Following the state road SS 163 from Vietri sul Mare towards Amalfi, after about 7 km you reach the Municipality of Cetara, a picturesque fishing village on the Amalfi Coast with a long fishing tradition, in particular tuna and anchovies.
In this article you will discover all the characteristics of the village of Cetara, in which beaches to swim, the best restaurants and the gastronomic specialties you must try. Enjoy the reading.
Cetara: main beaches
The village of Cetara overlooks the main beach, about 80 meters long, on which stands the Night & Day bathing beach and two free beaches. The final part of the beach, close to the Norman tower, is purely made up of pebbles.
In addition to the main beach, from the center of Cetara it is possible to reach the Lannio beach, also known by the locals as the Torretta beach (Little Tower beach). This beach can be reached along a pedestrian street that branches off from the state road SS 163, called Via del Lannio. It is a very characteristic beach where you can enjoy a crystal clear sea. On this beach there is the La Torretta lido with a bar, restaurant and services and a free beach.
The third beach reachable from the center of Cetara is the beach behind the harbour, accessible through a passage located behind the mooring docks. On this beach stands the Lido Carioca, equipped with bars and services and a free beach. The water is crystal clear and, thanks to its exposure, the sun sets quite late compared to the rest of the beaches of the Amalfi Coast.
Cetara: other beaches reachable by sea by pedal boat or canoe
From Cetara, rent a pedal boat or a canoe, it is possible to reach other splendid coves accessible only by sea. While sailing, keeping a distance of about 100 meters from the coast, you can admire the splendid coastal landscape, rich in vegetation and dotted with private villas with architecture harmoniously integrated with the landscape.
In the rest of the article we will see the coves located on the East side of the coast, or by navigating to the left, leaving Cetara behind. I have already told you about the coves located on the west side in the article dedicated to the village of Erchie.
Navigating east, after having passed the Lannio beach, which can also be reached on foot from the state road, you will find the beach of the Hotel Cetus. It is a private beach reserved for hotel guests only.
Immediately after, a few meters away, there is another small cove, just 40 meters long. Crystal clear water and pristine beach, ideal for a swim break and to bask in the sun.
Continuing the navigation towards the east, 200 meters away there are two other coves facing south. These are also an excellent destination to relax on the beach and immerse yourself in the crystal clear waters.
Cetara: the harbour and the boat rental
In the village of Cetara there is also a small harbour where fishing boats, boats and small pleasure boats moor. The port of Cetara has 150 moorings and can accommodate boats up to 13 meters in length.
It is also possible to rent motor boats that do not require a boat license (motor power up to 40 HP) to better explore the Amalfi Coast around Cetara.
The boat rental services in Cetara are:
- Sea Sun;
- Cetara Boat Rental;
- Cetara Charter.
Download the PDF brochure about the village of Cetara for free. Inside you will find the map with the location of the boat rental centers and the contacts to make a reservation.
Cetara: the traditional anchovy sauce and the “lampara” night
Among the typical gastronomic products of the place there is the anchovy colatura (anchovy sauce), a product that derives from the preservation of anchovies in salt. Anchovy colatura is an amber-colored liquid with a very intense flavor, used to flavor a plate of spaghetti or linguine.
You can buy a jar of anchovy sauce (colatura di alici in italian) in one of the many shops selling typical products in the village of Cetara or to taste dishes based on this product in one of the local restaurants.
If you are curious to find out how colatura di alici, a typical product of the village of Cetara, is produced, continue reading the article.
Colatura di alici (anchovy sauce): how it is produced
The head and entrails are removed from the freshly caught anchovies, after which they are kept for 24 hours in containers with plenty of sea salt.
The anchovies are then transferred to small chestnut or oak barrels, alternating with layers of salt, and covered with a wooden disc on which weights are placed.
For the pressure and the ripening of the fish, liquid emerges on the surface which provides the basis for the preparation of anchovy sauce.
The liquid is stored in large glass containers and exposed to direct sunlight which, by evaporation of the water, increases its concentration.
After about four or five months, all the liquid collected is poured back into the barrels with the anchovies and slowly poured through a hole, between the layers of fish, in order to further collect the flavor. It is finally filtered through linen sheets and is then ready to be tasted.
Anchovy colatura is typically used to season a first course of spaghetti or linguine, cooked strictly without salt as anchovy colatura is very salty.
Cetara: where to eat
The village of Cetara offers a really wide choice of restaurants in which to try excellent fish dishes of the local cuisine. Among the best are:
- San Pietro restaurant: creative fish dishes served under soft lighting in an elegant restaurant with an outdoor area under a porch;
- Acquapazza restaurant: seafood specialties and sweet Campania dishes among green walls and minimal furnishings in a romantic restaurant overlooking the gulf;
- La Cianciola: fish dishes in an intimate restaurant with a barrel ceiling and terrace on a romantic square overlooking the sea;
- Al Convento restaurant: anchovies and pizza among medieval frescoes in an informal family-run restaurant with a tree-lined terrace.
Download the PDF Brochure about the village of Cetara
Download the PDF brochure about the village of Cetara for free. Inside you will find all the recommended restaurants, photos of interest places, telephone numbers for reservations and the location on the map.
To download the PDF brochure, fill in the fields below. You will instantly receive an email containing the download link.
Windsurfing in Cetara
Cetara, in addition to a pretty village where you can swim, relax on the beach and taste the good local cuisine, is a favorite destination for windsurfing lovers. The stretch of water in front of Cetara, together with Erchie, is an excellent spot for windsurfing thanks to the thermal wind that blows between 12.00 and 16.00.
In Cetara there are two clubs where you can deposit your equipment or take part in basic courses to learn how to practice this sport.
To request information about windsurfing in Cetara, fill out the form fields below. You will be contacted by email.
Request information about windsurfing (fill in the fields below)
Cetara: main events of the village
San Pietro (29 June): Cetara patron saint day and fireworks
June 29 in Cetara is patron saint day, in honor of San Pietro, the saint patron of the village. In addition to religious celebrations, a fireworks display with fireworks fired from the sea takes place at midnight. On this occasion, a myriad of boats gather in the stretch of water in front of the village of Cetara to watch the fireworks display from the sea. The event is usually accompanied by a concert in the square.
The lampare night – month of July
Every year in July, on a date chosen according to the lunar phases, fundamental for anchovy fishing, the Lampare Night (Notte delle Lampare in Italian) is held in Cetara, an event dedicated to the traditional anchovy fishing.
During fishing, fishermen use the typical lampara, a type of lamp mounted on a boat, which are used to attract schools of anchovies under the light source.
It is possible to watch the anchovy fishing trip from special tourist ferries off the coast of Cetara.
Upon returning from the fishing trip, the lampara are left on in the bay of Cetara while on the beach it is possible to taste dishes based on anchovies and blue fish and attend popular music shows.
How to reach Cetara by car, motorbike, bus and taxi
The village of Cetara can be reached by car along the state road SS 163, from Vietri sul Mare towards Amalfi.
It is possible to park the car in one of the two paid parking lots in Cetara at a cost of 3 €/hour. Cetara is also equipped with a parking area for only motorbikes and mopeds with a rate of 1.5 €/hour.
During the summer and in particular the weekends, parking lots reach the limit capacity and will no longer be possible to reach the village of Cetara as the local police closes driveway access to the country to avoid traffic jams.
In case of full parking lots, you can park in Erchie, about 2.4 km away, and use the Cetara-Erchie shuttle service to reach the center of the village.
Cetara can be reached by bus through the bus line SITA that connects Salerno to Amalfi, by taxi from the Salerno train station, by train descending to Vietri sul Mare station and then taking the SITA bus towards Amalfi.
Conclusions
Nel tuo tour in Costiera Amalfitana, Cetara è una tappa che non può mancare. Un paesino molto caratteristico che conserva i tipici tratti di borgo della Costiera Amalfitana, frequentato in larga parte da turisti locali più che stranieri.
On your Amalfi Coast tour, Cetara is a visit that cannot be missed. A very characteristic village that preserves the typical traits of the Amalfi Coast village, frequented by local tourists more than foreigners.
I hope this article was useful to you to better organize your visit to the village of Cetara. If you liked you can suggest it to your friends by clicking on the social sharing buttons at the bottom of the page.
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