hose who think that Naples is only narrow streets, crowded squares and lively markets, perhaps have never touched its vertical and surprisingly green soul. In fact, there is another Naples, that of the paths, more reserved and open only to those who are willing to be guided beyond the usual itinerary in the historic center. A Naples that climbs between ridges and descends towards the sea, merging along the way with nature full of stories suspended between myth and wonder. Dream landscapes, paths that rise, secret paths traced only by the steps of those who truly love this land. In this article we will talk about the Naples of the Paths, an invitation to slow down, to listen, to rediscover an essence made of silence, light and raw beauty. Together we will set off on a journey made not only of kilometers but of layered emotions: we will cross the wild force of Vesuvius, the perfection of the Amalfi Coast, the still living mysteries of the Phlegraean Fields. We will take a journey through the main paths designed for those who want to experience Campania with new eyes, in a more intimate, more real, more human way. Ready to gather new ideas for your next stay?
The Path of the Gods: walking suspended between sky and enchantment
Let’s start with the path that more than any other, in the Naples of paths, seems to touch the border between reality and legend: the Path of the Gods. An iconic itinerary, which connects Bomerano (a hamlet of Agerola) to Nocelle (Positano), suspended between the ridge of the Lattari Mountains and the deep blue of the Amalfi Coast. It is no coincidence that the writer Italo Calvino described it as that road suspended over the magical gulf of the Sirens: this phrase, also engraved on majolica at the entrance to the path, encapsulates its entire essence.
According to legend, it was the Greek gods who walked it to save Ulysses from the sirens on the island of Li Galli. Even today, in fact, the landscape retains that same mythological aura: at every bend, heart-rending views open up over Capri, Punta Penna, the Li Galli archipelago, among the scents of Mediterranean scrub and vines clinging to the rock.
The trail is divided into two variants depending on the experience of the wayfarers:
- The “low” route, the most popular, starts from Bomerano and arrives in Nocelle, crossing about 10 km (there and back). It is suitable for walkers of all ages, with gentle and panoramic stretches.
- The “high” route, more challenging, continues up to Santa Maria del Castello, with climbs and technical passages: recommended for expert or well-trained hikers.
In both cases, you can choose to walk only the outward journey: the return can be done comfortably by bus or ferry from Positano, with connections to Amalfi and then Bomerano. It is best to allow at least 3 hours for the return, especially on holidays.
The effort will be rewarded by a series of unmissable and breathtaking stages. Among them:
- The Grotta del Biscotto, a cavity at 528 meters above sea level surrounded by vertiginous peaks and precipices;
- The ancient Rupestrian Villages, built directly into the rock, dating back to the time of the Saracen raids;
- The evocative “Pistillo”, a limestone spur perfect for photographs and moments of contemplative rest.
Along the route you will also find sources of drinking water, wooden benches, panoramic terraces and necessary protections in the most exposed sections: every detail is essentially designed to make the excursion safe and memorable.
From the Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel you can organize a tailor-made transfer. Our staff will be happy to suggest the best time to tackle the route — at dawn or at sunset, when the colors become more intense and the atmosphere more rarefied.
The Path of the Gods is not only one of the most beautiful walks in the world: it is a journey into the memory of the earth, an embrace between sky and sea that will remain in your heart much longer than your footprints.
You can find more information here.
The Paths of the Vesuvius Park: where fire meets life
The Vesuvius National Park is a living emotion. Here, where the earth has screamed its power for millennia, today we walk immersed in a delicate balance between memory and rebirth. Vesuvius, a sleeping but far from silent colossus of fire, has watched over the Gulf of Naples for almost 400,000 years. The last great eruption, in 1944, was a devastating event that sculpted the landscape and history, but which left the volcano in a quiet phase, allowing the nature around it to breathe again stronger than ever.
In this majestic setting, the 11 official paths of the Park wind through over 50 kilometers of immersive routes. More than simple walks, they are real journeys between lava and vegetation, between geology and spirituality. Each tells a different story of Vesuvius, with passages designed to reveal the biodiversity, the transformations of the landscape and the memories engraved in the volcanic stone.
From 2001 to 2003, these paths were carefully designed and cared for: lava stone walls, green bridles, clear signs and maintenance that respects the wild identity of the place are ready to guide you. Some itineraries are easy and accessible, ideal for a family walk. Others are more challenging, perfect for those seeking the thrill of the climb and the reward of a breathtaking view. In any case, the broom, a flower dear to Leopardi, will tickle your sense of smell, making your excursion fragrant and sensorial.
The most famous of the paths is no. 5, Il Gran Cono. It starts from an altitude of 1000 m in the municipality of Ercolano and in less than two hours you reach the edge of the crater. Here you are truly on the “roof” of Vesuvius: your gaze will open onto the Gulf of Naples, the islands, the coast and what you have inside. This is the only paid trail but also the only one that allows you to walk on the edge of the most famous active volcano in the world. An experience that remains and that, we are sure, you will never forget.
If you want to discover traces of a past never overcome, an air of mythology and delicate emotions, Trail no. 1, Valley of Hell, is what you need. Starting from Ottaviano, through an enchanted valley where the lava flows of ’44 have merged with reborn woods, chestnut trees, pine trees, and an almost sacred silence will envelop you on a long route (about 7 hours), in which the generative force of nature will leave you speechless.
The most panoramic is Trail no. 2, Lungo i Cognoli. The route winds between rocky crests up to the Atrio del Cavallo, a space invaded by lava in the past. We proceed and climb among holm oaks and dizzying views of the landscape below. It is a path that requires training but that rewards with unforgettable views.
The most historic remains Path no. 6, La Strada Matrone. Traced in 1927, it climbs from Trecase along the less traveled side of the volcano offering a new and less banal perspective. It is the right choice for those looking for an authentic route far from the most touristic circuits, rich in stories and memories.
The most accessible, we conclude, is Path no. 11 – La Pineta di Terzigno. Flat and suitable for everyone, even those with mobility difficulties, it offers a pine forest reborn after the fires of 2017, cared for with naturalistic engineering techniques and perfect for slow and contemplative walks, among the scents of resin and clear skies.
Among the other trails, the following are worth mentioning:
Trail no. 3 – Monte Somma, a panoramic loop that reaches Punta Nasone (1132 m), with breathtaking views of the Gulf.
Trail no. 4 – Riserva Tirone, in the green heart of a silent forest reserve.
Trail no. 7 – Vallone della Profica Paliata, among vineyards, orchards and the agricultural heart of Vesuvius.
Trail no. 8 – The old Rack Railway (currently closed), which followed the historic route to the Vesuvius Observatory.
Trail no. 9 – Il Fiume di Lava, a simple walk on a lava flow: also suitable for the little ones.
Trail no. 10 – L’Olivella, towards the springs of Sant’Anastasia (currently closed).
And then, a real gem: the Vesuvius Observatory, along Path 8. Founded in 1841, it is the first volcanological observatory in the world. A place suspended between science and poetry, where the deep breath of the volcano is studied every single moment.
Useful tips: hiking shoes, water (perhaps inside our metal water bottle), hat and a pinch of wonder. For the more challenging routes, it is always better to rely on the official guides of the Park; they know every turn, every story, every legend hidden among the rocks to fill you with wonder.
Walking on Vesuvius is not a simple excursion.
It is an encounter with the earth, with the force that transforms, with life that is reborn.
Here, where fire has left its mark, nature has already written its new beginning.
The Phlegraean Fields: a place of myth and splendor
West of Naples lies the Phlegraean Fields area, a burning land with a thousand-year-old past and a landscape shaped by fire and time. Extinct craters, thermal springs, fumaroles, volcanic lakes and much more allow for sensational excursions.
Here, nature is not just a spectacle: it is a story. It is the ancient voice of gods and poets, of battles and apparitions, of submerged cities and mysterious cults. Walking in the Phlegraean Fields is a multisensory experience: the acrid smell of sulfur, the unreal silence of the craters, the perfect geometries of the yellow tuff, the vegetation that fights and wins. And then the sea, which frames everything with reflected light and calm waves.
One of the most fascinating itineraries is the Sentiero del Monte Nuovo, a young volcano born in 1538 — the last eruption that occurred in the Phlegraean area. It is located between Pozzuoli and Arco Felice, and is perfect for an accessible walk, even with the family. The path winds through brooms, aromatic plants and sudden glimpses of Lake Averno, once considered the entrance to the Underworld. Probably the dark color of the lake and the thick surrounding vegetation contributed to the birth of these beliefs. The name itself derives from the Greek “Aornon”, or place without birds, as they were driven away by the gases exhaled by the waters. It is not surprising, therefore, that this place was dedicated to cults for chthonic deities (in particular Proserpina, the queen of Hades) and that the spirits of the dead were consulted and asked for answers and feedback in exchange for sacrifices. Even today, along the banks there are still visible remains of ancient monuments such as the Grotta di Cocceio which testify to the importance of the area with a surprising view: on one side the gulf, on the other the scars of the geological past.
For those seeking poetry and legend, the Sentiero delle Ginestre at Capo Miseno is the answer: a short but intense walk that leads to the promontory sung by Virgil in the “Aeneid”. Here, where Miseno, Aeneas’ trumpeter, is said to have been buried, you walk among glimpses overlooking the sea, sea caves and wild plants that smell of summer. Every curve offers a fragment of the authentic Mediterranean, with views that embrace Procida and Ischia like a living painting.
Those who love places out of time will be enchanted by the shores of Lake Fusaro, quiet and rarefied. It is here that the Casina Vanvitelliana stands, a small eighteenth-century masterpiece designed by Carlo Vanvitelli, son of the more famous Luigi. Reflected on the water and connected to the mainland by a wooden bridge, this elegant hunting lodge was loved by the Bourbons, but also by musicians, artists and passing rulers. Visiting it is like opening a parenthesis in time.
And then Solfatara, Cuma, Baia sommersa, the Flavian Amphitheater: every corner of the Campi Flegrei has something to tell, between archaeology, nature and mystery.
Tips for excursions in the area: comfortable shoes, camera and a desire to listen and discover. Because in the Campi Flegrei you don’t just walk: you cross the threshold of an ancient world, where myth and science hold hands and every stone holds a secret.
Urban walks: hidden treks through the streets of Naples
Even if you stay in the city, Naples offers surprising routes for those who love walking. From the Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel, urban paths start, such as the route that crosses Spaccanapoli, goes up via del Sole (whose name recalls the past existence of the temples of Apollo and Diana in the area) and arrives at the Belvedere di San Martino, offering panoramic views and artistic detours. Or the route that connects the historic center to Capodimonte, crossing the Sanità, the Cimitero delle Fontanelle and the Parco di Capodimonte, a true green lung above the city.
An insider tip? The Sentiero della Pedamentina, 414 steps in lava stone that connect the Certosa di San Martino to Montesanto: a pleasant but intense walk, between vertical gardens and balconies overlooking the beating heart of Naples.
Conclusion: your stay in the heart of Naples
Staying at the Santa Chiara Boutique Hotel means having an exclusive base in the true heart of the city, enjoying a perfect springboard for exploring, discovering, walking or cycling with our e-bike service. Thanks to our services designed to offer the best, you can experience the Naples of the Paths with the freedom of those who choose only the best.
In the evening, after a day spent between sky and sea, woods and legends, returning to an elegant and silent room, overlooking the ancient roofs will be the best way to preserve the beauty of the journey.
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