Marina del Cantone

This broad pebble beach in the bay of Nerano is one of the Sorrento Coast's favorite places for swimming. Clear water suits snorkeling, while the waterfront restaurants are an excellent place to taste fresh seafood and the local spaghetti alla Nerano.

Marina del Cantone is about 20 minutes from Villa Lorelei, by car via Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi and Nerano or by SITA bus from Sorrento. This sheltered cove of white pebbles and emerald-green water is widely considered the most beautiful beach on the Sorrentine Peninsula, nestled between the hills above Nerano.

The sea is crystal-clear and sheltered, ideal for swimming and excellent for snorkeling, with a seabed home to posidonia meadows and abundant marine life. But Marina del Cantone is also famous worldwide for a single dish: spaghetti alla Nerano, invented in 1952 at the restaurant Lo Scoglio with seasonal courgettes fried in olive oil and smoked Provolone del Monaco cheese. A lunch built around this speciality at Lo Scoglio, La Taverna del Capitano, or Framar is a pilgrimage for Italian food lovers.

Mamy Lucia's tip: come for a long lunch and a swim, then walk part of the coastal path toward Recommone, hire a kayak, or take a small boat to the hidden coves nearby. Reserve a table in summer, because the best restaurants fill up quickly; late spring and September bring the most pleasant water without the July and August crowds.

Good to know: because it sits in a protected bay, the water often stays calm even when other beaches are choppy, making it an easy, low-effort day out for two. There is paid parking near the beach that fills up fast on summer weekends, so arriving before midday is wise. From here you can also hop on a small boat to the secluded Recommone cove next door or join a guided trip toward the Li Galli islets offshore.