Massa Lubrense · Capri View · Wild beach
Cala di Mitigliano
The secret cove with Capri's Faraglioni right before your eyes.
A Hidden Pearl
Cala di Mitigliano is a hidden pearl of the Sorrentine Peninsula. Rarely visited because of its demanding access trail - about 300 steps cut into the rock - it offers a breathtaking head-on view of Capri and its Faraglioni stacks. Arguably the finest view of Capri from the mainland.
The water is crystal-clear over rocky seabeds ideal for snorkelling. The natural cave on the beach provides shade during the hottest hours. At sunset, the raking light turns the Faraglioni gold: bring your camera, because this is the Capri shot that tourists never take - it takes a bit of legwork to get here.
No bars, no sunbeds, no music. Just white pebbles, the sound of the waves and the island of Capri so close it feels within reach. The perfect place for anyone looking for the coast before the crowds arrived.
Did you know?
300
steps to reach the cove
5 km
as the crow flies from Capri
120 m
elevation drop from the car park
Origins: Between Monks and Fishermen
The name "Mitigliano" probably derives from the Latin Mytilus (mussel), indicating the abundance of molluscs once collected from the rocks of the cove. For centuries this was a beach known only to the fishermen of Massa Lubrense, who used it as a natural harbour sheltered from the winds.
The area around the cove was owned by the Benedictine monks of the Monastery of San Pietro, who cultivated olive groves on the terraces still visible along the trail today. The dry-stone walls you encounter on the way down - some of them centuries old - are their handiwork.
The Watchtowers
On the cliff above the cove stand the remains of a 16th-century watchtower, part of the coastal defence system built by the Spanish Viceroys against Saracen pirate raids. From this tower sentinels communicated by fire and signal with the neighbouring towers of Ieranto and Punta Campanella. The tower ruins are visible from the trail just before the final descent.
The Natural Cave
On the left side of the beach opens a natural limestone cave about 4-5 metres high and roughly ten metres deep. It is the most valuable natural shelter on the cove: during the central hours of the day, when the sun beats down on the pebbles, the cave offers cool shade and a unique vantage point over the bay.
Inside the cave the underwater seabed is particularly rich: the rock creates crevices where octopuses, moray eels and small crustaceans hide. With a mask and snorkel you can explore the submerged walls of the cave, where the light creates turquoise blue reflections.
Snorkelling: A Natural Aquarium
The waters of Cala di Mitigliano are among the clearest on the Sorrentine Peninsula. The proximity to the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area and the difficult access keep motorboats away, leaving the sea in near-pristine condition.
Rocky zone (0-3 m)
White seabream, blue damselfish, rainbow wrasse, blennies. Along the rocky walls at the water's edge: sea urchins, anemones and small actinia. Ideal for beginners.
Sandy seabed (3-6 m)
Red mullet, sole, starfish and Posidonia oceanica. In the Posidonia meadows: seahorses, pipefish and colourful nudibranchs.
The submerged cave
Octopuses, moray eels, red shrimp and small grouper. The light filtering through the cave entrance creates a blue-turquoise effect on the submerged walls.
Open water
Shoals of salema, saddled seabream and bogue pass regularly in front of the cove. With luck you can spot Mediterranean barracuda and small dentex in the early morning.
The Trail of 300 Steps
Departure from Termini (0-5 min)
Start from the small square at Termini (a hamlet of Massa Lubrense). The trail begins next to a votive chapel. The first minutes are a gentle descent on a paved mule track between dry-stone walls and olive groves.
The olive groves and the tower (5-15 min)
The trail passes through centuries-old olive groves on the Benedictine monks' terraces. Halfway along you glimpse the remains of the Saracen tower and the first views of the cove and Capri. The air smells of wild rosemary and myrtle.
The final descent (15-30 min)
The last section is the steepest: irregular stone steps descending through Mediterranean scrub. The Faraglioni appear in full majesty ahead. Arriving on the white-pebble beach makes every drop of sweat worthwhile.
The ascent takes 35-45 minutes. Avoid the hottest hours (12:00-15:00) for the climb back up.
How to Get There
On foot (trail) · Recommended
From Termini, Massa Lubrense
~300 steps, 20-30 min downhill. Closed shoes essential. Limited parking at Termini (arrive early in summer).
Taxi boat
From Marina del Cantone or Sorrento
The most comfortable option. Taxi boat from Marina del Cantone (~10 min, €40-60). From Sorrento ~30 min. Book a trip with a stop at the cove.
Bus + trail
From Sorrento to Termini
SITA bus from Sorrento to Massa Lubrense, then local bus to Termini. About 40 min total + trail. Check timetables.
Kayak
From Marina del Cantone
Kayak hire from Marina del Cantone (~15 min paddling). Approaching by sea lets you admire the cliffs and cave from the water.
The Best View of Capri
From the beach you get a direct, close-up view of all three Faraglioni stacks, just 5 km away. Around sunset (from about 17:30) the raking light turns them pure gold against a pink sky.
This is the Capri shot that tourists never take - because it takes a bit of legwork to get here. The best spot for the photo is from the right side of the beach, where all three Faraglioni align perfectly.
4 Local Tips
1. Bring water shoes
The pebbles are large and irregular. Getting in and out of the water without water shoes is painful. Pack them in your bag alongside a mask and snorkel - the snorkelling here is exceptional.
2. Arrive in the afternoon, don't leave
The most magical moment is from 17:00 to 19:00, when the sun lights the Faraglioni in golden light and the cove enters natural shadow. Arrive in the early afternoon, enjoy a swim, and stay for the show.
3. Take refuge in the cave
During the central hours (12:00-15:00) the sun beats directly on the pebbles and it gets very hot. The natural cave on the left is your refuge: cool shade and a perfect spot for watching the bay.
4. Combine with Ieranto for an epic day
If you have strong legs, descend to Ieranto from Nerano in the morning, climb back up, have lunch with Spaghetti alla Nerano, then descend to Mitigliano from Termini in the afternoon. Two secret beaches in one day.