Cetara used to be a Saracen stronghold and its name derives from the Latin word cetariae (tunny fisheries). Cetara is a fishing village and has got one of the biggest fleet of Mediterranean for Tuna fishing, especially the red tuna. A rich tradition of fishing food, this is why the picturesque town is famous for the “ colatura di Alici” which is a transparent amber sauce produced by a traditional process of anchovies maturation in a solution of water and salt. It is said to come from “garum“ that is the ancient fishing sauce used by the Romans.
Cetara is located by the Tyrrhenian sea and between Vietri sul Mare and Maiori. It extends from the coast to the Mount Falerio. You can find beaches for swimming and sunbathing, but just a few minutes away there is the beach of Marina di Erchie, with the tower of the same name, and Capo d’Orso, which is a black rock that rears up like a bear.
We suggest renting a boat in Cetara and discover beaches reachable only by sea. If you go from Cetara to Maiori you will first reach La Spiaggia dei Limoni (Lemon beach), Erchie with Torre Cerniola and Torre del Tummolo, Capo d’Orso, and other Saracen towers and then you will arrive in Maiori. You will then get to Vietri sul Mare and reach i Due Fratelli ( two brothers) that are the famous rocks of Vietri, then Torre Crestarella, Marina d’Albori and Punta Fuenti where there used to be the big hotel Fuenti, today demolished as it had been erected without permission.
An enchanting village where you can go on an excursion or just chill on the beach and have a taste of the local food.