Convento di Santa Maria a Castro

Convento di Santa Maria a Castro

Convento di Santa Maria a Castro
4.5

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4.5
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globalgal2
Cooperstown, NY24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2014 • Friends
The path to our villa in Praiano lead to the Path of the Gods..so we decided to do some of it. We knew nothing about it. Imagine our surprise to find the 1000 steps from praiano to be man made steps with views ad stations of the cross and a bucket of gold (the convent) at the end of the rainbow. . For 8 euros we got 4 drinks and three little cups of snacks. The inside of the convent with it s frescos from the 14th century is worth the trip, Be sure to check out the cool pully that delivers the food. Caution, there is a railing on the path but don't lean on it .
Written October 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Keith B
Brighton, UK18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2018 • Solo
I might sound like a bit of a heathen but for me the abandoned monastery takes second place to the views from trail. That said if you are staying in Praiano I would still recommend the jaunt up the hill.
There are two ways to get to the convento which unless you are in Praiano and ask a local appears to be a complete mystery (having googled extensively).
The ‘easy’ way is to join from West Praiano - the northern most point of ‘via Croce’ (the walking path not the car road) when you pass a small white barrel roofed building on the left you should see the sign for path of the gods. Once you find this you can’t really get lost as long as you go up and stick to the very well tended stepped path. As others have said it is steep with many steps but is a simple walk with very good protection so most reasonably fit people should be able to complete. The views are great and there are seats and sculptures to enjoy on the way.
The abandoned monastery is interesting if not a bit spooky to walk round (no one else was there) and the fresco’s are in great condition given their age and lack of care.
This is a great spot to stop and picnic with great views towards Positano but do not expect any food, drink or other facilities. Make sure to bring plenty of water and some food!
From here to the PoG a further climb is necessary and the trail degrades significantly to a slim path. It gets a bit confusing but keep going up and if you continue to see red paint dabs on the track you are on the correct path. This is of moderate difficulty with areas of minimal protection and may require a bit of a scramble in places which some may not be comfortable with. Expect at least another 25 minutes of toil from the monastery to the main trail. Eventually you will come to a ‘T’ junction and the sign will help you decide on which direction to take.

The more ‘difficult’ route starts in East Positano from Via Constantinople up a Staircase which is opposite the B&B ‘Locanda degli Dei’. There is a sign post on the road and the straight 100 steps to the trail is a sign of things to come. Once you overcome the initial ascent turn left and stay on the main path and you can’t really get lost. There is a small monorail track which will be present for much of the trail in case you get worried.
The path is not as well tended as that from West Positano but is a simple walk, easy to follow with only limited areas of reduced protection. It’s worth stopping at the corner of east/west Praiano to take in the views of both directions and also hear the bells from the two sides of the town sound. When you have done most of the climb you will come to a ‘T’ junction with a fountain. Turn right up the hill if you want to get views down the next valley (which I thought worth the effort) otherwise continue straight on.
You will start to descend and a couple of minutes past the large boulder you will see a sign post to the left for the Conventi. This is a pretty thin trail but simple to follow, just stay with the red dabs of paint. This is more difficult than the other route as you will have climbed above the monastery and will now have to descend to it. As above this can be a bit tricky in parts with some exposure/scrambling required and some may need help/encouragement to descend as it is often more difficult to go down in these situations. Trust the trail and keep with the red paint and you will eventually arrive at the Conventi.
Written September 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PeterHAberdeen
Aberdeen18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Couples
We walked the Santiero Degli Dei from Praiano to Nocelle and passed this deserted convent on the way. It's a good hike from the town but once there, the views are stunning. The 14th century frescoes and the abandoned cells are worth the hike alone, but an ice cold beer and a plate of tomatoes and olives from Domenica, who has set up a little caffe in the grounds make the trip worthwhile.

Beware, it is about an hours hike from Praiano and all up hill....
Written November 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Max T
Helsinki, Finland83 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2017 • Couples
We started the climbing of over 1200 steps from Praiano. The "Path of Gods" from Praiano to the church takes about one hour to one hour and a half depending of your speed. Wearing good shoes makes it easier. When you get up you will experience a stunning view to the sea and the town of Praiano. By the church there are a few tables. The church was built in 16th century and definetily worth of visiting. You can buy some refreshments from a guy there. Glass of homemade lemonade juice with some snacks was 2 €/person. I recommend you start the trip in the morning when it's not too hot.
Written June 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

S A
Toulouse, France274 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2015
Above the tiny village of Praiano, you will find the Convento di Santa Maria a Castro, famous for its medieval frescoes and views of this most beautiful of coastlines. Just beyond the convent, you can also start your journey to the Path of the Gods: simply turn right out of the tourist office, right again after the pharmacy and take the second set of stairs – the first leads to a restaurant. Be warned, this is a ‘steep’ climb. I called it, The Path of Many Steps (although via Dolorosa would not be inaccurate). I had to stop for breath a few times, but it was worth it just to drink in the view.

At the top of the hill, you’ll find a ‘surprising bar’ manned by a local chap. He’s cheerful and friendly and serves beer for a pittance. You’ll think it’s your birthday as he serves it with an array of olives, peanuts and crisps with your beer for free. I recommend you support this creative commercial enterprise just to give the chap a good reason to climb that hill every day! The view from the top is also free.

Worth noting, the Church of San Gennaro (Parrocchia Di San Gennaro) is just a step away from the bus stop from Amalfi to Sorrento – no climbing involved. It’s equally worth a visit not just for its unusal blue and white tiled roof but also because it houses several saintly relics.
Written May 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kanwrite
Dublin, Ireland10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2014 • Couples
After 1,000 steps great to have snack and toilet facilities. Great views and very peaceful atmosphere within the monastery. Would love to have gone again but time didn;t permit.
Written September 8, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DesignsForTravel.com
La Jolla, CA267 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2014 • Family
When I arrived in Positano, I had been doing Cross Fit for 6 mos, and thought I was in pretty good shape. These stairs were not easy! It was so beautiful, so we kept going in bursts with rests in between. We finally reached the top, at the convent. This was one of the most outstanding views I have ever seen! It was fun to seen an old piece of history that had not been redone or fixed up. We were going to continue on to the path of the Gods but got delayed (late bus from Positano), and were glad we skipped it this time. It looks like a great hike, but the proper hiking shoes and gear are a necessity.
Written August 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LeeSunny
Siena, Italy14 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2014 • Solo
I stopped here knowing I could buy water ....to my surprise I bought water and Gatorade ...whilst having a visit to the WC I came out to find a table set under a tree with my drinks order and lovely olives , fresh figs , nuts , biscuits etc. it was so lovely and unexpected the young man was incredibly warm gave me a map even. I continued on the path where the views became even more spectacular .....the local village dog accompanied me all the way with some other friends that I made along the way to Postano . A brilliant day and San Donenico is a lovely place to stop fluid up and just take in the ambience of the Amalfi coast . A must do !!!!
Written July 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

acandkc
Richland, WA280 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2018 • Couples
My esteemed spouse and I hiked the one million steps up to the convent today and I am so glad we did. Yes, it's a lot of work, but the beauty and serenity that is there makes every step worth it.We got to spend time with the convent's little round dog, admired the views, both down to the sea and up toward the cliffs. We listened to the ringing of the goats' bells and the soughing of the wind through the trees. No one else was there..so peaceful. Enjoy!
Written January 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jun Jacinto
New York City, NY1,475 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2017 • Family
Hiking is one of the features of our vacation without it we are not vacationing , going up to this place with its serenity and the view is really beautiful not only mentioning the simplicity of the convent which is nice and great feeling.
Written July 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Convento di Santa Maria a Castro, Praiano

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