshops begin to appear: tiles, plates, and decorative panels in the signature yellow, blue, and green Vietri palette. This stretch of coast receives a fraction of the visitors of the Amalfi-Positano corridor.
What you see
- Cetara’s anchovy fishing tradition and colatura di alici
- Erchie hamlet with its Norman tower and hidden beach
- Gulf of Salerno panorama stretching to Cilento
- Arrival in Vietri’s ceramic district with hand-painted majolica
Where to take pictures
- Porto di Cetara
- Colorful fishing boats and the anchovy nets drying in the sun — a working coast
- Erchie beach from above
- The tiny cove beach with Norman tower, hemmed in by cliffs — perfectly framed from the trail
- Vietri ceramic facade
- Buildings covered in hand-painted tiles catching the afternoon light
Seasonal Notes
Year-round. This eastern section is warmer and drier than the western coast. Spring and autumn are ideal. Summer is hot but the sea breeze helps. A good option when western trails are crowded.
Getting There
Start: Cetara, on SITA bus line from Amalfi (30 min) and Salerno (20 min). End: Vietri sul Mare, the last town on the coast, connected to Salerno (10 min bus) and Amalfi (40 min bus).
The tip
Buy a bottle of colatura di alici in Cetara before you start — it is the coast’s most prized condiment, a fermented anchovy sauce that is essentially Roman garum. Deli Nettuno on the harbor is the source.