Via Minerva to Punta Campanella

Via Minerva is an ancient Greco-Roman mule track in the comune of Massa Lubrense, Campania, Italy, running from the hamlet of Termini to Punta Campanella, the tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula. The walk starts at Piazza Santa Croce in Termini (80061 Massa Lubrense), then follows Via Campanella and turns right onto Via Minerva. From Sorrento, SITA Sud local buses serve Massa Lubrense, Termini and Nerano; times and lines should be confirmed at sitasudtrasporti.it, and a taxi from Sorrento to Termini is the faster option. Parking in the hamlet is limited, and no permit is required for the walk.

The route is about 4 km each way according to one local guide, with an overall time of roughly 2 hours return, although some guides allow about 1 hour in each direction. Ascent and descent are around 300 m (about 985 ft), which places it at the easy end of the scale by distance, though the stone paving and short climbs require some care. The surface is a mix of old paved stone sections, dirt and rock. The track is waymarked with red-and-white CAI signs. Exposure is low on the way out but increases toward the headland, where the path is open to wind and sun and shade is sparse.

The main landmarks are the old stone paving of the mule track, medieval watchtowers, the lighthouse area at the end of the peninsula, and views of Capri about 5 km across the strait. The area around Punta Campanella is also the end of the Alta Via dei Monti Lattari leg from Colli di San Pietro via Nerano and Monte San Costanzo (CAI path 300). The headland is the natural turn-around point, and visitors normally return by the same route. There are no shops, refuge huts or reliable water sources along the track, so water must be carried from the start.

Equipment recommendations include closed shoes with grip, around 1 litre of water per person, a sun hat, sunscreen, and a windbreaker for the headland. An offline map helps because mobile signal can be patchy. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons.