The High Route of the Monti Lattari above the Coast
Along the ridge of the Monti Lattari, in Campania, a long walking crest looks down from above over the Amalfi and Sorrento coasts while remaining almost deserted, whereas the famous trails that run below, sheer above the sea, are besieged by thousands of walkers.
Foto: No machine-readable author provided. Giaros assumed (based on copyright claims). (CC BY-SA 3.0) — Wikimedia Commons
The Amalfi Coast can be claustrophobic. On the Path of the Gods, on spring days, you walk in single file and stop to let those coming back past. And yet you only need to climb a few hundred metres, onto the ridge that separates the sea side from that of the Gulf of Naples, to find silence again. The High Route of the Monti Lattari runs along precisely this limestone backbone, and most of those who crowd the coastal villages don't even suspect it exists.
The itinerary
The classic itinerary starts from the area of Cava de' Tirreni and Corpo di Cava, where the imposing Abbey of the Santissima Trinità marks the symbolic beginning of the walk westward. From here the route gains altitude among chestnut and beech woods up to the summit grasslands. One of the key points is the Valico di Chiunzi, above Tramonti, with its medieval tower and the sudden view over the sea of Maiori. Continuing on, you reach the area of Monte Cerreto and Monte Sant'Angelo a Tre Pizzi, the highest peaks of the range, which brush against 1,400 metres and from which the gaze embraces both the Gulf of Salerno and that of Naples at once.
The central stretch touches the Sanctuary of Maria Santissima Avvocata, above Maiori, a spectacular balcony reachable also by a separate climb for those who want just a taste. From there the ridge continues towards the Valico di Agerola, overlooked by the Tre Calli, a dairy town known for its fior di latte, a true gateway also to the Path of the Gods below. Those who continue head towards Monte Faito, reachable too by the historic cable car from Castellammare di Stabia, and finally towards the tip of the Sorrento peninsula, above Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi and Punta Campanella, where the land ends facing Capri.
In independent stages
The beauty of this traverse is that it can be done in independent stages. Few walk it in its entirety over several days; many break off day-long segments, climbing up from the coast or inland towns and returning to the valley by public transport. The high villages such as Agerola, Tramonti, Pimonte and Sant'Agata offer beds at more humane prices than Positano or Amalfi, and it's from there that it's best to set up your bases.
How to get there
To get there, the reference is the Circumvesuviana station or the SITA bus network that connects Sorrento, Amalfi and the coastal towns. From Castellammare di Stabia you climb to Faito by cable car, while Agerola and Tramonti are reached by coach from Amalfi. Once at altitude you move on foot: the advice is not to aim to complete the whole thing, but to choose a section, climb early in the morning and descend on a different side from the one you started on, making use of the bus services for the return.
When to go
The ideal period is late spring, between May and June, when the broom blooms on the slopes and the air at altitude stays cool even while the coast already suffocates. The other golden window is October, with the chestnut woods turning copper and a clear light that makes both shorelines sharp. These are months when the coast below is still, or once again, crowded, but the crest belongs to those who know how to climb it: you can walk for hours crossing paths only with the odd shepherd or a couple of local hikers.
One practical warning counts more than any other: up high, water is scarce and so is shade, on the summit grassland stretches. Set off with an ample supply and fill your bottles at the town fountains before climbing. The summer heat, from July to August, is to be avoided precisely because of the lack of shelter, and the mist that sometimes rises from the sea can erase the crest trails: better a clear day and a departure at dawn, when the coast is still asleep and the crest is all yours.
Practical guides for Amalfi
Practical info
When is the best time to visit The High Route of the Monti Lattari above the Coast?
The recommended time is May, June and October, when it is less crowded.
Where is The High Route of the Monti Lattari above the Coast?
The High Route of the Monti Lattari above the Coast is located in Sorrento-Amalfi Peninsula, Campania.
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